NOAA Reports Increasing Seafood Consumption

Americans ate 16.5 lbs. of fish and shellfish per person in 2006, a 2% increase over the 2005 consumption figure of 16.2 lbs., according to a study released by NOAA Fisheries Service. The increase brings seafood consumption up to slightly under the 2004 record of 16.6 lbs.

Americans consumed a total of 4.9 billion pounds of seafood in 2006. The nation imports roughly 83% of its seafood and remains the third largest global consumer of fish and shellfish, behind Japan and China.

The National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007 would provide American consumers with greater choice and confidence in the sustainability and safety of their seafood selections, said Bill Hogarth, director, NOAAs National Marine Fisheries Service. This legislation is an important step toward increasing our supply of home-grown seafood.

The United Nations is projecting a 40 million ton global seafood shortage by 2030, unless something is done. While NOAA works to end overfishing and rebuild wild stocks, the United States still needs aquaculture to narrow the trade gap and to keep up with consumer demand.

Of the total 16.5 lbs. consumed per person, Americans consumed a record 12.3 lbs. of fresh and frozen finfish and shellfish, up 0.7 lbs. from last year. Canned seafood consumption dropped 0.4 pounds to 3.9 lbs. per capita. We consumed a record 5.2 lbs. of fillets and steaks, up 0.2 lbs. Shrimp continues to be the top consumed seafood in the United States at a record 4.4 lbs. of shrimp consumed in 2006, up 0.3 lbs. from 2005.

Increased seafood consumption is due in part to the growth in imports of farmed fish and shellfish. The United States can become more self-sufficient at producing seafood with expanded aquaculture, the topic of legislation currently pending in Congress.

NOAA Fisheries has been calculating the nations seafood consumption rates since 1910 to keep consumers and the industry informed about trends in seafood consumption and trade. This information is published every year in the NOAA Fisheries Service annual report, Fisheries of the United States.