Seafood consumption in the United States increased 3.7 percent, with Americans consuming 4.01 billion pounds of domestic and imported seafood in 1998 - or 14.9 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 14.9 pounds per person represents an increase of 0.3 pound from the 1997 level.

Of the 14.9 pounds of seafood consumed per person, 10.2 pounds were fresh or frozen fish or shellfish, 4.4 pounds were canned seafood, and 0.3 pounds of seafood was cured. Compared to 1997 figures, that represents a 0.3 pound increase in the fresh/frozen products.

The consumption of shrimp (all preparation) achieved a record 2.8 pounds consumed per person. Also, farm-raised catfish consumption reached 1.0 pound per person for the first time.

Total U.S. supply of edible fishery products on a round-weight basis was up 11.2 percent in 1998. While U.S. landings for human consumption declined by 1.0 percent, imported fish and shellfish increased 7.7 percent in 1998, comprising 63 percent of the seafood consumed in the United States. U.S. exports declined by 14.3 percent. Inventories of frozen seafood in cold storage remained relatively stable, rising 0.3 percent over the 1997 level.

TABLE FOLLOWS:

 PER

            CAPITA U.S. CONSUMPTION

 

 Year
Civilian

            resident population July 1


            Million persons
 Fresh

            and frozen
Canned
Cured
Total

Pounds, edible meat

 1994
 259.2
 10.4
 4.5
 0.3
 15.2
 1995
 261.4
 10.0
 4.7
 0.3
15.0
 
 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

 

 "U.S.

            ANNUAL PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION OF CANNED FISHERY PRODUCTS, 1994-98"

 Year
Salmon
Sardines
Tuna
Shellfish
Other
 Total

Pounds
 1994
0.4
0.2
3.3
0.3
0.3
4.5
 1995
0.5
0.2
3.4
0.3
0.3
4.7
 

 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

The NMFS 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.