Washington, DC September 12, 2011 Americans ate 20 percent more tilapia in 2010 than they did in 2009, propelling it from the number five spot to the number four spot with the single largest gain in consumption on the National Fisheries Institutes (NFI) latest Top Ten Seafood List.
Other impressive gains saw pangasius jump 14 percent to claim the number eight slot, up one from last year. And while cod remained at number seven, it gained 11 percent over 2009.
2009 2010
| Shrimp | 4.1 | Shrimp | 4.0 |
| Canned Tuna | 2.5 | Canned Tuna | 2.7 |
| Salmon | 2.04 | Salmon | 1.999 |
| Alaska Pollock | 1.454 | Tilapia | 1.450 |
| Tilapia | 1.208 | Alaska Pollock | 1.192 |
| Catfish | 0.849 | Catfish | 0.800 |
| Crab | 0.594 | Crab | 0.573 |
| Cod | 0.419 | Cod | 0.463 |
| Clams | 0.375 | Pangasius | 0.405 |
| Pangasius | 0.356 | Clams | 0.341 |
*Data in pounds per capita.
If you look at the numbers from 2008, 2009 and now 2010, keeping in mind population growth, were hopeful that were beginning to see seafood consumption steadying, a trend that makes it poised for gains, said NFI president John Connelly.
This years list contains some anomalies, including a National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) recalculation of 2009s total pounds per capita that changed to 16 lbs from 15.8 lbs. There was also a slight reduction in clam consumption on the 2009 list.
The 2010 Alaska Pollock numbers appear to show a drop of 18 percent when compared to the 2009 list, but about half of that decline is actually due to a new export category that identified previously uncounted exports. The balance was due to a reduction in imports and a sharp increase in surimi exports. Also, pollock fillet exports increased, reflecting the continued strong demand for pollock fillets in Europe as it remains the most popular seafood item in Germany.
