Top Ten Seafood Consumed in the U.S. in 2003 (reported September 2004

Shrimp Leads Record Gain in Seafood Consumption, with Largest Growth in Farmed Seafood

Americans consumed a record amount of seafood in 2003, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, climbing from 15.6 pounds per person in 2002 to 16.3 pounds in 2003. (The previous record of 16.2 lbs. per capita was set in 1987). The increases are largely attributed to imports, which now account for 78 percent of US consumption, according to NOAA. Imports likely reflect increased consumer demand because of seafood’s heart-healthy reputation, the popularity of high-protein diets, and the abundant supply and attractive pricing of many farmed species. The full NOAA published report, Fisheries of the United States 2003, is expected in late October.

Shrimp once again led the most-popular seafood list, climbing from a previous record 3.7 pounds per person in 2002 to 4.0 pounds in 2003. Consumption of tilapia climbed by over a tenth of a pound to become the eighth most-popular seafood. Canned tuna consumption increased by 0.3 lb. per capita, and salmon consumption rose about 0.2 lb.

The Top Ten list was compiled for the National Fisheries Institute by H.M. Johnson & Associates, publishers of the Annual Report on the United States Seafood Industry. Data for this list came from NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).