ANALYSIS: China’s North American Lobster Imports Show Early-Year Decline

The latest GACC (General Administration of Chinese Customs) import figures show that volumes of Homarus Americanus entering China fell year‑over‑year in January–February. Two years ago, combined January–February imports stood at 6,427 metric tons (MT); they dropped by 7.1% in 2025 and declined by a further 18.1% in 2026 to reach 4,889 MT. In USD value, this translates into a 12.3% decrease last year, followed by a 21.1% fall year-over-year for the first couple of...

NOAA Fisheries Hits Two Importers with $223K in Penalties Over Mislabeled 'Dolphin Safe' Tuna

Two seafood companies have agreed to pay $222,902 in civil penalties after NOAA Fisheries investigations found they imported 3.4 million pounds of tuna products from Mexico that were improperly labeled as "dolphin safe," the agency announced this week. NOAA did not identify the companies in its enforcement announcement.

The enforcement actions, stemming from multi-year investigations by NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement, targeted a distribution company that imported 74 shipments totaling 2.2 million pounds over 11 months...

Clearwater Dismisses MP's Allegations of Illegal Lobster Trans-Shipping in Area 41

Canadian MP Clifford Small accused Clearwater Seafoods of illegally trans-shipping lobster at sea to circumvent Area 41 quota restrictions during Monday's House of Commons Fisheries Committee hearing, according to the Chronicle Herald.

Small told Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson that inshore harvesters witnessed smaller vessels tying up to Clearwater's offshore vessel Randell Dominaux to offload lobster, violating quota management protocols for the Southwest Nova Scotia fishery, the Chronicle Herald reported.

During the meeting, Small went on the offensive...

Global Groundfish Supply Tightens as Cod Prices Surge

Global groundfish markets are tightening as supply constraints continue to drive up prices—especially for cod, forcing buyers to adjust.

In 2025, cod prices rose by about 20 % amid ongoing quota cuts, prompting consumer resistance in key European markets and a growing shift toward more affordable species. Supply remains under pressure: Barents Sea quotas are expected to fall further in 2026 after historic lows in 2025, North Sea quotas have dropped 44 %, and Baltic Sea stocks are so depleted that directed fishing is effectively banned.

These limits are...

Marine Ingredients Market Trends (January - February 2026)

Fishmeal and fish oil production in January 2026 decreased in the countries analysed by IFFO in the reports it dedicates to its Members*, except for the Denmark/Norway area and the USA. Despite the positive fishing effort in the South, Peruvian output has remained below previous year´s levels also in February. “The anchovy biomass evaluation in the North-Centre remains underway, with official announcements on quotas and starting dates of the new fishing season in 2026 expected during the first half of April”, Enrico Bachis...

US Senate Unanimously Passes FISH Act Targeting IUU Fishing Operations

Last Monday, the US Senate unanimously passed the Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvest (FISH) Act, sponsored by Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan, Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and several co-sponsors.

The FISH Act would combat foreign illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by blacklisting offending vessels from US ports and waters, bolstering the US Coast Guard's enforcement capabilities and partnerships, and advancing international and bilateral negotiations to achieve enforceable agreements and treaties.

A companion bill in the House was introduced last June by Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska)...

The Retail Rundown: Retailers Pivot to Spring Promotions as Seafood, Pork Lead Features

Spring officially arrived last week, bringing seasonal shifts that grocers are already leveraging. The warming trend is prompting retailers to spotlight items like fresh produce alongside grilling favorites, as shoppers move away from winter staples and prepare to fire up their grills.

Norwegian NGO Funding of Chilean Indigenous Groups Sparks 'Unfair Competition' Claims

A Chilean television investigation has highlighted allegations of unfair competition in the global salmon industry, focusing on Norwegian government-funded NGO support for indigenous communities that can block salmon projects in Chile.

The 24 Horas report examined how Norwegian organizations have provided over 500 million pesos to Lafkenche indigenous communities in Chile, which have legal authority to halt salmon farming developments in coastal areas where both countries compete for market share.

"It's absolutely unacceptable lobbying from the point of view of improper interference...

Join Us This April as the Executive ConferenceMarks 50 Years

Navigating 2026 means managing simultaneous pressure across trade policy, disease risk, input costs, and shifting consumer demand. The Executive Conference is where senior protein leaders come to cut through it, and this year marks its 50th edition.

This April 20–22 at the Wynn Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, 400+ senior leaders from across the animal protein supply chain will convene for three days of expert analysis and high-level discussion.

Hear directly from Expana analysts and industry experts as they share insights, discuss market dynamics, and take your questions

Salmon Sector Rebounds Despite Trade and Policy Pressures

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has unveiled its report highlighting trade shifts and production trends in the global salmon market.

According to the analysis, the salmon sector experienced disruptions in 2025 driven by policy and tariff changes. Despite this turbulence, Atlantic salmon supply rebounded during the January–September period, returning to growth after tight conditions in 2024.

Norway’s sector faced a challenging operating environment, impacted by elevated sea lice pressure in several coastal areas and shifting trade conditions in key export markets...

Far East Waters Drive Russia's Octopus Industry Revival Plans

Russia plans to significantly increase octopus catch in the coming years as part of efforts to revive the industry after a period of serious stagnation.

According to the Russian Fish Union, Russian fishermen caught 145 tons of octopus in 2025, up 44% from the previous year. Most of the catch consisted of common octopus, giant Doflein octopus, and sand octopus, which is less well-known but also in demand.

Octopus catches in Russia have fluctuated over the past decade. While the total catch reached 318 tons in 2016...

Cousins Maine Lobster Opens Second South Carolina Location in Greenville

Cousins Maine Lobster is continuing its expansion in South Carolina with the grand opening of a new Greenville food truck.

A celebration is set to take place on April 4, from 12 pm to 6 pm, at Grateful Brew, a vibrant local gathering spot for community events and craft beer, located at 501 S. Pleasantburg Drive in Greenville, SC.

This move builds on the brand's momentum in the South. The company announced last month the opening of its first permanent truck and another South Carolina location in...

ANALYSIS: China Shrimp Imports Remain Steady Before Lunar New Year

According to the latest figures from the Chinese General Administration of Customs (GACC), China imported slightly more shrimp before the Chinese New Year this year than last year. Considering shrimp imports from December 2025 through February 2026, the three‑month volume of 276,615 MT is 1.9% higher than in the comparable November 2024 to January 2025 period. In value terms, this represents a 1.1% increase to 1,508 million USD. The Lunar New Year fell two weeks earlier in 2025, so the comparison is not strictly like‑for‑like...

Maine Lobsterman Petitions Supreme Court Over GPS Tracking Rule

A Maine lobsterman has petitioned the US Supreme Court to hear his challenge of a federal rule requiring 24/7 GPS tracking on licensed lobster vessels, arguing the mandate violates Fourth Amendment protections against warrantless surveillance.

Frank Thompson, a fifth-generation lobsterman, seeks to overturn the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission rule passed in 2023 that requires all federally licensed lobster vessels to install and continuously operate GPS trackers that transmit location data to the government at least once per minute...

Western Pacific Fishery Council to Address Monument Expansion and Fishing Access at 206th Meeting

The Ala Moana Hotel will host the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s 206th meeting in the Hibiscus Ballroom in Honolulu, HI, from March 24–26, 2026. The meeting will provide opportunities for the public to learn about proposed fishery actions, hear reports from across the region, and offer input on decisions affecting fishing communities, local seafood supply, and marine resource management throughout the US Pacific Islands.

Deliberation on two major topics is expected.

The first concerns the potential expansion of the...

Japan, Russia Agree on 2,050-Ton Salmon Quota for 2026

According to the Minato Shimbun, the Fisheries Agency of Japan announced on March 20 that it had reached an agreement with Russia regarding the operating conditions for Russian-origin salmon and trout fishing conducted by Japanese fishing vessels within Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for the current season. Both the catch quota and equipment provision remain the same as the previous year. 

The total catch quota within Japan's EEZ is 2,050 tons. Of this, 500 tons are for chum salmon. The combined total of pink, sockeye, coho...

Target's Good & Gather Tuna Hit with Lawsuit Over 'Sustainably Caught' Marketing Claims

California resident Sue Kim filed a class-action lawsuit against retail giant Target Corporation on March 18, 2026, challenging the company's sustainability claims regarding its private-label Good & Gather tuna products.

Kim's attorneys argue in the Central District of California complaint that Target's tuna products are not sustainably caught despite prominent "Sustainably Caught" labeling and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, citing fishing methods and impacts on marine ecosystems.

The lawsuit focuses specifically on Good & Gather canned and pouch tuna products...

Umios, Fujitsu Launch Consumer-Facing Seafood Traceability System to Combat IUU Fishing

Japanese seafood company Umios has completed an electronic traceability pilot program designed to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing within its supply chain.

Umios partnered with Fujitsu on a pilot program that began on February 1, 2026, and focused on bluefin tuna farmed by the Umios Group in Wakayama Prefecture. The system established a mechanism for consumers to check distribution information from farm to retail stores via smartphone, according to a March 24 Fujitsu announcement.

The pilot was deemed successful, and both companies plan to expand the...

Newfoundland Processors Challenge Outside Buyers' Licence Program Over FFAW Crab Export Plans

The Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) has publicly challenged Newfoundland and Labrador's outside buyers' licence program, arguing the policy enables the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) union to ship four million pounds of unprocessed snow crab to other provinces.

In a March 24 letter to Premier Tony Wakeham, ASP argued the outside buyers' licence program allows the FFAW to "operate outside the provincial collective agreement, outside established grading rules, outside the fee structures paid by local processors, and outside the economic...

Venezuelan Blue Crab Industry Faces Prolonged Export Shutdown Over Marine Mammal Protections

About three months after NOAA's enforcement of Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) restrictions took effect on January 1, 2026, Venezuelan blue crab remains completely blocked from US markets, the only major supplier facing no legal reprieve or reconsideration pathway.

On-the-ground reporting from Lake Maracaibo in March 2026 paints a stark picture. According to BBC Mundo, of roughly 20 processing companies that once operated on the San Francisco coast, only two remained open. Fishermen who earned roughly $30 per day before the January shutdown now face...

Global Bivalve Sector Expands Amid Ongoing Challenges

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) released its bivalve trade analysis, showing expansion despite ongoing challenges.

Mussels

Global mussel trade recorded 8.8% year-over-year growth in the first nine months of 2025, despite a continued decline in production from Italy driven by invasive blue crab.

Spain experienced reduced production volumes but higher market values during the same period.

In France, strong domestic demand and the appeal of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) products—such as mussels from Mont Saint Michel Bay—helped keep...

Day 26 of Iran War: Oil Eases on Ceasefire Hopes as Diplomatic Signals Remain Mixed

The war involving the United States and Israel against Iran has entered its 26th day, marked by continued military escalation alongside increasingly frequent and conflicting diplomatic signals.

Airstrikes and missile exchanges persist across Iran, Israel, and parts of the Gulf, even as talk of negotiations grows. US officials have signaled readiness to escalate military operations while also leaving the door open to diplomacy. Reports of a potential framework to end the war remain unverified, though multiple outlets indicate that a 15-point proposal has been...

Echo Falls Seafoods Names Kyle White Sales Manager for West Coast Retail Accounts

Echo Falls Seafoods appointed Kyle White as Sales Manager effective March 24, where he will oversee the company's key retail accounts on the West Coast.

White brings extensive retail packaged sales experience from his previous role at MultiX's Latitude 45 brand, where he managed national retail accounts. The company highlighted his track record in growing branded programs, building customer relationships, and expanding market reach.

"I'm excited to join Echo Falls at such a dynamic time for the brand," White said. "Echo Falls has built a strong reputation...

Charter Vessel Operator Fined $5,000 for Illegal Crab Fishing Activity

Illegal harvesting and non-compliance with conservation measures pose serious risks to Canada’s marine resources. In the recreational crab fishery, retaining undersized male crab or female crab is illegal and threatens species sustainability. These actions also jeopardize the significant economic and cultural value of the crab fishery, which supports coastal communities, recreational fishing, tourism, commercial harvesters, and serves as a traditional food source for Indigenous peoples. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) fishery officers work to protect these resources through regular patrols, inspections, public education, and enforcement...

Launch of Energy Transition for EU Fisheries and Aquaculture Champions

The Energy Transition Partnership (ETP) for EU fisheries and aquaculture is launching the first edition of the Energy Transition for EU Fisheries and Aquaculture Champions in 2026.

This new best practices competition highlights and rewards outstanding success stories, forward-looking solutions, and inspiring initiatives that help the fisheries and aquaculture communities advance their energy transition. The selected champions will serve as exemplary models for innovation, efficiency, and sustainability across the sector.

Awarded categories:

1. Innovations for energy transition in fishing operations
2. Advancements in energy efficiency...

Alaska Board of Fish Is Silent on Mid-Water Bottom Contact But Proposes Joint Protocol With NPFMC

Four proposals addressing pelagic (mid-water) trawls brought before the Alaska Board of Fisheries were unanimously voted to “take no action.” 

Proposal 11, submitted by Linda Kozak, F/V Alaska Trojan, called for a closure of state waters west of 170 degrees West longitude for non-pelagic (bottom) trawls and pelagic (mid-water ) trawls. Proposals 163, 164, and 165 were submitted by the Alaska Healthy Habitat Alliance (AHHA), and called for a redefinition of pelagic trawls; new requirements for sensors...

Harmful Algal Bloom Triggers Extensive Fish Mortality in Norway

Extensive mortality of farmed fish has been recorded in Norway's Boknafjorden over the past 24 hours, prompting authorities to automatically upgrade the area's risk level to high for algal blooms with negative consequences, according to a March 24 update from the Institute of Marine Research.

The mortality is linked to blooms of Pseudochattonella, a harmful algae that has been spreading westward along Norway's coast since mid-March. Algae samples taken on March 23 showed high density in the outer parts of Boknafjorden, with more variable density inside the fjord system...

Atlantic Sapphire Raises Financing Target to $30 Million, Faces March 31 Default Deadline

Atlantic Sapphire ASA increased its near-term funding requirement to $25-30 million and faces potential technical default with lenders if financing isn't secured by March 31, according to a March 23 update from the land-based salmon producer.

The revised financing target represents an increase from the $15-25 million range the company outlined in February, citing "an elevated level of market uncertainty and required buffer" needed to achieve EBITDA breakeven on its Phase 1 Florida operations...

UK Seafood Dining Declines Despite Rising Sales in 2025

Seafood holds a starring role in Great Britain’s foodservice scene, appearing in everything from classic fish and chips to global sushi formats.

Seafish has published its analysis "Seafood Consumption in GB Foodservice" using data for the year ending December 2025. This report tracks shifts in channel performance and consumer preferences, revealing how rising costs, evolving trends and growing price sensitivity have influenced ordering and consumption. It benchmarks seafood against other proteins and examines where, when and by whom it’s enjoyed outside the home, then highlights the key...

ANALYSIS: Philippine Octopus Pricing Eases for First Time Since February 2024

The octopus market over the past year has presented significant challenges for all market participants, with tariffs and consistently low landings dominating industry discussions. Market participants widely regard Spanish octopus as the premium product at the top of the quality hierarchy, while Indonesian and Philippine products serve as economical substitutes suitable for many applications.

Spanish product prices initially surged due to light landings, creating upward pressure that intensified with tariff implementation. This price escalation created a cascading effect throughout the category, with Philippine product experiencing corresponding increases as buyers...