American Seafoods Flags Five Trends Set to Reshape Seafood in 2027

American Seafoods has outlined five trends it expects to shape the seafood industry in 2027, drawing on developments across its customer base and markets in North America, Europe and Asia.

The company supplies processors, distributors and foodservice customers across those regions. Its product portfolio includes frozen-at-sea Wild Alaska pollock and Pacific hake fillets, surimi, roe, fishmeal and fish oil, giving it visibility into demand trends across seafood markets and supply chains.

“When you look at the biggest conversations happening in food right now — protein...

NOAA Warns Strong El Niño Will Reshape US Fisheries, From West Coast Tuna and Squid to Gulf Oysters

NOAA Fisheries says this El Niño will likely affect fisheries in every US region, with the West Coast and Pacific Islands expected to feel it most directly. Impacts could last months or years after the event ends.

NOAA forecasters announced in June that El Niño had formed. As of October they put the chance of a "very strong event" this fall and winter at more than 83%. The agency expects it to last through early spring 2027...

Chile: Algal Bloom Contingency Closed as ISA Harvests Continue in Aysén

Chile's fisheries service, Sernapesca, declared the end of a mass-mortality contingency at Multiexport Patagonia's Magallanes farms on Oct. 14.

A harmful algal bloom killed 917.79 tonnes of fish across salmon concession groups 43A and 43B. All of the dead fish were harvested and sent to the La Portada reduction plant in Los Lagos. Sernapesca authorized early harvests to limit further losses. Magallanes regional director Ximena Gallardo said that although mortality exceeded 900 tonnes, it was low compared with other algal bloom events the agency...

Trump's Alaska Rally Brought Pardons and Endorsements, but Little on Seafood

In a nearly 90-minute speech that included expected hyperbole and some outright inaccuracies, Trump addressed a crowded sports center with a capacity of 3,500 in Wasilla, a small town north of Anchorage.

"Nobody's done more for Alaska than Donald J. Trump," Trump said as he opened the event. "That I can tell you."

The speech mixed endorsements of Republicans, mockery of Democrats and some of his greatest hits from rallies around the country, Alaska Public Media reported...

Sernapesca Names Pablo Ortiz Lima Acting National Director

Pablo Ortiz Lima, Sernapesca’s deputy director of fisheries, assumed leadership of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service on an interim basis effective Oct. 7, the agency announced.

Ortiz Lima is a fisheries engineer (UCSC) with a master’s degree in aquatic resources management (PUCV) and more than 20 years’ experience in the national and international fishing sector. His career at Sernapesca began in 2010 at the regional directorate in Los Lagos. From 2014 to 2019 he served as regional fisheries control officer before taking a post as compliance...

NAA Urges Senate to Strip Commercial Fishing Vessel Loans From Farm Bill

The National Aquaculture Association (NAA) is asking the Senate Agriculture Committee to remove a Farm Bill provision that would open USDA farm operating loans to commercial fishing vessels. It argues the change would draw on a limited pool of agricultural funding and slow loans for the farmers the program was built to serve.

In an Oct. 13 letter to Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the NAA targeted Section 5216 of S.5526, the Agricultural Act of 2026...

Global Supply Chain for Squid Calls for Better Governance, Scientific Cooperation and Traceability

Squid fishing, for almost every species and in almost every area of the globe, has been increasing in recent years. According to the 2023 Global Fishing Watch study, “Fishing Through the Cracks: The Unregulated Nature of Global Squid Fisheries,” squid-fishing vessels logged between 149,000 and 251,000 vessel-days annually from 2017 to 2020, marking a 68 percent increase in fishing effort in just three years. Notably, up to 86 percent of that global squid fishing occurs in unregulated waters, which mostly lack regional or national management...

FDA Warns California Seafood Processor Over Repeat HACCP Failures

The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning letter to Ocean Pride Seafood Inc. of Ventura, California. It cites repeated seafood HACCP violations, nearly three years without sanitation-monitoring records, and insanitary conditions found during a spring inspection.

The letter, dated Sept. 11 and posted Oct. 13, followed an inspection of the company's processing facility from March 23 through April 1, 2026. It went to CEO and owner Thomas G. Moore. FDA found the facility's ready-to-eat products adulterated because they were prepared, packed... 

ANALYSIS: September US Shrimp Import Estimates Point to 14.0% Annual Increase

August official US shrimp imports totaled 175.7 million lbs against an Expana estimate of 176.3 million lbs, in line at the aggregate level. Peeled volume was the main variance, landing at 97.3 million lbs against an upper bound of 93.4 million lbs, though the gap remained within a 5% band. The export-led model underestimated the August total by 9.2 million lbs, also a variance of less than 5%...

Agri-Food Europe 2027: New Venue, New Mandate

Agrifood Europe returns on March 3–4, 2027 at Capital C, Amsterdam’s former Diamond Exchange, under the banner Leading through permanent volatility.

The world of procurement has once again evolved. Alongside controlling costs, teams are now expected to protect supply, manage risk and support growth, in markets that are in constant volatility.

Day one looks at leadership: how far procurement is involved in business decisions, the skills teams need, and how they work with finance and operations. Sessions also cover where AI is delivering value

Ruby Seas USA Names Audrey Ryan VP of Sales and Marketing

Ruby Seas USA has appointed Audrey Ryan as its new Vice President of Sales and Marketing, the company announced.

Founded in Canada with direct access to North Atlantic lobster and snow crab, Ruby Seas has grown into an international seafood business, shipping through 42 ports to retail, wholesale and international markets. The company also operates seafood processing and export facilities in the Caribbean.

“We have spent decades building the relationships, products and infrastructure to serve our customers worldwide, including a seafood processing and...

Wellboat Runs Aground Near Aysén Salmon Farm in Southern Chile, 14 Crew Evacuated

A live-fish carrier operated by Naviera Detroit Chile ran aground on rocks near a salmon farming site in Chile's Aysén region on Monday, leaving the vessel partially submerged. Authorities evacuated all 14 crew without injury and have so far detected no fuel spill.

The wellboat Vali struck rocks around Isla Verdugo, about 18 nautical miles southeast of Melinka in the Guaitecas commune, while supporting operations at the Serrano farming center, according to the Chilean Navy. The Aysén Maritime Governorate received...

ASC Steps up Vietnam Support Ahead of New Farm Standard Shift

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is stepping up support for Vietnam’s aquaculture industry as producers prepare to transition to its new Farm Standard. A recent engagement session in Can Tho drew nearly 200 participants from across the sector, including producers, processors, exporters and other stakeholders.

The meeting focused on how the new certification requirements will be implemented in practice. The Farm Standard consolidates requirements that were previously spread across multiple species-specific standards into a single global framework, a significant shift in how ASC...

Rhode Island, Virginia Issue Separate Clam and Oyster Recalls

The Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC) posted on Oct. 9 that the Rhode Island Department of Health announced a recall of clams harvested Sept. 22, 2026 from Harvest Area 1A in Warren, R.I. The recall was initiated after those clams were taken while a rainfall closure was in effect.

The initial recall was issued for product from Rhode Island Seafood Company (Certification No. RI 535 SS). Records show the affected product was shipped to Tony’s Seafood, also of Warren. Tony’s Seafood...

Algal Bloom Mortality at Multiexport Patagonia Farms in Chile Climbs to 642 Tonnes

Chile's National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) confirmed the activation of mass-mortality contingency plans at two Multiexport Patagonia salmon farming sites in the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica region, after a harmful algal bloom triggered significant fish deaths beginning October 8.

Sernapesca said it had been monitoring the bloom since mid-September, with concentrations exceeding regulatory nocivity thresholds present across four of the company's farming centers. Two of those sites activated contingency protocols for mass mortality at 1:00 p.m. local time on October 8...

ASC Makes the Case for Certified Farmed Seafood as Climate Solution at Climate Week NYC

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) used Climate Week NYC 2026 to argue that certified farmed seafood belongs in the center of the global climate and food-security conversation, not on its margins, through a series of panels, a culinary reception and sustainability programming.

ASC CEO Chris Ninnes joined a cross-sector panel at Climate Group's The Hub Live, titled "Food Security vs Climate Security: Can Resilient Systems Deliver at Scale?", alongside Cornell's Dr. Prabhu Pingali, IFPRI's Purnima Menon...

Brooklyn Distributor Recalls Starfish Smoked Salmon, Halibut and Trout Trio Over Listeria Concern

Brooklyn, New York-based Krasnyi Oktyabr Inc. is recalling its Starfish Seafood Trio of cold-smoked salmon, halibut and trout because of potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination, according to a notice the company announced and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published on October 9.

The company distributed the recalled product in New York, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina and South Carolina. It was sold in 8-ounce (227-gram) vacuum-sealed plastic packages under lot number D139149161-153, with an expiration date...

Trans-Ocean Products Names Virgil Roehl VP of Finance, Adds Logistics Manager Stephanie Colvin

Trans-Ocean Products has named Virgil Roehl Vice President (VP) of Finance and Stephanie Colvin Logistics Manager, bringing additional financial and supply‑chain expertise to the Washington–based surimi manufacturer.

Roehl joins from Twin City Foods, where he served as VP of Finance. His background also includes financial and supply‑chain roles at Washington Mutual and Boeing. As VP of Finance, Roehl will oversee Trans‑Ocean’s accounting and financial operations.

Colvin has nearly 20 years of supply‑chain and customer‑service experience and previously held several...

SalmonChile and Industry Move to Close Out New Dive Safety Standard Ahead of Chile's New Diving Law

Chile's salmon industry association SalmonChile and a dozen producers and service providers are finishing the technical work on a new diving safety standard. It comes as a new national law takes effect for the sector.

SalmonChile led a Dive Working Group (Mesa de Buceo) meeting in Puerto Varas focused on the technical close-out and integration of its Diving Operations Safety Standard 3.0. The meeting was part of the association's 2026–2027 Diving Strategic Plan. It drew representatives from Australis, Blumar, Camanchaca, Cooke...

BioMar Launches BioRetain, Targeting Nutrient Retention in Aquafeed

Feed is the largest cost in aquaculture, and BioMar says a growing share of the nutrients fish and shrimp consume never reaches growth. Its new BioRetain concept is designed to change that. The company says the formulation improves how nutrients are used and retained, directing more of them toward protein growth rather than energy use or fat storage.

BioMar says the approach can improve biological performance without raising protein or energy levels in the feed. It also gives formulators more room to choose raw materials, which the company says...

Andfjord Salmon Completes First Dedicated Post-Smolt Cycle, Sells 390 Tonnes to Eidsfjord Sjøfarm

Andfjord Salmon has completed its first production cycle dedicated solely to post-smolt, the first in pool K3 at its Kvalnes site on Andøya, Norway. The company sold the fish to regional farmer Eidsfjord Sjøfarm, which transferred about 390 tonnes of post-smolt into ocean net pens in the Vesterålen region...

Appeals Court Dismisses Maine Lobster Suit Over Seafood Watch 'Red' Rating

The US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has dismissed a defamation lawsuit Maine lobster groups filed against the Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation over its Seafood Watch recommendation to avoid American lobster. In a judgment entered October 9, the court reversed the district court's denial of the aquarium's motion to dismiss and remanded with instructions to dismiss the complaint.

The ruling rests on the "group defamation rule." Under that rule, a defamatory statement about a large group is not actionable unless the statement or its context...

The Retail Rundown: Grocery Inflation Eases, Protein Trends Diverge

The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI), released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), offered a modest reprieve for grocery shoppers in September. While the overall food index held steady, retail feature data reveal a more uneven picture across protein categories.

Food-at-home prices eased 0.1% in September, while the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs declined 0.5%, led by a 1.0% drop in beef prices. Still, the broader trend remains upward, as grocery prices were 1.8% higher than a year ago.

Foodservice inflation continues to run hotter...

CBP Cracks Down on Tuna Origin Scheme, Targets Nearly $9 Million in Penalties

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says it has shut down a tuna country-of-origin scheme that let importers avoid duties and tariffs. It has recovered about $1.3 million so far and is pursuing roughly $8.9 million more in penalties.

CBP's Agriculture and Prepared Products Center of Excellence and Expertise (APP) in Miami led the investigation, the agency said in an October 8 release. It began with questions about the true origin of imported tuna. Investigators found that foreign-flagged...

$98M Upgrade at Seattle’s Terminal 91 to Serve North Pacific Factory Trawlers and Motherships

A decades-long project to upgrade berths 6 and 8 at Terminal 91 is now complete and has been in use for nearly a month.

The $98 million upgrade included demolition of 62,250 square feet of condemned existing timber apron and 830 feet of seawall, removal and relocation of existing gangway, floats and boathouse, replacing existing small office structures, and reconstruction of a concrete apron structure tested to hold 600 pounds per square foot to support heavy lifts needed by the ships that make...

Russia Opens Crab Exports to Mexico as It Looks to Replace Lost US Market

Russia is searching for new buyers for its crab as demand stays strong. Beyond Asia, it is counting on growth in supplies to countries that have not joined the sanctions regime against Russia.

This year Russia shipped crab to Mexico for the first time. A first batch of about 4 tonnes was delivered at the start of the year, according to Russian web service Agroexpert. Exact figures haven't been disclosed. Analysts see this as only the beginning and expect volumes to rise significantly in the short...

ANALYSIS: Canada's Crustacean Exports Down 2.7% Through August as Crab and Lobster Lose Ground

According to Statistics Canada, total crustacean exports rose 35.7% year-on-year in value in August, reaching 402.3 million CAD. Crab sales rose 95.1% and lobster grew 16.3%, while shrimp exports fell 11.4%.

In volume terms, August mirrored the value trends: shrimp exports fell 30.6% year-on-year, while crab and lobster volumes rose 78.4% and 6.9%, respectively...

US Delegation Got More Quota for Pacific Bluefin Tuna, Success on EM, Research at IATTC

During recent international negotiations, the US delegation to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission advanced key American economic and conservation priorities for Pacific Bluefin tuna, dorado, South Pacific swordfish, South Pacific albacore, sharks and seabirds.

At the September 2026 Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission annual meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, 21 nations built consensus on high-priority fisheries and issues, including several measures that built on last year’s 3-year tropical tuna measure to continue longstanding measures and reduce purse seine closures...

Documentary Featuring Aquamar's Surimi Legacy in California Roll Selected for Film Festival

A new documentary tracing the California Roll's rise from a Southern California Japanese-American community creation to a mainstream American food phenomenon has been selected for the Newport Beach Film Festival this October, with surimi producer Aquamar featured prominently in the story.

"California Roll: The Rise of American Sushi," directed by Bill Sharp, follows the chefs, surfers, entrepreneurs and immigrants who brought cultures together to create the dish. Aquamar founder Taka Iwasaki is featured as part of a generation of surimi pioneers whose work helped solve a critical...

Russia Eyes Export Cooperatives, Coordinated Pricing to Lift Fish Revenue

Russia plans to create special export cooperatives to boost overseas sales of fish and seafood and raise revenue for the country's fish sector.

German Zverev, president of the All-Russian Association of Fishery Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters (VARPE), said Russia expects exports to keep growing this year. He projects full-year fish exports could rise 5-6% year over year to US$6.4-6.5 billion. In an interview with Russian media, Zverev said export associations and cooperatives should support that growth...