FDA Confirms Indonesian Shrimp, Spice Supply Chains Remain Clear a Year After Cesium-137 Crisis

Indonesian shrimp and spice imports face no new restrictions after an FDA review found the country's cesium-137 (Cs-137) certification program is working as intended, signaling to US buyers that the supply chain disruption from last year's contamination crisis is unlikely to recur in the near term.

The FDA released a report on October 5 summarizing findings from a May 2026 in-country assessment of Indonesia's Cs-137 import certification program, which covers certain...

Aquamar's 'Chickensanity' Campaign Pits Scallops Against Wings for Game Day

Aquamar is using National Seafood Month to pick a fight with chicken — a fight the company has actually been teasing since the spring.

The seafood company has launched a campaign called "Chickensanity," built around a new product, Crispy Scallop Bites, designed to compete directly with wings, tenders and other snackable chicken formats at tailgates and on game day. Chef Brad Barnes, Aquamar's chef and President of Pure Food Consulting, says the pitch isn't about seafood already winning share from chicken. It's about closing what he calls an "occasion problem...

Just Shrimp Targets Seafood Accessibility with Shrimp Nuggets

Just Shrimp is looking to make seafood more approachable for families with its line of shrimp nuggets, which are launching in nearly 250 Harris Teeter stores during National Seafood Month (October).

In an exclusive interview with Expana, Just Shrimp founder Lee Edmondson discussed the company’s sourcing strategy, retail plans and the thinking behind its shrimp nugget format.

According to Edmondson, the company sources farm-raised Pacific white shrimp from Mexico’s Pacific Coast, specifically the Mazatlán region, and processes the shrimp in North America. He said the sourcing...

ANALYSIS: India's Shrimp Exports Hold Ground as US Share Shrinks, China Climbs

India's shrimp trade picture for July reveals a mixed but resilient export sector. Monthly volumes climbed 3.2% to 82,445 MT, as the spring harvest from both the East and West coasts came fully online, adding fresh supply to the pipeline. The year-to-date numbers, however, tell a more nuanced story. While cumulative volumes (January-July) have nudged up marginally by 1.2% to 378,941 MT, total revenue has slipped 3.3% to USD 3,091 million, a sign that pricing pressure is outweighing the modest gains in shipped quantity...

Stronger America Through Seafood Launches Campaign Targeting Federal Aquaculture Permitting

Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) has launched a new advocacy push timed to coincide with both National Seafood Month and active congressional debate over open ocean aquaculture legislation, pairing a social media campaign with a Washington Post op-ed co-authored with the Environmental Defense Fund.

SATS launched "8 Years, 8 Ways America is Missing Out" on October 1, a campaign the group says will run throughout October to highlight the urgent need for a clear, predictable federal permitting pathway to expand American aquaculture...

NOAA Confirms 76 US Large Whale Entanglements for 2025; 2026 Expected to Break All-time Record

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has just confirmed 76 large whale entanglement cases in 2025, a decrease from 2024. But according to a press release from the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), public data from May showed that at least 51 whales died on the U.S. West Coast so far this year.

NOAA’s National Report on Large Whale Entanglements Confirmed in the United States in 2025 states that entanglements in 2025 were lower than the 95 confirmed large whale entanglement cases in 2024...

New EIS Describes Potential Impacts on Western Alaska if Donlin Dam Failed by Only 27 Percent

Nearly two weeks have passed since the new court-ordered analysis of the planned Donlin mine tailings dam was released to the public. Reaction from residents, environmental organizations, and tribal groups has been strong.

The new draft supplemental environmental impact statement by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was ordered because the original EIS, completed in 2018, analyzed a potential break that would release of up to 0.5% of the millions of tons of material held behind...

Bakkafrost Becomes First Salmon Producer Certified Against ASC's New Global Farm Standard

Bakkafrost has become the first Atlantic salmon producer in the world to have farms certified against the Aquaculture Stewardship Council's (ASC) new Farm Standard, marking a milestone in the salmon sector's transition to ASC's global certification framework, the organization announced.

Three Bakkafrost farming sites in the Faroe Islands have achieved certification against the new standard, with the company now progressing the transition of its remaining sites in the Faroe Islands and Scotland. Bakkafrost chose to adopt the standard well ahead of the industry's transition deadline, building on...

IFFO: Peru's Anchovy Closure Keeps 2026 Fishmeal Supply on Pace for Lowest Since 2016

Raw material supply intended for fishmeal and fish oil production improved globally in August 2026, with stronger intake in several regions outweighing ongoing softness elsewhere, according to new data from IFFO, the trade body representing the marine ingredients industry. But the rebound hasn't been enough to offset an extended closure in Peru, the industry's largest single producer, with IFFO still projecting 2026 global fishmeal supply to hit its lowest level in a decade...

Mexico Opens Shrimp Fisheries in Parts of Pacific and Gulf of Mexico

Mexico has opened shrimp fishing in parts of the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean as the country begins its fall fishing season for several key species.

Mexico’s National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries, or Conapesca, announced the openings based on recommendations from the Mexican Institute for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Research, known as IMIPAS. The measures are intended to support the conservation and sustainable management of marine and freshwater resources.

In the Gulf of Mexico, shrimp fishing opened Oct. 1 in Tabasco’s...

Ambienta Acquires Four Aquaculture Technology Companies to Build Nordic Platform

European asset manager Ambienta SGR S.p.A. has acquired four aquaculture technology companies and combined them into a new Nordic industrial platform focused on sustainable aquaculture, the firm said.

The companies, Bio Marine AS, Flatsetsund Engineering AS (FLS), Smir AS and P/F GroAqua Group, supply technologies spanning fish health, feed optimization, aquaculture equipment, farming systems and waste treatment. Ambienta said the platform is designed to scale those technologies across species and geographies, while creating cross-selling opportunities and supporting product development...

At-sea Processors Association Names Heidi Olson VP for Fisheries Policy and Advocacy

The At-sea Processors Association (APA) has named Heidi Olson as its new Vice President for Fisheries Policy and Advocacy, the trade group announced October 1. Based in Anchorage, Olson will lead APA's work in Alaska, with a portfolio that includes engagement with regional fishery managers including the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

Olson joins APA from the Associated General Contractors of Alaska, where she served as Membership Director. She previously worked for the Alaska State Government, serving with the Department of Corrections...

Sernapesca Cracks Down on Illegal Fishing in Southern Chile

Chile’s National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) has stepped up enforcement in southern Chile, seizing illegal spider crab gear in Magallanes and identifying seven vessels illegally harvesting southern hake in Aysén.

In Punta Arenas’ Barranco Amarillo cove, Sernapesca and the Chilean Navy found 99 bags of spider crab nets aboard a docked vessel. The gear was seized and the case referred to the Civil Court of Punta Arenas.

Ximena Gallardo, Sernapesca’s regional director in Magallanes, said it was the agency’s second discovery of illegal spider crab...

Chile, India Advance Seafood Trade Agreement

Chile and India are working toward a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening trade and cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture, including the development of sanitary certification procedures for seafood exports.

Chile’s National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) met with India’s competent health authority to compare control systems and advance work on a sanitary certificate format for fishery and aquaculture products exported to India.

“India is a strategic partner with significant economic development potential for our sector,” Sernapesca National Director Soledad Tapia said. “For this reason...

Japan's Yanmar Agrees to Acquire AKVA Group in $611 Million Aquaculture Technology Deal

AKVA Group ASA has agreed to be acquired by Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd., the Japanese industrial conglomerate, in a recommended voluntary cash offer valuing the Norwegian aquaculture technology supplier at approximately NOK 5.9 billion ($611 million), the companies announced on October 2.

Under the deal, Pontos Bidco AS — a newly formed Norwegian entity indirectly owned by Yanmar — will offer NOK 161 per share for all outstanding AKVA shares. The price represents a 57% premium over AKVA's undisturbed closing price of NOK 102.5 on April 7...

Canadian Aquaculture Alliance Rebrands as Canadian Seafood Farmers

The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance has rebranded as Canadian Seafood Farmers / Producteurs Aquacoles Canadiens, reflecting the sector’s push to have aquaculture recognized and supported on par with other Canadian agriculture. Members unanimously approved the new name at the association’s annual general meeting on Sept. 29. The change comes as the federal government emphasizes economic resilience and domestic food production amid a challenging trade environment.

“Aquaculture is agriculture, and our members are focused on responsibly growing, harvesting and processing Product of Canada seafood for grocery stores,” said Timothy Kennedy...

EU Lawmakers, Fishers and Rights Groups Confront 'Social Dimension' of Tuna Fishing

The European Parliament hosted a conference this week examining labor conditions aboard fishing vessels, with organizers arguing that sustainability in the seafood industry can't be measured by ocean health alone.

The event, "Advancing the Social Dimension of Sustainable Fisheries," was held Wednesday in Brussels and convened fishers, labor unions, academics and human rights experts to discuss the gap between working conditions on European-flagged vessels and those in distant-water fleets supplying the EU market, according to a press release...

Sealaska Sells European Seafood Business to Sojitz

Sealaska Corporation has sold its interests in Sealaska Foods International Holdings Ltd., a group of European seafood businesses that includes U.K.-based New England Seafood International and operations in Norway and Iceland.

The Alaska Native regional corporation said late last week that its subsidiary, Woocheen, completed the sale as part of a strategy to unlock value from its global business platform and direct more resources to shareholder programs.

The European seafood businesses will join Sojitz Corp., a Japanese trading and investment company with operations in Japan and...

A Second ISA Virus Case Hits Chile's Aysén Region, This Time at a Cermaq Farm

Chile's fisheries agency has confirmed a second, separate infectious salmon anemia (ISA) virus detection in the Aysén region, this time at a Cermaq Chile site, just over a week after confirming the strain behind an earlier outbreak at a Salmones Camanchaca farm in the same region.

Chile's National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) said it received a positive lab report for the pathogenic ISA virus variant at the Luchín farming center (Center Code No. 11093), operated by Cermaq Chile S.A. and located in Salmonid Concession...

NAPA Ends Six-Year FIPs, Warns Members May Pull Back From North East Atlantic Pelagic Sourcing

The North Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group (NAPA) has formally concluded its two Fisheries Improvement Projects (FIPs) covering North East Atlantic mackerel, blue whiting and Atlanto-Scandian herring, ending six years of work the coalition says failed to secure the sharing arrangements needed to stop overfishing of the three stocks.

NAPA, a pre-competitive coalition of 58 businesses spanning retailers, suppliers, foodservice companies, fishmeal producers, feed companies and salmon farmers, said the conclusion of the FIPs marks a shift in approach...

China's Rebound Drives Q1 Surge in Vietnam's Pangasius Exports, FAO Data Shows

Global pangasius trade strengthened in the first quarter of 2026, led by a sharp recovery in Chinese buying, according to new data from the FAO's GLOBEFISH market monitoring unit.

Vietnam supplied 210,830 tonnes of the 230,129 tonnes of frozen pangasius entering international trade in Q1 2026, giving it a 92% share of the global market, per FAO figures. Vietnamese shipments rose 16% year-on-year, with frozen fillets accounting for 84% of total exports...

Global Fast Food Market Seen Reaching $2.57 Trillion by 2031, Report Says

The global fast food market is projected to reach $2.57 trillion by 2031, up from $1.78 trillion in 2026, according to Mordor Intelligence. Its latest research report points to convenience, digital ordering and changing consumer preferences as key growth drivers.

The study shows that technology is playing a bigger role in restaurant operations. Mordor Intelligence cited Domino's March update to its Tracker, which added an AI-powered system designed to provide more accurate ready-time estimates and better order visibility. Domino’s said the...

Scott & Jon’s Expands Seafood Lineup with Tuna Noodle Casserole

Scott & Jon’s is expanding beyond its core shrimp, salmon and whitefish offerings with the launch of Homestyle Tuna Noodle Casserole, its first tuna product.

The frozen meal features al dente egg noodles, peas and chunk light tuna in a sauce made with milk, cream and cheddar cheese, topped with seasoned breadcrumbs. Each serving contains 21 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber, with fewer than 500 calories.

The launch comes as consumers continue to seek familiar comfort foods. In the National Restaurant Association’s 2026 What’s Hot...

Pike Place Fish Market Moves to Square for Payments, Operations

Seattle seafood retailer Pike Place Fish Market has selected Square as its unified commerce platform, moving away from a payment system it had used for more than a decade.

The move is aimed at modernizing the market’s day-to-day operations, streamlining in-person payments and creating a technology platform that can support the business as it grows.

Pike Place Fish Market, which has operated at Seattle’s Pike Place Market since 1930, draws more than 20,000 visitors daily and is known for its high-volume...

Seafood Can Tap into UK Protein Trend, NSC says

The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) says the seafood industry can capitalize on rising UK demand for protein by making fish and shellfish’s natural protein credentials clearer to shoppers.

NSC data shows 76% of UK consumers buy foods with added benefits such as protein, fiber, vitamins or minerals, and 45% follow some form of diet, with high-protein the most common. Online grocer Ocado reported a 20% year‑on‑year rise in searches for “natural protein,” evidence, NSC says, that simple, visible messaging works.

Sushi-Ten USA Expands with New California Concept

SUSHI-TEN USA, the restaurant group behind Sushi Nigiriba, has opened a new sushi concept in Cypress, California, expanding its Southern California footprint to three locations.

Sushi Blissba, which opened 1 October, is led by Corporate Chef Masaya Minyu and offers à la carte and coursed menus focused on Japanese preparations and seafood.

The menu includes sashimi, nigiri, rolls and gunkan, along with Anago, a saltwater conger eel dish torched tableside. Other offerings include Tamagoyaki, grilled skewers and fish, and Black Cod...

US Senator Introduces Bill to Phase In 40% Tariff on Ecuadorian Shrimp

US Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) introduced legislation Sept. 30 to phase in tariffs up to 40% on shrimp and prepared shrimp products imported from Ecuador, citing economic pressure on Gulf Coast shrimpers as Ecuador's share of the US market has grown.

The Ecuador Shrimp Tariff Act would raise duties in stages, reaching a general 40% rate by Jan. 1, 2029. It would also add a $0.10-per-kilogram duty on covered shrimp imports, use the proceeds to fund inspections of imported shrimp and catfish...

Chile Confirms Virus Strain at Salmones Camanchaca Salmon Farm, Sets Up Safety Zone

Chile's fisheries agency has confirmed the type of virus behind a disease outbreak at a salmon farm in the Aysén region, and has now set up a protected zone around the site to stop it from spreading further.

From suspected to confirmed

The case was first flagged on September 18, when Chile's National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) received a positive lab result for infectious salmon anemia (ISA) virus at the Izaza farm, run by Salmones Camanchaca...

Santa Monica Seafood Sues Carrier Over $58,551 Cold-Chain Failure on Aldi-Bound Shipment

Santa Monica Seafood Company has filed suit against VV Logistics Solutions Inc., alleging the Illinois-based carrier let a truckload of fresh fish destined for Aldi run at unsafe temperatures for hours, resulting in a rejected shipment and damages exceeding $58,551.30.

The complaint, filed Sept. 2, 2026, in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, brings a jury-demand claim under the Carmack Amendment, the federal law governing carrier liability for interstate cargo loss and damage...

The Kingfish Company Posts First-Ever Positive EBITDA Half-Year, Confirms Debt Restructuring

The Kingfish Company turned Operational EBITDA positive for the first time in a half-year period, reporting €0.3 million for H1 2026 against a loss of €2.5 million in H1 2025, as the Dutch land-based Yellowtail Kingfish producer published its unaudited interim financial statements for the six months ended June 30.

The figures confirm preliminary results the Kats, Netherlands-based company (OSE: KING) released on August 14, with Operational EBITDA landing slightly above the earlier €0.2 million estimate...