ANALYSIS: Pacific Halibut Supply Improves but Market Remains Historically Firm

The Pacific halibut market has entered the latter part of the 2026 season with a somewhat different tone than earlier this summer. According to the International Pacific Halibut Commission, coastwide landings through Week 34, ending Aug. 16, have nearly caught up with the 2025 pace, with roughly 64% of the annual quota harvested to date. This marks a signif

EPA Proposes Loosening Clean Water Act Permit Rules for Offshore Seafood Processing Vessels

The EPA has proposed a rule exempting most offshore seafood processing vessels from Clean Water Act (CWA) discharge permitting, a change the agency estimates will save the seafood processing industry $1.8 million annually in compliance costs.

The rule, published in the Federal Register September 4 and open for comment through October 19, revises the definition of "discharge of a pollutant" under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. Since 1972, the CWA has excluded "a vessel or other floating craft" from NPDES permitting when...

Ocean Rainforest Clears Final Hurdle for 2,000-Acre California Kelp Farm

Seaweed farmer Ocean Rainforest has secured the last major regulatory approval needed to build a commercial-scale offshore kelp farm in California, the company said in a Sept. 10 statement. The California Coastal Commission voted unanimously on Sept. 9 to approve the project's consistency certification, according to Ocean Rainforest and the trade publication Fish Farming Expert.

The approval clears the way for construction of a 2,000-acre site in federal waters about four miles off the coast of Ventura County, where the company plans to cultivate native giant kelp...

Scallop Production in Hokkaido May Fall Below 300,000 Tons for the First Time in 9 Years

Hokkaido's scallop landings for the current harvest year are projected at 298,200 tons — a 15% decline from a year earlier and the first time in nine years the total has dipped below 300,000 tons, the Hokkaido Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations (Hokkaido Gyoren) said at its autumn trade meeting in Tokyo on Aug. 27.

Landings from the Sea of Okhotsk, currently underway, are dominated by smaller sizes, primarily the "5S" grade. As last year, large scallops...

Cooke Completes Avramar Greece Rebrand as "Cooke Hellas," Installs Eugenio Meschini as CEO

Cooke Inc. has formally closed the book on the Avramar Greece name, officially launching Cooke Hellas on September 11 as the corporate identity for the Mediterranean seabass and seabream producer it spent much of the year moving to acquire.

The rebrand caps roughly six months of deal-making. Cooke first signed a memorandum of understanding in March to acquire approximately €200 million (USD 232 million) of Avramar Greece's debt, layered on top of an existing agreement to buy the company's equity — together giving...

South American Fishmeal, Fish Oil Output Falls 49% as El Niño Weighs on Supply

Fishmeal and fish oil production in South America remained sharply below year-ago levels through July, with cumulative output down 49% year on year (YOY), as the ongoing El Niño weather pattern continued to affect fisheries, according to the latest report from the Marine Ingredients Organization (IFFO).

Peru and Chile recorded the largest production shortfalls, while lower output from African countries and Northern Europe added to the overall decline.

The supply gap from South America could be partially offset in the...

Umios Takes 25.1% Stake in Thai Tuna Processor Pataya Food Industries

Japanese seafood and food group Umios Inc. is deepening its bet on Thailand as a manufacturing and product-development base, acquiring a 25.1% stake in major Thai food manufacturer Pataya Food Industries Limited (PFI) in a move aimed at accelerating its push into shelf-stable foods across Asia.

The minority stake, large enough to signal strategic intent without requiring a full takeover, was executed through Umios and its group company Kingfisher Holdings Limited. Umios described the transaction as a capital and business alliance designed...

After NOAA Funding Cut, Arctic Report Card Lands AGU, Academic Partner Support for Dec. Release

After the Arctic Report Card was cut from NOAA's budget in mid-August [LINK], its independent editorial team has been "working to strengthen and build partnerships and support to ensure the continued production of the Report Card," according to a statement posted on the report's new website.

The American Geophysical Union (AGU) and climate.us, together with the Cooperative Institute for Research and Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Alaska Fairbanks, are providing assistance to...

ANALYSIS: Canadian Lobster Exports Hit Five-Year Low in July as US, EU Demand Slumps

According to Statistics Canada, July exports of Homarus americanus fell to a five-year low of 6,978 MT, which is 14.7% below the five-year average and 17.1% below July 2025.

The weakness was concentrated in Western markets, where US shipments stood 30.2% below last year at 3,079 MT, and exports to the EU-UK declined by 22.6% to 1,483 MT. In Europe, the largest importers in July were Spain, with 388 MT, and Belgium, with 324 MT...

Shinkei's Seremoni Grade Salmon, Red Snapper Head to Whole Foods Market

Seremoni, the premium seafood brand created by seafood robotics company Shinkei Systems, has announced a partnership with Whole Foods Market that will bring its Seremoni Grade Sockeye Salmon and Red Snapper to select store locations across Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Denver.

"Launching Seremoni Grade fish in Whole Foods Market has been a huge goal for our team," the company said in a LinkedIn post announcing the deal, calling Whole Foods a retailer that "shares our commitment to quality, sustainability, and delicious food." Seremoni said the launch...

ASC Consumer Survey 2026: Sustainability Interest Grows as ASC Holds Lead as Most Recognized Label

Global seafood consumption is rebounding and consumer interest in sustainability is climbing, according to new research from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), which also found its own certification label maintaining its position as the most recognized and trusted farmed seafood label among the schemes tested.

ASC surveyed 14,795 seafood consumers across 14 countries between February and March 2026, examining purchasing habits and attitudes toward seafood sustainability. The findings were presented at a September 8 webinar, "Seafood Through the Consumer Lens: What's Changed?"...

Sovereign Seas Expands US Retail Presence with Norway Lobster Bites at Food Lion

Sovereign Seas is expanding its US retail presence with the launch of its Norway Lobster Bites at Food Lion, bringing a breaded Norway lobster product to the retailer’s frozen seafood section.

The launch coincides with National Lobster Day on Sept. 25 and marks the latest step in Sovereign Seas’ expansion of its Norway lobster business in the US. The company recently announced an exclusive partnership with Scotland-based Macduff Shellfish to distribute the supplier’s Norway lobster range...

PODCAST: Episode 46 - Grain Disruption and Plastics Complexity, Feat. Benoît Fayaud & Greg Potter

Japan’s Fisheries Agency Calls for 82% Cut to Pacific Sardine Catch by 2027 vs. 2025

Minato Shimbun reports that the Pacific stock of Japanese sardine, overfished by Japan, China, and Russia since 2023, is expected to see spawning biomass drop below the level needed for reproduction by 2025. An assessment released Sept. 2 by Japan’s Fisheries Agency and the Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency (FRA) says the 2027 catch must be cut 82% from 2025’s 911,000 tons to 162,000 tons or less. The report also warns the stock could fall further if environmental...

NOAA Awards $103 Million for Fisheries Habitat Restoration Across 10 States and Puerto Rico

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded $103 million in funding late last week for 16 habitat restoration projects nationwide, aimed at ensuring fish have access to high-quality habitat.

The funding follows Executive Order 14313, "Make America Beautiful Again," signed by President Trump on July 3, 2025, which directs agencies to "develop policies to recover fish and wildlife populations through collaboration rather than regulation, including policies involving coordination with State wildlife agencies...

NFI Rebrands as National Seafood Association, Launch Set for Monday

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) is changing its name to the National Seafood Association — the first name change in the trade group's 80-year history — with an official launch planned for Monday, September 14, according to a statement provided to Expana/SeafoodNews.

"Our name has changed but our mission hasn't," the association told Expana. NFI's mission remains getting more people eating more seafood by advocating for a regulatory environment that allows its members to run successful seafood businesses...

Expana Expands Japan Fish & Seafood Coverage with New Surimi Price Series

Expana today announced the addition of a new Japan surimi price series to its platform, expanding coverage with average wholesale prices for Alaskan pollock surimi. The series (TW43) is classified under the Fish & Seafood > Alaska Pollock category. The series is available immediately to Expana subscribers...

Russia's Far East Kamchatka Salmon Catch Hits 20-Year Low

Salmon fishing in Russia's Far East is close to catastrophic this year, according to Vladimir Galitsyn, chairman of the Kamchatka Salmon Fishermen's Association.

By his estimates, the current season could be the most unsuccessful in the modern history of Russian salmon fishing, with actual catches falling significantly short of initially planned figures. Low catches are being reported across the majority of fishing areas, including Kamchatka, Sakhalin, Chukotka, Magadan Oblast, Khabarovsk Krai, and Primorye.

Frøy Havbruk Terminates Co-Location Agreement With Måsøval Amid SalMar Takeover

Japan's Chubu Shiryo to Set up Aqua Feed Subsidiary in China

Japanese animal feed manufacturer Chubu Shiryo Co., Ltd. has announced plans to establish a wholly owned subsidiary in Haikou City, Hainan, China, to produce and sell aqua feed.

The new unit, Chubu Shiryo (Hainan) Co., Ltf., will have capital of 60 million yuan (approximately $14.6 million), and is scheduled for launch in October 2026.

Chubu Shiryo said the new subsidiary will help "to stably supply high-quality and safe aquaculture compound feed in China's rapidly growing aquaculture market."

Coast Guard Awards $173.7 Million Contract to Advance Base Seattle Modernization

The Coast Guard has awarded a $173.7 million contract to The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company as part of a major modernization of Base Seattle, strengthening the infrastructure needed for the new fleet of polar security cutters.

"Modernizing Base Seattle is critical to ensuring our Coast Guard has the infrastructure required to support the next generation of cutters and the missions they will perform in the Arctic and across the Pacific," said Adm. Thomas G. Allan Jr., Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard. "This investment strengthens our ability...

National Seafood Association Debuts New Name, Logo as NFI Rebrand Goes Live

The National Fisheries Institute officially became the National Seafood Association Monday, confirming the name change first reported by Expana/SeafoodNews last week and unveiling the new branding that goes with it.

The rebrand, announced on Monday morning, follows more than a year of research led by the organization's Executive Committee and a dedicated rebranding subcommittee, including stakeholder engagement, member listening sessions and brand research before landing on the new name.

The National Seafood Association's new logo features a compass mark meant to symbolize leadership...

Wild Alaskan Company Expands Into Target Stores Nationwide

Wild Alaskan Company is expanding beyond its direct-to-consumer subscription model with a nationwide retail partnership with Target.

Beginning today, the premium seafood brand will roll out a curated lineup of five products at Target stores nationwide over the coming weeks. The launch builds on Wild Alaskan Company’s subscription business and existing presence on Target Plus, giving the brand a broader brick-and-mortar platform to reach consumers.

“The seafood options available to most Americans are surprisingly limited,” said Arron Kallenberg, founder and CEO of Wild...

21 State Attorneys General Sue Two Federal Agencies Over Endangered Species Act Rollback

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) are targets of lawsuits brought by a coalition of states’ Attorneys General, co-led by AG Nick Brown of Washington state. 

The suits challenge new rules under the Endangered Species Act that make it easier for the federal government, private companies or individuals to modify or degrade the habitats of listed threatened and endangered species. That leaves threatened species without core protections, undermining Congress’ mandate when it passed the law. It also increases...

USDA Announces $6 Million Cost-Share Grant Program to Help Processors of Wild-Caught Catfish

"Wild-caught catfish processors on the Eastern Shore are playing a vital role in transforming an invasive species challenge into a growing commercial market that supports rural economies," said Maryland Representative Andy Harris. "By developing processing capacity for wild-caught catfish, these businesses contribute to job creation, expand opportunities for watermen and seafood suppliers, and strengthen the broader food and agricultural supply chain."

Harris was referring to a new grant program announced by US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins on Wednesday...

Global Fishmeal Production Down 49% Through July, Fish Oil off 30%, IFFO Reports

Global fishmeal and fish oil production remained sharply below year-ago levels through the first seven months of 2026, as steep losses in Peru and Chile continued to pressure supply and left the market looking to Asia for potential relief later this year.

According to IFFO’s market assessment released Sept. 14, cumulative global fishmeal production for January through July fell 49% from the same period in 2025, while fish oil output declined 30%. The shortfall was centered in South America, with Peru and Chile...

Kaldvík Secures Licenses for 10,000 MT Salmon Farm Expansion in East Iceland

Kaldvík AS has been granted aquaculture operating licenses by Iceland's Food and Veterinary Authority (MAST) and an environmental operating permit by the Environment and Energy Agency of Iceland (UOS) for salmon farming in Seyðisfjörður, East Iceland, the Norway- and Iceland-listed company announced September 11.

The licenses cover an aggregate maximum allowed biomass (MAB) of 10,000 tonnes across three farming sites — Sörlastaðavík, Selstaðavík and Skálanesbót. Of that total, 6,500 tonnes are allocated to fertile salmon and 3,500 tonnes to sterile salmon...

Alaska's 2026 Salmon Season Ends as Lowest Harvest Since 1987

Alaska-wide salmon harvests totaled 87.2 million fish as of the first week of September, about 70% of the pre-season projection of 125.5 million. It's the first time in 39 years that the state's overall harvest has fallen below 100 million fish.

According to the McKinley Research Group, which publishes weekly updates on behalf of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), every species of salmon underperformed this season. Sockeye landings came in at 84% of the projected catch statewide, while pink and Chinook followed at 68% and 67%...

Seafood Scores Big on NFL Stadium Menus for 2026 Season

Seafood is carving out real concession space as NFL teams roll out their 2026 season menus, with at least seven franchises adding new crab, shrimp, salmon or lobster items and one team striking the league's first dedicated seafood restaurant partnership.

The headline move came in Foxborough, where Legal Sea Foods was named the Official Seafood Restaurant and Official Clam Chowder of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium beginning with 2026 — the chain's first-ever official NFL stadium deal in its 70-year history. Fans can buy Legal's award-winning...

Red Lobster Closes Dozens More Restaurants in Post-Bankruptcy 'Right-Sizing' Push

Red Lobster has trimmed its US footprint to 484 locations as of this week, down 36 units — or 7% — from the 520 it operated at the end of 2025, according to Technomic data cited by Restaurant Business. The chain has closed several long-running locations in recent months, including a 55-year-old Columbus, Georgia restaurant last month and its 23-year-old Times Square outpost in June, with additional closures in Alabama, Illinois and California in recent weeks...