Ecuador Shrimp Sector Faces Another Hit as Power Cuts Deepen and Rains Build

Ecuador's shrimp sector is absorbing a growing list of setbacks. The government has ordered high- and medium-voltage industries to disconnect from the grid four days a week, up from three, according to the National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA). Its executive president, José Antonio Camposano, said the measure "stifles businesses." He told local television station Ecuavisa that some packing plants have stopped processing 150,000 to 300,000 pounds of shrimp in a single shift, and that several companies have cut November output to 35% of normal...

USDA Seeks 1.9 Million Pounds of Alaska Pollock and Catfish for Food Assistance Programs

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued solicitation 12-3J14-27-B-0058 for Alaska pollock and catfish products for federal food and nutrition assistance programs. The solicitation seeks 1,940,400 pounds across six product lines.

Bids are due November 12, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Central Time, and awards will be announced by 5:00 p.m. Central Time on November 24. Deliveries are scheduled for January 1 through June 30, 2027, on a free-on-board destination basis. Bids must be submitted through...

California Delays Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Until at Least January 2027 Over Entanglements

California's commercial Dungeness crab season is delayed until at least January 1, 2027, the Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced. The delay covers waters from the Oregon border to Point Conception and halts the commercial launch planned for this month. The state cited the number of humpback whale entanglements confirmed in 2026 and high whale abundance across the fishing grounds, and said the delay will let whales migrate out of state waters before boats go out...

SalMar Posts Record Harvest of 105,100 MT as Q3 Operational EBIT Hits NOK 1.6 Billion

SalMar reported record-high harvest volume and a significant improvement in results for the third quarter of 2026. Operational EBIT for the group was NOK 1,609 million ($172.5 million), and the company harvested a record 105,100 tonnes, with operational EBIT per kg of NOK 15.3. Norway alone posted operational EBIT of NOK 1,620 million, on 99,900 tonnes harvested and NOK 16.2 per kg...

Thai Union Q3 Sales Rise 3.4% as i-Tail Growth and US Pet Deal Lift Americas Push

Thai Union Group reported third-quarter sales of THB 35.7 billion ($1.06 billion), up 3.4% year on year, its third consecutive quarter of growth. Operating profit rose 16.2% to THB 2.1 billion, and gross margin reached 20.4%, the second quarter in a row above 20%. Net profit rose 3.2% to THB 1.35 billion. For the first nine months, sales rose 4.0%, gross margin reached a nine-month record of 20.0%, and earnings per share rose 7.8% to THB 0.97...

Long John Silver’s Rolls Out Fall Comfort-Food Lineup with Returning Chowder, Mac and Cheese

Long John Silver’s is leaning into comfort food this fall with a seasonal refresh centered on returning favorites and value-driven bundles.

The chain is bringing back Clam Chowder and Mac and Cheese, while also spotlighting a new Fish and Chowder Platter and a refreshed $6 Fish Basket.

“There’s just something about a warm bowl of Clam Chowder when the weather turns cold,” said Meredith Smith, director of brand marketing at Long John Silver’s. “We’re bringing back the original recipe...

Russian Fishery Company Signs Anjoy Foods Deal and Pushes Pollock Roe Into Asian Markets

Russian Fishery Company (RRPC) has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Anjoy Foods Group, one of China's leading food producers, to supply high-quality pollock surimi to the Chinese market. The companies say the deal aims to build a reliable, sustainable and traceable supply chain from catch to consumer. The agreement, signed on October 29, 2026, calls for direct dealings without intermediaries...

Scotland Trials 12-Mile Aquaculture Zones East of Shetland

Crown Estate Scotland is piloting an extension of aquaculture development areas from the current three-mile limit to 12 nautical miles, with trial sites in three areas off the east coast of Shetland. The pilot will test new technology and management approaches to finfish farming, and it will assess whether farms in more exposed water can reduce environmental impacts while supporting fish health and welfare...

Sysco Names Brandon Sewell Chief Financial Officer; Company Reaffirms Fiscal 2027 

Sysco Corporation today announced that Brandon Sewell, the Company’s Interim Chief Financial Officer since March 2026, has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective November 1, 2026.

“Brandon has distinguished himself as a trusted and highly effective leader throughout his twelve years with the company, and when asked to step in as Interim Chief Financial Officer, he performed at a high level,” said Kevin Hourican, Sysco’s Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. “Brandon commands a deep...

ANALYSIS: Norwegian Red King Crab Slides From Record Territory as US Retreat Deepens

For most of the first half of 2026, Norwegian red king crab appears to have traded near record territory in the US market. That run now seems to have ended. Across every size grade Expana tracks, ex-warehouse prices have reportedly been sliding since late summer, with the pace of decline apparently accelerating through October. Expana's market commentary has repeatedly described it as a "broad-based retreat" — or, more precisely, "a broader, measured retreat rather than a sharp correction...

Cruz Commits to Markup of Bill Extending Right Whale Pause for Maine Lobstermen

US Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-TX) has committed to moving legislation that would extend the pause on new North Atlantic right whale fishing regulations through 2035. The committee will mark up the bill when the Senate returns in November.

Maine Senators Susan Collins and Angus King wrote to Cruz on September 15, asking him to advance the bill. Their letter pressed the committee to act quickly and pointed to a right whale monitoring program run by Maine's Department of Marine Resources...

Norwegian Salmon Farm Profits Fall 46% in 2025

Norway's salmon farms earned a combined pre-tax profit of NOK 7.7 billion ($829 million) in 2025, down NOK 6.6 billion, or 46%, from NOK 14.3 billion in 2024, according to the Directorate of Fisheries (Fiskeridirektoratet). The directorate's profitability survey covers 87% of smolt permits and 87.6% of salmon and rainbow trout food-fish permits.

The squeeze came from prices. The average salmon sale price fell 10.2% to NOK 61.31 per kg, from NOK 68.26 in 2024...

Japan's Fisheries Agency Proposed to Slash Pacific Sardine TAC by 75% for 2027

On October 27, the Fisheries Agency met in Tokyo to discuss the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the Pacific stock of Japanese sardine. The Agency proposed reducing the TAC for the 2027 fishing season (January–December) by 75%—from 661,000 tons to 162,000 tons.

According to the Minato Shimbun, the Pacific stock of Japanese sardine is declining sharply; preliminary data show that the catch through the end of August this year was only about 80,000 tons. It remains unclear whether reducing next year's...

SNP’s Call to Action: Strengthen the Country’s Brain Health Infrastructure With Better Nutrition

A new white paper titled Brain Health Is National Infrastructure: A Call to Action for Philanthropy, Public Policy, and Investment Community, was issued earlier this week by the Seafood Nutrition Partnership. It outlines a path to advance brain health through nutrition, public policy, and strategic investment.

The report builds on findings from SNP’s 10th Annual State of the Science Symposium, held September 14 in Washington, D.C., in partnership with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). Nutrition science, food systems, military health...

Commission Approves Additional €212 M French State Aid for Agricultural and Aquaculture Companies

The European Commission has approved a €212 million budget increase and an extension of the eligibility period for a French State aid scheme for agricultural and aquaculture companies facing increased fuel prices due to the Middle East crisis. The amendment was approved under the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF) adopted by the Commission on 29 April 2026.

The original scheme aimed to mitigate the impact of the increase in non-road diesel fuel prices (gazole non routier...

Norcod Welcomes Anders Skaare as Head of People & Culture

Norcod has appointed Anders Skaare in the newly established position as Head of People & Culture, supporting the cod farmer's focus on organisational development in time of significant growth.

Skaare joins Norcod from a similar role at wellboat operator Frøy and brings extensive experience working with human resources and organisational development across Norwegian companies.

In the new role, Skaare will be responsible for continued development of a strong organisation and structure at Norcod, including supporting recruitment, internal communications and employee development.

"We are excited to welcome Anders...

US Shrimpers Petition ITC to Block Indian Shrimp Imports Over Forced Labor

The US shrimp industry, backed by the Southern Shrimp Alliance, has filed a trade action with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) seeking to end imports of Indian shrimp produced "through the reprehensible use of forced labor."

The Section 337 complaint asks the ITC to determine whether forced labor in the supply chains of seafood producer Nekkanti Sea Foods is an unfair trade practice that harms domestic shrimp producers...

Aurora Coop Buys Mar & Terra Fish Assets in Brazil, Taking On Farming and Feed

Aurora Coop, the Chapecó-based cooperative, has agreed to buy the fish production and processing assets of Mar & Terra in Itaporã, Mato Grosso do Sul. The deal, announced on October 29 with Bello Alimentos of Itaquiraí, covers the industrial plant, a feed factory and the company's own fish farms, according to the joint statement.

The companies say the deal fits Aurora's strategy of "strengthening and expanding its operations in the fish segment...

CFIA Recalls Snow Crab-Flavored Surimi Sticks Over Undeclared Egg, Soy Allergens

A recall was triggered after testing by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed undeclared allergens in a product. The agency is investigating snow crab-flavored surimi sticks following an Oct. 30 announcement that the recalled product contained egg and soy, neither of which was clearly declared on the label.

The product's brand is unclear, with the CFIA identifying it only as "Chinese characters" in its announcement. The recalling firm is listed as Ecological Park Agriculture Inc. The surimi sticks are sold...

Study Tracks Bristol Bay Red King Crab Movements to Inform Fishing Closures

A new satellite-tagging study of Bristol Bay red king crab suggests that fixed closure areas may not keep pace with shifting crab distributions as ocean bottom temperatures change, and offers a modeling approach managers can use to consider more dynamic protections.

Researchers from NOAA Fisheries and the University of Alaska Fairbanks tracked mature male red king crabs during NOAA bottom trawl surveys from 2021–2024 by attaching pop-up satellite archival tags. The tags recorded deployment and pop-up locations and daily...

Bonefish Grill is Backing Veterans with Robert Irvine Foundation LTO

Bonefish Grill announced Nov. 2 a partnership with the Robert Irvine Foundation to honor service members, veterans, first responders and their families. As part of the partnership, $1 from every purchase on a limited-time menu curated by Chef Robert Irvine will go to support the foundation’s mission of strengthening the physical and mental wellness of those who have served.

The limited-time menu is available through Dec. 31 and features two entrées.

One option is the 13-ounce Wood-Grilled Sage Ribeye, served...

NOAA Reports Show Overfishing List at All-Time Low as US Seafood Landings Hit 7.7 Billion Pounds

For members of the US seafood industry who know what the last three years have been like for their businesses, there are now three annual reports of compiled data that measure these details. From which US port received the most deliveries by value and/or volume to long-term efforts to maintain sustainability for the nation's seafood resource to trends in fish and shellfish consumption, these reports put 2024 and 2025 in perspective...

FDA Finds Nearly Half of Imported Frozen Seafood Samples Short-Weighted

Nearly half of the imported frozen seafood the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tested in 2025 was short on declared weight. In a sampling assignment, the agency found 12 of 26 samples (46%) violative, with short weights ranging from 1.42% to 32.75%. The agency collected packaged samples at ports of entry from May to September 2025 and tested them for net weight without the ice glaze.

Ice glaze is a thin protective layer of ice applied to frozen seafood after processing, and the FDA says that including...

Faroese Salmon Producer Bakkafrost Sees Global Supply Falling 3% in Q4 as Q3 EBIT Rises

Bakkafrost posted a group operational EBIT of DKK 128 million ($19.2 million) in the third quarter of 2026, up from DKK 22 million a year earlier. The Faroe Islands carried the result. Revenues there were DKK 1,436 million, and operational EBIT was DKK 267 million, up from DKK 227 million. Scotland remained in the red, with revenues of DKK 245 million and an operational EBIT loss of DKK 140 million, against a loss of DKK 205 million a year earlier...

Foodservice Operators Balance Menu Innovation, Value and Evolving Consumer Trends in October

October brought a mix of menu innovation, restaurant business developments and shifting consumer trends across the foodservice sector. As operators look to attract customers amid affordability pressures, chains are balancing seasonal launches and core-menu updates with value-oriented offerings. Meanwhile, industry research points to changing expectations around convenience, technology and prepared foods, with emerging trends offering insight into opportunities for foodservice and seafood markets in 2027.

Menu innovation remained a priority, with several chains introducing seasonal offerings and refreshing established favorites. Smashburger...

Russia Plans to Accelerate Trawler and Crab Catcher Construction for Domestic and Export Buyers

Russia plans to speed up construction of new fish trawlers and crab catchers in the coming years, supplying domestic fishermen and, potentially, foreign customers. Interest in Russian vessels has recently come from Asia-Pacific and African countries. Indonesia is one Asian country that has expressed interest, and a number of African states are reportedly interested in buying modern Russian fish trawlers...

Cousins Maine Lobster to Bring Food Truck Tour to Northwest Arkansas

Cousins Maine Lobster’s next food truck tour will bring fresh Maine lobster to Northwest Arkansas. The company recently announced that its Kansas City franchise team will head out on a limited-time pop-up tour, with stops scheduled in Rogers, Springdale and Fayetteville, Arkansas, from Nov. 11 through Nov. 15.

The stops will take place at breweries and other popular community gathering spots.

“Our Kansas City franchise team is so excited to take the truck beyond the city and serve the communities of Northwest Arkansas...

Applebee’s Honors Veterans & Active Duty Military with Free Meals on Veterans Day

This Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, Applebee’s will continue its longstanding tradition of honoring those who serve and have served our country. All Active Duty Military, Veterans, Reserves, and National Guard members who dine in at participating Applebee’s restaurants will receive a complimentary full-size entrée from an exclusive Veterans Day menu as a heartfelt thank-you for their service.*

This year marks the 19th consecutive year Applebee’s has honored service members and veterans with complimentary meals on Veterans Day. Since the...

USDA Earmarks $472.5 Million in Food Buys, Including $12 Million for Pacific Whiting and $20 Million

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to buy up to $472.5 million in American-grown and American-raised commodities for the charitable food network and other nutrition assistance programs. The purchases run through USDA's Section 32 authority, which the department describes as one of its most direct tools for supporting producers when market conditions are tight. "Through Section 32 authority, USDA can direct funding to support commodity markets during periods of imbalance...

Amazon Asks Court to Toss Seafood Greenwashing Suit

Amazon has asked a federal judge in Seattle to dismiss a class action alleging it greenwashed seafood sold on its platform. The motion, filed Oct. 26, argues that the plaintiffs do not allege that Amazon misrepresented any product's MSC certification status. "Their gripe is with MSC itself," the filing says. The case is Rogow v. Amazon.com, Inc., in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington, before Judge Kymberly K. Evanson. Amazon asks the court to dismiss the complaint with prejudice, and the motion is set for January 8, 2027...