ANALYSIS: Ecuador Strengthens Lead in Global Shrimp Exports Amid Tariff Changes

Ecuador, the world’s leading shrimp exporter, reported record exports of 708,111 metric tons in the first half of 2025, a 15.9% increase compared to last year.

This growth was notably influenced by market disruptions following the April 2 announcement of US tariffs. This prompted American importers to stock up inventories and resulted in a 31% surge in Ecuadorian vannamei exports between April and May. Although shipment volumes eased by 16.7% in June, they remained substantially higher year-on-year...

USTR Extends China Section 301 Tariff Exclusions Through November 29

On Thursday, August 28, 2025, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced the extension of tariff exclusions in the Section 301 Investigation of China's Acts, Policies, and Practices. The list of exclusions includes various seafood items, such as frozen haddock and sole, as well as frozen blocks of crab meat, which includes king, snow, and Dungeness crab.

The exemptions, which were to expire on August 31, will now expire on November 29, 2025. This is the second time this year that the exemptions have been extended...

NOAA Says 46 Nations Face Stringent Import Rules Starting in 2026 Under MMPA Provisions

NOAA Fisheries announced that 46 nations’ fisheries will face import restrictions starting January 1, 2026, after the agency issued comparability findings under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

A comparability finding is a designation by NOAA Fisheries verifies a nation's fishing practices that meet certain standards in managing marine mammal bycatch. This determination ensures that a country's fish exports or exempt fisheries have effectively implemented measures to prevent harm to marine mammals.

With ratings issued, NOAA Fisheries said starting on January 1, 2026...

High-Level Canadian Fisheries Ministers Meet in Nunavut to Discuss Co-Management, Global Trade

The Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (CCFAM) met with the Government of Nunavut on August 28-29 in Iqaluit, Nunavut, to discuss issues that will strengthen trade and Canada’s competitiveness globally. The Minister of Fisheries, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, and the Minister of Community Services for Nunavut, the Honourable David Akeeagok, co-chaired the meeting, which was attended by their provincial and territorial counterparts.

"Fisheries and aquaculture provide good jobs in rural, northern and coastal communities right across Canada,” noted Joanne Thompson... 

Alaska Senators and NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator to Speak at Alaska Pollock Meeting

NOAA Fisheries Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere Eugenio Piñeiro Soler will speak with Wild Alaska Pollock industry and allied industry leaders when they gather for their Annual Meeting about challenges and opportunities for the fishery and seafood in the U.S. writ large under President Trump. Senator Dan Sullivan, Senator Lisa Murkowski and other dignitaries from both Alaska and Washington state will also participate in the meeting, to be held once again at the W Hotel in downtown Seattle on September 18, 2025...

Trump's Transportation Secretary Terminates and Withdraws $679 Million from Offshore Wind Projects

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy withdrew or terminated a total of $679 million in funding for 12 doomed offshore wind projects across America. This action will ensure federal dollars are prioritized towards restoring America’s maritime dominance and preventing waste. 

“Wasteful wind projects are using resources that could otherwise go towards revitalizing America’s maritime industry,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg bent over backwards to use transportation dollars for their Green New Scam agenda while ignoring the dire...

DNA Forensics Help NOAA Crack Down on Mislabeling of Tuna, Seafood Shipments

NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement wrapped up the second deployment of a device that allows officers to detect fraudulent seafood labeling at a brisk pace.

Officers and agents using the device in Long Beach identified false labeling of imported bigeye, yellow fin, blue fin, albacore and other tuna species, per NOAA Fisheries.

“The new device is proving to be a valuable tool that helps officers examine more shipments in less time, with rapid results that also help clear the way for legal seafood to reach the market...

Concerns Loomed Over Slowing Sales Due to High Scallop Prices at Hokkaido Fishery Discussion

On August 26, the Hokkaido Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations (DOGYOREN) held a scallop product subcommittee meeting in Tokyo as part of the DOGYOREN Autumn Trade Conference, where they exchanged information with trading companies and wholesalers. According to a report in the Minato Shimbun, this year's frozen scallop adductor production is expected to decrease significantly due to reduced production in the Okhotsk Sea, small size, and declining yields. It is almost certain that production of large-sized adductors, which are in high demand overseas, will also...

Russia Eyeing Stronger Seafood Imports from Latin America

Russia is aiming to increase fish and seafood imports from Latin American nations in the coming years, seeking to diversify its trade and compensate for the decline in trade with countries like Norway. 

As the volume of seafood trade with Western countries has declined significantly in recent years, Russia has stated that increasing imports from Latin America is a top priority for fisheries officials.

One of the key regional fish suppliers to Russia remains Chile. According to data from the Russian Fish Union, in January-July 2025, Russian imports of fish and...

USDA Eyeing Record 43 Million Pounds of Alaska Pollock for Food Programs

The US Department of Agriculture is looking to purchase over 43 million pounds of Alaska pollock products for use in domestic food distribution programs.

If met, the purchase would be a record for the USDA. The USDA seeks bids on 44.168 million in Alaska pollock products. It is looking for roughly 13.8 million pounds of frozen Alaska pollock sticks, 14.9 million pounds of frozen pollock fillets and 14.6 million in frozen pollock nuggets.

The announcement came in a massive...

Mutual Sanctions Push Russian-Norwegian Fisheries Talks Toward Collapse

Russia will close its exclusive economic zone to Norwegian fishing trawlers if Oslo does not reconsider the ban on fishing in its exclusive economic zone for two Russian companies, Norebo and Murman Seafood, which was imposed in July.

Such warnings were announced by the head of the Federal Agency for Fisheries, Ilya Shestakov, during an extraordinary session of the Joint Russian-Norwegian Commission (JRCF) on Fisheries on August 27.

"The actions of the Norwegian side will inevitably lead to the destruction of an effective system of management...

Soaring Price of Norwegian Mackerel Shocks Japanese Buyers

According to a report in the Minato Shimbun, Norwegian mackerel being shipped to Japan this season is being offered at a record high of C&F 640-650 yen/kg ($4.36-4.43/kg), 50% higher than the same period last year, which has shocked Japanese traders. This price is for a fish weighing 400-600 grams, the main size for the Japanese market. Japanese processors are crying out, "This is no longer in the price range for mackerel. We would like to buy it, but we just can't afford it," while...

Upcoming Webinar (Asia Edition): 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 18 at 11 AM Singapore time 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 planning their procurement, pricing, and supply chain strategies in the coming years.

AquaStar Recalls Over 44,000 Bags of Shrimp Over Cs-137 Contamination Concerns

Another shrimp recall is here ahead of the Labor Day weekend.

AquaStar (USA) has recalled approximately 44,000 bags of shrimp products due to the potential contamination with cesium-137 (Cs-137).

The company announced that it has recalled approximately 18,000 bags (net wt. 2lbs) of Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp and approximately 26,460 packages of Cocktail Shrimp 6oz.

The impacted Kroger Mercado shrimp were sold at Baker’s, Gerbes, Jay C, Kroger, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pay Less Supermarkets, and...

Global Seafood Alliance Bans Eyestalk Ablation for BAP Shrimp Suppliers by 2030

The Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) announced that it will require all shrimp producers certified to its Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) standards to cease eyestalk ablation, or stop sourcing shrimp postlarvae from hatcheries that use the practice, by the end of 2030.

Eyestalk ablation has become a contentious issue as it involves “the pinching, cauterizing or surgical removal of a broodstock female shrimp’s eyestalk” as a breeding technique that prompts the spawning process. For nearly 40 years, this has been a standard practice within the industry.

ACT Capital Advisors Creates Seafood Valuation Arm to Support Industry M&A and Financing

Middle-market investment bank ACT Capital Advisors established a Seafood Enterprise Valuation Practice.

The US-based bank announced its new initiative, first unveiled earlier this week, which will deliver “expert business valuations” to those in the seafood sector, encompassing harvesting (wild caught and aquaculture), processing (primary and value-added), distribution, and retail segments.

Bob Hild, CEO of ACT Capital Advisors, also shared his enthusiasm, stating, "I wholeheartedly support this initiative, which underscores our commitment to serving niche markets...

Oregon State Recognized With National Engagement Award for Efforts to Reduce Whale Entanglement

Oregon’s iconic Dungeness crab fishery and efforts to reduce whale entanglements may become known for the proactive, collaborative work led by Oregon State University researchers.  

The collective work and outreach by OSU was recently recognized as one of four regional winners of the 2025 W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Engagement Scholarship Award. 

The Oregon whale entanglement project, a transdisciplinary team led by Dr. Leigh Torres, researcher in OSU’s Marine Mammal Institute and Oregon Sea Grant Extension marine mammals specialist...