Americans ate 15.8 pounds of seafood per capita in 2009, down 1.25 percent from the 16 pounds they consumed in 2008, according to the National Fisheries Institute (NFI). NFI's top 10 list for 2009 revealed that American consumers' seafood preferences remain largely unchanged; the only newcomer to the list was Pangasius at number 10, while flatfish dropped out of the top 10 list. The top 10 seafood of 2009 were:

1. Shrimp
2. Canned tuna
3. Salmon
4. Alaska Pollock
5. Tilapia
6. Catfish
7. Crab
8. Cod
9. Clams
10. Pangasius

"From a public health perspective, it's imperative that Americans eat more fish," said Jennifer McGuire, NFI's registered dietitian, in a statement. "This is a message we expect to see front and center when federal health experts release the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans this year--the familiar food pyramid program. While we anticipate hearing a lot about eating less salt and not as much saturated fat, when it comes to seafood more is better."

For more information, visit www.aboutseafood.com.