The salty fruits of the sea are rising in popularity with consumers, and health benefits are being touted as one of main reasons for the rise in seafood consumption. The National Fisheries Institute says data from the NOAA Fisheries show that Americans consumed 16.5 pounds per person last year. That’s up from 16.2 pounds in 2005. NFI says overall seafood consumption has risen 11 percent since 2001.
“Landmark studies from the Institute of Medicine and Harvard Medical School in 2006 found that eating fish twice a week can reduce the risk of dying from a heart attack by 36 percent,” said NFI President John Connelly. “The growth in seafood consumption last year shows that families seek its tremendous health benefits, yet only 20 percent of Americans are following advice from the federal government, American Heart Association and American Dietetic Association to eat fish at least twice a week.”
Shrimp continued to lead seafood consumption, up 0.3 pounds per person to 4.4 pounds for the year. Tilapia, a mild-tasting white fish, moved up to the number five position in overall seafood consumption replacing catfish, which fell to the sixth position. Increases in shrimp, pollock and tilapia consumption helped drive the overall increase. Fresh and frozen seafood consumption was a record 12.3 pounds per capita for 2006, and the total seafood consumed – 4.92 billion pounds edible weight – also set a record.
Connelly continued, “With increased seafood consumption, our nation is moving in the right direction to combat heart disease and obesity-related illnesses. But we must enhance awareness of the importance of eating a variety of seafood – such as canned tuna, salmon, mussels and many others – throughout the lifecycle.”
As a baby is growing in the womb, and in the first few years of childhood, the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish contribute to brain development, problem solving skills, and IQ. A 2007 study led by U.S. National Institutes of Health researchers found that mothers who ate more than the recommended 12 ounces of seafood per week had children with advanced verbal communication, motor coordination and social skills. Comparatively, children whose mothers consumed substantially less to no seafood showed poor testing results in these areas. Additional studies
Top 10 Seafoods 2004 – 2006
(Pounds Per Capita Edible Weight)
2004 2005 2006
Species Lbs Species Lbs Species Lbs
1 Shrimp 4.20 Shrimp 4.10 Shrimp 4.40
2 Canned Tuna 3.30 Canned Tuna 3.10 Canned Tuna 2.90
3 Salmon 2.154 Salmon 2.430 Salmon 2.026
4 Pollock 1.277 Pollock 1.468 Pollock 1.639
5 Catfish 1.091 Catfish 1.025 Tilapia 0.996
6 Tilapia 0.696 Tilapia 0.848 Catfish 0.969
7 Crab 0.626 Crab 0.643 Crab 0.664
8 Cod 0.603 Cod 0.572 Cod 0.505
9 Clams 0.471 Clams 0.435 Clams 0.440
10 Flatfish 0.332 Flatfish 0.366 Scallops 0.305
Total All Species 16.6 16.2 16.5
The Top Ten list was compiled for the National Fisheries Institute by H.M. Johnson & Associates, publishers of the Annual Report on the United States Seafood Industry. Data for this list came from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)