Japan: September Imports up 15% to JPY 169.5 Billion; Frozen Coho Surged 51%, Sockeye Dropped by 46%

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on October 30, Japan's imports of fishery products (preliminary figures, including fish and shellfish and their preparations, fishmeal, and seaweed) in September decreased by 2% year-on-year to 161,274 tons, while the value increased by 15% to 169.494 billion yen ($1.1 billion). Imports of fresh and frozen tuna increased by 34% to 18,330 tons, and salmon and trout increased by 4% to 13,839 tons, but shrimp decreased by 12%...

Russia, Japan Log Progress on Fisheries Cooperation Amid Ongoing Tensions 

Two delegations recently discussed joint catch and management of fish and seafood resources, with particular attention paid to studying existing stocks of salmon, saury, mackerel, sardine, and several other species.

According to Alexey Baitalyuk, PhD, Deputy Director of VNIRO, one of Russia’s leading research institutions in fisheries, the planned expansion of cooperation will involve mutual data exchange, with a focus on the North Pacific region.

Russia has confirmed plans to observe the moratorium on pollock fishing in the central Okhotsk and Bering Seas to help restore fish stocks...

Russian PCA Exported 500 MT of Pollock Roe to China Under MOU with China’s CAPPMA

The Russian Pollock Fishermen's Association recently announced that this year's exports of pollock roe to China have exceeded 500 tons. Since China has virtually no culture of eating pollock, the association is actively working to develop the Chinese market, Minato Shimbun reported.

According to the Hokkaido Trawl Fisheries Cooperative Federation, the 2024 export volume of Russian pollock roe is approximately 37,000 tons, roughly the same level as the previous year. The majority is destined for Japan and South Korea...

August Hokkaido Surimi Production Increased 27% to 195 Tons

According to member reports compiled by the National Surimi Manufacturers Association, August frozen surimi production in Hokkaido increased due to an increase in production of the mainstay pollock, reaching 195 tons, a 27% increase over the same month last year. This marks the sixth consecutive month of year-on-year increases, including July, when production was at the same level as the same month last year, reported Minato Shimbun.

Usually in August, the only place where pollock is landed in large quantities is the Okhotsk region by offshore bottom trawlers...

Gorton's Opens New Factory as Nissui Expands North American Seafood Footprint

Gorton's, a leading North American seafood brand and subsidiary of Japan's Nissui Group, has opened a new factory in Lebanon, Indiana, marking a significant expansion of Nissui's North American operations and reinforcing its global growth strategy.

Gorton's Gloucester, Massachusetts, facility will remain its primary production site, while the Indiana factory will increase its capacity to meet growing demand. The new facility will also allow the company to produce further value-added products and improve production lines, allowing for increased "supply chain flexibility...

Trident Launches wellFURst, a Wild-Caught Alaska Pet Wellness Brand

Trident Seafoods is extending its legacy of innovation with wellFURst pet supplements, carefully crafted made from wild-caught fish, sourced from Alaska. 

The supplements are made in the U.S. and feature wild-caught Alaska pollock and salmon. Every step of the harvesting and manufacturing process is traceable and takes place in sustainably managed fisheries.  

"Trident’s wellFURst brand is leading the future of pet wellness by offering a long-desired product for the right situation made the sustainable way," said Analise Gonzales...

Russian Pollock Fillet Market Expected to Double by 2028

The Russian pollock fillet market is expected to double by 2028, reaching 90,000–100,000 tons, driven by steadily increasing domestic production and consumption.

This forecast was recently made by experts from the Russian Association of Fishing Fleet Owners (ASRF) in an interview with local newswire RIA Novosti.

According to the Association, more than 40,000 tons of pollock fillets were supplied to the domestic market last year—twice as much as in 2023. This growth was driven mainly by Russian processors redirecting product from foreign markets...

USDA Eyeing Record 43 Million Pounds of Alaska Pollock for Food Programs

The US Department of Agriculture is looking to purchase over 43 million pounds of Alaska pollock products for use in domestic food distribution programs.

If met, the purchase would be a record for the USDA. The USDA seeks bids on 44.168 million in Alaska pollock products. It is looking for roughly 13.8 million pounds of frozen Alaska pollock sticks, 14.9 million pounds of frozen pollock fillets and 14.6 million in frozen pollock nuggets.

The announcement came in a massive...

New US-EU Trade Agreement Removes Tariffs on US Seafood, Lobster

The United States and European Union unveiled a new trade agreement on August 21 that will eliminate EU tariffs on US industrial goods, including seafood, and expand market access for American seafood, agriculture and lobster products.

The deal will see the European Union eliminate all tariffs on US industrial goods and provide “preferential” market access to a “wide range” of US Seafood and agricultural goods. The statement also said the framework included an extension of a deal, which expired on July 31, that eliminated EU tariffs on US...

Russia Bets on Consistent Bering Sea Fish Catches

Russia is betting on stable fish catches in the Bering Sea in the coming years, particularly around pollock and herring. 

This year, the total allowable catch (TAC) for pollock in the West Bering Sea and Chukchi zones was set at just above 702,000 metric tons. 

This section is one of the primary areas of year-round fishing in the Russian section of the Bering Sea. Concerns around current stocks of bottom-living and demersal fish are expected to lead to more research, which is expected to lead to Russian fisheries...

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...

GAPP to Unveil Wild Alaska Pollock Industry’s Second Life Cycle Assessment Results at 2025 Meeting  

The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) has announced that findings from the Wild Alaska Pollock industry’s second Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) will be revealed at its seventh annual meeting, scheduled for September 18, 2025.  

The study analyzes the industry’s environmental footprint across several key categories, including land and water resources, global warming potential, and energy use. 

“Our consumer research continues to show that sustainable protein continues to elevate in importance for food purchasing decisions,” said GAPP CEO Craig Morris. “As we...

USDA Awards $34.66 Million for Pacific Pink Shrimp and Atlantic Groundfish Contracts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently awarded $34.66 million in Section 32 contracts for Pacific pink shrimp ($15.73 million) and Atlantic groundfish ($18.93 million).

The announcement comes after the USDA’s pre-solicitation notice on May 23 and its solicitation notice on June 16 for frozen Atlantic pollock fillets, frozen haddock fillets, frozen ocean perch fillets, and Pacific salad shrimp.

Among the successful pink shrimp contracts were the following awards for Pacific salad shrimp: $3.275 million to Bornstein Seafoods, Inc., $10.01 million...

Trident, Silver Bay Awarded $2.8 Million via USDA Contracts for Pollock 

Trident Seafoods and Silver Bay Seafoods were awarded contracts via the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for frozen Alaska pollock products.  

The Washington-based companies will sell the USDA 39,600 pounds of frozen Alaska pollock fillets for $2.83 million.  

Trident took home the bulk of the contract, $2.3 million. Meanwhile, the USDA will buy over $522,000 worth of Alaska pollock from Silvery Bay Seafoods.   

Last month, Trident and Channel Fish Processing were awarded contracts worth $1.97 million for...

Russian Pollock Surimi Imports Surge in China, Japan and South Korea; US Imports Decline 

From January to May, the combined imports of frozen Alaska pollock surimi by Japan, China, and South Korea reached 69,455 metric tons, representing a 4% increase compared to the same period last year.  

Russian surimi imports surged by 37% to 31,823 metric tons, while imports from the United States fell by 13% to 37,632 metric tons. Russia now accounts for 46% of surimi imports into these three key markets, a shift largely attributed to recent investments in surimi production facilities across...

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...

The Winding Glass: Alaska Fisheries Face Crisis due to Gov’t Shutdown

December is the most important meeting of the year for the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Quotas are set for all Alaskan species under federal management, with the pollock and cod fisheries beginning the following month. Federal staff are furloughed, data work has stopped, and NMFS warns that a shutdown lasting more than two weeks could force precautionary quotas or missed deadlines for next year’s TACs. The shutdown is now approaching 30 days.

This disruption comes on top of the already severe erosion of NOAA personnel...

VARPE, VASEP Pact Aims to Expand Russian Seafood Exports to Vietnam 

Russia and Vietnam have agreed to significantly expand joint fish trade under a memorandum signed by the Russian fish association VARPE and the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) during an international forum in St. Petersburg.

The memorandum commits both sides to expand trade volumes, simplify cross-border procedures, and develop scientific cooperation in the fisheries sector. For Russia, the agreement opens greater access for Russian fishermen and processors to Vietnam’s large and growing seafood market.

Herman Zverev, head of VARPE, said Vietnam...

Gidrostroy Opens Major Sakhalin Processing Plant, Aims to Be Top Russian Fish Processor

Gidrostroy says it aims to become one of Russia’s largest fish processors in the coming years with the launch of several large new processing facilities.

One of those facilities was recently commissioned in the Korsakovsky District of Sakhalin Island. Built under the federal investment quota program, the complex was completed in just one year with a total investment of 3.7 billion rubles ($46.5 million).

The new plant sits on a 10,000‑square‑meter site and can process up to...

Salmon Bycatch Reduction Efforts Use AI in Bering Sea Pollock Fishery

Meet YOLOv11, a model used to detect and identify salmon bycatch in the pollock trawl fishery in the Bering Sea. YOLOv11, which stands for You Only Look Once, version 11, was highly accurate and accomplished it more quickly than humans can.

Scientists at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center customized it to detect and identify both pollock and salmon in fishing nets. This allows scientists to semi-automate the video review process used to evaluate the effectiveness of bycatch reduction devices. They can also observe fish behavior to improve...

Channel Fish, High Liner and Trident Share $84 Million Alaska Pollock Award from USDA

Channel Fish Processing, High Liner Foods (USA) and Trident Seafoods Corporation split an $84 million Alaska pollock purchase by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In total, the USDA purchased 34.694 million pounds of frozen Alaska pollock products, valued at $84.2 million, which will be used to support child nutrition and other domestic food distribution programs.

Breaking down the purchase award report, Channel Fish sold 13.984 million pounds of product to the USDA for $35.2 million...

Hokkaido's Surimi Production in January-July Increased by 16% to 6,515 Tons

Hokkaido's cumulative frozen surimi production from January to July in 2025 is set to exceed the previous year's low level. According to member reports compiled by the National Surimi Manufacturers Association, production increased by 16% year-over-year to 6,515 tons. A major non-member manufacturer also says it's "up by about 10%."

The growth is being driven by pollock, with surimi production increasing 19% to 6,340 tons. Since March, there has been good fishing in the Sea of Okhotsk and Soya regions...

Efforts in Improvement, Innovation in Fishery Management to be Showcased at Alaska Pollock Meeting

Researchers, captains and industry leaders will come together to discuss the historical and recent significant improvements the Wild Alaska Pollock fishery has made at the industry’s annual gathering, the Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) announced today. Two panels, one dedicated to a discussion around collaborative research informing environmental impacts and a second focused on technological advancements for bycatch avoidance will illuminate recent efforts along the industry’s journey of continuous improvement.

“This industry has worked incredibly hard, since its inception, to constantly...

GAPP Annual Meeting to Feature Insights on Alaska Pollock Growth in Brazil, Colombia and

India

The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) announced that market research in a trio of markets, Brazil, Columbia and India, will be presented at the group’s upcoming Wild Alaska Pollock Annual Meeting, set for September 18 at the W Hotel Seattle.

“We know that some of our largest members are active—or starting to become active—in these markets and they represent a huge growth opportunity for our industry,” said Craig Morris, GAPP Chief Executive Officer. “Thanks to these significant grants from the United...

Russian Pollock Surimi Imports by Japan, China and South Korea Up 33%, Imports from US Down 11%

According to trade statistics from the Japanese Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs of China, and the Korea International Trade Association, the total import volume of frozen Russian pollock surimi (including frozen fish meat other than surimi, excluding fillets, for China) by Japan, China, and South Korea from January to June was 37,271 tons, up 33% from the same period last year. Meanwhile, imports from the US decreased by 11% to 46,530 tons, resulting in a combined total...

USDA Commits $100 Million for Alaska Pollock, $20 Million for Catfish in New Seafood Purchases

US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced on August 1 that the department intends to purchase up to $230 million in fresh seafood, fruits and vegetables via Section 32 purchases.

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) said it would purchase $100 million in Alaska pollock and $20 million in farm-raised catfish.

The products will be used for distribution via food banks and nutrition assistance programs across the nation.

“Today’s announcement continues to prioritize American commodities for families and communities...

GAPP Opens Registration for 2025 Wild Alaska Pollock Meeting 

The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) has opened registration for the seventh annual Wild Alaska Pollock Meeting, scheduled for September 18, 2025, at the W Hotel in Seattle.  

This year’s theme, “Wild Alaska Pollock: Stronger, Together,” emphasizes industry collaboration, with a focus on sustainability and fishery management. 

“What began as a check-in has evolved into a pivotal gathering of minds and momentum. It’s where our industry aligns, learns, and commits to a future built on shared purpose and proven sustainability,” said...

Hokkaido Surimi Production Increased by 18% to 1693 Tons in May 

According to member reports compiled by the National Surimi Manufacturers Association, based in Abashiri, Hokkaido, frozen surimi production in Hokkaido in May increased 18% from the same month last year to 1,693 tons, the highest in the past three years, due to an increase in Alaska pollock landings, reported Minato Shimbun. 

Of this, Alaska pollock surimi increased 16% to 1,629 tons. According to manufacturers, landings of the fish in Hokkaido increased across the island, with the Okhotsk region up by 9% to 11,100 tons, Wakkanai 2.6 times to 4,300...

Russia Hopes for Rebound of Pollock Catch in Bering Sea  

Russia is hoping to see an increase in pollock catch in the Bering Sea this year, according to Russian analysts and marine scientists. 

Earlier this month, the pollock catch in the Western Bering Sea zone — one of Russia’s key fishing areas — had reached 131,200 metric tons.  

In 2024, Russia's pollock catch in the Bering Sea dropped by nearly 25% compared to the previous year, prompting concern across the industry. The Russian Association of Fishing Fleet Owners attributed the decline to a mix of economic and environmental factors, including...

Russian Authorities Tighten Control Over Domestic Fish Prices 

Russian authorities plan to significantly tighten control over domestic fish prices. According to official data from the Russian Federal State Statistics Service (Rostat), fish prices in Russia have increased by roughly 8% since the start of 2025, attracting attention from local regulators.  

The Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) has requested information from 37 domestic fish producers and processors regarding their price increases. The FAS has also inquired about actual volumes of production and the cost of fish products.  

The requests have raised concerns from a variety of...