Fortune Fish & Gourmet Acquires Inland Foods' Houston and New Orleans Divisions

Fortune Fish & Gourmet has completed its acquisition of Inland Fresh Seafood Corporation of America's Houston and New Orleans operating divisions, effective June 27, expanding the Bensenville, Illinois-based distributor's footprint across Texas, Louisiana, and Southern Mississippi.

The deal adds to FF&G's existing regional operations, which already serve customers six days a week across a network spanning Dallas, San Antonio, Bryan, and Austin in Texas; Lafayette and Baton Rouge in Louisiana; and Jackson, Gulfport, and Biloxi in Mississippi. Inland's Houston and New Orleans operations will be integrated...

Trident Seafoods Sweeps USDA Alaska Pollock Award Worth $6.4 Million

Trident Seafoods has won the full Alaska pollock portion of a USDA commodity purchase, taking home nearly 1.95 million pounds of pollock products valued at $6.44 million, according to a purchase award document released June 24 by the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service.

The Seattle-based company, operating out of its Anacortes, Washington plant, was awarded contracts for frozen pollock fillets (380,000 lbs), frozen pollock sticks (342,000 lbs), breaded frozen pollock sticks (1,064,000 lbs), and bulk frozen pollock (158,400 lbs)...

All's Quiet on the Western Front One Week Before the Traditional Peak of Harvest in Bristol Bay

Bristol Bay's estimated harvest forecast is 32.3 million sockeye, assuming a total run of 44.1 million red salmon. That harvest is usually taken in a whirlwind five to seven days, around or shortly following the Fourth of July. If this week was the quiet before the storm, it was indeed silent.

Commercial catches as of June 23 are 837,509 sockeye salmon. Of the five river systems in the Bay, Ugashik is leading the pack so far with 635,202 salmon landed. Second is Egegik...

Nova Scotia Launches 3-Year Seafood Strategy with Innovation, Market Expansion Push

Nova Scotia unveiled its new Seafood Sector Strategy on June 24, aiming to help the province's seafood industry "adapt, compete and create more economic benefit" amid rising costs, labor shortages, and global trade uncertainty.

Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Kent Smith released the three-year strategy at Sea Star Seafoods in Clark's Harbour, highlighting the sector's critical role as Nova Scotia's top export industry. The province's seafood exports were valued at CAD 2.2 billion in 2025, supporting approximately 19,000 jobs...

Trump Decision to Reverse OOI Dismantling Came as Oregon Lifted the First Buoy Arrays

A bipartisan effort in the U.S. Senate last week led by Alaska’s Senator Lisa Murkowski and Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley proved sufficient to force the Trump administration to end its effort to scrap the Ocean Observation Initiative (OOI).  

Word that the National Science Foundation was suspending efforts to dismantle the system, as well as planning steps to replace several huge, expensive research buoys that have already been removed from the water, spread quickly through the seafood industry, lawmakers, and academics. Most applauded the announcement, but...

Federal Magistrate Recommends Voiding Permits for Nine Washington Shellfish Operations

A US federal magistrate judge has recommended that nine commercial shellfish aquaculture permits in Washington state be vacated, finding that the US Army Corps of Engineers improperly bypassed required environmental review when it authorized the operations — a ruling the Center for Food Safety is calling a "landmark victory."

The Report and Recommendation, issued June 23 by US Magistrate Judge David W. Christel of the Western District of Washington, is not yet a final order. Parties have 14 days to file objections, and the matter is scheduled for consideration by...

Ecuadorian Shrimp Sector Formalizes Mangrove Alliance with Conservation International

Ecuador's shrimp industry has partnered with Conservation International Ecuador (CI-Ecuador) to advance mangrove conservation, restoration, and sustainable aquaculture practices along the country's coast. The agreement, announced on June 24 in Guayaquil, brings together the National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) and the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) under a joint framework aligned with the Mangroves for Climate initiative.

By 2030, the alliance aims to restore 250 hectares of mangroves within shrimp farming landscapes — a goal the partners estimate could reduce approximately 112,870 metric tons of CO₂ emissions...

Angry Crab Shack Welcomes Ginni Naegle as Director of Franchise Operations

Angry Crab Shack, a leading full-service restaurant renowned for its seafood boils with bold Asian-Cajun flavors, announced that Ginni Naegle has been appointed Director of Franchise Operations. With more than 30 years of experience in restaurant and franchise operations, Naegle will help strengthen operational support across the brand's growing franchise system. She most recently served as Director of Operations at RMH Franchise Corporation.

"We are excited to welcome Ginni to the Angry Crab Shack family as we continue strengthening the support we provide to our franchise partners...

P.F. Chang’s Rolls Out “Summer in Tokyo,” Spotlighting Shareable Sushi and Tableside Drama

P.F. Chang’s is leaning into experience-driven dining this summer with "Summer in Tokyo," a limited-time program running June 25 through Sept. 15 that combines shareable sushi, theatrical presentation and influencer marketing.

At the center of the promotion is the new Sushi Boat, a tableside presentation delivered under a cloud of dry ice to create a memorable, social-ready moment. Designed for sharing, each boat includes chilled edamame, a California Roll, a Shrimp Tempura Roll and a choice of two additional...

Aleutian Islands Golden King Crab Catch for 2026-2027 Season Up 13% From Last Year

Yesterday, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced the season dates and catch limits for Aleutian Islands golden king crab. The season opens August 1, 2026 and closes April 30, 2027. This year, the fleet is allowed to catch 4.742 million pounds of the delicacy, slightly more than 13 percent above the 2025/26 season.  

Alaska’s Aleutian Golden King crab is harvested and managed differently from all other types of crab landed in Alaska. The total allowable catch (TAC) is divided...

Supreme Crab & Seafood Debuts at Fancy Food Show With New Blue Swimming Crab Combo Stack

Supreme Crab & Seafood is stepping onto the Summer Fancy Food Show floor for the first time this year, using the New York event to introduce a product aimed squarely at one of seafood’s most persistent challenges: maximizing crab yield without sacrificing appearance.

The company, which has supplied Indonesian Blue Swimming Crab, Red Swimming Crab, tuna, and related seafood products since 2009, will exhibit June 28–30 at the Javits Center, Booth 4000. The focus of its debut is the Signature Catch Blue Swimming Crab Combo...

NEAFC Members Move to Cap Russian Mackerel Catches in North-East Atlantic

The North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission has adopted new measures to restrict Russian mackerel fishing in international waters, with the European Commission calling the move an important but insufficient step toward addressing what it describes as years of unsustainable harvesting that have left the stock in critical condition.

Acting on a proposal tabled by the EU, NEAFC members — the EU, United Kingdom, Denmark (in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland), Norway, and Iceland — agreed to limit Russian catches of mackerel in international waters to 1,495...

Norwegian Salmon Mortality Falls 23% Year-on-Year as Positive Trend Intensifies

The number of salmon and trout dying in Norwegian aquaculture facilities has fallen sharply, with industry group Seafood Norway reporting a 23% decline in lost fish from January through May compared to the same period in 2025, and a 34% reduction since 2023, based on data published by the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries.

The trend, now in its third consecutive year, has broadened significantly. Where previous improvements were concentrated in the farming-heavy counties of Trøndelag and Vestland, the decline is now evident across nearly all of Norway's...

Iceland Land-Based Salmon Producer LAXEY Closes Oversubscribed EUR 47M Equity Raise

Icelandic land-based salmon producer LAXEY has completed a EUR 47 million equity raise — above its initial EUR 40 million target — after the offering was significantly oversubscribed, driven largely by existing shareholders increasing their positions. The raise brings the total equity secured by the company since inception to approximately EUR 200 million.

Alongside the equity close, LAXEY has signed a committed term sheet for an international syndicated loan coordinated by DNB Carnegie, with DNB, Rabobank, and Arion Bank as mandated lead arrangers...

FAO Pushes Social Metrics, Supply Chain Transparency at Global Small Pelagic Fish Symposium

The third International Symposium on Small Pelagic Fish (SPF-2026) brought together approximately 280 participants from 40 countries in La Paz, Mexico, in early May, with FAO GLOBEFISH playing a central role in shaping discussions on markets, labor standards, and sustainability in one of the world's most commercially significant fishery sectors.

Small pelagic species — including anchovies, sardines, herrings, and mackerels — account for around 30 percent of global marine catches and underpin both global fishmeal and fish oil supply chains, as well as direct human consumption, particularly...

Kura Sushi Launches Honkai: Star Rail Collaboration to Drive Guest Engagement

A pioneer in revolving sushi restaurants in the US, Kura Sushi has launched a new nationwide collaboration with Honkai: Star Rail. The company is launching  themed menu items, collectible rewards and loyalty incentives to deepen guest engagement and drive restaurant traffic this summer.

The limited-time promotion centers on fan-favorite characters Sparkle and Aventurine and incorporates Kura Sushi's proprietary Bikkura Pon platform, which rewards guests with collectible capsule prizes based on plate-count milestones.

The collaboration includes two character-inspired menu items: Sparkle's...

Power Outages Disrupt Tuna Cutting Operations in the Philippines and Indonesia

Rolling power outages triggered by a broader regional energy crisis are creating headaches for tuna processors in two of the world's most important loining and cutting hubs, the Philippines and Indonesia.

In the Philippines, the government declared a state of national energy emergency earlier this year after the Strait of Hormuz disruption cut deeply into fuel supplies. The country imports roughly 98% of its oil from the Middle East, leaving it acutely exposed to the fallout from the Iran war...

Cassidy to Introduce Bill Targeting Shrimp, Crawfish and Catfish Import Surges

US Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) plans to introduce the Home Market Restoration Act of 2026, legislation that would establish tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) on a range of import-sensitive food and agricultural products, including shrimp, crawfish, and catfish, in an effort to curb what he calls unfair foreign competition against American producers.

The bill would set country-by-country quotas for shrimp and crawfish, and new quota structures for catfish, rice, honey, lamb, goat meat, live cattle, and beef. Imports above the quota thresholds would face higher duty...

Private Labels, Health and Wellness Take Center Stage at UNFI’s 2026 Holiday and Winter Selling Show

UNFI hosted its 2026 Holiday and Winter Selling Show (East) at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, on June 24–25. 

The convention brought together more than 1,400 grocery retail representatives and 715 suppliers to connect ahead of the holiday and winter selling season. 

"This show reflects our continued focus on strengthening capabilities to help our retail customers differentiate and compete, while also supporting suppliers as they grow their brands in diverse retail environments," said Sandy Douglas, CEO of UNFI... 

Russia, Japan Reach Agreement on 2026 Fishing Quotas After Protracted Negotiations

Russia and Japan have reached an agreement on mutual fishing quotas within each other's 200-mile exclusive economic zones for 2026, concluding talks that stretched across multiple rounds of negotiations.

Under the terms of the deal, fishermen from both countries are permitted to catch up to 19,000 tonnes of seafood each within the other's EEZ — down from 22,000 tonnes under the previous arrangement. Approximately 70 trawlers are expected to operate during the season...

Expana's Weekly Top 10

Trade uncertainty, animal health, and shifting market dynamics continue to shape the agri‑food landscape. In this week’s Top Ten, we examine the developments influencing global supply chains, business strategy, and consumer markets, alongside the return of our regular columns and the latest episode of the Agri‑Food for Thought podcast. This list is in no particular order.

Find archived recaps here.

UNFI highlights three key trends at its 2026 Holiday and Winter Selling Show (East)

UNFI hosted its 2026 Holiday and Winter Selling Show (East) at...

ANALYSIS: Ecuador's Shrimp Export Declarations and US Arrivals Are Diverging

One of the inputs underpinning Expana's US shrimp import estimates is the relationship between Ecuador's declared exports to the US — as reported by Ecuadorian customs — and volumes recorded as arrivals by US customs. Historically, these two series have tracked closely, with an approximate one-month lag. That relationship forms a core component of the export-led seasonal...

Darden Sees Same-Store Sales Growth Across All Segments in Fiscal 2026

Darden Restaurants closed fiscal 2026 with sales and earnings growth that, according to President & CEO Rick Cardenas, outpaced the broader restaurant industry. Results were driven by positive same-restaurant sales across all segments, continued unit expansion and the benefit of a 53rd week of operations.

The company reported fiscal 2026 sales of $13.21 billion, up 9.4%, while blended same-restaurant sales increased 4.5%.

"Our performance throughout the fiscal year reflects the strength of our brands, the discipline of our strategy, and the quality of our...

Bairdi Snow Crab Landing Keeps Increasing, Exceeding 1800 MT in Hidaka, Hokkaido

The Hokkaido Research Organization's Mariculture Fisheries Research Institute recently compiled landing data for Bairdi snow crab in the Hidaka region—the primary production area—where catches have surged in recent years. Landings rose from 1 ton in 2022 to 817 tons in 2023, then more than doubled to 1,823 tons in 2024. The institute estimates that the figure increased further in 2025. 

According to reports from Minato Shimbun, one factor behind the surge is the higher market value resulting from larger catch sizes...

Death of Pregnant Fin Whale Caused by Cruise Ship Strike Before Docking in Seward

Federal and local scientists who conducted a necropsy on Saturday of an endangered and pregnant fin whale that arrived in port still draped over the bulbous bow of the Royal Caribbean Ovation of The Seas, said their preliminary findings are that the whale died of injuries consistent with a ship strike.

NOAA Fisheries collaborated with the Alaska SeaLife Center and Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services to perform a necropsy on the whale over the weekend to determine the cause of death...

Schouten Europe Buys Bobeldijk, Expanding Private-Label Plant Proteins

On June 24, the team at Schouten Europe announced the acquisition of Bobeldijk Food Group, a move that increases production capacity and broadens its reach in Europe’s plant-based meat and fish alternatives market, according to a press release.

For example, Bobeldijk Food Group sells meat alternative products like “Vegan Nuggets.” At the same time, Schouten sells private label retail products like “Vegan Fillets” using ingredients like vegetable oils, soy and wheat proteins, bamboo fibre, vinegar, onion, pea starch, salt, spices, and more.

SeaPak Marks Decades of Innovation as America Approaches Its 250th Anniversary

SeaPak Shrimp & Seafood Company is marking decades of business and innovation as America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, positioning the milestone as both a reflection on heritage and a reaffirmation of its role in shaping the frozen seafood category.

"America 250 is a moment to reflect on the ingenuity and determination that have shaped how we live, eat, and connect as a country," said Megan Grinstead, Vice President, Customer and Consumer Brand Marketing for Rich Products Corp., parent company of SeaPak. "SeaPak...

Sandals Puts Culinary Storytelling at the Center of Jamaica Resort Transformation

Sandals Resorts is using food and beverage as a key pillar of its US$200 million transformation of three Jamaica properties, introducing a series of new dining concepts designed to deepen guests' connection to the destination through local ingredients, cultural storytelling and immersive experiences.

The culinary additions will roll out across Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Caribbean Cay and Sandals South Coast as part of the extensive redevelopment project. The resorts are scheduled to reopen beginning in November and December 2026.

The Retail Rundown: Independence Day Demand Meets Rising Cookout Costs

After weeks of demand shaped by Memorial Day and Father’s Day, retailers are now preparing for the final major grilling holiday of the summer: Independence Day. For meat departments, the Fourth of July represents the last significant opportunity to capture peak grilling demand before the slower midsummer period begins.

This year’s holiday arrives with favorable calendar dynamics. Falling on a Saturday, July 4th creates a full holiday weekend expected to encourage extended celebrations and larger gatherings. For grocers, that translates into a critical window to drive volume and strengthen...

Ammonia Leak at Tamil Nadu Shrimp Processing Plant Kills at Least Nine, Injures Dozens

At least nine workers are dead, and more than 60 others were hospitalized after a large ammonia gas leak at a shrimp processing facility in Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu, India, on June 21, 2026. The death toll has continued to climb in the days since the incident.

The leak occurred at M/s Peter & Paul Seafood Exports — also identified in local media as St Peter's Paul Seafoods Exports Pvt Ltd — located in Kannigaipair, near Periyapalayam. The gas escaped from refrigeration equipment and spread rapidly across the...