Dallas Seafood Wholesaler Hit with $250K Fine for Selling Chilean Salmon as European

A Dallas seafood wholesaler has been fined $250,000 for falsifying the country of origin on salmon products in a scheme that generated an estimated $200,000 in illegal gains, the Department of Justice announced July 17.

Seafood Supply Co. was sentenced on two felony counts of violating the Lacey Act (Case No. 3:26-CR-00088) after court documents revealed the company had designated Chilean salmon as product from Scotland, Norway, and Canada from January 2020 to February 2022. The mislabeling was designed to exploit...

ADF&G Accuses Marine Stewardship Council of “Blue Washing” Russian Pollock Management

The London-based Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has come under fire for its near-certification of the Western Bering Sea pollock fishery, following a formal objection filed by the At-Sea Processors Association in June and a sharply worded letter from Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang earlier this month.

"…the MSC's apparent determination to turn a blind eye to bycatch management, overfishing, habitat impacts, and data transparency and deploy your program's eco-label to 'blue wash' Russian seafood in global markets...

Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative Names New Board Members

The Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative (MLMC) has appointed seven new representatives to its Board of Directors for the 2026-2027 term, with members representing harvesters, dealers, public stakeholders and state agencies.

Under state law, the board is structured to ensure geographic diversity and broad industry representation. Lobstermen representatives are nominated by Maine's seven Zone Councils, while dealer and public members are nominated by the Lobster Advisory Council before being appointed by Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Carl Wilson.

"We are thrilled to welcome this dynamic group of leaders...

El Niño to Impact Trade? Panama Canal Could Suspend Vessel Bookings, Says Bloomberg

As of July 21, operators at the Panama Canal could curtail some vessel booking slots due to water-supply challenges, reported Bloomberg. Previously, Expana's team flagged this possibility during a June 25 webinar, according to Weather & Crop Researcher, James Tyler. Affected commodities could range from corn and soybeans, to fruit, vegetables, seafood, and more.

Pacific Seafood Confirms Ocean Beauty Merger, Expanding Footprint Across West

Pacific Seafood and Ocean Beauty Seafoods have officially closed the merger of their distribution operations, Pacific Seafood confirmed on July 17, bringing together two of the US West Coast's most established family-owned seafood companies.

The deal closed July 13 and includes most — but not all — of Ocean Beauty's distribution facilities. Specifically, the merger covers Ocean Beauty's operations in Astoria and Portland, Oregon; Boise, Idaho; Dallas, Texas; Helena, Montana; and Renton, Washington. Ocean Beauty's Salt Lake City, Utah, facility was not included in the transaction at the time of closing...

Alaska Sockeye Harvests Meeting Forecasts, Pink and Chum Landings Far Below 5-year Averages

Bristol Bay’s sockeye harvest has reached 29.2 million salmon as of July 16, 2026, very close to the pre-season forecast of 32 million. Kodiak’s harvest of 785,000 as of July 15 has so far exceeded its pre-season estimate of 730,000 in landings for sockeye.  

In the Alaska Peninsula, nearly 4 million sockeye have been harvested, contributing to a statewide total of 34.6 million.  

But for all other species, except coho salmon, which start in September, harvest totals are dismal. Total salmon landings...

Aker Moves to Take Aker BioMarine Private in Merger Deal

Aker ASA is moving to take krill company Aker BioMarine private through a proposed merger and optional cash offer, following a failed effort to sell its Human Health Ingredients business to an outside buyer.

On July 16, Aker announced a statutory merger that would see Aker BioMarine absorbed into Aker Capital NewCo AS, an indirect subsidiary of Aker. Simultaneously, Aker's subsidiary, Aker Capital, launched an optional cash offer for all outstanding shares of Aker BioMarine at NOK 105 per share. Aker currently owns 77.67% of Aker BioMarine through Aker Capital...

Washington's Geoduck Farmers Are Caught in the Middle of the US-China Trade War

On the tidal flats of Puget Sound, a quiet crisis is unfolding for some of Washington State's smallest seafood producers. Geoduck farmers, growing one of the Pacific Northwest's most prized exports, are watching years of investment get squeezed by a trade dispute they have no power to influence and no market to pivot to.

Geoduck, the giant burrowing clam native to the Pacific Northwest, is one of the most China-dependent products in US seafood...

Expana's Weekly Top 10

This week’s Expana Top Ten highlights major developments shaping global food, agriculture and commodity markets, from new opportunities for US shrimp through federal food aid programs and continued momentum in the ready-to-drink beverage category to shifts in fertilizer production, trade policy and global supply chain risks.

Analysts also examine the impact of evolving consumer behavior, food safety concerns, geopolitical tensions and weather patterns, including strengthening El Niño conditions, on markets and industries worldwide. This list is in no particular order.

Find archived recaps here.

Seafood Sector Faces Key Policy Changes...

Peru's Seafood Industry Takes Over Leadership of Mahi-Mahi Improvement Project

Peru's fishing industry has assumed formal leadership of the country's mahi-mahi Fishery Improvement Project (FIP), marking a significant transition in how the fishery's sustainability efforts are governed going forward.

WWF Peru announced the handover to the Peru Mahi Alliance (PMA) — a coalition of industry stakeholders — during Seafood Expo North America 2026. The move transfers day-to-day FIP leadership away from the NGO and into the hands of the Peruvian fishing sector itself, a shift WWF described as reflecting the institutional maturity the industry has developed...

Russia Ramps Up Shellfish and Crab Exports Amid Strong Foreign Demand

Russia is increasing exports of shellfish and crab to foreign markets, with both volumes and revenues posting significant year-on-year gains in the first five months of 2026, according to Agroexport, the Russian state agency responsible for agricultural export data.

Russia exported approximately 3,900 tons of shellfish in the January-to-May period, valued at over US$19 million — a 22% increase in export revenue compared to the same period last year. The bulk of shipments consisted of frozen scallops, squid, and cuttlefish, with China...

Sernapesca, Navy Seize 1,000 Meters of Hidden Spider Crab Nets Days Before Season Opens

Last Friday, Chile's Servicio Nacional de Pesca y Acuicultura, or Sernapesca, revealed that it, alongside the Chilean Navy, had uncovered 1,000 meters (about 3,281 feet) of spider crab nets during a routine inspection aboard a vessel two days before the start of the spider crab season.

According to Sernapesca, the only authorized method for catching spider crabs is using baited traps or pots. The discovery triggered an immediate enforcement response given the timing and scale of the gear found.

Navigating the Trump Tariff Turbulence: A Comprehensive Timeline

US President Donald Trump and his administration have paused reciprocal tariffs on most countries.

“Based on the lack of respect that China has shown... I am hereby raising the [tariff] charged to China by the [USA] to 125%, effective immediately,” wrote Trump on Truth Social at 1:18 pm ET. 

It’s not clear if this 125% is in addition to the 20% imposed on Chinese imports to the US. In early March, Trump noted that he would add another 10% tariff on Chinese goods...

Bills Giving FDA Authority to Destroy Food Imports Set to Advance on Capitol Hill

Two bipartisan bills that would allow the US Food and Drug Administration to destroy — not just reject — dangerous imported food products are poised to advance on Capitol Hill next week.

The first, the Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act (H.R. 2715), passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously in May and now sits on the House suspension calendar for the week of July 20. The suspension calendar is typically used to quickly pass broadly bipartisan bills, with measures requiring a two-thirds majority and moving...

Chile's State Railway Eyes Regular Salmon Freight Service by End of 2026

Chilean salmon could be moving by rail from the Los Lagos region to ports in Biobío as early as the fourth quarter of 2026, according to EFE, Chile's state railway company.

Senate Committee Advances Padilla Bill to Boost San Joaquin River Restoration Funding

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has advanced bipartisan legislation from US Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) that would increase federal funding for restoration efforts on the San Joaquin River, a key step toward reviving a long-lost Chinook salmon run while supporting water infrastructure improvements for Central Valley agriculture.

The bill cleared the committee by voice vote and would authorize an additional $500 million for the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act. It also increases authorized funding for improvements...

Trio of Norwegian Salmon Farmers Acquire Arctic Seafood Group

Three Norwegian aquaculture companies have teamed up to acquire Arctic Seafood Group, a Norway-based seafood trading company, in a deal announced July 17 that bucks the trend of large-scale industry consolidation, according to various industry media reports.

The buyers, Sjybol, Kobbvaglaks, and Selsøyvik Havbruk, are all locally rooted salmon producers operating in the Helgeland region of northern Norway. Following the acquisition, Sjybol, parent company of Norwegian salmon producer Lovundlaks, will hold the largest stake at 49%, while Kobbvaglaks and Selsøyvik Havbruk will each hold 25.5%, per Fish Farmer Magazine...