National Seafood Association data: U.S. per capita seafood consumption fell to 18.4 pounds in 2024, down for a third consecutive year

New data released by the National Seafood Association shows that U.S. seafood consumption declined in 2024. The association calculates that U.S. per capita seafood consumption was 18.4 pounds in 2024, compared with 19.1 pounds in 2023 and 20.8 pounds in 2022, falling for two consecutive years.

The association noted that U.S. seafood consumption hit a record high in 2021, partly for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic; consumption has continued to decline since then, while the mix of consumption has also changed.

Shrimp remained the largest category by consumption in 2024, at 4.9 pounds per capita, down 0.2 pounds from the previous year. Salmon ranked second at 2.81 pounds per capita, but posted the largest decline among all categories, falling 0.71 pounds.

Canned tuna and Alaska pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) ranked third and fourth, respectively. Canned tuna consumption was 2.1 pounds per capita, up 0.1 pounds year on year; Alaska pollock consumption was 0.95 pounds per capita, up 0.07 pounds year on year. Alaska pollock ranked fifth in 2023, and this slight increase moved it ahead of tilapia.

Tilapia fell to fifth place at 0.92 pounds per capita, up 0.01 pounds year on year. Sixth place went to basa fish (Pangasius bocourti), replacing catfish; U.S. per capita consumption of basa fish was 0.73 pounds in 2024, up 0.19 pounds year on year, the largest increase among the top ten.

Cod ranked seventh at 0.54 pounds per capita, up 0.01 pounds year on year. The rise of basa fish and cod pushed catfish out of its previous position; catfish consumption was 0.52 pounds per capita in 2024, down 0.03 pounds year on year.

The last two categories in the top ten were crab and scallops: crab consumption was 0.48 pounds per capita, up 0.03 pounds year on year; scallop consumption was 0.2 pounds per capita, unchanged from the previous year. Scallops entered tenth place, replacing clams; clam consumption was 0.21 pounds per capita in 2023 and fell below that level in 2024.

Lisa Wallenda Picard, president and CEO of the National Seafood Association, said in a press release: "Looking back at 2024, we see some consumers prioritizing value-priced seafood while also diversifying their purchases. The growing number of species continues a trend that really began four years ago." She also said: "It is important to remember that this is a snapshot from nearly three years ago. Looking ahead, we hope that the nutritional emphasis on protein in the dietary guidelines will help lift seafood consumption."

The report also noted that, affected by high inflation, U.S. seafood retail sales fluctuated in 2026, but in September, even with price inflation at 3.3%, sales grew across all categories.