Americans eating a little less seafood

WASHINGTON – Americans are eating slightly less seafood, despite continuing reports of its health benefits.

Seafood consumption totaled 4.908 billion pounds in 2007, down from 4.944 billion a year earlier, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported Thursday.

That translates to 16.3 pounds of fish and shellfish per person, down from 16.5 pounds, the agency said.

Americans’ favorite seafood remains shrimp at 4.1 pounds per person, down 0.3 pounds from 2006. Canned seafood, mainly tuna, held steady at 3.9 pounds per person.

New Bedford, Mass., is tops in value of landings, primarily due to sea scallops, bringing in $268 million in 2007. It was New Bedford’s eighth year as champ even though it was down from $281.4 million a year earlier.