The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) has released its annual top 10 list of most consumed species covering the year 2023, revealing Americans ate less seafood overall but further diversified the species that they consume.
Americans ate 19.1 pounds of seafood per capita in 2023, a decrease from the 20.8 pounds per capita consumed in 2022, which itself was down from record highs in 2022. Originally, NFI’s data indicated American consumed 19.7 pounds of seafood per capita in 2022, but the organization said it used more complete data from the National Marine Fisheries Service to adjust its previous reporting.
“It’s important to note, we can see the volume of seafood in the market in 2024 and 2025 continue to increase steadily, in line with historical trends,” NFI Senior Market Analyst and Director of Programs Richard Barry said. “Knowing that, we expect the next sets of consumption numbers to hold steady or grow.”
While overall consumption decreased, the consumption of certain species increased. American consumption of salmon ticked up slightly, rising 0.29 pounds to 3.51 pounds per capita. Alaska pollock consumption also increased slightly, rising 0.03 pounds to 0.88 pounds. That increase makes it the fifth-most consumed seafood species in the U.S.
Shrimp consumption, meanwhile, dropped by 0.40 pounds to 5.10 pounds but remained the most-consumed seafood species in the U.S.
Other top species were canned tuna, which decreased by 0.20 pounds to 2 pounds per capita and was the third-most-consumed species.
NFI noted that catfish, which saw a 0.25 pound decrease to 0.54 pounds of consumption per capita, rose two places to become the 6th most consumed seafood in the U.S. Clams also re-entered the top 10 at tenth place with 0.21 pounds of consumption as oysters – which was 10th in 2022 with 0.24 pounds of consumption – dropped off the list.
Barry said one key takeaway from the latest list is the distribution of consumption.
“This list makes up 77 percent of all consumption. The list before, from 2022, made up 79 percent,” he said. “In the mid-teens that number was up well over 90 percent. The data illustrates a continued diversification of America’s seafood palate.”
