USDA Seeks 1.9 Million Pounds of Alaska Pollock and Catfish for Food Assistance Programs

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued solicitation 12-3J14-27-B-0058 for Alaska pollock and catfish products for federal food and nutrition assistance programs. The solicitation seeks 1,940,400 pounds across six product lines.

Bids are due November 12, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Central Time, and awards will be announced by 5:00 p.m. Central Time on November 24. Deliveries are scheduled for January 1 through June 30, 2027, on a free-on-board destination basis. Bids must be submitted through...

Russian Fishery Company Signs Anjoy Foods Deal and Pushes Pollock Roe Into Asian Markets

Russian Fishery Company (RRPC) has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Anjoy Foods Group, one of China's leading food producers, to supply high-quality pollock surimi to the Chinese market. The companies say the deal aims to build a reliable, sustainable and traceable supply chain from catch to consumer. The agreement, signed on October 29, 2026, calls for direct dealings without intermediaries...

The Winding Glass: Cod Prices Top Out Ahead of Lent 2027, but Retail Customers Are Still Missing

Thirty-five years after the Northern cod collapse in Canada, the stock has rebounded to become the largest Atlantic cod spawning stock in the world, now larger than the Barents Sea stock, according to Norwegian scientists at the Groundfish Forum. The Northern cod quota has risen from 18,000 tonnes to 59,000 tonnes in two years. The Forum projects Canadian and US cod landings of 65,000 tonnes in 2027, up from 30,000 tonnes in 2025. MSC certification of Northern cod is now...

Russia Targets Processing 50% of Pollock Catch Into Fillets and Surimi by 2030, Buglak Says

Russia aims to process half of its pollock catch into fillets and surimi by 2030, supported by plans to commission new vessels and processing facilities, Alexey Buglak, President of the Russian Pollock Association, said at the International Groundfish Forum.

Buglak said the Russian pollock sector is showing positive dynamics: stocks remain stable, catches are high, and exports are growing. In 2025, Russia’s pollock catch totaled 2.175 million tonnes, and it is expected to remain around 2.2 million tonnes this year...

At-sea Processors Association Names Heidi Olson VP for Fisheries Policy and Advocacy

The At-sea Processors Association (APA) has named Heidi Olson as its new Vice President for Fisheries Policy and Advocacy, the trade group announced October 1. Based in Anchorage, Olson will lead APA's work in Alaska, with a portfolio that includes engagement with regional fishery managers including the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

Olson joins APA from the Associated General Contractors of Alaska, where she served as Membership Director. She previously worked for the Alaska State Government, serving with the Department of Corrections...

Salmon, Tuna, Lobster Among Seafood on New US-China Tariff Reduction List

A broad range of US seafood exports — from Alaska pollock and Pacific cod to Maine lobster, Gulf of Maine shrimp, Atlantic sea scallops, and sea cucumber — stands to benefit from a new tariff-reduction framework unveiled by the United States and China on September 28, following last week's summit between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington, D.C.

Under a document titled "Terms of Reference for the '30-for-30' Framework," dated September 27, the two countries agreed to reciprocal lists of goods...

Russia Aims to Boost Value of Fish Exports in Coming Years

Russia plans to increase the value of its fish exports over the next several years, aiming to improve profitability across its fisheries sector and generate additional revenue for domestic fishermen.

Speaking at the International Fisheries Forum, Alexander Panin, chairman of the Russian Fisheries Union, said Russia currently ranks fourth in the world by volume of fish exports but only 14th by value. Closing that gap is now a stated goal for both Russian fishermen and the state in the coming years.

"And this is a real reserve for growth...

Sullivan's Bycatch Bill Passes Out of Committee and Trawl Groups Take Issue With Section 2

Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan’s S.4938, the Bycatch Reduction Act, had just passed out of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation after markup when a statement of concern was released by a coalition of three trawl associations — At-Sea Processors Association (APA), Midwater Trawlers Cooperative (MTC) and United Catcher Boats (UCB). 

“We are not asking anyone to accept the status quo: we are always looking to raise the bar even further,” the group said in its September 16 statement...

Russia Cuts 2027 Pollock Quota by 2.7% Amid Stock Decline

Russia has set new total allowable catch (TAC) quotas for pollock and other species for 2027, according to the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo).

Russia's overall 2027 catch quota was set at 3.6 million tonnes, about 4% lower than 2026 figures. The pollock quota specifically was reduced by 2.73% year-over-year to 2.53 million tonnes. Rosrybolovstvo did not disclose specific reasons for the reduction, though it is likely linked to declining stocks in some of Russia's major pollock fishing areas...

Industry Veteran Cathy DuPuis Joins Coastal Villages Region Fund to Lead Pollock Sales 

Cathy DuPuis, a 30-year veteran of Alaska whitefish sales, marketing management, and international business development has been hired as the director of pollock sales at  Coastal Villages Region Fund (CVRF) based in Anchorage.  

CVRF announced the move last Friday.  

“Cathy brings tremendous experience and knowledge of the seafood industry, but what really stood out to me was why she wanted to come to Coastal Villages Region Fund,” said Nick Souza, CEO of Coastal Villages Region Fund...

Russia Looks to Expand Pollock Roe Sales in Asian Markets, With China in Focus

Russia is moving to more aggressively promote its pollock roe across Asian markets, with China identified as the primary growth target in the coming years.

The Russian Pollock Association (ADM) has been running a pollock roe promotion program in China since 2024. Elena Borisenko, ADM's project manager in China, said pollock roe is already an established product in Japan and South Korea and is gaining traction in China. Russian producers are planning to significantly increase shipments to the Chinese market once outstanding issues around...

USDA Returns to Market for Catfish and Atlantic Pollock Products

The US Department of Agriculture has issued two new solicitations for frozen seafood products, seeking 4.41 million pounds of catfish fillets and 11,700 cases of Atlantic pollock fillets for domestic food distribution programs — continuing the accelerated government procurement activity Expana has been tracking this year.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service issued both solicitations on August 13 under its Section 32 and entitlement purchasing authority. Bids are due by 1:00 p.m. CT on August 31, and USDA will announce contract awards by September 14. Deliveries are scheduled between November 1...

Advocates Report ICE 'Soft Raid' Targeting Workers at Washington Seafood Plant

For the past three months, agents reportedly working for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been targeting the Premier Packing plant in Lynden, WA. Over those months, the federal agency's strategies have changed as Washington laws have passed to protect residents from illegal ICE actions.

"One of the things that makes this unique is it's along roadsides, on public thoroughfares," said Jeremy Dorrough, executive director of Racial Unity Now, the advocacy group documenting ICE activity in the area. "It's even, in some of the instances, happened at people's place...

Russia Expands Pollock Fillet Dominance in EU Market as Sanctions Bid Collapses

Russia is sharply increasing its exports of frozen pollock fillets to the European Union, widening its lead over rivals including the US, and the bloc's most serious attempt yet to restrict Russian fish imports has just failed.

The EU finalized its 21st package of sanctions against Russia on July 23 without the seafood measures that had been central to the package when it was unveiled in June. A proposed phaseout of Russian fish imports, including a complete ban on cod, was dropped from the final agreement after sustained...

Section 301 Forced Labor Tariffs Take Effect; Seafood Gets No Exemptions as New Trade Map Takes Hold

The Trump administration put a new set of tariffs in place on Friday, ranging from 10% to 12.5% on 60 US trading partners. Seafood received no product exemptions; the sector had been named a priority target when USTR launched the Section 301 forced labor investigations in February, and the final rule followed through.

The tariffs, imposed under the Trade Act of 1974 by USTR Ambassador Jamieson Greer at the direction of President Trump, replace the temporary 10% Section 122 levies that expired...

ADF&G Accuses Marine Stewardship Council of “Blue Washing” Russian Pollock Management

The London-based Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has come under fire for its near-certification of the Western Bering Sea pollock fishery, following a formal objection filed by the At-Sea Processors Association in June and a sharply worded letter from Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang earlier this month.

"…the MSC's apparent determination to turn a blind eye to bycatch management, overfishing, habitat impacts, and data transparency and deploy your program's eco-label to 'blue wash' Russian seafood in global markets...

Russia's 2027 Pollock Catch Set to Fall 3% on Lower Sea of Okhotsk and Western Bering Sea Stocks

Russia's pollock catch could fall by at least 3% in 2027 as stocks decline in some key fishing areas, according to analysts at the Russian Pollock Association (ADM). The total allowable catch for 2027 is 2.355 million tonnes, 3% below this year. The decline reflects an expected drop in catch in the Sea of Okhotsk and the western Bering Sea zone. Even so, quota utilization is expected to stay at the current 90–91%...

Umios to Acquire High Liner Foods for CAD 804 Million

Umios said in a press release Monday that it has agreed to acquire High Liner Foods for CAD 27 per share (about USD $19.22), valuing the Canadian processor at roughly CAD 804 million (about USD 573 million). The companies expect the transaction to close in January 2027, in the fourth quarter of Umios’ fiscal year ending March 2027.

The deal pairs Umios’ marine resource access and global procurement network with High Liner Foods’ value‑added processing capabilities, established brands and retail and foodservice...

Russia Eyes Export Cooperatives, Coordinated Pricing to Lift Fish Revenue

Russia plans to create special export cooperatives to boost overseas sales of fish and seafood and raise revenue for the country's fish sector.

German Zverev, president of the All-Russian Association of Fishery Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters (VARPE), said Russia expects exports to keep growing this year. He projects full-year fish exports could rise 5-6% year over year to US$6.4-6.5 billion. In an interview with Russian media, Zverev said export associations and cooperatives should support that growth...

USDA Splits $2 Million Atlantic Pollock Buy Between Two New England Processors

The US Department of Agriculture has awarded a new Section 32 Atlantic pollock contract worth just over $2 million, splitting the purchase between two Massachusetts processors after receiving competing bids — a departure from the agency's most recent pollock buy, which went entirely to a single supplier...

Russia Sees Sharp Pollock Price Growth This Year Amid Cod Shortage, Export Demand

Russia has experienced a sharp rise in pollock prices this year, with wholesale prices up 59.3% since the beginning of 2026. The increase is being driven by growing global demand for pollock and a significant decline in catches of other white fish species, particularly cod, for which pollock is increasingly viewed as an alternative.

According to analysts, the current price surge can be attributed to strong export demand and favorable conditions in foreign markets...

Seafood Industry Faces New Tariff Risk as Graham Russia Bill Nears Trump's Signature

The US House of Representatives passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 on September 16. The bill now heads to President Trump's desk after clearing the Senate in early August.

Named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who negotiated the legislation before his death in July, the bill is aimed at cutting off Russia's oil and gas revenue over its war in Ukraine.

The legislation directs the president to raise the duty rate on all goods...

USDA Finalizes $22.9 Million in Catfish, Atlantic Pollock Awards for Child Nutrition Programs

The US Department of Agriculture has awarded contracts worth nearly $23 million for frozen catfish and Atlantic pollock fillets, closing out two Section 32 solicitations that Expana has been tracking since USDA returned to the seafood market in mid-August.

Catfish awards fall short of original ask

Under solicitation 12-3J14-26-B-0396, USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service awarded contracts for 3,952,000 pounds of catfish fillets, unbreaded and raw, packaged 20/2 lb, at prices ranging from $4.58 to $5.38 per pound...

ASMI Consumer Research Finds Awareness Gap Fuels New Pan-European Alaska Surimi Campaign

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) has launched a new consumer research initiative aimed at reshaping how European shoppers understand surimi, laying the groundwork for a Pan-European Genuine Alaska Pollock Surimi campaign designed to strengthen the product's position across the continent.

Europe is already a significant outlet for Alaska surimi, importing approximately 40,000 metric tons valued at $87.5 million in 2024. ASMI's new push aims to build on that base by tackling outdated perceptions of the product and reinforcing its quality, versatility, affordability...

Canada Pulls Seafood From Counter-Tariff List After Industry Pushback

Canada's Department of Finance has reversed course on one of the more contentious elements of its retaliatory tariff package, removing fish and seafood products from its list of US goods facing counter-tariffs, less than 24 hours after the measures were announced.

The department said it made the adjustment based on feedback from Canadian industries, citing a commitment to continually assess the effectiveness of its counter-tariff measures, with a primary focus on sectors that have themselves been targeted by US tariffs. Seafood, notably, has not been...

Canada Targets US Lobster, Salmon, Pollock With 25% Counter-Tariffs

Canada will impose 25% counter-tariffs on American fish and seafood effective September 8, escalating a trade war that now threatens one of the world's most deeply integrated bilateral seafood supply chains.

The measures, announced August 25 by Prime Minister Mark Carney, cover roughly 700 US product lines at rates of 15%, 25% and 50% — a dollar-for-dollar response to US Section 338 tariffs of 50% that took effect August 19 on select Canadian imports after trade talks between the two countries collapsed. Fish and seafood fall...

Russia Plans to Expand its Fisheries Trade with Latin American States in Years to Come

Russia plans to expand its fisheries trade with Latin American states in years to come, paying a particular attention for the increase of fish exports to Brazil.

As a result of a recent visit of Ilya Shestakov, head of Rosrybolovstvo to Brazil, the latter has announced plans for a significant increase of exports of Russian pollock, cod, haddock, herring, surimi, and crab to Brazil, considering the market as one of the promising for Russian fisherman.

In addition to exports, during...

EU Seafood Consumption Hits Decade Low as Price Pressure and Convenience Demands Reshape the Market

European consumers are eating less fish than at any point in the past decade. EU apparent consumption fell from 12.94 million tonnes in 2014 to 10.25 million tonnes in 2023, with per capita intake dropping from 25.5 kg to 22.9 kg — the lowest level of the period — according to a sweeping new study from the European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products (EUMOFA). The sharpest decline came after 2019, as COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, and sustained food price inflation accelerated behavioral shifts...

The Winding Glass: What Alaska Has Lost

In 2016, Alaska fishermen received an average of 40 cents per pound for their catch (in 2025 dollars). In 2024, they got 27 cents, a 32% decline in real terms. Alaska's other resource industry, oil, saw its price rise 30% in real terms over the same period.

These are not just the actions of commodity markets. Seafood lost a third of its real value, a fifth of its processing plants, and most of its mid-sized owners. The losses did not fall evenly along the supply chain. Total wholesale sales fell by only...

NOAA, Scottish Fishing Leaders Advance Cooperative Research

Federal scientists and leaders from Scotland's commercial fishing industry spent three days in the Northeast exploring how cooperative research can strengthen fisheries management, improve trust between fishermen and scientists, and address shared challenges facing fisheries on both sides of the Atlantic.

The exchange, NOAA's first international cooperative research gathering with the Scottish Fishermen's Organization, brought together scientists, fisheries managers, academics and nonprofit organizations for discussions, vessel tours and industry visits. Organizers said the goal was to demonstrate how combining fishermen's firsthand knowledge with scientific expertise can improve fisheries science...