In 2017 Americans ate 16 pounds of seafood per capita, an increase of 1.1 pounds from the 14.9 pounds consumed in 2016, according to recently released statistics. It is the highest per capita consumption number in almost a decade.
“More than a pound increase is substantial,” said John Connelly, McLean, Virginia, USA-based 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 lead the increase jumping three tenths of a pound, followed by Salmon, up by more than two tenths of a pound.
| 2017: US Per Capita Consumption of Seafood | |
| Shrimp | 4.4 |
| Salmon | 2.41 |
| Canned Tuna | 2.1 |
| Tilapia | 1.08 |
| Alaska Pollock | 0.78 |
| Pangasius | 0.71 |
| Cod | 0.66 |
| Crab | 0.52 |
| Catfish | 0.53 |
| Clams | 0.31 |
| Per Capita Consumption | 16.00 lbs. |
| Total Top 10 | 13.50884098 |
| All Other Species Consumption | 2.491159018 |
| Top 10 as % of Total Consumption | 84% |
