Per Capita Seafood Consumption

Like many consumable goods, the recession led seafood consumption to slow. The economic downturn restricted consumers’ disposable incomes, resulting in consumption dips for most goods. The dip in higher-priced goods, like seafood, was more pronounced as consumers shifted their consumption to cheaper products; in the case of seafood, cheaper forms of protein. After 2.5% and 0.6% drops in consumption in 2008 and 2009, respectively, consumption lost steam in 2010 amid the chaos of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The downward trend continued in 2011 and 2012, with consumption falling sharply by 5.7% and 4.7%, respectively. Consumption declined because of contamination concerns and the loss of supply drove the price spike.

Following the period, per capita seafood consumption has returned and experienced sustainable growth, supported by the improving economic environment. The economy’s growth has increased consumer spending, boosting the consumption of relatively expensive seafood products. Additionally, solid landings and the value of US fisheries have bolstered seafood consumption. As a result, per capita seafood consumption grew in most of the period following declines in 2012, growing as high as 8.1% in 2017.