NOAA 97-46

Contact:  Gordon Helm                 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                      8/1/97

Seafood consumption in the U.S. remained steady with Americans consuming 3.90 billion pounds of domestic and imported seafood in 1996 - or 14.8 pounds per person, the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced today.

Officials from NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service said that the per capita consumption level of 14.8 pounds per person represents a modest decrease of 0.2 pound from the 1995 level. Americans have consumed approximately 15 pounds of seafood each year since 1990.

Of the 14.8 pounds of seafood consumed per person, 10.0 pounds were fresh or frozen fish or shellfish, 4.5 pounds were canned seafood, and 0.3 pounds of seafood was cured. Compared to 1995 figures, that represents a 0.2 pound decline in canned products.

The consumption of shrimp (all preparation) remained at 2.5 pounds consumed per person.

Imported fish and shellfish comprised 57 percent of the seafood consumed in the United States in 1996, a 3 percent increase from the 1995 imports. U.S. exports increased by 4 percent.