Ventisqueros Joins Chile’s Salmon Council Strengthening Industry Collaboration

Productos del Mar Ventisqueros S.A. announced that it has accepted an invitation to join Chile's Salmon Council, an assembly of the country’s main producers—representing nearly 60% of the industry in Chile.

The company is recognized both nationally and globally as a leading producer in the industry. It is made up of nearly 1,300 workers and is part of a European holding company with an international presence. Its inclusion strengthens the Salmon Council as a space for unions to help shape long-term government policy supporting sustainable aquaculture.

Quinlan Brothers Plans Fish Waste-to-Value Facility at Bay de Verde Operations

Quinlan Brothers Ltd. wants to build a new facility at its Bay de Verde plant to convert crab shells, salmon scraps, and other seafood waste into fish oil and meal products, rather than dumping the materials at sea or sending them to landfills.

The Newfoundland processor plans to convert the waste materials into ingredients for fish feed, pet food, and human consumption products at the facility adjacent to its existing crab and salmon operations.

Construction would begin in fall 2026, with the facility expected to be fully...

Sernapesca Hosts FDA and Mattilsynet to Showcase Chile’s Salmon Farming Standards

The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) recently carried out a series of initiatives, including meetings and field visits with international delegations, to showcase the high standards of Chile’s salmon farming industry.

The visit brought together representatives from Sernapesca, the US Food and Drug Administration, and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

"We held a series of meetings to strengthen our strategic alliances that go beyond our borders, such as the FDA of the United States and Mattilsynet of Norway, to learn about the high...

Pure Salmon Japan Secures $180 Million Fortress-Led Funding for Land-Based Salmon Facility

Pure Salmon Japan, previously known as Soul of Japan, announced the completion of a $180 million funding round led by a Fortress Investment Group fund on April 1.

This transaction completes the preferred note financing for this project, marking a significant milestone in the development of the land-based salmon farming facility currently under construction in Japan. The company comprises a group of firms under the 8F Asset Management umbrella.

"Pure Salmon Japan is one of the key projects in our global Pure Salmon platform...

Japan's Salmon and Trout Imports Dropped 8%, but Increased 6.3% in Value in 2025

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, total salmon and trout imports in 2025 decreased by 0.2% compared to the previous year, while the total import value increased by 6.3% due to higher unit prices driven by the weaker yen. The rise in prices for the main species, coho salmon and sockeye salmon, was particularly noteable, according to the Minato Shimbun.

Coho Salmon

According to trade statistics from the Ministry of Finance, imports of frozen...

Fishery Product Imports Surged 20% in Japan to 156,000 MT in February, 31% to JPY 169.1 Billion

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on March 27, imports of marine products in February (preliminary figures, including fish and shellfish, fishmeal, and seaweed) increased by 20% year-on-year to 156,079 tons, and their value increased by 31% to 169.136 billion yen ($1.06 billion). Imports increased for most fish species, with fresh and frozen salmon and trout increasing by 18% to 24,987 tons, frozen tuna by 25% to 18,262 tons...

Proximar Seafood Appoints Martin Vestergaard as COO to Lead Japan RAS Operations

Proximar Seafood has appointed Martin Vestergaard as Chief Operating Officer, bringing more than 20 years of RAS fish farming experience to lead the company's land-based Atlantic salmon operations in Japan.

Vestergaard will oversee day-to-day operations at Proximar's Oyama facility as the company transitions from initial production to stable, full-scale commercial operations. His appointment comes as Japan's first producer of locally farmed Atlantic salmon projects harvest volumes of 3,500-4,000 tonnes in 2026, nearly triple its 2025 production of 1,338 tonnes...

From Thai Curry to Harissa Salmon, Alison Brie Curates HelloFresh's New Supper Club Collection

Meal-kit service HelloFresh has partnered with Alison Brie in its latest promotion, HelloFresh Supper Club. This launch aims to reignite communal dining and inspire consumers to gather around the dinner table to share a meal.

"Between filming, writing, and producing, my weeks are packed — but sitting down to cook and eat with the people I love is something I'll always make time for," said Alison Brie. “I curated this new menu around dishes I genuinely love — bright Mediterranean...

Salmon Sector Rebounds Despite Trade and Policy Pressures

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has unveiled its report highlighting trade shifts and production trends in the global salmon market.

According to the analysis, the salmon sector experienced disruptions in 2025 driven by policy and tariff changes. Despite this turbulence, Atlantic salmon supply rebounded during the January–September period, returning to growth after tight conditions in 2024.

Norway’s sector faced a challenging operating environment, impacted by elevated sea lice pressure in several coastal areas and shifting trade conditions in key export markets...

Japan, Russia Agree on 2,050-Ton Salmon Quota for 2026

According to the Minato Shimbun, the Fisheries Agency of Japan announced on March 20 that it had reached an agreement with Russia regarding the operating conditions for Russian-origin salmon and trout fishing conducted by Japanese fishing vessels within Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for the current season. Both the catch quota and equipment provision remain the same as the previous year. 

The total catch quota within Japan's EEZ is 2,050 tons. Of this, 500 tons are for chum salmon. The combined total of pink, sockeye, coho...

Atlantic Sapphire Raises Financing Target to $30 Million, Faces March 31 Default Deadline

Atlantic Sapphire ASA increased its near-term funding requirement to $25-30 million and faces potential technical default with lenders if financing isn't secured by March 31, according to a March 23 update from the land-based salmon producer.

The revised financing target represents an increase from the $15-25 million range the company outlined in February, citing "an elevated level of market uncertainty and required buffer" needed to achieve EBITDA breakeven on its Phase 1 Florida operations...

McIlroy's Masters Champion’s Dinner Menu Highlights Premium Seafood Selections

Golf superstar Rory McIlroy's highly anticipated 2026 Masters Champions Dinner menu features multiple premium seafood courses, underscoring the continued prominence of high-end seafood species in one of golf's most prestigious culinary traditions.

The 2026 Champions Dinner takes place during Masters week at Augusta National Golf Club, where only past Masters winners are invited to attend this tradition that has evolved into one of golf's most closely watched culinary events.

The Northern Irishman's menu centers around a first course of yellowfin tuna carpaccio, an homage to a signature dish from...

Canadian Fisheries Minister Champions $6.1B Trade Partnership with US Market

Canadian Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson led a multi-provincial delegation to Seafood Expo North America, emphasizing the strength of North American seafood trade relationships while addressing industry concerns about evolving trade dynamics.

Thompson's delegation included representatives from Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and British Columbia, reflecting the national scope of Canada's seafood export priorities. The minister used the Boston platform to reinforce Canada's commitment to what she called "fair, stable, predictable, and rules-based trade," supporting both Canadian and American coastal communities...

SENA 2026: Mowi Unveils Unified Booth Design, Expands Flavor Innovation and Digital Marketing Push

Mowi Consumer Products is using SENA 2026 to debut its most ambitious booth presence yet, combining a unified brand concept with expanded flavor innovation and a comprehensive digital marketing strategy targeting younger salmon consumers.

Diana Dumet, senior director of category and marketing for CP Americas, said the new booth design at #217 reflects the company's evolution from operating separate brand presentations to a cohesive approach. "Before we had this concept where Mowi was on one side, Ducktrap was on another side, and it was...

SENA 2026: Vičiūnai Group Targets Major US Retail and Foodservice Growth with Market Entry Push

Vičiūnai Group is leveraging a landmark $100 million salmon processing investment to accelerate its US market expansion at Seafood Expo North America, with production capacity tripling to over 110 million pounds annually as the European processor targets American retail and foodservice growth.

CEO Egidijus Stankus, leading the company's new US subsidiary VG Trading Inc, described the strategic shift from the Lithuanian company's traditional Central and Eastern European focus toward what he called "the biggest seafood market across the world." Building on years of SENA...

Study Finds Salmon Lice Struggle in High-Density Fish Farm Environments

Researchers at the University of Bergen in Norway have found that salmon lice may struggle in fish-dense environments similar to modern aquaculture farms, growing smaller, producing fewer eggs, and dying more often.

Scientists recreated two types of environments, natural ocean conditions and high-density fish farm environments, to study the parasites. "Even though there were many salmon and plenty of food available, there were not more parasites per fish. The lice didn't reproduce faster either. Those that survived to adulthood...

Erling Haaland Renews Norwegian Seafood Ambassador Deal Until Autumn 2028

Norwegian football (soccer) star Erling Haaland has signed a new contract, and no, not for a new team in the Premier League.

Haaland has extended his partnership with the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), where he will continue to serve as an ambassador and partner for Norwegian seafood.

Haaland’s work alongside the council began in 2024, and the new agreement will see Haaland work alongside the council through autumn 2028.

“I’m very happy to continue the partnership with Norwegian seafood. It feels natural to me, and it’s something...

Southeast Alaska Troll Chinook Limit Jumps 57% to 146,000 Fish for 2026

Yesterday, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced that the annual all-gear allowable catch limit for Southeast Alaska/Yakutat (SEAK) is 207,400 treaty Chinook salmon, or non-Alaska hatchery-produced Chinook salmon.  

This year’s all-gear catch limit includes a 1% reduction that will serve as a buffer to avoid exceeding the all-gear limit and payback provisions within the treaty.  

The resulting preseason troll treaty harvest allocation for 2026 is 146,000 Chinook salmon, which is 53,200 fish above the preseason limit available in 2025...

Kaldvik Secures Financing Relief as Losses Mount

Kaldvik, the fully integrated company which controls the value chain from hatchery to sales, said in an Oslo Stock Exchange statement that it had successfully concluded negotiations with its lenders, who accepted several measures for the current fiscal year.

In the last quarter reported, it revealed a loss of €10.6 million (£9m) following a lackluster winter. 

The company said its lenders agreed to increase availability under the revolving facility for 2026 by applying a less conservative borrowing-base calculation, though the facility...

Atlantic Sapphire Secures $10 Million Bridge Loan Securing Near-term Operations

Atlantic Sapphire ASA has secured a $10 million bridge loan from its key investors while increasing the potential buyout offer price to NOK 0.80 per share as part of broader refinancing discussions, the land-based salmon producer announced March 27.

The bridge loan provides up to $10 million in two $5 million tranches, carrying 12% annual interest and a 15% origination fee, with maturity set for May 15, 2026. The facility ranks senior to Atlantic Sapphire's existing convertible loan and can be extended if parties...

SalmonChile and Fisheries Undersecretary Tour Suppliers to Advance Sustainable Salmon Farming

President of SalmonChile Patricio Melero and Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture Osvaldo Urrutia visited two national suppliers, Compas Marine and GripShip, to review technological advances and projects that are strengthening sustainability across the sector.

These visits are part of SalmonChile's broader efforts to strengthen public–private dialogue and create shared learning spaces that support the sustainable development of Chilean salmon farming, a key economic engine for the country’s southern regions.

At Compas Marine, the delegation was welcomed by founder Jorge Pacheco and his...

Record Harvest for Mowi in 2025, But Canadian Operations Hit by Market and Regulatory Pressures

Mowi posted record global harvest volumes of 559,000 tonnes in 2025, though the world's largest Atlantic salmon farmer faced significant headwinds in its Canadian operations as regulatory uncertainty in British Columbia and challenging North American market conditions weighed on profitability.

Operational EBIT for salmon of Canadian origin plunged to negative €39.8 million in 2025 from positive €3.4 million in 2024, according to the company's annual report released this week. The company attributed the decline to reduced spot prices from "more challenging market...

Major Shareholder in Norway’s Måsøval Initiates Strategic Review of Ownership, CEO Steps Down

Yesterday Norwegian salmon farming company Måsøval AS announced that its controlling shareholder has decided to initiate a strategic review of its ownership in the company. At the same time, Måsøval CEO Helge Kvalvik announced his departure after three years with the company.

Måsøval’s 70% majority owner is Heimstø AS, an investment company owned by the Måsøval family. As they announced their decision to undertake a strategic review of its ownership, they also noted, “The strategic review does not entail a...

Norwegian NGO Funding of Chilean Indigenous Groups Sparks 'Unfair Competition' Claims

A Chilean television investigation has highlighted allegations of unfair competition in the global salmon industry, focusing on Norwegian government-funded NGO support for indigenous communities that can block salmon projects in Chile.

The 24 Horas report examined how Norwegian organizations have provided over 500 million pesos to Lafkenche indigenous communities in Chile, which have legal authority to halt salmon farming developments in coastal areas where both countries compete for market share.

"It's absolutely unacceptable lobbying from the point of view of improper interference...

Harmful Algal Bloom Triggers Extensive Fish Mortality in Norway

Extensive mortality of farmed fish has been recorded in Norway's Boknafjorden over the past 24 hours, prompting authorities to automatically upgrade the area's risk level to high for algal blooms with negative consequences, according to a March 24 update from the Institute of Marine Research.

The mortality is linked to blooms of Pseudochattonella, a harmful algae that has been spreading westward along Norway's coast since mid-March. Algae samples taken on March 23 showed high density in the outer parts of Boknafjorden, with more variable density inside the fjord system...

Chile Government, Salmon Industry Back Plan to Fast-Track 200 Aquaculture Relocations

Authorities in Chile's Los Lagos region and salmon industry representatives have endorsed the new Kast administration's plan to expedite 200 pending aquaculture relocations, according to reports from Chilean media outlets.

BioBioChile reported March 16 that regional authorities and the salmon sector backed the government's project to "unblock" the 200 aquaculture relocations that have been stalled in the regulatory process.

The initiative represents a key component of President José Antonio Kast's efforts to reduce regulatory bottlenecks constraining Chile's aquaculture sector, according to SalmonExpert...

Ireland's Salmon, Spiny Lobster Regain US Export Eligibility After MMPA Review

Ireland's farmed salmon and spiny lobster will be eligible for export to the United States after NOAA Fisheries found the country's fisheries meet US standards, according to a March 16 announcement.

The export ban took effect on January 1, 2026, and was first confirmed by Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and the Sea‑Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) in November 2025, as Expana reported.

The ban was tied to National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) comparability findings under the US Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)...

Norwegian Food Safety Sets a Restricted Zone for ISA North of Trondheim

For the second time in five months, infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA) has been found in several Mowi aquaculture sites in Trøndelag county, about 240 miles north of Oslo. On 17 March 2026, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority adopted regulations on a restricted zone for the control of ISA in aquaculture animals in the municipalities of Nærøysund and Namsos, Trøndelag. 

The tick disease ISA has been detected in fish at the sea locality 31357 Geitryggen (Barenswatch) in Nærøysund municipality, Trøndelag county. The site is operated by Mowi Seawater Norway...  

Norwegian Seafood Navigates Changing Tides in the French Market

In recent years, French consumers' shopping habits have shifted dramatically, posing both opportunities and challenges for Norwegian seafood exporters.

The backdrop of political unrest, rising prices, and strained household budgets has impacted the way French people consume fish and other seafood. “That is why we have commissioned a comprehensive report on the French seafood market,” notes Sigrid Louise Philippart, the Norwegian Seafood Council’s Country Director in France.

The report paints a detailed picture of the current trends and future priorities within the French market...

Collaborative Conservation Efforts Aim to Secure Future of Atlantic Salmon in Canada

Wild Atlantic salmon holds profound cultural and economic significance in Atlantic Canada and Québec, symbolizing an integral part of Canada's heritage. This iconic species is interwoven with the nation's history and identity, representing a shared legacy for generations.

On Friday, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, announced new projects dedicated to advancing the Strategy's vision for Atlantic salmon conservation, aiming to create conditions that allow this vital species to thrive. "Atlantic salmon are woven into the identity of Atlantic Canada...