In 2015 Americans ate 15.5 pounds of seafood per capita, up nearly a full pound (0.9 pounds) from 2014. The increase is reflected in multiple species across the National Fisheries Institute’s annual Top 10 list, a trend being celebrated by nutrition experts.
“Three years’ worth of increase in seafood consumption is good news from a public health perspective,” said Rima Kleiner, MS, RD, registered dietitian at NFI and Dish on Fish blogger. “The fact that we see a variation in expansion and contraction across the top ten species, coupled with overall growth, is actually very positive. The nutrition community recommends that Americans eat a variety of seafood and this type of distribution reflects that message.”
2015
Shrimp 4.000
Salmon 2.879
Tuna 2.200
Tilapia 1.381
Alaska Pollock 0.970
Pangasius 0.743
Cod 0.600
Crab 0.555
Catfish 0.519
Clams 0.329
Per Capita Consumption 15.5
Total Top 10 14.17601
All Other Species Consumption 1.323986
Top 10 as % of Total Consumption 91.46
Three of the top ten species saw an increase in consumption; Salmon, Pangasius and Crab and two maintained their volume; Catfish and perennial list leader Shrimp. Crab was the only item to gain a slot on the list going from the 9th most popular item to 8th.