New data shared by the National Seafood Association indicates seafood consumption in the U.S. fell in 2024.
According to the association, U.S. residents consumed 18.4 pounds of seafood per capita in 2024, down from the 19.1 pounds of seafood per capita the country consumed in 2023. That total in 2023 was itself also down from the 20.8 pounds consumed per capita in 2022.
Seafood consumption in the U.S. hit a new high in 2021, in part due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since then, consumption has fallen consistently, but it has also shifted, according to the association.
Some species like canned tuna and Alaska pollock actually saw slight upticks in consumption in 2024, with tuna reaching 2.1 pounds per capita, up 0.1 pounds year over year, and Alaska pollock reaching 0.95 pounds per capita, up by 0.07 pounds.
“Looking back at 2024, we see some consumers prioritizing value seafood items while at the same time diversifying their purchases,” National Seafood Association President and CEO Lisa Wallenda Picard said in a release. “Increasing variety continues a trend that began in earnest four years earlier.”
The top species consumed was once again shrimp, with an average consumption of 4.9 pounds per capita in 2024, marking a drop of 0.2 pounds. Salmon was the second most consumed with 2.81 pounds per capita, but it also had the largest drop in consumption, falling 0.71 pounds.
Canned tuna and Alaska pollock were the third and fourth most consumed, respectively. Alaska pollock was previously in fifth place in 2023, but the slight increase in consumption pushed it above tilapia.
Tilapia slipped down to fifth, with 0.92 pounds consumed per capita, up 0.01 pounds. Sixth place in 2024 went to pangasius, replacing the previous sixth place species catfish. U.S. residents consumed 0.73 pounds of pangasius per capita in 2024, an increase of 0.19 pounds, which was the largest gain of any species on the top 10 list.
Seventh place in 2024 was cod, with 0.54 pounds consumed per capita, marking an increase of 0.01 pounds. Both pangasius and cod moved up the list and replaced catfish, which in 2024 saw 0.52 pounds consumed per capita, a drop of 0.03 pounds.
The final two species in the top 10 are crab, with 0.48 pounds consumed per capita, an increase of 0.03 pounds, and scallops, which saw 0.2 pounds consumed per capita, which remained flat year over year. Scallops taking 10th place replaced clams on the list, which previously saw 0.21 pounds per capita of consumption in 2023 but dropped below that in 2024.
“It’s important to remember this is a snapshot from almost three years ago. Looking ahead, we’re hopeful the Dietary Guidelines' protein-positive nutrition focus will help boost seafood consumption,” Wallenda Picard said.
U.S. seafood sales at retail have fluctuated in 2026 due to high inflation, but in September, sales grew across all categories, even with 3.3 percent price inflation.
