In September the National Marine Fisheries Service reported that per capita consumption of seafood rose to 15.6 pounds in 2002.
Total seafood consumption increased 7.1 percent to 4.5 billion pounds, making the United States the third largest consumer of seafood products in the world.
Linda Candler, vice president for communications at the National Fisheries Institute, told the Associated Press that seafood consumption grew in the United States in large part due to dietary concerns. “Americans are taking the health message to heart and trying to incorporate more fish in their diet,” Candler told the Associated Press.
Shrimp is the most popular seafood product in the United States, with per capita consumption rising to 3.7 pounds in 2002. Canned tuna was number two with per capita consumption at 3.1 pounds.
Sources:
Americans Ate More Seafood In 2002. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, September 10, 2003.
Americans eating fish at record rates. Randolph E. Schmid, Associated Press, September 10, 2003.