The Market

America's new health awareness and growing seafood consumption have raised seafood to a $16 billion annual business compared with $12 billion in revenue for chicken, which is cheaper and $44 billion for beef. As a result of this industry growth, an increasing number of national restaurant chains have added fish entrees to their menus. Major corporations, such as Hormel, Continental Grain and International Protein, have started fish farming operations. The demand for fresh fish keeps climbing despite prices for some species that range from $7 to $10 a pound. However, unlike beef and chicken, fish offers a wide range of variety and price. Throughout the U.S., supermarkets have taken advantage of the seafood craze by stocking greater varieties of finfish and shellfish and by enlarging and renovating their seafood departments. Although sales of frozen seafood have been stagnant, many supermarkets still sell more frozen than fresh seafood due to the seasonal availability of fresh products.