Can domestic aquaculture compete? Consumer willingness to pay and cost benchmarks in the Arabian peninsula

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dc.contributor.authorLi, Jie
dc.contributor.authorZhang, Yanan
dc.contributor.authorBallco, Petjon
dc.contributor.authorGómez, Miguel I.
dc.contributor.authorBroom, Mohammed
dc.contributor.authorTimmons, Michael
dc.contributor.authorCosta-Pierce, Barry António
dc.contributor.orcidBallco, Petjon [0000-0003-3036-4801]
dc.date.accessioned2026-03-13T11:00:59Z
dc.date.available2026-03-13T11:00:59Z
dc.date.issued2026-03-23
dc.date.updated2026-03-06T13:31:03Z
dc.description.abstractIn countries with limited water resources that increasingly rely on imported food, sustainable fish farming offers a promising pathway to improve food security. This study focuses on Saudi Arabia, an arid country prioritizing domestic aquaculture expansion under its Vision 2030 initiative, and investigates consumer preferences for domestically farmed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) as a viable substitute for imported salmon. Using a discrete choice field experiment at point-of-sale with 333 consumers in Riyadh and Jeddah, we estimate willingness-to-pay (WTP) for key rainbow trout attributes, including origin, certification, product form, processing method, and color. Results show strong preferences for domestically produced, SAMAQ-certified (a national aquaculture quality label), fresh fillets with orange color, and significant WTP premiums for these traits. We also compare these WTP estimates with production cost scenarios to assess the economic feasibility of substituting imported salmon with domestically farmed rainbow trout. Findings suggest that, under efficient production scales, domestically produced trout can be cost-competitive with imports when aligned with consumer preferences. This study contributes new evidence from an arid, import-dependent country and highlights how aligning supply with consumer demand can support aquaculture expansion. The results offer practical guidance for food system transformation in similar contexts globally.
dc.description.peerreviewedSi
dc.description.sponsorshipThe authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the AlMobdioon Center for Studies, Consultancy and Training at King Abdulaziz University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
dc.identifier.citationLi, J., Zhang, Y., Ballco, P., Gómez, M. I., Broom, M., Timmons, M., & Costa-Pierce, B. A. (2026). Can domestic aquaculture compete? Consumer willingness to pay and cost benchmarks in the Arabian peninsula. Aquaculture Economics & Management. https://doi.org/10.1080/13657305.2026.2630914
dc.identifier.doi10.1080/13657305.2026.2630914
dc.identifier.issn1365-7305
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1080/13657305.2026.2630914
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10532/8182
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherTaylor and Francis
dc.relation.citaSi
dc.relation.publisherversionhttps://doi.org/10.1080/13657305.2026.2630914
dc.rightsAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.subject.agrovocAcuicultura intensiva
dc.subject.agrovocOncorhynchus mykiss
dc.subject.agrovocSeguridad alimentaria
dc.subject.agrovocEncuesta al consumidor
dc.subject.agrovocAnálisis de costos
dc.subject.sdgHambre cero
dc.titleCan domestic aquaculture compete? Consumer willingness to pay and cost benchmarks in the Arabian peninsula
dc.typeartículo original
dc.type.hasVersionversión sometida a revisión

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