Royal Greenland Unveils New Packaging for Frozen Cod and Halibut Boxes, 100% Recyclable

Royal Greenland just revealed new sustainable packaging for its 15-pound frozen boxes of cod and halibut, which is 100% recyclable and plastic-free.

The packaging—which is already being utilized on Royal Greenland fishing trawlers—was developed in collaboration with packaging solutions company Schur and replaces the polyethylene (PE) coating on the cardboard box with a water-based coating. As a result, the new coating offers durability while providing a more sustainable solution for the Greenland-based fishing company...

Russia's Fish Catch Declines 8% in 2024, Totaling 4.88 Million Tons

Russia reduced its overall fish catch by 8% in 2024 to 4.88 million tonnes, compared to 2023, according to the latest data from Russian fishermen and local media reports.

According to the Russian Izvestia TV channel, fishing in the Far Eastern fishery basin, the center of Russia’s fish production, decreased by 7.7% year-over-year. At the same time, almost the same decline was observed in the Northern basin.

In the Far Eastern fishery basin, pollock became an absolute leader in terms of catch with...

China Announces 2025 Tariff Increases on Key Seafood Imports

China’s State Council announced adjustments for tariff rates in 2025, with some of the adjustments leading to rate increases for key imported seafood items like shrimp, whitefish and abalone.

Some key seafood items will see increased tariff rates from 2% to 5% in 2025. Specifically, the tax rate for frozen shrimp will see a 3% tariff jump, along with frozen Arctic shrimp, while fresh abalone will jump from 7% to 10%.

EU SME Centre highlighted the following species with increased tariffs (all impacted items are frozen product): Greenland halibut, flounder...

Russia Boosts Global Frozen Fish Exports

According to the latest report of the Russian Association of Fishing Fleet Owners (AFFO), Russia currently accounts for more than 17.4% of global frozen fish exports, which is higher than the figure for 2023 (16.2%).

Over three-quarters of the current year, Russian frozen fish supplies amounted to more than 1 million tons. China (11.7%), the Netherlands (7.2%), Norway (7%), and the US (6.6%) are also prominent suppliers.

According to the AFFO, frozen fish remains the main product of Russian fish exports. Its supplies account for 50% of the value of fish exports...

NEFMC Finalizes Adjustments to Framework 69 with Focus on Atlantic Cod Catch Limits and Stock Units

The New England Fishery Management Council recently took final action on Framework Adjustment 69 to the Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan, which includes catch limits and management measures for 2025 and beyond.  

Before the decision-making process began, the Council reviewed the following reports:

• Peer-reviewed results of Management Track Stock Assessments 2024 for American plaice, pollock, witch flounder, Atlantic halibut, Georges Bank haddock, and Gulf of Maine haddock, as presented by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center

• Overfishing limit (OFL) and acceptable biological...

2025 TACs Up on Alaska Pollock and Mackerel, Down on Cod, Yellowfin Sole, POP in Bering Sea
Dec. 11, 2024: Gulf of Alaska TACs added; units corrected to thousands of metric tons (kmt) for all species except BS pollock.

Alaska Pollock stocks are strong enough to merit a 6% increase for the total allowable catch (TAC) in the Bering Sea, from 1.3 million metric tons in 2024 to 1.375 mmt in 2025. In the Gulf of Alaska, the 2025 TAC is 53,000 mt less at 133,075 mt compared to this year’s quota of 186,000 mt.

The North Pacific Fishery Management ...

Russian Fish Processors Plead for Relief Amid Investment Quota Struggles

Leading Russian fish processors have called on the state to ease the existing requirements of the investment quota program due to their inability to ensure the required output at present. Processors are also eyeing exemption from possible fines that would be levied due to not fulfilling the obligations.

So far, the "Russian Cod," one of Russia’s fish processors and producers, has already contacted the local Federal Agency with a request to ease the existing requirements for participants in the investment quota program and exempt them from fines in the...

Atlantic Groundfish Council, FFAW React After DFO Completes 3Ps Cod Stock Assessment

Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) held a technical briefing on the 3Ps cod stock assessment, which found that the stock is growing but at a slow pace, as has been the case in recent years.

“Continued growth is welcome news and while I am hopeful that this growth will be sustained, only time will tell us that for certain,” said Vanessa Byrne, Director of Fisheries Management and Science with the Atlantic Groundfish Council (AGC). “We are doing what we can to...

Russia to Cut Fish Exports to EU Amid Sanctions and Market Shift

Russia will continue to reduce fish exports to the EU region this year and in 2025 due to the ever-growing pressure from sanctions and the ongoing reorientation to the East.

In 2023, Russia exported fish and fish products to EU countries — mostly fillets as well as minced pollock and cod – for a total sum of US$768 million. About 95% of such shipments accounted for white fish.

Fish products from Russia and China, made from Russian raw materials, account for more than 80% of all...

EU Council Sets New Catch Limits for Baltic Sea: Increases Herring Quotas, Cuts Cod and Salmon

On October 22, the EU Council reached a deal on new catch limits for the key fish stocks in the Baltic Sea.

The agreement on total allowable catches (TACs) and national quotas for 2025 were in line with the scientific advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), and sets the maximum quantities each member state will be allowed to catch for each fish stock.

Herring

The Council shared that the Central Baltic herring stock has pushed above the...

Norwegian Salmon Exports Strong in Q3 Despite Headwinds; Farmed Cod Outpaces Wild-Caught

The Norwegian Seafood Council said it just wrapped up the best third quarter ever for seafood exports.

“Thanks to a historically high export value in September, we have put behind us the best third quarter ever. This time there is virtually no currency effect from a weak Norwegian krone, since we are comparing with the same period last year. High volumes of salmon, trout, mackerel and prawns are driving up the export value," said Christian Chramer, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council...

Cod Farmer Ode Appoints New Sales Manager

Ode, a top producer of farmed cod in Norway, announced that Tone Hellesvik has been appointed as Sales Manager.

Hellesvik brings over thirty years of seafood industry experience to the role, with much of it focused on whitefish sales and marketing. She previously served as the Sales Director at Nordic Group and was in a similar position for Domstein and Terra Seafood.

In the new role, Hellesvik will be tasked with “further developing the sales of Ode’s farmed cod to the North American and Nordic markets.” Furthermore, she will be the category...

Brazil Opens Market to Norwegian Seafood Exports

Norwegian seafood now has access to one of the largest markets on the planet. 

Brazil and Norway have reached an agreement that will allow Norwegian seafood to enter Brazil. According to Norway’s Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet), producers will be able to export wild fish, farmed fish, and fish by-products to Brazil if they are approved by the Brazilian authorities (DIPOA). 

Brazil has a massive population and is considered one of the top destinations for Chilean salmon. With Norwegian products now in the mix, the country could see added interest for its staple...

Russia to Continue Fishing in Baltic Sea Despite Protests of Baltic States

Russia will continue fishing in the Baltic Sea despite protests from the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, as well as Sweden, according to recent statements made by the head of the Russian Federal Agency of Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo) Ilya Shestakov.

According to Shestakov, all the protests and claims are unfounded.

In July, some European media reported that Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden complained to the Council of the European Union (EU) and the European Commission (EC) that Russia continues to fish for cod, herring and sprat in the...

FFAW Speaks Out On NAFO Moving Forward With Offshore Dragger Access On Northern Cod Grounds

The Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) union is speaking out against the National Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) as the Commission moves forward with allowing international and domestic offshore draggers back on the Northern cod grounds. The union said in a statement on Monday that the EU is awaiting the approval of their harvesting proposal from the NAFO Commission to get access to the fishery.

“It is our strong opinion that the NAFO Commission should defer reopening the offshore allocation for the 2J3KL northern...

Baltics States Continue to Lobby For Imposition of Restrictions on Russian Fish Imports to EU

The Baltics states continue to lobby for imposition of restrictions on the supplies of Russian fish to the EU, according to earlier statements made by representatives of some leading Russian fish producers and local media reports. 

As German Zverev, head of the All-Russian Association of Fishery Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters (VARPE), said in an earlier interview with the Russian newswire RIA Novosti, the Baltic countries want to leave the European Union without Russian fish and gain a competitive advantage, associated with imposition of...

Norway’s 2024 Seafood Exports Rank as Best Year Yet

According to a statement from the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), Norway experienced its highest ever seafood export value in 2024, with a total of 2.8 million tonnes of seafood products exported, amounting to NOK 175.4 billion (approximately $15.4 billion).

Upward trajectory for Norwegian seafood exports

This marks a 2% increase from 2023, when the Scandinavian country experienced a seafood export value of NOK 171.7 billion (approximately $15.08 billion). The NSC recorded seafood exports of more than 60 different species to over 150 countries worldwide...

Russia Expects Fish Catch to be Stable in 2025

According to recent statements made by representatives of some leading local producers and Russian media reports, Russia expects a stable fish catch in 2025 that will reach about 5 million tonnes.

As Alexander Panin, Chairman of the Russian Fish Union, a public association that unites some leading Russian fish producers, told the Russian Komsomolskaya Pravda business paper in an interview, a good catch is expected for most important Russian fish species next year, including ivasi, pollock, and salmon.

Particular hopes are also put on the increase of squid catch...

Fish Catch in Russia Declines This Year, Leading to Price Increases

Fish catch in Russia declines this year, which has led to price increases in the domestic market.

According to Forbes Russia magazine as of December 2, citing the president of the All-Russian Association of Fishery Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters (VARPE) German Zverev, the volume of catch has amounted to 4.58 million tons, which is 9% lower than the same period in 2023, which experienced record-breaking catch. 

In case of pollock, the volume of catch increased by 1%, amounting to 1.85 million tons, while pacific herring - by 11%...

Japan's Imports of Russian Pacific Cod Surge 79% from January to October, Displacing US Cod by 17%

According to trade statistics from the Ministry of Finance, the average price per kilo for frozen cod imports from January to October was 620 yen ($4.13/kg), down 0.5% from the same period last year, while the volume recovered to 4,071 tons, up 42%. Imports from Russia increased, with the unit price falling 3% to 593 yen/kg ($3.95/kg) and the volume increasing 79% to 3,141 tons. Imports from the United States saw a unit price increase...

Norway's November Seafood Exports Reach Highest Value to Date, Says Norwegian Seafood Council

According to information published recently by the Norwegian Seafood Council, seafood exports in Norway reached a total worth of NOK 17.3 billion in November, making it the most successful November seafood export value to date, increased by NOK 1 billion, or 6%, from last November.

At this rate, Norway is headed for a new export record, with already NOK 160.4 billion exported this year, which is 1.5% higher than this time last year.

Christian Chramer, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council, said that Norway has been seeing...

A Look at the Top 10 Most Consumed Seafood Items in 2022

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) debuted its annual Top 10 List of the most consumed seafood in 2022. NFI’s list comes shortly after NOAA Fisheries unveiled its Fisheries of the U.S. 2022 Report, which saw Americans consume roughly 19.7 pounds of seafood, a slight downturn from the 20.5 pounds seen in 2021.

Shrimp topped the Top 10 List once again despite a minor decrease in consumption. Salmon finished in second place, and it also witnessed a slight drop in consumption. In third place was canned tuna, which saw...

Russia and Norway Agree on Fishing Conditions in Barents and Norwegian Seas for 2025

Russia and Norway have approved the allowable catch of cod, haddock and other types of fish and seafood for 2025, according to the latest report of the Russian Federal Agency of Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo), while cod catch quota has become the lowest in the last 33 years.

According to Rosrybolovstvo, during the 54th session of the joint Russian-Norwegian fisheries commission, the parties exchanged the results of scientific research and statistics on catches for 2023-2024. They also discussed fisheries in the Barents and Norwegian Seas and...

NEFMC: Groundfish Council Gives Thumbs Up on Amendment 25, Preps for Final Action on Framework 69

The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) took final action on Amendment 25 to the Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) during its September 24-26 meeting in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

The NEFMC said that the 2023 Atlantic Cod Research Track Assessment found that Atlantic cod would be better assessed as four stock units. However, the FMP refers to only two stocks for Atlantic cod, Amendment 25 would incorporate the four new stock units, as described below...

Canadian Court Shoots Down FFAW’s Push to Suspend 2024 Northern Cod Decision

A federal court in Canada shot down a request from the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) to halt the 2024 northern cod fishery off the north and east coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Back in June, Canada fisheries minister Diane Lebouthillier announced the end of the Northern cod moratorium, meaning the commercial cod fishery would reopen for the first time in over 30 years, as SeafoodNews reported. The Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for Canadian fishermen is 18,00 metric tons, 15,071.4t of which would head towards FFAW’s inshore...

UK’s Young’s Seafood Debuts Jumbo Cod Product Amid Rising Fish and Chip Prices

Young’s Seafood, a staple seafood brand in the United Kingdom, debuted a Jumbo cod product in its Young’s Chip Shop retail line.

The new Young’s Chip Shop Jumbo Cod Special targets consumers looking for a genuine takeaway fish and chips experience without having to leave their kitchen.

The Jumbo Cod replicates the typical jumbo-sized portions at local fish and chip shops throughout the country. The Atlantic cod fillets hit the shelves amid rising takeaway food prices in the UK, with Young’s stating...

The Retail Rundown: Going All-Out for Autumn

Fall is just around the corner, with the official start of autumn this Sunday, September 22. As cooler weather sets in and travel plans wind down, grocers are ramping up their offerings of seasonal favorites to align with the change in consumer preferences. 

According to the Expana Retail Activity Index, seafood continues to lead for the fourth week in a row, making up 30% of total protein ads. Beef and pork are close behind, each at around 25%, while chicken accounts for 14%. Eggs represent 2.8% of retail opportunities, and turkey has 2.3%...

Japan: Frozen Cod Imports Recover; Russia Totals Double in January-July, Dip from U.S.

According to trade statistics from the Ministry of Finance, the average price for frozen cod imports from January to July was 623 yen/kg ($4.38/kg), 2% lower than the same period last year, while the volume recovered to 2,102 tons, a 52% increase. Imports from Russia saw a 5% decrease in price to 597 yen/kg ($4.20/kg) and a 2.1-fold increase in volume to 1,635 tons. Imports from the United States saw an 11% increase...

Norcod Names Stian Vollan-Hansen as New Chief Financial Officer

Norwegian cod farmer Norcod appointed Stian Vollan-Hansen as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The company said Vollan-Hansen will assume the role on December 1, 2024.

Vollan-Hansen is based in Trondheim, and brings plenty of experience to Norcod’s executive suite from a financial management and business development standpoint. He previously spent nine years in a litany of roles at Entry, an energy consultancy agency, most recently as CFO.

"We are delighted to welcome Stian to the Norcod team. I am confident...

FFAW Continues To Butt Heads With Royal Greenland: “Enough Is Enough”

The Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) are demanding “consequences” for Royal Greenland.

FFAW has been fighting with Royal Greenland since the company took a controlling interest in St. Anthony’s Seafoods in September 2020. In the past, representatives from the union have expressed concerns over “excessive hours,” and a “general culture of intimidation and harassment.” On Friday, the union spoke out about how Royal Greenland has “continually refused to follow provincial regulations,” in addition to ignoring the collective bargaining process.

“Since first being allowed to...