September 9, 2008

The average American ate 16.3 pounds of fish and shellfish in 2007, down 1 percent on-year, according to a study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service.

The study said the US consumed 4.91 billion pounds of seafood in 2007, a slight decrease from the 4.94 billion pounds in 2006.

Shrimp remained the top seafood choice in the US at 4.1 pounds per person, a slight decline of 0.3 pounds from 2006. US consumers ate 12.1 pounds of fresh and frozen finfish and shellfish, down 0.2 pounds from 2006, according to the study.

Canned seafood, mainly tuna, remained at 3.9 pounds per person, the study said, adding that Americans ate 5 pounds of fish fillets and steaks, including Alaskan Pollock, salmon, flounder and cod, down 0.2 pounds from 2006. The remaining 0.3 pounds is cured seafood such as smoked salmon and dried cod.

The US is the third largest fish and shellfish consumer, behind China and Japan.