The USA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently released its annual fisheries report for 2014, which showed that per capita consumption of “seafood” rose by 0.1 pounds.
Although the increase in seafood consumption was small, it masked big changes in consumer consumption patterns. Shrimp consumption, which fell 14% in 2012 and 2013, snapped back. It increased 11.1% to 4.0 pounds per person, after falling to 3.6 pounds per person in 2013 because of EMS production failures and high prices.
The increase in per capita consumption should continue in 2015 because imports are up overall for the year, and reports from foodservice are that shrimp sales are extremely strong, despite the lackluster feeling among some shrimp sellers.
Shrimp inventories may be large, but there is also steady demand based on higher consumer interest.
Americans are eating more seafood. Health conscious consumers appear to be helping reverse a trend that saw seafood consumption slipping.
After examining America’s nutrition needs, the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee said families “should be encouraged and guided to consume dietary patterns that are rich in…seafood.”
A recent USA Department of Agriculture study found that 80 to 90 percent of USA consumers do not eat the quantities of seafood that it recommends.