Americans eating more seafood--shrimp in particular--than ever before

Benefits of eating fish cited

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) recently released its “Top Ten” list of the most consumed fish and seafood in the United States for 2004.
Seafood consumption in America hit a record 16.6 pounds per capita in 2004, according to the most recent data from NOAA Fisheries, up from 16.3 pounds per person in 2003.
“Americans are eating more healthy fish meals than ever before, proving that we’re all hearing the right message: eating fish is essential to a healthy, balanced diet,” said NFI President John Connelly. “At a time in our nation’s history when heart disease is the number one killer and obesity is reaching epidemic proportions, it is essential to educate the public about the benefits of eating fish rich in protein, vitamins and fatty acids.”
Shrimp continued to lead seafood consumption, up one-fifth of a pound over the previous year and up by one-half of a pound over the past two years. Canned tuna remained in second place on the list at 3.3 pounds per capita. Tilapia, a farmed white fish, vaulted from ninth place in 2003 to sixth place this year. Seafood consumption totaled a record 4.85 billion pounds for 2004.This news comes on the heels of a study from the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis at the Harvard School of Public Health that found increasing fish consumption will lead to better public health by reducing the risk of stroke and heart disease. The analysis also showed that as consumption decreased, negative health effects increased.
Connelly continued, “Americans should eat more seafood. Right now, each American is eating only about five ounces of fish each week, less than half of what the health professionals in our government recommend. Resources like aboutseafood.com on the web and health information from groups such as the American Heart Association can help everyone learn how to prepare delicious and healthy fish meals.”
As detailed in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid, the federal government recommends at least two servings of fish or seafood per week. The guidelines specifically mention the tremendous health benefits of fish and shellfish such as omega-3 fatty acids that can "reduce the risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease."
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 NOAA Fisheries.

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NFI is the leading trade association for the fish and seafood industry whose members represent a variety of businesses ranging from the water to the table. For more information visit our website at www.nfi.org.