Nearly all of the most popular seafood species consumed in the United States held their respective positions on the National Fisheries Institute's Top 10 list for 2007, released yesterday.
The top nine species on the McLean, Va., trade association's list remain unchanged from 2006. Consumption of shrimp, which has held the top spot since 2001, fell by three-tenths of a pound to 4.1 pounds per capita. Most shrimp consumed in the United States is imported: Last year, shrimp imports declined by more than 73 million pounds, to 1.23 billion pounds.
Total seafood consumption in the United States last year totaled 16.3 pounds per capita.
Canned tuna consumption dipped for the fourth consecutive year to 2.7 pounds per capita. Canned tuna traditionally held the No. 1 spot through 2000, when 3.5 pounds were consumed for every American.
Tilapia consumption reached a record 1.142 pounds last year, up from 0.996 pounds per capita. Consumption of tilapia, which was not even on the Top 10 list until 2002, has grown 330 percent since 2000.
The only movement on the list came as scallops were bumped out of the Top 10 by flatfish. The two categories have alternately claimed the final spot for the past several years.
The annual list is compiled for NFI by H.M. Johnson & Associates of Jacksonville, Ore., publishers of the "Annual Report on the United States Seafood Industry." Data was provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service.
The formula for determining per-capita consumption figures is landings plus imports minus exports divided by the population.
The full list is as follows:
1. Shrimp, 4.1 pounds
2. Canned tuna, 2.7 pounds
3. Salmon, 2.364 pounds
4. Pollock, 1.73 pounds
5. Tilapia, 1.142 pounds
6. Catfish, 0.876 pounds
7. Crab, 0.679 pounds
8. Cod, 0.465 pounds
9. Clams, 0.449 pounds
10. Flatfish, 0.319 pounds
