In 2021, Americans ate a record 20.5 pounds of seafood per capita, a whopping increase of 1.5 pounds over 2020, according to recently released NOAA Fisheries statistics. The latest numbers, highlighted in the National Fisheries Institute’s (NFI) Annual Top 10 ranking, demonstrate consumers in the United States have expanded their taste for seafood with the help of both frozen and non-frozen products.
Shrimp consumption grew by nearly a pound per person, solidifying its place as America’s favorite seafood. Salmon also saw big gains. Staples like canned tuna, tilapia, and Alaska pollock held their ground in the Top 10 rankings. Meanwhile, pangasius jumped three spots to number six and clams made its way back onto the list.
“The 2021 Top 10 List bears out some long-held consumption predictions,” said NFI Programs Director, Richard Barry. “For years, industry experts have reported a big overall increase in pandemic-era seafood consumption. There’s no doubt we’ll continue to see pandemic-related market forces influence these numbers in different ways over the next few years. But this snapshot in time is evidence of a big consumption win.”
In previous years, the Top 10 list has made up an outsized portion of US seafood consumption, nearly 90%. This time the familiar names on the list make up only 76%, evidence Americans are slowly but surely trying new things.
