US Commerce Secretary Hints at Possible Tariff Relief for Canada, Mexico

The Trump administration’s tariff policy remains in flux as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested that the president may adjust tariffs on Canada and Mexico on March 5.

In a Fox Business interview on Tuesday, Lutnick stated, “I think (Trump)’s going to work something out with them.” He clarified that while a full pause isn’t on the table, Trump is open to a compromise with the U.S.’s neighbors.

“Both the Canadians and Mexicans were on the phone with me all day today trying to show that they’ll do...

US Seafood Targeted in Canada’s Proposed Retaliatory Tariff List

Canada wasted no time hitting back at new U.S. tariffs, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing immediate 25% retaliatory duties on C$30 billion ($20.9 billion) worth of American imports after the levies took effect on March 4.

“Canada is being needlessly and unfairly targeted by these tariffs – and the US' decision leaves us with no choice but to respond to protect Canadian interests, workers and businesses. Working with provincial, territorial and industry partners, our singular focus is to remove these tariffs as quickly as possible...

The Retail Rundown: Key Buying Occasions on the Horizon 

March presents key retail buying opportunities as spring holidays approach and Lent influences shopping and dining habits.

With Lent beginning today, meat sales typically decline as participants shift toward seafood. This week, seafood promotions rose to 28% of total retail features, up from 26% last week. Currently, 31% of seafood ads highlight fresh or frozen fillets, with options like salmon, cod, and catfish averaging $9.30 per pound on discount—nearly 9% higher than a year ago.

Elsewhere in the retail landscape, beef and pork each account for nearly 25% of featured promotions...

EU Faces Possible Fish Product Shortage with Looming Ban on Russian Fish Imports

The introduction of a complete European Union (EU) ban on Russian fish imports poses a current threat to the EU, which could see a deep shortage of fish products as a result, with Germany being one of the most affected countries, according to a recent report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

A shortage is anticipated for many popular fish products, such as fish sticks, which are one of the most popular fish products among Europeans.

This comes as the EU considers new sanctions against...

US Reps. Pingree and Wittman Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect US Working Waterfronts

On March 3, 2025, U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Rob Wittman (R-Va.) reintroduced a bipartisan bill to protect and fortify the country’s working waterfronts.

Details of the bipartisan bill

The bill, titled, “The Keep America’s Waterfronts Working Act,” stands to support states, tribes, and municipalities by establishing a Working Waterfronts Task Force at the Department of Commerce and authorizing $50 million to create a Working Waterfronts Grant Program and revolving preservation loan fund in order to fund vital preservation efforts along America’s working...

Additional Commercial River Herring Fisheries Approved for Maine

Efforts to restore and improve up and downstream passage for sea-run fish species on five Maine water bodies have provided several Maine towns with the opportunity to have a commercial river herring harvest.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) American Shad and River Herring Management Board has approved commercial fishing opportunities for alewife and blueback herring, collectively known as river herring, on Sewall Pond, Wight Pond, the Pennamaquan River, Chemo pond and Pushaw Lake. 

River herring are anadromous (sea-run) fish that...

Trade Tensions Ignite as Canada and China Hit Back at US Tariffs

Canada and China have announced retaliatory tariffs in response to new US tariffs that went into effect today, igniting trade tensions between the world’s largest economies. After a 30-day pause, the US administration imposed a broad 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico on March 4, Expana's Ryan Doyle reported.

One minute past midnight, the US administration imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian exports and 10% tariffs on Canadian energy. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the decision had “no justification” and emphasized Canada’s efforts to combat...

Mowi Launches Strategic Review of Feed Division

Mowi has announced the initiation of a strategic review of its integrated feed division, evaluating all potential options, including a possible sale.

The feed division generated operating revenues of €1.1 billion in 2024, with an operational EBITDA of €62 million. It operates aqua feed plants in Norway and Scotland, and has a combined production capacity of 700,000 tonnes. These facilities supplied nearly all of Mowi’s European salmon farming operations' feed requirements last year. The division currently employs 140 full-time equivalents.

Japan: January Frozen Sockeye Imports Increased 40% While Bluefin Tuna Fillet Volume Doubled

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on February 27, Japan’s January fishery product imports (including preliminary figures, fish and shellfish and their preparations, fishmeal, and seaweed) increased 5% from last year, amounting to 181,946 tons. The following species exceeded their import levels from January 2023: fresh and chilled tuna, salmon, trout, herring, octopus, and sea urchin. According to Minato Shimbun, Japan’s total import value reached 184.04 billion yen ($1.22 billion), which marks an increase of 19% compared to same time last year...

ANALYSIS: Argentinian Shrimp Exports Up 9.2% in 2024, But January 2025 Plunges 27.8%

According to Argentinian Customs Statistics, shrimp exports increased by 9.2% in 2024, reaching 154k metric tons compared to 141k MT in 2023. However, Q4 declined by 5.5%, and the latest data shows a steeper drop in January 2025, at 27.8% compared with January 2024. In value, Argentina exported 988.9 million USD worth of shrimp in 2024, an 8.6% year over year. This includes a 0.6% mild decline in Q4, followed by a 25.5% fall in January...

Cooke's Atlantic Canadian Subsidiary Acquires AquaBounty’s PEI Operations

Yesterday, Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd. (KCS)—an Atlantic Canadian salmon farming subsidiary of Cooke Aquaculture Inc.—announced its acquisition of AquaBounty Canada Inc. (AquaBounty) and its Price Edward Island (PEI) operations.

Among KCS’s newfound assets are four total buildings including a hatchery facility with modern egg incubation, a high-tech laboratory in Bay Fortune, a modern hatchery facility in Rollo Bay with a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), and a second unfinished building, which KCS plans to fasten into an additional RAS unit.

The acquisition comes after AquaBounty—the firm behind the...

International Coalition of Fisheries Associations To Host Global Discussion Panel at SENA 2025

On March 4, 2025, the International Coalition of Fisheries Associations (ICFA) announced that it will be hosting a global discussion panel at the 2025 Seafood Expo North America (SENA) on Sunday, March 16.

The panel, titled “Collaborating for Solutions,” will take place from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm within the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, Massachusetts.

The panel will feature Ivan López Van der Veen (ICFA Chair and Vice President of CEPESCA), Lisa Wallenda Picard (President and CEO of the National Fisheries Institute...

Publix Sees Solid Growth in Q4 and FY 2024 Results 

In its latest financial results, Publix has seen robust growth in quarterly and fiscal earnings.

For the fourth quarter of 2024, the company reported sales of $15.5 billion, reflecting a 5.5% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

Net earnings for the quarter totaled $1.1 billion.

For the full year, Publix achieved sales of $59.7 billion, a 4.6% increase over fiscal 2023.

Comparable store sales rose by 2.9% year-over-year.

Net earnings for the year amounted to...

‘The Tariffs Are All Set’: Trump Imposes 25% Tariffs on Canada and Mexico

It’s official. The US will implement a broad 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico on March 4. Trump also noted that he would add another 10% tariff on Chinese goods, on top of the initial 10% tariff he placed on the country in February.

“No room left for Mexico or Canada (to make a deal),” Trump told reporters at the White House. “The tariffs are all set. They go into effect tomorrow.

Trump said the neighboring countries had no chance for a last-minute deal that would...

Mexico’s Modest Role in US Seafood Trade: Limited Impact of a 25% Tariff

President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China took effect at midnight, prompting swift retaliation. China and Canada quickly imposed tariffs on U.S. products, while Mexico’s president announced that countermeasures would be detailed on Sunday, according to Expana.

The most significant tariff impacts for the U.S. seafood industry will stem from trade with China and Canada, while Mexico’s measures are unlikely to cause major disruptions.

Mexico is a relatively minor player in the U.S. seafood market, ranking only 10th among suppliers and accounting for just 3.32%...

Senator Cassidy Urges Treasury to Block Funding for Foreign Shrimp Farms

The Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA), an organization representing the domestic shrimp industry, commended a recent letter from US Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who called on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to block taxpayer dollars from financing foreign shrimp aquaculture projects.

Cassidy, a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, urged the Treasury Department to “take all necessary actions to prevent any future funding of shrimp aquaculture development, which would exacerbate the financial crisis facing U.S. shrimpers.”

According to the letter, Ecuadorian shrimp producers and exporters...

Russian Krill Fishing in Antarctica Threatened By Marine Protected Areas

Russia may face serious problems with krill fishing in Antarctica due to attempts of several countries to create marine protected areas in the region, which could alter or even halt Antarctic krill fishing.

This has been earlier confirmed by Vasily Sokolov, deputy head of Rosrybolovstvo,  there are serious technological and political issues that limit krill fisheries in Antarctica for Russian fishermen, which resumed their krill catch after a long pause.

As he said, several countries are trying, "to kill the krill fishery."

Vasily Sokolov commented...