October 27, 2016 – Washington, DC – In 2015 Americans ate 15.5 pounds of seafood per capita, up nearly a full pound (0.9 lb.) 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.”
An increase in seafood consumption broadly suggests groups like pregnant and breastfeeding women are also increasing their intake, which is vital to baby brain and eye development.
| 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.
