ANALYSIS: Pacific Halibut Market Facing Tight Quotas, Low Landings and High Prices

The 2025 Pacific halibut season opened against the backdrop of one of the lowest quotas on record, immediately shaping a tighter supply outlook. The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) set removals at 29.72 million pounds, down from 35.28 million pounds last year. Within that, the commercial quota was cut 18% to 19.7 million pounds from 24.03 million pounds in 2024, establishing a firm undertone in the market from the outset...

Upcoming Webinar: Forecasting the Future of Commodity Prices, Q4 2025 and Beyond

Expana invites you to a free, live webinar featuring our experts Tom Bundgaard, Vice President of Price Forecasting, and Craig Erlam, Forecast Analyst.

Join us on September 11 at 4 PM CET / 3 PM BST / 10 AM ET for a comprehensive macroeconomic briefing focused on the latest Q4 2025 commodity price forecasts and what lies ahead for 2026.

As global economic indicators increasingly hint at a potential recession, understanding the anticipated impact on commodity prices is critical for businesses

Japan's H1 Frozen Black Cod Imports Down 3%; Import Price of US Black Cod Up 25%

According to the Ministry of Finance's trade statistics, frozen black cod imports in the first half of this year (January to June) totaled 3,379 tons, a 3% decrease from the same period last year. The average price rose 27% to 1,321 yen/kg ($8.93/kg). The 3,117-ton imports from the United States accounted for 92% of the total. Of this, the import price for American products was 1,316 yen/kg ($8.90/kg), representing a 25% increase...

NFI Sushi Council Welcomes Bento Inc., One of North America’s Largest Sushi Companies

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) Sushi Council announced Bento Inc. as its newest member on August 27.

Bento is based in Toronto, Ontario, and is one of the largest sushi companies in North America. NFI, a seafood trade association, noted that the company works with customers in grocery retail, institutional foodservice and quick service outlets.

Bento provides grab-and-go options and full-service sushi programs in supermarkets, universities, hospitals, and other foodservice segments.

“Joining the NFI Sushi Council is a natural extension of our mission to...

California Cracks Down on Illegal Fishing Activity by Revoking Two Licenses

A history of abandoning crab and lobster traps resulted in a stark comeuppance for two California fishermen recently, as the state said, “No more.” 

The California Fish and Game Commission in June revoked the commercial fishing license and lobster operating permit of Christopher James Miller, 68, of Santa Barbara, and the commercial fishing license and Dungeness crab permit of Ronald Ghera, 45, of Fortuna. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, both men had extensive histories of violations in their respective fisheries...

Blue Star Foods Q2 Revenue Jumps 85% as Losses Narrow

Blue Star Foods reported a return to growth, marked by a strong revenue increase and a 68% reduction in net loss during the second quarter of 2025.

John Keeler, Chairman and CEO of Blue Star Foods, commented, “Over the past several months, we have right-sized our operating expenses to match our revenue levels, resulting in a reduction in losses. We have re-positioned and re-focused our sales team with new hires who have assisted in our return to revenue growth..

Quinlan Donates $50,000 to Canadian Red Cross for Wildfire Relief

Quinlan today announced a $50,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross in support of communities devastated by the recent wildfires in Newfoundland and Labrador.

For Quinlan, this cause resonates deeply. In 2016, the company’s Bay de Verde processing plant was destroyed by fire, a loss that left an indelible mark on the organization and the community. Having lived through the devastation of fire, Quinlan understands firsthand the emotional, financial, and social toll it can have on people, families, and entire regions...

NOAA Fisheries Calls for Comments on Revitalizing US Seafood Following Trump Executive Order

NOAA Fisheries is seeking public input on President Trump’s April 2025 Executive Order on ‘Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.’

Following the April 17 Executive Order, the Department of Commerce, through NOAA Fisheries, launched a “bold, coordinated effort” in hopes of revitalizing the US seafood industry.

NOAA Fisheries stated that the call for public comments is a crucial step in its effort to make the US a global leader in seafood.

“Through our implementation of the President’s Executive Order, NOAA Fisheries is aiming to address the recent decline...

Bakkafrost Sees Q2 Earnings Pressure Amid Rising Global Salmon Supplies

Bakkafrost CEO Regin Jacobsen said the company was “not satisfied” with its second-quarter financial results. He added that a “significant increase” in salmon supplies globally led to lower prices, impacting its earnings.

The company reported its operational EBIT for its Faroe Islands operations at DKK 211 million ($32.8 million), slightly below the Q2 2024 mark. However, its operational EBIT for its Scottish operations fell into the red, to DKK -146 million, compared to DKK 113 million seen last year...

University of Hawaiʻi Study: Saltwater Recirculation Systems Boost Tilapia Growth by 15%

A new study from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is making waves in the world of sustainable seafood production. Researchers at the Tuahine Research and Education Center found that Mozambique tilapia, a popular aquaculture species, grows 15% faster in recirculating artificial saltwater systems than in traditional freshwater environments. 

The finding points to major implications for the future of aquaculture, especially in regions with limited access to water resources or that may have limited access in the future due to...

Unalaska May Process St. Paul Snow Crab Again While St. Paul Faces No Air Service

The unique agreement between two Bering Sea communities that allows one to process crab for the other and funnel the fish tax back to the one with no processing capacity, may be extended to the 2025-26 crab season, according to a report by KUCB of Unalaska.

Last January, St. Paul in the Pribilov Islands, and Unalaska/Dutch Harbor processors, with the approval of NOAA Fisheries and the industry, designed a work-around if Trident Seafoods did not open...

Fraser River Salmon Return Now at 9.1 Million Sockeye, 27M Pink Salmon

No one yet knows why, but the predicted return of sockeye salmon in British Columbia’s Fraser River rose from 2.94 million in early July to 10.2 million sockeye on Tuesday, August 19, and is now down to 9.1 million as of last Friday, August 22. This is the largest return to the Fraser, which has historically been Canada’s most productive watershed, since 2018. 

Catches as of August 22 for the Fraser alone are 651,626 sockeye landed in Canada and 298,587 sockeye landed in the US. Of those, US...

Captain D’s Featuring Batter Dipped Shrimp for First Time

Fast casual seafood chain Captain D’s unveiled a new first in the company’s 55-plus-year history.

The brand launched Batter Dipped Shrimp, marking the first time shrimp will feature the company’s batter. The product is available from August 25 through October 26 for $5.99.

"Our guests know and love the flavor and crunch of our Batter Dipped Fish," said Bindi Menon, Chief Marketing Officer of Captain D's. "With our new Batter Dipped Shrimp, we're giving them that same crave-worthy taste in a whole new way...

New Zealand King Salmon Chief Financial Officer Resigns

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Limited (NZX & ASX: NZK) announces that the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Ben Rodgers has resigned and will leave the company in November 2025.

CEO Carl Carrington said “Ben has made a significant contribution in advancing our organisational and operational capability as the business prepares for transformational growth. Ben’s energy, leadership and mana resonates across the business and puts us in a good space to be rightfully excited for the future.” NZK will commence a search for...

Efforts in Improvement, Innovation in Fishery Management to be Showcased at Alaska Pollock Meeting

Researchers, captains and industry leaders will come together to discuss the historical and recent significant improvements the Wild Alaska Pollock fishery has made at the industry’s annual gathering, the Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) announced today. Two panels, one dedicated to a discussion around collaborative research informing environmental impacts and a second focused on technological advancements for bycatch avoidance will illuminate recent efforts along the industry’s journey of continuous improvement.

“This industry has worked incredibly hard, since its inception, to constantly...

Beaver Street Fisheries Recalls Walmart’s Great Value Shrimp Products Following FDA Advisory

Beaver Street Fisheries recalled Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp as a precautionary measure following the recent US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory that warned the public not to consume certain shrimp products due to concerns over Cesium-137 (Cs-137) contamination.

The Florida-based company said the Walmart Great Value brand Frozen Raw Shrimp EZ-Peel & Deveined Tail-On 21-25 Per lb. products were distributed in AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MO, MS, OH, OK, PA, TX, and...

Japanese Seafood Businesses Skeptical that Exports to China Will Return to Form

At the end of June, the Chinese government announced that it would lift the ban on Japanese seafood that had been in place since 2023. Japanese businesses are making various preparations for the resumption of exports to China, marking the first such move in nearly two years. However, over the past two years, country risks have become apparent, and sales channels have diversified beyond China. Some businesses are skeptical that exports to China will regain their former popularity, reported Minato Shimbun. 

China was once a central processing...

CDFW Grant Helps Fund Coho Conservation Activity in Santa Cruz County

Some may call funding to support a captive broodstock program at a Kingfisher Flat Conservation Hatchery in California a joint venture.  

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife Cannabis Restoration Grant Program recently awarded more than $3.9 million to the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project to support operations at the hatchery in Santa Cruz County. The funds will help continue its education, outreach and monitoring activities, CDFW said in a statement.

The Project’s Kingfisher Flat Conservation Hatchery—the only coho salmon conservation hatchery in California south...

Ecuador Strengthens Asian Ties with MoC and Trade Agreement with Japan, Korea

Ecuador’s Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade and Investment announced a pair of agreements that the country signed with Japan and the Republic of South Korea.

On August 28, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Ecuadorian Institute for the Promotion of Ecuador (PRO ECUADOR). The agreement focused on bilateral relations in trade, investment, industry and tech.

From an agricultural export standpoint, Ecuador’s non-oil exports to Japan exceeded $332 million. The country shipped over 14,000...

Trump Announces US-Indonesia Trade Agreement; New Details Emerge

UPDATE: July 22, 2025 4:37 PM ET

This afternoon, US President Trump posted to Truth Social after revealing a similar 19% trade deal with the Philippines, reported Expana.

"It is my Great Honor to announce our Trade Agreement with the Republic of Indonesia, as represented by their Highly Respected President, Prabowo Subianto. It is agreed that Indonesia will be Open Market to American Industrial and Tech Products, and Agricultural Goods, by eliminating 99% of their Tariff Barriers. The United States of America will now sell American Made products to Indonesia..."

The Retail Rundown: Labor Day Protein Promotions at a Glance

Seafood leads Labor Day protein promotions, accounting for 27.1% of total ad volume. Pork follows at 23.2%, with beef and chicken each capturing about 22%. Retail buying opportunities for turkey held steady at 3.5%, while promotional activity for shell eggs remained limited.

Back-to-school demand has provided fair to fairly good retail support for eggs, according to Expana, with shelf prices holding mainly steady across most areas in the past month. Last week, white large Grade A eggs were advertised at $4.49 per dozen discounted, nearly $1...

Grieg Streamlines Around Rogaland, Names Nina Willumsen Grieg as CEO

Grieg Seafood, a Norway-headquartered salmon farmer, appointed Nina Willumsen Grieg as permanent CEO and unveiled its financial results for Q2 as the company began a new chapter after it sold a large amount of its assets to Cermaq in July.

Since March 30, Willumsen Grieg has worked as Grieg’s interim CEO. After leading the way with the nearly $1 billion deal with Cermaq, Willumsen Grieg now holds the role permanently. In July, Grieg sold its operations in Finnmark, Norway, and British Columbia and Newfoundland, Canada, to Cermaq...

National Fisheries Institute Names New Media, Communications Manager

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) announced that Brandon Shillingford is the association's new Media and Communications Manager.

“We are thrilled to have Brandon joining us,” said NFI President and CEO Lisa Wallenda Picard. “Having someone fill this role with a solid strategic communications base has always been important. Brandon will hit the ground running while he learns the seafood value chain and our policy and program focuses. He will be on hand for the NFI Leadership Summit in September, where he will begin to meet our member companies...

Chile’s Environmental Agency Forces Cooke to Shutter Salmon Farms Over Production, Permit Infraction

Chile’s Environmental Superintendency (SMA) ordered Cooke Aquaculture SA, seafood giant Cooke Inc.’s aquaculture segment, to shut down a pair of its salmon farms located inside a Chilean national park, citing various violations on August 22.

The SMA’s sanctions will force Cooke to shutter its facilities at Huillines 2 and Huillines 3, both located in the Laguna San Rafael National Park. The SMA said its closure decision will now head to the Environmental Court for consultation.

Cooke was hit with eight environmental violations at three of...

FDA Expands Recall Dates for Korean Frozen Oysters Linked to Norovirus Concerns

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has broadened its advisory on Korean frozen oysters, announcing on August 20 that more batches should not be eaten because of norovirus concerns.

The latest update from the FDA said it expanded the date of the potentially impacted product from February 7, 2025, through August 7, 2025. So, the product of concern is now all oysters harvested from December 30, 2024, and August 7, 2025.

The product in question remains frozen, raw...

Long John Silver’s Expanding $6 Basket Value Meal Line

Long John Silver’s announced an expansion of its $6 Basket lineup, featuring chicken and seafood fan favorites, including Chicken Planks, hand-battered fish, batter-dipped shrimp, or grilled shrimp.

"As guests look to stretch their budget, value is a top factor in deciding where to go for their next meal. They want affordable options that do not skimp on flavor or quality," said Christopher Caudill, senior vice president of marketing and innovation at Long John Silver's. "Our $6 Baskets deliver on that need, giving guests a way...

Baltic Nations Raise Concerns Over Potential Stock Drops of Baltic Sea Species

The volume of catch in the Baltic Sea may significantly decline in years to come, mainly due to the ongoing reduction of local fish stocks, which is observed by fishermen from Russia and the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.  

According to earlier statements, made by scientists of the Atlantic branch of the All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) - one of Russia’s leading research institutions in the field of fisheries – perhaps the most complex situation is observed in case of cod, which...

ANALYSIS: US Salmon Imports from Iceland Surge in Early 2025; Outpace Prior Year Volumes

U.S. salmon imports from Iceland show a significant upward shift during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The data reveals imports through June 2025 reached 6.36 million pounds, already almost half the volume imported during all of 2024 (13.24 million pounds). Notably, each month in 2025 so far has outpaced corresponding 2024 figures by a wide margin—January and February imports more than doubled year-over-year. April, May, and June 2025 also saw sustained strength, importing roughly...

Canada Drops Most Retaliatory Tariffs on US Goods

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on August 22 that Canada will drop most retaliatory tariffs on US products, with the changes taking effect September 1. Carney clarified during a press conference that tariffs on US autos, steel, and aluminum will remain for now, but asserted that Canada now holds the best trade deal of all US trading partners.

Under the new policy, tariffs on US goods will be lifted if the products are exempt under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)...

USDA Picks Silver Bay for Canned Salmon Contract

Silver Bay Seafoods won a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) contract for 100 metric tons of canned pink salmon for $877,000.

The product will be destined for Sri Lanka via the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program that supports education, child development, and food security in low-income, food-deficient countries around the globe.

The rest of the contract included corn-soy blend, lentils, vegetable oil and rice to go along with the canned salmon...