ANALYSIS: US Sockeye Prices Hold Firm as Bristol Bay Surges, Copper River Landings Drop

 

Sockeye salmon remains a focal point in the U.S. wild salmon market during the 2025 season, as stakeholders pay close attention to shifting dynamics across major production areas. The Copper River run, which is sought after as some of the first sockeye of the season and typically garners a premium in price, fell well short of elevated pre-season expectations this year. Initial forecasts had projected a harvest of 1.92 million fish—an “excellent"...

SEAS Act Returns to Congress, Seeking Parity for US Seafood Producers in USDA Programs

Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) reintroduced the Supporting Equity for Aquaculture and Seafood (SEAS) Act, a bipartisan bill that would ensure seafood producers get “equal treatment” under US Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs.

The bill would also spark new investments in US aquaculture.

Pallone, who is the Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, explained that the SEAS Act would direct the USDA to treat aquaculture and seafood producers with the same consideration as livestock and crop farmers for grant and assistance...

NOAA Adds to Scientific Armada with New Mapping Ship Bound for Alaska

This Thursday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will host a keel-laying ceremony in Houma, Louisiana marking the beginning of construction for an ocean-floor mapping vessel that will be home-ported in Ketchikan when finished. 

The new NOAA ships, the Surveyor and its sister ship, the Navigator, will be built by Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors under a $624.6 million contract that would allow NOAA to construct two more ships if funding is available...

Record Return of Hatchery Chinook Expected to Whatcom Creek

More than 7,000 Chinook salmon are expected to return to Whatcom Creek in downtown Bellingham this season thanks to an ongoing collaboration between Bellingham Technical College, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission and the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe. 

A few thousand fish may not seem like a lot in the grand scheme of Puget Sound and the West Coast, but successful returns of hatchery fish across multiple creeks could alleviate some concern over prey species for Southern Resident orcas and boost populations for tribal...

Ready Seafood Settles Lobster Industry Lawsuit with Former Employees, Packers Pride

Ready Seafood, a Maine-based lobster company, and its former employees, Andrew Daughan and Robert Kragh, along with their new venture, Packers Pride USA, have agreed to settle a lawsuit over competitive business practices per a notice filed in court on August 8.

The litigation centered on Ready Seafood’s allegations that Daughan and Kragh violated employment agreements and misused confidential information to launch Packers Pride as a direct competitor, as Expana reported last month.

Daughan and Kragh fired back in court, denying the claims, as Expana also reported...

Russian Fish And Seafood Exports Surge 13% Through Seven Months

Russian fish and seafood exports increased by 13% in value terms in the first seven months (Jan-July) of the year, exceeding $3 billion. The increase in shipments is observed after a steep decline caused by sanctions. Positive changes are explained by the growth of production in the Far East and the expansion of the geography of deliveries.  

According to official data of the Russian analytical center "Agroexport," Russian fishermen in January-July exported 1.2 million tons of fish and seafood for a total of $3.1 billion, which...

Trump Announces Alaska Summit With Putin on August 15 to Discuss Ukraine War

Last Friday, President Trump announced that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet in Alaska to discuss first steps towards a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. The meeting will be held on Friday, August 15.  

Only days before the announcement, President Trump expressed frustration over Putin's continued bombardment of Ukrainian cities and threatened to ratchet up sanctions on Russia. But Trump told reporters Friday that the Kremlin proposal involved "some swapping of territories to the betterment of both" countries...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #21 

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read: "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #21."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text.

...

On August 6, US President Trump issued an executive order that imposes a new 25% additional ad valorem tariff on imports from India into the States, effective 21 days after the White House announcement...

Ag Sec Rollins Announces $6M in Grants to Rid Chesapeake Bay of Invasive Blue Catfish

US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins yesterday announced the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making $6 million in grant funding available for seafood processors to expand operations, transform the food supply chain and create new and better markets for the processing of invasive, wild-caught catfish.  

USDA, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Agriculture, is also launching a one-year pilot program to purchase up to $2 million through Section 32 of Chesapeake Bay...

Record Survival Rates for Scottish Farmed Salmon Drive Export and Domestic Sales Growth

Salmon Scotland, a body representing the Scottish farmed salmon sector, said survival rates of farm-raised salmon in the country have hit record highs.

The increased survival rates follow a significant technological investment from producers.

New figures show monthly survival averaged 99.12% between January and June – the best start to a year since data was first voluntarily published in 2018, per Salmon Scotland. The group said the sector has invested over £1 billion since 2018 in veterinary care, technology and stock management...

USCG  Suspends Search for Missing Man on F/V Das Bug Near Newport, Ore.; Boat Capsized 

The US Coast Guard suspended its search for a missing fisherman near Newport, Oregon, at 10:15 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 11.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received a report at approximately 4 p.m., Sunday, reporting that the 40-foot fishing vessel Das Bug, a crab vessel with four people onboard, had taken on water and capsized while transiting inbound through the Yaquina Bay Jetty.

Three individuals – the captain and two crewmen, as reported by the Lincoln County Chronicle...

Normex Secures Breakthrough Deal with South Korea’s Mirae Aquafarm for RAS Technology

Norwegian aquaculture technology firm Normex has signed a large supply contract with Mirae Aquafarm, a South Korean land-based aquaculture company.

Normex called the agreement a “breakthrough” as it marks the company’s first venture into the Asian market.

The contract includes the delivery and installation of the Razone water treatment system throughout the facility. Once completed, the farm will have a production capacity of 10,000 tons of salmon annually, Normex shared in an update.

“This is a strategic milestone for us...

High Liner Foods Q2 Performance Boosted by Later Lent, Retail Strength

Canada-based High Liner Foods reported higher sales volumes and adjusted EBITDA in its second quarter financial results on August 7.

"In the second quarter, we delivered higher volumes, sales and Adjusted EBITDA compared to the prior year," said Paul Jewer, President and Chief Executive Officer of High Liner Foods. "Retail sales were up year-over-year and foodservice volumes improved compared to the last three quarters, supported by a later Lent this year. We will build on our strong start to the year by leveraging our diversified...

Aquamar’s Daryl Gormley To Address Future Of Surimi At GAPP Annual Meeting

The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) announced that Daryl Gormley, CEO of Aquamar, will headline its upcoming Wild Alaska Pollock Annual Meeting on September 18.

Gormley will address attendees on the future of surimi seafood in the US. He will explore how the seafood sector needs to adapt and understand how consumers view and consume seafood.

“We’ve seen trends like surimi seafood ‘crab’ boil mukbang and cucumber surimi seafood salad go viral this year and drive huge awareness and consumption of Wild Alaska Pollock...

Japan: Industry Cautious Over High Ikura Prices Amid 36% Decrease in Hokkaido Fall Chum Forecast

The Hokkaido autumn salmon migration is predicted to be 11.41 million fish, a 36% decrease from last year. Based on average eye size in recent years, an unprecedented drop in catch volume of around 30,000 tons is expected.

According to a Minato Shimbun report, the Hokkaido Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations (DOGYOREN) revealed supply and demand trends at the National Salmon, Trout, and Fish Roe Trade Conference for major recipients and shippers held in Sapporo on August 5th. The conference was hosted...

Record Snow Crab Imports Mask Growing Market Volatility

The US seafood industry is entering a period of significant uncertainty, driven by new tariffs from the Trump administration and a weakening US dollar. These developments are reshaping supply chains, driving up prices, and placing imported seafood at a growing competitive disadvantage.

While king and snow crab represent smaller volumes compared to major categories like shrimp, they remain a vital, high-value species. Through June 2025, the U.S. market received approximately 3.8 million pounds of golden and red king crab and 103 million pounds of snow crab, including domestic landings from Alaska...

Blue Star Foods and KeHE Distributors Launch Partnership and Promotion for Crab Meat Pouch

Two major developments were announced yesterday by Blue Star Foods Corp., including a strategic national partnership with KeHE Distributors as its primary distribution partner and the launch of its flagship 6-ounce cab meat pouch, now available via KeHE’s broad retail network. 

KeHE Distributors is a leading distributor of natural, organic specialty and fresh products, with over 7,900 employee-owners, 18 distribution centers and service to 31,000+ retail and online outlets.

“Partnering with KeHE is a pivotal move in our growth strategy,” said...