ADF&G Forecasts “Average” Pink Salmon Harvest for Southeast Alaska — 19M Pinks in 2026

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) issued its latest salmon forecast for next year last Monday: a lackluster “average” run of pink salmon to rivers in the state’s panhandle, with a predicted harvest of 19 million fish. 

“Juvenile pink salmon abundance measured in northern inside waters during summer 2025 was near the middle of the long-term range, which suggests a moderate number of adults returning in 2026,” the agency’s forecast said. 

While salmon returns can vary due to changing ocean conditions...

ICE Executes Second Raid at New Jersey Seafood Distributor

For the second time this year, a wholesale seafood distributor in Newark, New Jersey, was the target of a federal immigration enforcement action, local media reported. Ocean Seafood Depot saw roughly two dozen federal agents enter the premises and take 13 people into custody, according to WABC‑7.

The raid began the morning of Nov. 19, witnesses told reporters, with heavily armed, masked federal agents on site and the FBI involved. A statement reported by NJ.com said ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark, “working in coordination with federal partners, executed...

American Mariculture Co-Founder Robin Pearl Arrested

Robin Pearl, co-founder of American Mariculture (AMI), was arrested in Florida on November 14 on charges of fraud, money laundering and grand theft larceny, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

According to arrest records, Pearl faces counts including fraud involving property valued at more than $50,000, money laundering involving more than $100,000, and grand theft larceny of more than $100,000. The incident comes as AMI and its affiliates, American Penaeid and Sun Shrimp Gourmet, have been at the center of a broader control dispute surrounding the company...

US to Ban Irish Farmed Salmon and Spiny Lobster Imports from January 1 Over MMPA Compliance

Beginning January 1, 2026, farmed salmon and spiny lobster from Ireland will no longer be eligible for export to the United States, Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and the Sea‑Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) confirmed this week.

The Irish agencies were notified by US authorities that the restriction is tied to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) comparability findings under the US Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). NOAA determined that Ireland’s standards do not meet the...

Sysco and NJDEP Partner to Enhance Oyster Reef Restoration and Boost Coastal Resilience

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Sysco Corporation have partnered in a groundbreaking deal aimed at significant program growth.

The agreement will expand the state’s successful initiative that recycles seafood shells from restaurants to create oyster reefs, which provide more real estate for oyster larvae to grow.

"Sysco is excited to partner with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to scale a project we have been interested in for several years," said John Yates, president of Buckhead Meat & Seafood’s...

Wyden to Coast Guard: Explain Search-and-Rescue Helicopter Relocation at Newport Meeting This Sunday

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today asked U.S. Coast Guard officials to join him this Sunday morning, Nov. 23 at the Newport Municipal Airport to provide him and this central Oregon Coast community answers about the relocation of a Coast Guard helicopter essential to local public safety.

Wyden wrote in his letter to Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, Acting Coast Guard Commandant, that he would like that Nov. 23 airport meeting with a Coast Guard representative to happen before his annual open...

Jim Jones Joins Forces With Cousins Maine Lobster to Hand Out Holiday Dinners to Harlem Community

Harlem got a head start on its Thanksgiving festivities this week as Cousins Maine Lobster founders, Sabin Lomac and Jim Tselikis, teamed up with their newest "cousin" and collaborator, Jim Jones, to treat the community to free lobster meals.

Jones, a Harlem icon, partnered with Lomac and Tselikis to bring one of their franchise trucks to the heart of Harlem, turning the block into an early holiday celebration. For over 2 hours, Jones, Lomac, and Tselikis stood outside meeting with fans, snapping pictures...

Nova Scotia Launches Compliance Unit to Combat Illegal Activities in Seafood Sector

Nova Scotia’s Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture have announced the creation of a new seafood sector compliance unit aimed at combating illegal activities in fish buying and processing.

“Our new compliance unit will target illegal seafood-related activities that negatively impact the sustainability of our resources and the safety of our communities,” said Kent Smith, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. “As the regulator of the shore-based fish buying and processing sector, these inspectors will focus their activities on wharves and in seafood facilities...

The Retail Rundown: Cheaper Turkeys Hit Shelves Despite Wholesale Price Surge

This Thanksgiving, holiday shoppers might spot some relief: retail turkey prices have eased, even as wholesale values climb toward near-record highs.

Ongoing challenges, such as persistent bird flu outbreaks and relatively low hatch rates, have limited production all year, leaving supplies exceptionally thin ahead of the holiday. 

While retailers secure turkeys well in advance to build cold-storage inventories, frozen whole-bird stocks in 2025 remain near seasonal record lows, leaving little supply cushion...

Oregon Investigates Whale Entanglement as State and Crab Fleet Highlight Years of Risk-Reduction

A stranded whale in Oregon that has captured attention on the eve of the potential start of the Dungeness crab season has state and federal agencies looking for clues to the young whale’s death.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a press release it is assisting federal partners in investigating the entanglement of the young humpback whale that stranded near Yachats earlier this week. NOAA Fisheries has attributed the gear involved to the Oregon commercial Dungeness crab fleet...

Hokkaido Scallop Industry "Unperturbed" by the Chinese Import Ban

On November 19, it was revealed that the Chinese government had once again suspended import procedures for Japanese seafood. Still, there is no sign of any major unrest in Hokkaido's scallop industry. Since the full ban in August 2023, sales channels have been developed and expanded into other countries, including the United States and Southeast Asia, advancing the "distance from China" movement. In addition, even after the ban was lifted in June of this year, only one processing facility in Hokkaido capable of exporting to China was registered by China...

Novotel Becomes First Hospitality Brand To Join Seafood Task Force

Global hotel brand expands ocean commitment with focus on sustainable tuna and farmed shrimp sourcing across Southeast Asia

Novotel, a leading global hotel brand with 600 hotels in 68 countries, has become the first hospitality brand to join the Seafood Task Force (STF).

This milestone reinforces Novotel’s leadership in sustainable hospitality and builds upon the brand’s comprehensive three-year ocean commitment and partnership with WWF, launched in June 2024.

The collaboration with the STF will initially focus on enhancing supply chain transparency...

Dalan Animal Health Closes $3M Seed Round to Advance Commercialization of Shrimp Vaccine

Dalan Animal Health, Inc., the pioneering bioscience company that developed the world's first vaccine for invertebrates, today announced the successful closure of a $3 million SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) funding round. The round included Good Growth Capital together with Meach Cove Capital and other global investors, marking increased international recognition of Dalan's breakthrough Innate Immunity Platform technology.

The new funding will advance the commercialization of Dalan's first-in-class shrimp vaccine, addressing one of the most...

Midland Co Announces Major Retail and Farm Network Expansion

Midland Co recently announced two major milestones that expand the company’s reach to consumers across the Midwest.

First, the company celebrated a new partnership with Fareway, bringing Midland Co’s shrimp products to shelves at select Fareway grocery stores and Fareway Meat Markets.

"Launching into Fareway is a major step forward—for our farmers and for customers who want fresher, more sustainably raised shrimp," said Jackson Kimle, Co-Founder and CEO of Midland Co. "This partnership allows us to bring locally grown seafood to more communities while supporting family farms...

Florida Importer Netuno Sues Over Trump Tariffs, Challenges Emergency Trade Powers

Netuno USA, a Florida-based seafood importer and distributor, filed suit Nov. 5 in the US Court of International Trade, arguing that President Trump’s emergency tariff program exceeds his statutory authority and has disrupted its seafood supply chains.

The complaint was lodged against Trump, his administration, the US Trade Representative, US Customs and Border Protection and other officials. Netuno called the tariffs unconstitutional and unlawful and argued that Trump exceeded statutory and constitutional authority by using emergency powers to impose broad tariffs.

Netuno questioned Trump’s authority on tariffs...

Americans Plan to Dine Out More in 2026 as OpenTable Reports Strong Industry Growth

OpenTable’s newly released 2026 Dining Trends Report shows that despite mixed views on the economy, Americans continue to prioritize eating out, driving steady growth across the foodservice industry.

According to the analysis, dining out increased 8% year-over-year in 2025, and consumers expect for that to increase in 2026.

"As we head into 2026, there's good news for the restaurant industry: our new research shows that people continue to make room in their lives and budgets for dining out...

Incoming NFI Chair Set to Testify Before Congress on IUU Bill

Justin Conrad, the President of Bay Hill Seafood Sales, and the 2026 Chair of the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) will testify on Wednesday November 19th before the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries.

The hearing will focus on the Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvests (FISH) Act, a bill that aims to help stop illegally caught fish from entering the U.S. supply chain.

Conrad calls Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, “where it occurs, a black mark on the global industry...