In 2017 Americans ate 16 pounds of seafood per capita, an increase of 1.1 pounds from the 14.9 pounds consumed in 2016. It is the highest per capita consumption number in almost a decade.
“More than a pound increase is substantial,” said John Connelly, President of the National Fisheries Institute (NFI). “It’s significant to note the Top Ten List as a percentage of total consumption. Last year just those ten species made up more than 90% of all the seafood Americans ate. This year the list makes up only 84%. That’s quite a bit of diversification in just one year. While we see solid increases is some traditional staples, that growth outside the top ten is certainly something to watch.”
Within the top ten, Shrimp leads the increase jumping three tenths of a pound, followed by Salmon, up by more than two tenths of a pound.
2017
Shrimp
4.4 pounds
Salmon
2.41 pounds
Canned Tuna
2.1 pounds
Tilapia
1.08 pounds
Alaska Pollock
0.78 pounds
Pangasius
0.71 pounds
Cod
0.66 pounds
Crab
0.52 pounds
Catfish
0.53 pounds
Clams
0.31 pounds
Per Capita Consumption
16.00 pounds
Total Top 10
13.50884098 pounds
All Other Species Consumption
2.491159018 pounds
Top 10 as % of Total Consumption
84%
