Overall seafood consumption in 2004 was up 1.8% over the previous year (and up 9% since 2001) and stood at 7.5kg per person. This figure is made up as follows:
• Shrimp: 1.90kg
• Canned tuna: 1.50kg
• Salmon: 0.98kg
• Pollock: 0.58kg
• Catfish: 0.50kg
• Cod: 0.32kg
• Crab: 0.29kg
• Flatfish: 0.27kg
• Clams: 0.21kg
• Oysters: 0.15kg
Overall when considered in conjunction with red meat and poultry, seafood represents around 8% of overall protein consumption in the US.
As stated above, tilapia has the fastest growth in consumption with sales in 2005 reaching an estimated $430 million and an increase of 35% from 2004! Most production ($393 million) is imported with China which is responsible for 44%, with Ecuador 18% and Honduras and Taiwan 10% each as major suppliers. Domestic US production is mainly for live sales and comes from California primarily, with Idaho, North Carolina, Florida and Texas as other states supplying tilapia.
The domestic catch
Looking at overall seafood consumption, imports now account for 88% of the US edible seafood supply after exports are subtracted from the overall supply figures – the US exports around 80% of its domestic catch. The specific figures for 2004 show imports of 4,470,000 tonnes, a domestic catch of 3,534,000 tonnes and exports of 2,931,000 tonnes, leaving just over 5 million tonnes for domestic consumption.
Of the 3.5 million tonnes of domestic production, Alaska Pollock accounts for just over 1.5 million tonnes, menhaden 679,000 tonnes, salmon 335,000 tonnes, and shellfish and other species 1.37 million tonnes. However, in terms of value crabs at $448 million, shrimps at $$426 million and lobsters at $344 million, were the highest in domestic landings. Total value of landings in 2004 was $3.7 billion, up around $300 million on the previous year.
The leading US fishing port in 2004 was New Bedford, Massachusetts, with landings valued at $207 million followed by Dutch Harbor, Alaska, $155 million, and Hampton Roads, Virginia, $101 million. Alaska was far and away the most lucrative state with $1.17 billion landings while Massachusetts came in with $326 million.
Exports and imports marginally up
In 2005 the US seafood industry recorded exports of $3.8 billion edible and $9.7 billion of non-edible products. The leading product was surimi amounting to $423 million and up from $316 million the previous year. Next in value was fresh and frozen salmon at $406 million and American lobster at $335 million.
The leading recipient nation in 2005 was Japan with $1.1 billion worth of seafood imports from the USA. Other importers were Canada $708 million, China $409 million, and South Korea $403 million.
Imports in 2005 comprised $12.1 billion of edible and $13 billion of non-edible products, up by $2.2 billion over 2004. Most important import was frozen shrimps at $3.6 billion followed by lobster meat at just over $1 billion, and salmon fillets at $760 million. Major suppliers included Canada at $2.18 billion, Thailand at $1.52 billion and China $1.47 billion.
Hurricane impact
Whilst the report indicates steady growth in many aspects of the US seafood industry, it also highlights some of the negative results stemming from Hurricane Katrina in the US Gulf in August last year.
Before the devastating hurricane struck, the local area had 15 major fishing ports, 177 seafood processing plants, and 1,816 federally registered fishing vessels in addition to some 13,000 state registered vessels.
The impact of the disaster has been estimated as follows:
• Shrimping – 12-month dockside loss estimated at $80 million with potential retail loss of almost $540 million
• Oyster catching – extensive damage to oyster beds and vessels with direct losses estimated at $45 million in Louisiana and retail losses over a two-year period as high as $300 million.
• Other fisheries – Louisiana 12-month dockside crab loss of $12 million, menhaden $445 million resulting in potential retail loss of $255 million.
• Aquaculture – estimated production loss of $55 million in 2005 and $44 million this year.
The future?
In conclusion, the report suggests that the industry faces certain challenges – pressure on prices and increasing competition from Asia may well force the industry to consider further rationalisation although it is felt that there remain opportunities for the development of niche markets in the future. And of course there is the ongoing concern over environmental issues.
*Glitnir Seafood Industry Report - USA
