Cooke to Take Over Mowi's Atlantic Canada Salmon Farms in CAD 225 Million Deal

Mowi has agreed to sell its Atlantic Canada salmon farming operations to Cooke Inc. for CAD 225 million ($158 million) on a debt-free basis, the companies announced Tuesday, as the Norwegian salmon giant moves to exit a region that has weighed heavily on its financial performance.

The Share Purchase Agreement covers Mowi's operations across New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, including freshwater hatchery facilities, sea farming sites, and two processing plants. Standing biomass at the time of the deal was approximately...

Shrimp Giant Thai Union Faces $295M Lawsuit Over Red Lobster's Collapse

Creditors of Red Lobster are suing former owner Thai Union Group, alleging the Bangkok-based seafood giant used the restaurant chain as a captive distribution arm for its own shrimp business, ultimately helping drive it into bankruptcy.

The complaint, filed in Florida's Ninth Judicial Circuit Court on behalf of creditors owed approximately $295 million, alleges that Thai Union — which held a controlling stake in the chain while simultaneously serving as its primary shrimp supplier — orchestrated a deliberate scheme to “squeeze every drop of value” from the company...

ANALYSIS: Scottish Atlantic Salmon Exports Decline Despite Record Health in 2026

The production of farmed Atlantic salmon in Scotland is showing positive momentum, with Salmon Scotland reporting that the survival rate reached a record high of 99.1% in March 2026. However, the current favorable health conditions have not yet been reflected in 2026 export volumes. Total exports in 2025 for fresh salmon, including whole fish and fillets, reached 115,914 MT, a record according to national customs, representing a 9.0% increase year over year (YOY)...

Silver Bay Seafoods Wins $11.2 Million USDA Canned Salmon Contract; Frozen Fillet Lines Go Unawarded

Silver Bay Seafoods has been awarded an $11.2 million contract to supply canned pink salmon to the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) domestic food distribution programs, according to a purchase award document released June 18 by the Agricultural Marketing Service.

The Sitka, Alaska-based company will supply 118,560 cases of 24 14.75-oz cans of pink salmon under two product specifications. The larger lot, 94,240 cases, carried prices ranging from $85.95 to $107.20 per case, while a secondary Kosher-designated...

EU Restores Zero-Duty Access for US Lobster, Expands Coverage to Processed Products

The European Union's Council of Ministers formally adopted two regulations on June 25 implementing the bloc's tariff commitments under the EU-US joint trade framework, restoring duty-free access for American lobster exports and opening new preferential market access for a range of US seafood products.

The most immediate development for the seafood industry is the reinstatement of the EU's zero-duty regime on US lobster imports, which had lapsed on July 31, 2025, when an earlier agreement — first struck between the US and EU in 2020...

Red Lobster Brings Back Crabfest With Expanded Customization and New Crab Boil Options

Red Lobster is bringing back its signature summer promotion with a more customizable approach as Crabfest returns to menus beginning June 29. This year’s limited-time lineup gives guests more control over crab type, flavor, and spice level, building on the popularity of last summer’s Seafood Boils and expanding the chain’s hands-on seafood offerings.

At the center of the promotion is Crab Your Way, a long-standing Crabfest favorite that now offers a choice of Snow or Bairdi crab paired with on...

Global Seafood Alliance Highlights Certification Growth, Consumer Trust in 2025 Annual Report

The Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) has released its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting growth across its certification programs, expanding industry engagement and continued investment in education, marketing and responsible seafood initiatives.

The report details progress across the organization's standards, marketing efforts and global impact while outlining key initiatives completed throughout the year.

According to the report, GSA increased certifications by 3% year over year, reaching 4,308 certified producers across 45 countries. Certified producers also implemented 7,808 operational improvements in 2025 as...

Canada Reopens Northern Shrimp Fishery Off Newfoundland for First Time in Over a Decade

The commercial Northern shrimp fishery will open off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador for the first time in over a decade, Canada's Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson announced on June 22.

Thompson confirmed the reopening of Shrimp Fishing Area (SFA) 7, the domestic portion of NAFO Division 3L off eastern Newfoundland and Labrador, along with the establishment of a Total Allowable Catch of 1,367 tonnes for the 2026-2027 season.

The fishery was shut following a 2015 NAFO moratorium...

ANALYSIS: Vietnam Gains Share in Chinese Lobster Imports Amid Shifting Tariff Dynamics

According to Chinese customs data, lobster imports in May were effectively unchanged year‑on‑year at 5,652 MT (vs 5,610 MT last year) and remained above the average levels recorded over the past five years. Vietnam was the largest supplier by volume in May with 2,239 MT (40% share), followed by Canada at 1,996 MT (35%). Vietnamese supply is largely farm‑raised, originates in coastal waters, and is substantially cheaper than Canadian product, which helps explain the steady rise in Vietnamese shipments to China, despite differences in quality...

Commerce Continues Antidumping Order on Vietnamese Pangasius Following Fourth Sunset Review

The US Department of Commerce has formally continued the antidumping duty order on certain frozen fish fillets from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, following a fourth five-year sunset review in which both Commerce and the US International Trade Commission determined that revoking the order would likely lead to a recurrence of dumping and material injury to the US catfish industry.

The notice, signed by Scot Fullerton, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations, was filed with the Federal Register on June 26...

Oral Arguments Heard on EPA's Veto of Pebble Mine, Decision Expected in 'Near Future'

The copper, gold and molybdenum mine known as Pebble and led by Canadian-owned Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd., was in court last week arguing over whether a 2023 decision by the Environmental Protection Agency “vetoing” the project was right or wrong. The argument was before US District Court Judge Sharon Gleason in her Anchorage courtroom. 

Pebble Mine would be located in the watershed above Bristol Bay, the world’s largest run of sockeye salmon and home to five large river systems. The lawsuit was brought...

IMR: Northeast Arctic Cod Advice Up 16% for 2027, But Recruitment Outlook Remains Weak

Norway's Institute of Marine Research (IMR) and the Norwegian-Russian scientific working group for Barents Sea fish stocks have released quota advice for 2027, recommending a modest increase for Northeast Arctic cod while flagging continued concerns about long-term recruitment.

The joint Norwegian-Russian working group (JRN-AFWG) advises that Northeast Arctic cod catches should not exceed 312,667 tonnes in 2027, a figure 16% above the 2026 advice and 10% above the 2026 quota. The increase is attributed to the 2021 year class entering the fishable...

IFFO Unveils Program for 2026 Annual Conference in Buenos Aires

IFFO, The Marine Ingredients Organization, has announced the program for its 2026 Annual Conference, taking place October 19–21 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The three-day event will bring together leaders from the aquaculture, feed, and marine ingredients sectors to focus on key industry priorities, including geopolitics, fisheries management, responsible sourcing, and in-depth market analysis from both supply and demand perspectives.

The conference features a mix of detailed sessions, networking opportunities, and social events designed to encourage open dialogue across the value...

Rainfall Closure Triggers Oyster Recall Linked to Maine Aquaculture Site

The State of Maine has issued a recall alert for live shellstock oysters harvested on June 24, 2026, from limited-purpose aquaculture site AGAI 121 in the Yarmouth, Maine harvest area, after the product was taken during a rainfall-related harvest closure.

The recall covers live shellstock oysters identified with traceability lot code 6/24/26 AGAI 121. The oysters were harvested and shipped on June 24, 2026, in 10-count bags from the Yarmouth site. The grower initiated the recall prior to contacting the...

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...

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...

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...

New Fishery Management Council Seats Announced Amid Criticism of the Process in Alaska

Last Friday, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick announced 22 new and returning members to the nation's eight regional fishery management councils.

Nominations to those seats come from the governors of the states or territories represented and tribal governments in the region. A variety of groups are represented — commercial and recreational sectors, academia, and government agencies.

Each year, the Secretary appoints approximately one-third of the total 72 appointed members to the eight regional councils. The Secretary usually honors the priority given by governors...

Lineage Prepares Cleanup After Week-Long Fire Contained at LA Cold Storage Site

Firefighters have brought a major blaze under control at a Los Angeles cold storage warehouse, after flames burned for nearly a week at a facility central to the region’s frozen food supply chain.

The fire began June 17 at Lineage’s Big Bear facility in the Boyle Heights area of central Los Angeles. The site stores and distributes frozen seafood, pork, beef and poultry destined for West Coast grocery stores and restaurants, according to Lineage and local reports.

Lineage said it is ready...

Nordic Halibut Buys Pure Norwegian Seafood from Måsøval

Nordic Halibut has agreed to acquire 100% of Pure Norwegian Seafood (PNS) from salmon farmer Måsøval, securing full ownership of the Averøy processing facility it has relied on since 2025 and completing the final link in its vertically integrated supply chain.

The deal, first announced June 28, values PNS at approximately NOK 60 million (around $6 million), with the purchase price to be settled in cash at completion, expected on or around June 30. Nordic Halibut said it plans to finance the acquisition through a new bank loan...

Russian Fish Exports to China Surge 50% in Value Through May

Russian fish exports to China jumped sharply in the first five months of 2026, driven by growing Chinese market demand and an increase in Russian catch volumes across key species.

According to data from the Russian Fish Union, citing statistics from China's General Administration of Customs, Russia's fish export revenue to China reached $2.06 billion from January through May — up 1.5 times compared to the same period last year. In volume terms, exports rose 16% to 672,000 tons...

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)...

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...

Japan's May Fishery Product Exports Fell 2% in Volume, Value Surged 41%

Trade data released by the Ministry of Finance on June 26 show Japan’s seafood exports in May totaled 42,716 tons, down 2% year-on-year (YOY), while export value rose 41% to 33.582 billion yen  ($207.8 million). The divergence between slightly lower volume and much higher value suggests higher prices and a favorable product mix drove the gain in dollar terms.

Scallops remained a major contributor: exports totaled 3,845 tons, down 7%, but value increased 13% to 5.779 billion...

Global Seafood Alliance Releases Program for Responsible Seafood Summit 2026 in Bangkok

The Global Seafood Alliance has released the preliminary program for the 2026 Responsible Seafood Summit, scheduled for September 21-24 at the Shangri-La Bangkok in Bangkok, Thailand.

Co-hosted by the Center for Responsible Seafood, the annual event draws industry leaders across supply chain segments to address sustainability, trade, and production challenges. This year's Summit is expected to draw significant representation from the marketplace, with retail and foodservice companies including Albertsons, Walmart, Red Lobster, Waitrose, Captain D's, and Mark Foods confirmed to attend...

Andfjord Salmon Completes First Post-Smolt Sale, Launches Strategic Partnership 

Andfjord Salmon Group has completed its first-ever post-smolt sale, marking a key milestone in the company’s production strategy. The inaugural sale saw Andfjord Salmon deliver post-smolt to regional fish farmer Eidsfjord Sjøfarm, strengthening a new strategic partnership between the two companies.

“We announced our post-smolt production strategy in February 2024 as a complement to our human-grade salmon production,” said CEO Martin Rasmussen. “We are proud to complete the first post-smolt sale under this strategy.” He added that...

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...

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...

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...

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...