AMERICANS ATE MORE SEAFOOD IN 2000

July 26, 2001 — Seafood consumption in the U.S. increased 2.3 percent with Americans consuming 4.3 billion pounds of domestic and imported seafood in 2000—or 15.6 pounds per person, NOAA announced today. Officials from NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service said that the per capita consumption level of 15.6 pounds per person represents an increase of 0.2 pound from the revised 1999 level. (Click NOAA image for larger view.)

Of the 15.6 pounds of seafood consumed per person, 10.5 pounds were fresh or frozen fish or shellfish, 4.8 pounds were canned seafood, and 0.3 pounds of seafood was cured. Compared to 1999 figures, that represents a 0.1 pound increase in both the fresh/frozen and canned products.

The consumption of shrimp (all preparation) achieved a record 3.2 pounds consumed per person in 2000.

Total U.S. supply of edible fishery products on a "round weight" basis was down 1.9 percent in 2000. While U.S. landings for human consumption increased by 1.2 percent, imported fish and shellfish increased 2.6 percent in 2000, comprising 68 percent of the seafood consumed in the United States. U.S. exports increased by 11.4 percent. Inventories of frozen seafood in cold storage dropped slightly, declining less than 1.0 percent from the 1999 level.

NOAA Fisheries is the principal steward of the nation's living marine resources. NOAA Fisheries is dedicated to preserving marine resources through scientific research, management, enforcement and conservation.

PER CAPITA U.S. CONSUMPTION
Year Civilian resident population
July 1
Million persons Fresh and frozen Canned Cured Total - - - - - - - -Pounds, edible meat- - - - - - - - 1996 264.0 10.0 4.5 0.3 14.8 1997 266.4 9.9 4.4 0.3 14.6 1998 269.1 10.2 4.4 0.3 14.9 1999 271.5 10.4 4.7 0.3 15.4 2000 273.9 10.5 4.8 0.3 15.6

"U.S. ANNUAL PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION OF CANNED FISHERY PRODUCTS, 1996-2000" Year Salmon Sardines Tuna Shellfish Other Total ---------------------------Pounds--------------------------- 1996 0.5 0.2 3.2 0.3 0.3 4.5 1997 0.4 0.2 3.1 0.3 0.4 4.4 1998 0.3 0.2 3.4 0.3 0.2 4.4 1999 0.3 0.2 3.5 0.4 0.3 4.7 2000 0.3 0.2 3.6 0.4 0.3 4.8

"U.S. ANNUAL PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION OF CERTAIN FISHERY ITEMS, 1996-2000" Year Fillets and
steaks (1) Sticks and portions Shrimp - all preparation ------------------------Pounds----------------------------- 1996 3.0 1.0 2.5 1997 3.0 1.0 2.7 1998 3.2 0.9 2.8 1999 3.2 1.0 3.0 2000 3.4 0.9 *3.2
*Record

The NOAA Fisheries' calculation of per capita consumption is based on a "disappearance" model. The total U.S. supply of imports and landings is converted to edible weight and decreases in supply such as exports and inventories are subtracted out. The remaining total is divided by a population value to estimate per capita consumption. Data for the model are derived primarily from secondary sources and are subject to incomplete reporting; changes in source data or invalid model assumptions may each have a significant effect on the resulting calculation.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service

NOAA Fisheries Statistics & Economics

NOAA's Fisheries Page

Media Contact:
Gordon Helm, NOAA Fisheries, (301) 713-2370

 

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