Shrimp continued to dominate the US seafood consumption charts in 2018, increasing 4.5 percent to 4.6 pounds per person, according to figures from the National Fisheries Institute (NFI).

The increase outpaced the tiny 0.6 percent increase in overall seafood consumption during the year, which was driven by the same 10 species that have dominated the US seafood charts for several years.

Salmon was the second-most consumed species by US consumers during the year, and saw the largest increase, continuing its steady infiltration of the market with a 5.8 percent rise to 2.55 pounds per capita.

While still firmly holding third place with 2.1 pounds per capita, canned tuna saw no consumption increase in 2018.

Pangasius saw the biggest shift in the top 10 list, plummeting 11.3 percent to 0.63 pounds per person, with the tariff-heavy environment giving the domestic catfish category a 5.7 percent boost to 0.56 pounds per capita.

The top 10 list, which also includes tilapia, cod, crab and clams, accounted for 13.8 pounds of total per capita US seafood consumption, or 86 percent. This was a step up from 2017's 84 percent, but is still lower than the 90 percent share reported in 2016.

Here is the top 10 species consumed in the US in 2018 by pounds per person per year and an indication of their year-on-year progress:

Shrimp 4.6 +4.5%
Salmon 2.55 +5.8%
Canned tuna 2.10 +0%
Tilapia 1.11 +2.8%
Alaska pollock 0.77 -1.3%
Pangasius 0.63 -11.3%
Cod 0.62 -6.1%
Catfish 0.56 +5.7%
Crab 0.52 +0%
Clams 0.32 +3.2%

Average US seafood consumption between 2013-2016 was among the lowest in the industrialized world, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's annual "Fisheries of the United States" report, released Friday.

The estimated 48.5 pounds (live weight equivalent) consumed per person during the three-year period was roughly half the consumption of seafood-loving Japan and Norway, and a quarter of the island nations of Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

US consumption also trailed Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Denmark and France, among others.

Consumption was, however, slightly higher than in the United Kingdom, and well above Germany's 29.3 pound average for the period.

Despite the lag in per-capita consumption, however, the growing US consumer base puts its overall seafood consumption in 2018 second only to China.