NASEM Committee Announces Findings Between Seafood Consumption and Child Growth 

A committee with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) hosted a webinar this week, examining the connection between seafood consumption — particularly in women of a child bearing age, pregnant and breastfeeding women — and child growth and development. 

The Committee on the Role of Seafood Consumption in Child Growth and Development looked at finfish, shellfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and marine and freshwater fish. The aim of this research was to better understand the nutritional benefits of seafood consumption weighed against the health risks. The group found that...

Bob Evans LTO Alaska Cod Entree Sales Triple From Last Year

A partnership between Bob Evans Farmhouse Kitchen and the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) has proven to be fruitful this year. While about two weeks of the Lenten season remain, the restaurant chain has revealed that their limited time cod entree has already tripled sales from last year.

The limited time menu offering for Lent is a Fish Fry Platter which features three pieces of wild-caught fresh Alaska cod fillets in a light and flaky pub-style batter. In addition to the fish fillets, the platter also...

Austevoll Seafood Faces Challenges in 2024 After Mixed Q4 2023 Financial Results

Austevoll Seafood has released its Q4 2023 financial results as the Norwegian seafood company tackles an array of challenges in the first quarter of 2024. 

One of the highlights for Q4 included a boost in revenue. Operating revenue for the fourth quarter totaled NOK 8,754 million; a 15% increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2022 when the company brought in NOK 7,639 million. 

Austevoll Seafood — which is a majority owner of Lerøy Seafood Group — says the increase is mainly due to Lerøy having a...

Import Ban on Russian Seafood Into U.S. Receives Extension To May

In the final days of 2023, President Joseph R. Biden signed an Executive Order on “taking additional steps with respect to the Russian Federation’s harmful actions.” The U.S. had already banned imports of Russian seafood, but the latest Executive Order closed a loophole that allowed Russian-caught seafood, processed in China, to enter the country. The government gave U.S. importers a deadline of February 21 to bring in any Russian-origin seafood that was already under contract or written agreement prior to December 22...

U.S. Department of Treasury Updates HTS Codes Under Expanded Russian Sanctions

In December a new Executive Order was issued expanding the sanctions of certain seafood from Russia. The Executive Order not only blocks the importation of seafood from Russia, but also Russian-harvested seafood that has been “transformed into another product outside of the Russian Federation.”

A few weeks after the Biden Administration announced the Executive Order, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control published regulations defining what is meant by the terms “salmon,” “cod,” “pollock,” and “crab.” This update includes HTS codes that previously...

Japan: Alaskan Cod Prices Fall to JPY800 from JPY900 a Year Ago

The wholesale price of frozen Pacific cod from Alaska with a core size of 9/10 count (longline caught and frozen in 18/19 kg blocks) decreased after reaching the 900 yen/kg ($6.34/kg) range in the latter half of last year. It has since fallen to 800 yen/kg ($5.64/kg) as of mid-December this year, reported Minato Shimbun. "Consumers in Japan, as well as those in the U.S., seem weary of high prices," said a trading company source.

The price was around...

Russian Fish Sector Shows Stable Growth Rates This Year

Despite the ever tightening sanctions, Russia is actively increasing exports of its fish and fish products this year and achieving good production dynamics.

According to official data of Rosrybolovstvo, over the 11 months of this year fish exports from Russia grew by 13% in annual terms and amounted to 2.1 million tons.

Frozen fish accounted for 1.6 million tons of this volume (+14% year-on-year), and fish fillets and other fish meat accounted for 202,000 tons (+1%). In value terms, exports increased by 1% to...

Lerøy Takes A Hit in Q3 Due to ISA Detection, Lower Quotas

Lerøy Seafood Group released their financial results for Q3 this week, revealing that they took a hit due to ISA detection, as well as lower quotas for wild catch.

For Q3, Lerøy is reporting revenue at NOK 8,0001 million. According to the company, this figure is up 8% from Q3 in 2022. It also represents the highest revenue ever achieved in any quarter throughout the Group’s history. However, EBIT in Q3 totaled NOK 631 million, a 24% decrease from the same time period last year...

Trade Joe's Introduces New Seafood Offerings For Fall

Trader Joe’s is always releasing new products. This time around there are a few seafood items that should make everyone’s shopping list.

With fall quickly approaching there are plenty of seasonal goodies hitting the shelves, like Apple Cinnamon Buns, Butternut Squash Italian Lasagna, Gluten Free Pumpkin Ravioli and Mini Maple Flavored Marshmallows. The latest seafood items are perfect for the cooling weather, like Trader Joe’s Lobster Bisque with butter, sherry wine and fresh thyme. This premade bisque is “cooked low and slow” to allow all the flavors to come together...

Arctic Blue Tells Its Tale of Sourcing Quality Fish Oil from Alaska, Norway

Arctic Blue, a Netherlands-based Omega-3 supplement manufacturer, shared its journey to sourcing fish for its products from Norway and Alaska.

The company explained that its story began in 2015 when its founder Ludo van de Wiel wanted to find an Omega-3 fatty acid supplement that didn’t have a fishy smell, which the fish oil industry veteran said is a sign of low quality.

During a work trip, the company said Van de Wiel found the solution in the Barents Sea with Norwegian cod...

Holland America Cruise Line Expands “Alaska Up Close” Programming With New Seafood Experiences

Alaska and seafood go hand-in-hand. And Holland America Line is making sure that guests on board their “Alaska Up Close” cruises have the best sea-to-table dining.

“Since launching Alaska Up Close we’ve introduced incredible programming that brings an authentic Alaska experience to our guests like no other cruise line,” said Michael Smith, Senior VP of Guests Experience and Product Development. “This season we’re growing the program to embed Alaskan fresh fish and wildlife spotting into the cruise on an even more expansive scale...

Russia Increases White Fish Exports to Western Markets in 2022 Despite Sanctions

Russia has increased its fish exports to Western markets despite sanctions and the ever growing isolation in the international arena, according to recent statistics provided by some of the country’s leading industry associations and local media reports.

In 2022 Russian fish exports to the EU grew by 18.7% to 198,800 tonnes. It also grew in value by 57.6% and amounted to € 940 million, according to recent data of the Russian Association of Fish Producers (VARPE) based on data Eurostat. White fish accounted for...

High Liner Foods Commits to $5 Million Investment in Norcod AS

On Thursday High Liner Foods announced that they have committed to make a $5 million (U.S.) investment in Norcod AS, a leader in responsible and sustainable cod aquaculture. As part of the investment, High Liner Foods will gain a 10% share in Norcod, as well as a seat on Norcod’s board of directors. 

“Today’s investment is a small but important step forward in our strategy to position High Liner Foods for the next chapter of leadership and growth,” said High Liner President and CEO Paul Jewer... 

ASMI Enters Into Partnership With Bob Evans For New Fish Fry Menu Items

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) has engaged in yet another partnership to continue spreading the good word about Alaska seafood products. The latest partnership is with Bob Evans Farmhouse Kitchen, and is set to bring wild-caught Alaska cod dishes to the chain for the Lenten season.

New to Bob Evans menus for a limited time is a Fish Fry Platter, which features three wild-caught fresh Alaska cod fillets in a light, flaky, pub-style batter. The platter also comes with two thick-cut onion...

The US Side Wants to Raise Alaskan Cod Prices; the Japanese Side Seeks to Suppress Prices

According to a Minato Shimbun report, the domestic sales price of frozen dressed Pacific cod from Alaska, with a core size of 9/10 fish/18-19 kg block, reached the low 900 yen/kg ($6.08/kg) range in the second half of 2022 and then declined, and as of mid-January this year, it is now 700-800 yen/kg ($4.73-5.41/kg). Although the fishing quota has increased by 20% this year, the producers suffering from...

Russian Analysts Say The U.S. Decision To Expand Seafood Ban Will 'Not Have Major Negative Impact'

The latest decision from the U.S. to ban imports of salmon, cod, crab and pollock from Russia as a result of a new stage of tightening sanctions pressure on Russia will not a have a major negative impact on Russia and its fishermen. Instead it will be painful for the U.S. itself, according to recent statements of some leading Russian analysts in the field of fisheries.

As German Zverev, President of the All-Russian Association of Fisheries Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters (VARPE)...

Russia and Faroe Islands Will Continue Cooperation in Field of Fisheries Despite Pressure From West

Russia and Faroe Islands are expanding cooperation in the field of fisheries despite the concerns of Denmark and some other Western nations on the role of Russia in the region.

Recently the sides have renewed the existed agreement on the joint catch, which still continues to spark serious criticism.

Since 1977, the Faroe Islands and Russia have had a fisheries agreement. Faroese fishing companies have had access to fish for cod in the Barents Sea, whereas...

Russian Fishermen Put Big Hopes on Japanese Market in 2024

Russia has reached an agreement with Japan on fishing quotas within a 200-mile zone for 2024, according to a recent report from the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan.

The annual negotiations, which have been taking place since 1984, began on November 27. The countries set fishing quotas and the number of vessels that can fish within a 200-mile zone.

According to the agreement, in 2024 Russia and Japan will reduce fish catch in quotas by 6,000 tons...

Cheaper Cod From Russia Gets More Popular in Chinese Market

In late September, headless and gutted (H&G) cod from Russia were priced at about 1,200 dollars per kilo in the Chinese market, way lower than that of last year, said a report from foodspath.com. But Russian suppliers find such prices acceptable and even satisfactory due to weak ruble and greater exports to the huge market.

Cod prices used to be much higher around September to October, but things are different this year. Ruble has been weak against dollars, and suppliers have also encountered trouble in settling payments in dollars...

Aquamar Debuts ‘Innovative’ Seafood Tenders Product Line

Move over, chicken tenders.

Aquamar unveiled its latest innovation with its ready-to-eat Seafood Tenders. The Seafood Tenders are wild-caught and available in four varieties: smoked salmon, cod, crab, and smoked haddock.

“With the launch of this approachable line of premium, ready-to-eat Seafood Tenders, Aquamar is giving seafood lovers what they want – delicious, healthy protein that is affordable and can be easily prepared and enjoyed at home,” the company wrote in a press release.

Aquamar said the products are a perfect protein add-on for any dish...

FFAW Reacts To DFO Rollover Of Cod Quota

On Tuesday Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) released the 2023 Northern Cod Stewardship fishery management approach for 2J3KL. The management measures state that catch will not exceed 12,999t, which includes 2,600t set aside for harvesters fishing in 2J (off Labrador). FFAW-Unifor was quick to comment on the announcement, accusing the DFO of failing to use all available data for assessment.

“The entire industry was hopeful for – and were depending on – an increase to the northern cod quota this year,” commented FFAW-Unifor President Greg Pretty...

Russia Increases Fish Catch This Year, Planning More Active Exports to EU 

Russia increased its fish catch and fish products output this year despite sanctions and the ever growing pressure on the country’s fish sector.

According to data of the Russian Federal Agency for Fishery (Rosrybolovstvo) as of May 3, the volume of fish catch in Russia amounted to 1.82 million tons; 6% more than last year. In addition, according to data of the Russian Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat), the volume of fish production in Q1 increased by 9% compared to 2022 and amounted to 1.2 million tons...