NOAA 03-105
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Susan Buchanan
9/10/03
 NOAA News Releases 2003
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AMERICANS ATE MORE SEAFOOD IN 2002

Seafood consumption in the United States is up 7.1 percent, with Americans consuming 4.5 billion pounds of domestic and imported seafood in 2002, the Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced today.

Officials from NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) said the 2002 per capita consumption level of 15.6 pounds per person represents an increase of almost one pound from the 2001 level. Of the 15.6 pounds of seafood consumed per person, a record 11.0 pounds were fresh or frozen fish or shellfish, 4.3 pounds were canned seafood, and 0.3 pounds of seafood was cured. Compared to 2001 figures, this represents a 0.7 pound increase in the fresh/frozen products and 0.1 pound in the canned products.

The consumption of shrimp (all preparation) achieved a record 3.7 pounds consumed per person. Canned tuna consumption increased by 0.2 pounds.

Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ranks the U.S. as the third largest consumer of seafood in the world, importing 77 percent of its seafood fare.

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 when 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.

      PER CAPITA U.S. CONSUMPTION
 Year

 Civilian Residend Population July 1
 (Million Persons)

Fresh and Frozen
Canned
Cured
Total
Pounds, Edible Meat
 2000
 280.9
 10.2
 4.7
 0.3
 15.2
 2001
 283.6
 10.3
 4.2
 0.3
 14.8
 2002
 287.1
 11.0
 4.3
 0.3
 15.6

U.S. ANNUAL PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION OF CANNED FISHERY PRODUCTS
Year
Salmon
Sardines
Tuna
Shellfish
Other
Total
Pounds
2000
0.3
0.2
3.5
0.3
0.4
4.7
2001
0.4
0.2
2.9
0.3
0.4
4.2
2002
0.5
0.1
3.1
0.3
0.3
4.3

U.S. ANNUAL PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION OF CERTAIN FISHERY ITEMS
Year
Fillets and Steaks (1)
Sticks and Portions
Shrimp all Preparation
Pounds
2000
3.6
0.9
3.2
2001
3.7
0.8
3.4
2002
*4.1
0.8
*3.4
*Record

NOAA Fisheries is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation’s living marine resources, and the habitat on which they depend, through scientific research, management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, while helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov

NOAA Fisheries: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov