Citing data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NFI reported that Americans on average ate 14.6 pounds of seafood in 2012, down from 16.5 pounds in 2006 — a drop of nearly 14 percent per person.
Most of that decline has occurred since the economic collapse of 2008, according to the NOAA data, which showed fairly stable per capita consumption from 2003 to 2007, ranging from 16.2 pounds to 16.6 pounds. It dropped to 16 pounds in 2008 and by 2011 was down to 15 pounds.
An NFI spokesman had no explanation of the decline.
“It’s definitely cost,” said James Wright, senior editor of Seafood Business, which reports on the industry for seafood buyers and sellers. “We’re in the land of the dollar meal. There’s not a lot of seafood that fits into that price scenario.”
One exception is pangasius, also known as swai, a mild-flavored white fish farm-raised in Southeast Asia. The fish only entered the top 10 list in 2009 and by 2011 passed crab consumption to be the sixth most widely eaten seafood in the country, behind Alaska pollock, which in that time has fallen in consumption by almost 20 percent, from 1.45 pounds to 1.17 pounds per person.
In 2012, Americans ate 0.73 pounds of pangasius per person, an increase of 105 percent since 2009. Much of that gain has come at the expense of catfish, which Wright said is substantially more costly than pangasius. Catfish consumption has fallen by 40 percent in the past five years to half a pound per person.
Consumption of tilapia, another farm-raised seafood, but one with better name recognition, rose 22 percent over the past five years. In 2012, tilapia passed Alaska pollock to be the fourth most consumed seafood.
Shrimp, canned tuna and salmon remain the most popular seafood.
“As a chef, to see the numbers showing a steady decline in seafood consumption is disconcerting,” said Bryce Shuman, executive chef of Betony restaurant in New York. “The ocean offers such a wide variety of precious delicacies, and it would be a shame to see them overlooked by the public.”
But much of that consumption decline seems to be at home, as many restaurants report an increase in the popularity of seafood.
“I actually see a huge increase in both fish and vegetable consumption in the restaurant world,” said David Santos, chef of Louro in New York City. “However, I think that people are eating far less fish at home and that is the cause for the drop-off. Meats tend to be more forgiving and easier to cook than fish. So in these days of cost-effective living, people are definitely more prone to buying that pork loin or that chicken than say, that wonderful local wild striped bass. People know how to cook chicken or pork and beef.”
He said he thinks consumers’ fear of ruining a fish has contributed to the increase in fish sales at Louro. “When our guests come in and see something fun and inventive with fish that they know that can’t do at home, they gravitate to it.”
Ian MacGregor, chief executive of The Lobster Place, a seafood market in New York City, and its attached restaurant, Cull & Pistol, said business is great. “We don’t see any trends of decreased seafood consumption. Business is very good for us.”
He did note that prices of many popular seafood items are on the rise. For example, the northern European farm-raised salmon that he buys is about a third more expensive than it was last year. Shrimp, lobster, cod and scallop prices have also increased.
“But as a percentage of all the seafood consumed in the United States, these things are just a drop in the bucket,” he observed, noting that less expensive varieties of farm-raised salmon, as well as tilapia and “the stuff they’re making fish sticks out of,” make up the bulk of the domestic seafood market.
(vasep.com.vn) On November 11, 2026, in Can Tho, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) will organize the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029: Opportunities and Headroom for Double-Digit Export Growth.”
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Business leader Do Ngoc Tai, General Director of Tai Kim Anh Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company, was honored by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) with the title “Outstanding Vietnamese Entrepreneur – Thanh Giong Cup 2026” at a ceremony celebrating Vietnam Entrepreneurs’ Day (October 13). The event took place on the evening of October 11, 2026, at the National Convention Center in Hanoi.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market is becoming increasingly segmented, not only among producing countries but also by product type and destination market. Supply is divided into groups with distinct competitive advantages: large volumes of whole fish and frozen fillets from Asia, high-value fresh fillets from Latin America, and substantial domestic consumption in several major producing countries.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports to the UK grew in the first eight months of 2026, despite signs of slowing import demand in the market. However, sharp fluctuations in orders, competition from major suppliers, and new traceability requirements are creating challenges for Vietnamese exporters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam is stepping up efforts to combat illegal fishing, protect marine ecosystems, expand digital monitoring, and develop science-based management to ensure the sea can support communities and the economy for generations to come.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The EU remains a critical market for Vietnamese shrimp; however, purchasing demand and import patterns are undergoing notable changes. According to Vietnam Customs data, as of September 15, 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU reached nearly $374 million, down 5% year-over-year and accounting for 10.7% of the country’s total shrimp export value. Meanwhile, the EU’s stotal shrimp imports through July 2026 contracted by 7% in volume, exhibiting divergent trends across Southern Europe, Northwestern Europe and Eastern Europe. These dynamics necessitate that Vietnamese enterprises closely monitor individualized market demand, rather than approaching the EU as a monolithic consumer block.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of surimi and fish cakes remained relatively stable year-over-year compared to 2025. Following a contraction in the initial months, export performance demonstrated improvement from June onward, peaking in August. However, the recovery has been uneven, characterized by divergent trends across major markets: robust growth was recorded in China, Japan, Malaysia, the United States, and Taiwan, whereas export volumes to South Korea, Indonesia, and select European markets contracted.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains one of Dong Thap’s key aquaculture species, with the province focusing on developing an integrated value chain covering seed production, commercial farming, deep processing and by-product utilization. The province is promoting high-tech, circular pangasius farming models featuring reduced water exchange and enhanced biosecurity, aiming to improve production efficiency and strengthen control over raw material quality.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in September 2026 are estimated at US$1.135 billion, up 11.9% year-on-year, bringing total exports in the first nine months of the year to US$9.103 billion, up 11.4%. Behind this double-digit growth, however, increasingly divergent market trends are emerging: China–Hong Kong and ASEAN posted strong growth, while the U.S., EU and Japan all recorded declines in September.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil became the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, with export value reaching US$44 million, up 22,142% year-on-year and accounting for 49% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In August alone, exports to Brazil reached US$4 million. However, behind this remarkable growth is a market that is imposing increasingly stringent requirements on imported supplies.
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