Americans consumed less seafood in 2024, continuing a downward trend from recent years, while purchasing patterns showed a growing preference for certain species and value-oriented options, according to newly released data from the National Seafood Association.
U.S. per-capita seafood consumption fell to 18.4 pounds in 2024, down from 19.1 pounds in 2023 and 20.8 pounds in 2022. The figures reflect a continued decline from the record consumption levels reached during the pandemic.
Shrimp remained the most-consumed seafood in the United States at 4.9 pounds per person, followed by salmon at 2.81 pounds. However, both experienced declines. Salmon recorded the largest decrease among the leading species, dropping 0.71 pounds per capita from the previous year.
Other species experienced modest gains. Canned tuna consumption increased to 2.1 pounds per person, while Alaska pollock rose to 0.95 pounds, moving ahead of tilapia into fourth place. Tilapia ranked fifth at 0.92 pounds per person.
Pangasius, an imported farm-raised fish, recorded the largest increase among the top 10 species, climbing to 0.73 pounds per person and overtaking domestic catfish. Catfish consumption declined to 0.52 pounds per capita. Cod and crab also posted modest gains, while scallops maintained steady consumption and entered the top 10, replacing clams.
According to National Seafood Association President and CEO Lisa Wallenda Picard, the numbers suggest consumers are increasingly balancing affordability with variety in their seafood purchases. The trend toward diversifying seafood choices has continued over the past several years.
For the domestic seafood industry, these figures highlight both the challenges of reversing declining overall consumption and the importance of maintaining competitiveness in a marketplace increasingly influenced by price, product variety, and imported seafood. The data also underscore the need to distinguish between domestic and imported products when evaluating the market opportunities and challenges facing U.S. fishermen and seafood businesses.
Although the figures reflect 2024 consumption rather than current market conditions, they provide useful insight into evolving consumer preferences and the competitive landscape for the U.S. seafood industry.