Premier Dixon and Governor Dunleavy Sign Renewed Alaska-Yukon Intergovernmental Accord

Alaska and the Yukon reaffirmed their commitment to several shared issues, including deeper collaboration on research and the ongoing rebuilding of salmon populations in the Yukon River.  

Premier Currie Dixon and Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy met during the fifth annual Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference, where they discussed shared northern energy priorities and the Arctic’s growing strategic importance.

Both Dixon and Dunleavy emphasized the close, longstanding relationship between Alaska and the Yukon, including cross-border family and friendship connections, ties among Indigenous communities and a shared commitment to...

Scottish Salmon Exports to UAE, Gulf States Set for Boost Under New Trade Framework

Scottish salmon exports are expected to jump after the United Kingdom and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) inked a trade deal on May 20.

Salmon Scotland, which describes itself as the voice of Scotland's farmed salmon industry, said the deal will ensure tariff-free access for UK goods to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, removing 5% tariffs on certain salmon exports.

Last year, salmon exports to the aforementioned countries reached 670 metric tons worth £6.5 million...

Study Finds Juvenile Fraser River Chinook Exposed to Hundreds of Contaminants

A new study focused on juvenile Harrison River Chinook finds the fish are feeding and growing in a cocktail of contaminants including common medications, personal care items and industrial chemicals.

"We've shown there's a mixture of chemicals in the Lower Fraser, which not only presents potential risks to juvenile Chinook, but also other aquatic life," says Bonnie Lo, environmental scientist and lead author of the study.

Unveiled by Simon Fraser University, the research tested samples for more than 595 contaminants across up to...

Bakkafrost Raises Harvest Guidance as Faroe Islands Offset Weak Scotland Results

Bakkafrost reported stronger first-quarter earnings for 2026, driven by record harvest volumes and lower farming costs in the Faroe Islands, while its Scottish operations remained under pressure.

The salmon producer posted operational EBIT of DKK 544 million for the quarter, up from DKK 505 million a year earlier. Revenues in the Faroe Islands rose to DKK 1.67 billion from DKK 1.4 billion, with operational EBIT climbing to DKK 572 million. Scotland generated revenues of DKK 443 million and recorded an operational...

Icelandic Salmon Reports Near Break-Even Q1 as Operations Strengthen

Icelandic Salmon kept its 2026 harvest guidance unchanged at 21,300 tons after reporting a first-quarter result that was close to break-even, a clear improvement from the EUR 3 million loss recorded a year earlier.

The quarter was shaped by a difficult pricing environment and a harvest mix that weighed on margins. Achieved prices were EUR 0.69 per kg lower than in the first quarter of 2025, while smaller fish sizes dragged on price realization. The company also faced high costs on a large...

Moxies Rolls Out Limited‑Time Sushi Menu for Summer

Canadian premium‑casual restaurant brand Moxies is welcoming the warmer months with a slate of fresh, limited‑time menu innovations designed for summer dining. Leading the seasonal rollout is Sushi by Moxies, now available at locations across Canada through September 6.

Created in collaboration with Chef Tom Jeon, the new sushi offerings blend classic Japanese inspiration with Moxies’ signature modern twist. The lineup includes:

• Miso Tuna Crispy Rice
• Salmon & Prawn Aburi Oshi
• Spicy Tuna Dynamite Roll

“Moxies is all about creating memorable dining experiences...

Russia’s Salmon Catch Could Fall Up to 30% in 2026, Fisheries Head Says

Russia may face a steep decline in salmon catches this year, with volumes potentially falling by as much as 30% compared with 2025.

This was previously confirmed by Ilya Shestakov, head of the Federal Agency for Fisheries, who said that Russia’s Pacific salmon catch could decline this year to around 230,000 tons, down from last year’s level.

“So far, our forecasts for salmon catches in 2026 have been not very good, being lower than 2025 levels. We forecast between 200,000 and...

Mowi Posts Second-Best First Quarter as Salmon Demand Climbs

Rising salmon demand in Asia and improving operational efficiency helped lift first-quarter results for Mowi, as the world’s largest salmon farmer posted its second-best first quarter on record.

The company reported operational profits of €221 million on revenues of €1.54 billion, while harvesting 136,000 tonnes of salmon during the quarter. Mowi expects total harvest volumes to reach 605,000 tonnes in 2026, representing annual growth of 8.3%.

Demand growth remained strongest in Asia, particularly in China, followed by the United...

Andfjord Salmon: Salmon Crosses Important Weight Thresholds

Andfjord Salmon Group AS (Andfjord Salmon) is pleased to announce that the average weight of the salmon in its two operational pools at Kvalnes, Andøya, has reached two kilograms and one kilogram, respectively.

The salmon in pool K0 reached the two-kilogram milestone yesterday, approximately seven months after smolt release. Around 350,000 smolt were released in pool K0 last autumn.

“Reaching an average weight of two kilograms per salmon in just over seven months exceeds our expectations.  Combined with a current survival rate above 99...

NOAA Fisheries Finds Gulf of Alaska Chinook Salmon “Not Warranted” for ESA Listing 

In a final decision announced yesterday, NOAA Fisheries found that Gulf of Alaska Chinook salmon are “not warranted” for listing under the Endangered Species Act. The announcement and a more detailed Federal Register notice were the result of a January 11, 2024 petition from The Wild Fish Conservancy to list one or more evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) of Gulf of Alaska Chinook salmon as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).  

On May 24, 2024, NMFS published an initial...

Kodiak’s Early Season Salmon Fishing Curtailed to Protect Expected Low Return of Reds and Kings

Projected extremely low returns of both sockeye (red) and king (Chinook) salmon to the Karluk River on Kodiak Island’s west side are expected to keep the area closed from June 1 to July 5, 2026.  

“The Karluk River early-run sockeye salmon forecast is estimated to be 115,000 fish, which falls significantly below the established Biological Escapement Goal (BEG) of 150,000 to 250,000 fish,” noted the May 6 announcement by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G).

“Additionally, Karluk River Chinook salmon escapements...

Strong Kroner, Middle East War, US Tariffs Hit Norway's Seafood Exports in April

Norwegian seafood exports declined in April as a strong kroner, US tariffs, and the Middle East conflict all weighed on performance, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council's latest export update.

Norway exported seafood worth NOK 13.4 billion ($1.4 billion) in April, down NOK 742 million (5%) compared with April 2025. The decline stems mainly from the significant strengthening of the Norwegian krone, the council said in its May 6 update.

Norwegian Seafood Council CEO Christian Chramer said the Middle East war is having...

BC Coastal First Nations Tell Ottawa to Reverse Trudeau-era Net Salmon Pen Ban

At a press conference on Wednesday from Ottawa’s Parliament Hill, Chiefs from the BC coastal First Nations Finfish Stewardship Coalition (FNFFS) unveiled a plan for greater Indigenous equity and leadership in salmon aquaculture.  Reversing the 2029 net pen ban is essential for sustainable financial growth.  

The FNFFS welcome the federal government’s $1.3 billion investment in wild Pacific salmon conservation, adding that support for aquaculture aligns with the Carney government’s federal priorities: attracting investment, creating jobs - including for youth, improving affordability, strengthening food security...

Warming Waters May Be Increasing Northern Pike Predation in Alaska

Scientific research suggests that warming waters are increasing the appetite of invasive northern pike.

For the study, researchers compared the stomach contents of northern pike caught by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in the Deshka River during the summers of 2021 and 2022 with data collected a decade earlier.

The study, Warming causes modest increase in the consumptive demands of invasive Northern Pike (Esox lucius) in Alaska freshwaters, was published in Biological Invasions, a peer-reviewed journal with research led by the University of Alaska...

Alaska's 2026 Salmon Forecast Falls 36% on Lower Pink Salmon Returns

The most recent forecast from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game was released April 21 with a total predicted harvest of 125.5 million salmon, a 36 percent drop from last year’s harvest of 197.4 million fish.

ADF&G’s final report for the coming season, “Run Forecasts and Harvest Projects for 2026 Alaska Salmon Fisheries and Review of the 2025 Season,” provides context for how fisheries managers develop forecasts, including a comparison of actual returns and harvests against forecasts over several years...

Canada Pushes Seafood Export Growth in Europe at Seafood Expo Global

Canada is stepping up efforts to grow and diversify its fish and seafood exports, with a strong focus on expanding its presence in Europe.

At this year’s Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson met with Canadian exporters, European buyers, and senior officials from Spain, the European Union, and the United Kingdom to discuss strong European demand for Canadian seafood, particularly frozen and value-added products.

Thompson also pointed to growing momentum in Spain, where the Sabores de Canada (or Flavours from...

Alaska's Attorney General Voids 5 Board of Fish Regulations on Area M, Due to Ethics Violation 

Alaska's highest law enforcement authority sent a letter to Alaska's Lieutenant Governor, Nancy Dahlstrom, yesterday, “disapproving” of the Alaska Board of Fisheries' actions on five proposals that were adopted into regulation at its February 18 – 24, 2026, meeting.

The regulations, all affecting Area M salmon fisheries, would have taken effect on June 1, 2026. 

Acting Attorney General Cori Mills, a 14-year veteran of the AG's office, acted under the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act as a matter of state government accountability, independently...

Circle Seafoods Sets 2026 Alaska Seine Prices, Holds Pink Base at $0.61

Circle Seafoods announced its 2026 Southeast Alaska seine season base prices, setting pink salmon at $0.61 per pound, chum at $1.07 per pound, and sockeye at $2.50 per pound, with payments processed within weeks rather than months.

The company is maintaining its 2025 final pink price of $0.61 as the 2026 base, citing retail demand built through its Ultra Low Temp Pink Salmon Fillets, now available in 4,000 US stores, including Publix, Whole Foods, H-E-B, and Sprouts Farmers Market...

SalMar Lifts 2026 Harvest Guidance after Strong First Quarter

SalMar raised its full-year 2026 harvest guidance after posting stronger first-quarter results, helped by higher harvest volumes, improved fish quality and lower costs across parts of the value chain.

The salmon farmer reported group operational EBIT of NOK 1.512 billion for the first quarter on harvest volumes of 60,300 tons, equal to NOK 25.1 per kg. In Norway, operational EBIT came to NOK 1.536 billion on harvest volumes of 56,300 tons, or NOK 27.3 per kg.

The company said performance in Norway...

All-out Effort for 2026 Yukon Chinook and Chum Salmon Reach Spawning Grounds in US and Canada

For the third consecutive year, catastrophic returns will keep one of the world’s largest salmon fisheries closed to most fishing. But efforts in both the US and Canada are laser-focused on maximizing the number of Chinook and chum salmon that reach their spawning grounds. Yukon Chinooks migrate the longest, and the farthest north of any other salmon in the world. They begin and end their lives in the rivers of the Big Salmon Mountain Range in the Yukon Territory’s...

Good News Stories for Endangered Species Day 2026

Silver Bay Raises Opening Price for Bristol Bay Sockeye Up 23 Percent From 2025

Yesterday, Silver Bay Seafood sent out a letter to their Bristol Bay fleet posting their pre-season price of $1.60/lb for chilled, floated, and bled sockeye. “This is $.30/lb more than last year’s pre-season price and is considered a conservative starting price for the 2026 season,” the letter said.

The Bristol Bay salmon season officially opens June 1, but catches peak around the Fourth of July. Landings drop off significantly by the third week...

China’s First Mobile Salmon Farm Delivers Commercial Harvest

China’s effort to build a domestic salmon industry hit a milestone this week as the country’s first large-scale “smart” aquaculture vessel harvested thousands of Atlantic salmon raised entirely at sea.

The 150,000-tonne vessel, Guoxin No. 1 2-2, delivered its first commercial batch of roughly 3,000 salmon on Monday, according to Chinese state media. Operated by Qingdao Conson Development Group, the ship is being promoted as the world’s first mobile offshore fish farm capable of producing salmonids on a commercial...

Nova Austral Opens Facilities to Support Scientific Education and Community Ties

Nova Austral opened its processing plant and Aracena 9 farming center to members of the NGO Nobeles Australes as part of an initiative aimed at supporting scientific education and strengthening ties between the salmon industry and local communities in Chile’s Magallanes region.

The visit gave students firsthand exposure to the technological, operational, and labor standards behind salmon production. The delegation—led by Professor Javier Garay and joined by students Tomás Alarcón, Yuliana Mercado, and Juan Camilo Valencia—was guided through the facilities by Nova Austral...

Chilean Salmon Council Joins Industry to Celebrate 50 Years of Salmon Farming May 28

Later this month, the Chilean Salmon Council will co-sponsor the 50th anniversary of the salmon aquaculture industry in Chile with a conference, awards, and other events that honor the history and meet the challenges ahead.

The conference, organized by the magazine Mundo Acuícola, and taking place on May 28 in Puerto Montt, will bring together authorities, companies and key actors in the sector to discuss the future of the industry.

The sustainability, competitiveness and international marketing of Chilean salmon...

Scottish Salmon Survival Rates Hit Record High in Q1 2026

Scottish salmon farming achieved record survival rates in the first quarter of 2026, with March posting the highest monthly performance since reporting began in 2018.

Salmon Scotland reported survival rates of 99.1% in March and 99.03% for the full first quarter, marking the strongest start to the year for the sector. The trade body attributed the improvements to more than £1 billion ($1.4 billion) invested since 2018 in veterinary care, technology, and stock management.

The strong performance supports...

NOAA Fisheries Opens Up to $99 Million for Pacific Salmon Recovery Projects

NOAA Fisheries announced up to $99 million in funding through the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund to support projects that restore habitat and rebuild Pacific salmon and steelhead populations.

The funding aligns with the Executive Order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness and is intended to strengthen US fisheries, create jobs, and expand the domestic seafood supply. Projects must demonstrate clear benefits for fish populations while also supporting local economies, especially in rural areas.

“The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund has a strong...

Federal Bill Targets Tire Chemical Linked to the Population Decline of Coho Salmon in Pacific NW

A long-standing mystery behind mass die-offs of coho salmon in the Pacific Northwest has led to new federal legislation aimed at curbing a toxic chemical linked to urban runoff.

After two decades of research, scientists from the Center for Urban Waters and Washington Stormwater Center identified 6PPD-quinone—a byproduct of tire additives reacting with ozone—as the culprit behind the deaths. The chemical washes into waterways during rainfall, entering salmon bloodstream and...

Blumar Salmon Farm Part of New Chilean Minister’s First Trip to Magallanes Coast

Chile's presidential elections last December brought José Antonio Kast and a new administration into power on March 11. Kast redesigned the cabinet to fold the Mining Ministry into a new Economy-and-Mining structure, with Daniel Mas Valdés at the helm. The dual ministry is unique, and Mas is referred to as a ‘biminister.’

Mas’s first trip as biminister was to Chile’s Magallanes region last week, to learn firsthand about the productive and social reality of the southern region, local press reported. Mas held meetings with sector...

Natural Grocers Expands Private Label Seafood Line with Wild Smoked Salmon Launch

Natural Grocers is expanding its private-label seafood lineup with the launch of Natural Grocers Brand Wild Smoked Salmon, now available in stores in both sockeye and coho varieties.

The new product is made with wild-caught Alaskan salmon and positioned as an everyday option for a range of meal occasions—from bagels and brunch boards to sandwiches, pasta and snacking. The retailer said the salmon is sustainably harvested, MSC-certified and cold-smoked in small batches at a longtime seaside smokehouse, delivering a silky texture...