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Seafood
Trade
Due
to health concerns and few inexpensive protein alternatives, consumers are
paying more attention to seafood than in the past. The Korean Food Journal reported that Korea¡¯s annual per capita
consumption of seafood is one of the highest in the world at 45.5 kg. Unfortunately, the waters around Korea are
being rapidly depleted and as a result, imports have steadily increased each
year for the past five years. This
growth is only expected to continue in the future. In 2004, Korea imported $2.3 billion of seafood. It was the fifth
largest market for U.S. fishery products. The most popular species of fish that
Koreans consume are: Alaska Pollack, squid, mackerel, hair tail and yellow
corvina.
Major
Fish Imported from the U.S. in 2004 (U.S.$1,000)
|
Fish Species
|
From USA
|
|
Pollack surimi, frozen
|
48,380
|
|
Angler fish (Monkfish)
|
22,828
|
|
Roes of Pollack, frozen
|
8,687
|
|
Cod, frozen
|
4,953
|
|
Hagfish, frozen
|
4,608
|
|
Other flat fish, frozen
|
4,098
|
|
Alaska Pollack, frozen
|
4,034
|
|
Atka mackerel, frozen
|
3,826
|
|
Lobsters
|
3,747
|
|
Other surimi, frozen
|
3,024
|
|
Skate, frozen
|
2,493
|
|
Ray, frozen
|
2,186
|
|
Total
|
112,864
|
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