Do information processing biases drive local community misconceptions of aquaculture? Evidence from harmonized surveys in Chile and Vietnam

Abstract

Aquaculture's benefits for producers' livelihoods and global food security are well-documented. However, little is known about public misconceptions of aquaculture, potentially fueled by behavioral biases, threaten the industry's social acceptance and sustainable growth. This paper investigates community perceptions and potential misperceptions about seafood aquaculture and the underlying cognitive process with a focus on the relationship between information processing biases and misconceptions about aquaculture. Our empirical analysis is based on primary data on people's opinions about living near mussel farming activities in two leading aquaculture producer countries (Chile and Vietnam). We find substantial misconceptions about mussel aquaculture in both countries, with Chilean respondents, on average, holding more accurate beliefs, except for those related to ecological benefits. Behavioral biases are significantly correlated with misconceptions in the ecological and environmental dimension. Additionally, confirmation and anchoring biases are associated with health and nutrition misconceptions in Chile. Familiarity with the aquaculture industry mitigates misconceptions. These findings underscore the importance of information quality and targeted communication strategies to reinforce positive attributes toward seafood aquaculture and reduce misconceptions of the public.