ANALYSIS: China’s Crustacean Imports Up in May; Year-to-Date Totals Lag 2024 Pace

China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) has released trade figures for May. Imports of live and frozen crustaceans rose by 7.1% year-on-year in volume and by 13.3% in value, reaching 98,436 metric tons and 760.0 million USD. However, cumulative imports from January to May show a 2.2% decline in volume compared to the same period last year, while value increased by 7.0%.

Shrimp remains by far the leading crustacean category. In May, shrimp accounted for 81% of total...

Norcod Secures Approval for New 3500 MT Cod Farming Site

Norwegian cod farmer Norcod has landed permission to create a new production site in the Meløy municipality with a total MAB (maximum allowed biomass) of 3,599 metric tons.

The company said the new site will be its second in the municipality. Alongside its Frosvika site, it will now have a production cluster with a total capacity of 7,198 MT.

“We are pleased to have received this approval and value the good cooperation with Meløy municipality and Nordland County. The new site Snyen...

Red Lobster Announces Return of Crabfest and New Seafood Boil Options

On June 23, 2025, Red Lobster announced the return of its annual Crabfest event along with new flavors and all-new Seafood Boils.

The promotional event follows a series of recent ups and downs for the seafood dining chain, which is currently rebounding from a bankruptcy filing more than a year ago. The company has also experienced significant leadership turnover, with a fresh lineup amassing by November 2024 for its CEO, CFO, and COO.

As part of the latest Crabfest, Red Lobster is now offering two seafood boil options...

Murkowski, Whitehouse Lead Reintroduction of Bipartisan Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act

On June 17, 2025, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska reintroduced the Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act alongside U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Representatives Chellie Pingree and James Moylan.  

The bipartisan, bicameral legislation—which was initially passed by the House in the 118^th Congress—would direct the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to collaborate with and support state, local, and tribal entities that are conducting or have completed ocean acidification vulnerability assessments, including those related to ocean acidification, research...

Andfjord Salmon Completes $39 Million Sale-Leaseback of Harbor Area Near Kvalnes Site

The Andfjord Salmon Group AS (Andfjord Salmon) recently announced the completed sale-leaseback of the harbor area proximate to its Kvalnes production site in Andøya, Norway, which is currently undergoing a five-stage build-out.

This comes after the stock exchange announcement on February 26 regarding the potential sale- and leaseback of the Kvalnes site.   

Per the salmon farmer’s June 19 announcement, all sale and leaseback agreements for the harbor property have been executed, including an 80-year contract at 7.5% yield, adjusted for CPI, making...

Associated British Ports Reels In Grimsby Fish Processing Hub in Latest Move

Associated British Ports (ABP), the largest ports group in the United Kingdom, acquired the long leasehold interest of Grimsby Seafood Village.

ABP said the move provides “future security and support for an important hub of UK food production.” Grimsby is a critical seafood processing hub in the UK.

Grimsby Seafood Village spans four acres and is located on ABP’s Port of Grimsby in the Humber region. The site is made up of 21 units with several fish processing businesses...

Hokkaido’s Q1 Surimi Output Exceeds Last Year by 3.5%

Hokkaido's frozen surimi production volume for January to May 2025 exceeded the previous year's total, the lowest in recent years. According to a tally of member reports by the National Surimi Association (Abashiri, Hokkaido), through April, it was 2,262 tons, up 35% from the same period last year, of which Alaska pollock was up 47% to 2,151 tons, and Atka mackerel was down 95% to 3 tons. "Alaska pollock also increased in May compared to the previous year," said a major manufacturer...

Mega Sardines Celebrates 50 Years, Achieves Distinction of World’s First Seafood “Superfood”

On June 19, 2025, Filipino food manufacturer Mega Prime Foods Inc. announced that its flagship brand Mega Sardines had been officially recognized by the global network Medical Wellness Association (MWA) as the world’s first seafood Superfood, marking the first designation of its kind in the MWA’s 30+ years.

The MWA awarded Mega Sardines the designation during its 50th anniversary celebration, citing its nutrient profile, commitment to quality and safety, and unique sourcing and production practices made possible through vertical integration, which ensures a product standard of...

Long John Silver’s Brings Back $6 Fish Basket for a Limited Time 

A fan favorite is back at Long John Silver’s — but not for long. Starting June 23, customers can stop by the quick-service restaurant chain and enjoy a $6 Fish Basket.  

The limited time deal includes two pieces of wild-caught, hand-battered Alaska pollock served with one side and two golden hushpuppies. 

“We’re proud to offer a dine-in quality seafood experience at a fast-food price,” said Christopher Caudill, senior vice president of marketing and innovation at Long John Silver’s. “We designed the...

Maine DMR: Body of Missing Milbridge Man Recovered

At approximately 11 a.m. today, the body of Alton Wallace, 51 of Milbridge was recovered by Maine Marine Patrol Officers from the western shore of Foster Island in Narraguagus Bay. Mr. Wallace had been missing since Sunday, May 18 when he failed to return from harvesting clams, prompting a search of the Bay and surrounding islands.

Wallace's body was located today by a fisherman near the high-water line. The fisherman reported it to Marine Patrol Officers who quickly responded and were able to confirm his identity by his driver's license...

DFO More than Doubles Northern Cod TAC in Newfoundland and Labrador

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has more than doubled the total allowable catch (TAC) of northern cod in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) from 18,000 metric tons (MT) to 38,000 MT for the 2025 season.

The commercial fishery reopened in 2024 after a 32-year moratorium, which was first implemented in 1992 due to a decline in stock, as Expana reported. Now, Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson says the stock has reached even higher levels than expected for the 2025 season...

Cook Inlet Sockeye Salmon Season Begins, Feds Set Limit 60% Higher Than Last Year

This week saw an increase in sockeye landings on the Copper River and an early jump in chum salmon landings in Prince William Sound. On Monday, the statewide tally of wild salmon landings clicked over to above one million. The most recent total of 1.3 million includes 535,000 sockeye and 667,000 chum salmon.  

Yesterday, the Cook Inlet EEZ salmon season began with a total allowable catch (TAC) of 800,126 sockeyes.  

That total breaks down into a TAC for the Kenai River...

Red Snapper Trip Ends in 7-Year Prison Sentence for Florida Boat Captain

A Florida fishing boat captain was sentenced on June 18 to 84 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to assaulting a pair of deckhands during a multi-day fishing trip for red snapper.

Terry Carrington, 38 of Carrabelle, will head to prison for assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury for the incident that occurred in the Gulf of America, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida...

Russia’s Norebo May Lose Pollock, Herring Quotas

The Russian Rosrybolovstvo (Federal Agency for Fishery of the Russian Federation) is seeking in court to terminate the contract for the provision of investment quotas for the catch of pollock and herring with four subsidiaries of Norebo Group, one of Russia’s largest fish producers and processors.

Under the terms of the agreement between the sides, the company was supposed to build four trawlers worth more than 16 billion rubles, but construction was disrupted after the imposition of sanctions.

According to the Russian Kommersant business paper...

Sustainable Shrimp Partnership Develops Living Wage Program for Ecuadorian Shrimp Farms

The Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) said its latest initiative would set “a new benchmark for social responsibility in shrimp aquaculture.”

The SSP has partnered with IDH for a project in Ecuador that will measure and validate that workers on SSP shrimp farms are receiving a living wage.

The program was inaugurated on June 11 in Guayaquil, Ecuador and aims to “ensure that the workforce of participating companies earns sufficient income,” per a release from the SSP. The program works through IDH’s Salary Matrix, a digital platform based...

ANALYSIS: Latest EU-UK Shrimp Import Data Shows Record-high Volume for April

The European Union has just released trade volume data for April 2025, revealing that total shrimp imports in the EU-UK region reached 53,122 metric tons—a level not seen in the past five years. Although this figure represents a 4.1% decline compared to March, it marks a 3.6% increase year-over-year and an impressive 29.8% rise compared to two years ago. In fact, this is a record high for April, standing 24.6% above the 10-year average for the...

New Research Reveals 26 of 30 Largest Tuna Companies Don't Disclose Accurate Catch Data

Nonprofit financial think tank Planet Tracker just released a research report revealing that only four of the world's 30 largest tuna fishing companies disclose accurate catch data for their fishing operations.

The report, entitled “Tuna Turner: Investors Must Turn Up Transparency in the Tuna Industry,” refers to the 30 largest tuna companies as “the Tuna 30." These companies account for 46% of the total global tuna catch, which amounts to 5.2 million tonnes worldwide, with 1.6 million tonnes accounting for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified catch...

Aquaticode Brings on Therese Log Bergjord as Strategic Advisor

AI-aquaculture firm Aquaticode recently appointed Therese Log Bergjord as its new Strategic Advisor.

Her appointment coincides with Aquaticode’s announcement earlier this month about major Chilean salmon producers Australis and AquaChile adopting Aquaticode's AI sorting products, resulting in commercial agreements that impact more than 60 million fish.

Log Bergjord is the former CEO of Skretting and current board member of companies Kverva and Nordic Aqua Partners.

According to Aquaticode, the timing of this appointment reflects both industry momentum and strategic intent, given the growing adoption of AI phenotyping in hatcheries...

Russia Plans to Launch up to 140 Modern Fish Trawlers

Up to 140 fish trawlers will soon be built in Russia as part of the existing renovation program for the country’s fishing fleet.

According to Ilya Shestakov, head of the Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo), most of the trawlers will be built at the capacities of domestic shipyards under the existing state program “Quotas in exchange for investments.”

In an interview with Russian TV channel “Russia 24,” Shestakov confirmed that a total of 43 trawlers have already been delivered under the program...

Maruha Nichiro to Open Restaurant in Tokyo in 2026 

Japanese seafood giant Maruha Nichiro has announced plans to open its first-ever restaurant in the fall of 2026.  

The new seafood-focused spot will be located in Newoman Takanawa, a commercial project scheduled to make its debut later this year in Tokyo’s Minato Ward.  

Maruha Nichiro says the restaurant will promote sustainable seafood, attract health-conscious customers, and “redesign the role of fish in modern diets.” 

This new venture aligns with the “Planetary Health Diet” — a collaboration between Maruha Nichiro, the...

SeaPak and Morey’s Support Global Ghost Gear Initiative During National Oceans Month 

SeaPak Shrimp & Seafood Co. (SeaPak) and Morey’s Fine Fish & Seafood (Morey’s) have partnered with Ocean Conservancy’s Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) to raise awareness about the deep sea during National Oceans Month.  

Together, the companies are working to put an end to issues brought on by abandoned, lost, and otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) — also known as ghost gear — which poses a threat to fish stocks.  

SeaPak and Morey’s parent company, Rich, first joined the GGGI in 2023. This year, Rich came up with a...

Norwegian Private Equity Firm Adds Hatchery Producer Neptun Salmo to Portfolio

Broodstock Capital, a Norway-based private equity seafood investor, has taken over ownership of Neptun Salmo, a Norwegian hatchery producer.

Broodstock’s acquisition of the Nord-Trøndelag-based hatchery marks the start of the creation of a larger independent hatchery producer, the company said in an update.

Neptun Salmo boasts decades of hatchery production experience and a new production facility that opened in 2024.

The investment in Neptun Salmo AS is made through the purchase of shares from existing owners and the injection of new equity, per Broodstock Capital...

ANALYSIS: Mahi Market Strained by Supply Gaps, Seasonal Demand, and Record Pricing

The extremely tight mahi supply situation has shown no signs of easing. Overall supply remains constrained, primarily due to a poor production season out of Central and South America (C&SA), which typically accounts for a significant portion of the annual harvest. Although many market participants have shifted their sourcing focus to Asian countries, current raw material availability remains limited, and replacement costs elevated. This strain is further intensified by ongoing trade policy uncertainty and broader economic headwinds that continue to weigh on...

Regal Springs CEO Alois Hofbauer Steps Down After Five Years

Tilapia farmer Regal Springs announced that its CEO, Alois Hofbauer, will step down from his role after leading the company for five and a half years.

The move is effective June 20, and Hofbauer will transition his focus to his family business. He will stick around Regal Springs as Senior Advisor to the Board and the incoming CEO as the company seeks a seamless transition.

Graham Ellis will join the company and immediately take over as CEO. Regal Springs described its new CEO as a “proven leader...

USDA Accepting Section 32 Bids for Atlantic Groundfish and Pacific Pink Shrimp

On June 16, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced formal solicitations for contract bids on commercially available Atlantic Groundfish and Pacific Pink Shrimp.

As is the protocol under the USDA’s Section 32 Program, products purchased through the solicitation will be distributed to various food nutrition assistance programs.

Per the solicitations, groundfish products must be delivered between August 16, 2025, and April 15, 2026. Pink shrimp products must be delivered between August 1, 2025, and October 31, 2025...

Japan's April Household Expenditure Survey: Seafood Spending up 3%, Tuna Purchases up 20%

According to the April household survey released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on June 6, total food expenditures increased 7% year-on-year to 89,487 yen ($615.30). Expenditures on seafood increased 3% to 5,889 yen ($40.49). Fresh seafood, salted and dried seafood, and surimi products all increased compared to the same month last year.

According to a report in the Minato Shimbun, fresh seafood increased 1% to 3,196 yen ($21.97). Tuna, skipjack, and sashimi platters...

California Lifts Domoic Acid Restrictions on Southern California Sardines

California sardines are safe to eat again.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham earlier this month lifted the commercial and recreational take restrictions  for human consumption of Pacific sardines in the Southern California Bight. This action comes after state health agencies recommended that Pacific sardines no longer pose a human health risk caused by domoic acid.

In early May, the take of Pacific sardine was restricted to bait use only. Recent Pacific sardine samples collected in several locations...

California’s MPA Network Recognized as International Gold Standard for Marine Conservation

California’s marine protected area network was recently officially accepted to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas, a high-profile international certification that recognizes the most successful examples of biodiversity conservation worldwide. California’s system of marine protected areas, or MPAs, is the first nature network in the world to receive this honor. 

The California MPA network was certified alongside four additional listings around the world, including Comoé National Park (Côte d’Ivoire), Taï National Mark (N’Zo Complex...

The Retail Rundown: Grocers Set Stage for Final Summer Push

With Father’s Day in the rearview, grocers are setting the stage for the final big buying event of the summer: the Fourth of July.

The upcoming holiday marks the last major retail push before Labor Day and serves as a key buying window for proteins like beef ahead of the mid-summer lull. To keep product moving, grocers are expected to lean heavily on promotions and feature aggressive pricing in the coming weeks.

Post-Father’s Day, pork and chicken are poised to capture more...

Georgia Representatives Call on Secretary Lutnick for Red Snapper Management in South Atlantic

Recently, Congressional representatives from Georgia, led by Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter, sent a letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick calling for state management of red snapper and other reef fish species in the South Atlantic.

In the letter, Carter and his fellow Congressmen express support for Governors Brian Kemp, Ron DeSantis, and Henry McMaster’s June 4 request “to correct course on red snapper fisheries management and for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) to allow for state management of red snapper and other species of..."