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...

ButcherBox Lands Target Meat and Seafood Executive

ButcherBox has hired Target's former Meat and Seafood Director, Josephine Theal.

Theal announced her departure from Target in a LinkedIn post late last week, ending a four-year tenure with the retailer. She said the role exceeded her expectations, giving her the opportunity to lead "with creativity," influence at scale, launch exclusive brand partnerships and "drive distinction in the meat & seafood categories."

Theal said, "What made it truly special was working alongside a dynamic team," she wrote, "and leading initiatives that shaped the way both consumers & brands view Target's fresh categories today."

House Committee Advances Bill to Delay Right Whale Gear Regulations for Lobster Fishery Until 2035

House Resolution 9436, the Northeast Lobstermen Protection Act, passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee on a 22-13 bipartisan vote, advancing legislation that would extend the current regulatory moratorium protecting Maine lobstermen from new gear entanglement rules for North Atlantic right whales through 2035.

The bill was led by Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME) and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY). It would extend a pause on new regulations first enacted in 2022 — originally under President Biden with bipartisan support from the Maine congressional...

Conservation Groups Sue after Trump Administration Rolls Back ESA “Harm” Definition

The Departments of the Interior and Commerce have finalized a rule removing the regulatory definition of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), a change the administration says will reduce burdens on landowners, businesses and fishermen. 

According to Expana's report, the deleted interpretation had long treated indirect impacts (like habitat modification that impairs breeding, feeding or shelter) as "harm." The administration ties the rollback to the Supreme Court’s 2024 Loper Bright decision, which narrowed deference to agency interpretations of ambiguous statutes. Officials note that direct killing or...

Federal Judge Rejects Arbitration Push in Marder Trawling Wage Theft Case

A federal judge has denied attempts by New Bedford seafood processor Marder Trawling and its staffing agency to force a wage theft lawsuit into private arbitration, keeping the case on track in court and leaving unresolved questions about how workers were signed up for arbitration agreements in the first place.

US District Judge Leo T. Sorokin issued the July 10 ruling in the case of Diaz Perez et al. v. Marder Trawling, Inc. et al. (Civil No. 25-13129-LTS), which was filed in October 2025...

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...

Canada, Quebec Renew $50M Fisheries Fund with Market Diversification Focus

The Quebec Fisheries Fund has been renewed with $50 million over five years to help the province's fish and seafood sector invest in innovation, infrastructure and new markets.

Announced by federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson and Quebec Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Donald Martel, the renewed program is designed to help harvesters, processors and aquaculture businesses improve productivity, adapt to ecosystem changes and expand into new markets.

A key addition to the renewed fund is a market development and diversification stream aimed...

Food Safety Developments, Nostalgic Menu Launches and Expansion Lead Foodservice Headlines

Since the last Foodservice Roundup, the foodservice sector has been shaped by a mix of major food safety developments, nostalgic menu innovation and continued restaurant expansion. Here's a look at the key developments influencing market dynamics.

Cyclospora outbreak linked to Taco Bell lettuce draws scrutiny

One of the most notable developments in the foodservice industry has been the growing fallout from a widespread cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms to Taco Bell.

The outbreak has sickened thousands...

Ecuador's CNA Pushes for Technical Dialogue with China as Shrimp Export Restrictions Mount

Ecuador's National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) says it is permanently monitoring Chinese restrictions on Ecuadorian shrimp exporting companies and is backing efforts to establish a formal technical working group with Chinese authorities to resolve the situation, according to a statement released July 9.

The CNA was careful to frame the situation in measured terms. "This does not constitute a closure of the Chinese market," the organization stated. "Exports to that destination continue. However, the problem is serious and requires urgent attention, given the operational and commercial impact...

US Court Allows New Zealand Seafood Imports to Continue While Dolphin Protection Case Proceeds

A US federal trade court has declined to immediately block seafood imports from New Zealand in a case centered on protections for the critically endangered Māui dolphin and the threatened Hector's dolphin, while allowing the underlying legal challenge to move forward.

Judge Jennifer Choe-Groves of the US Court of International Trade issued the ruling on July 13, denying a motion for a preliminary injunction filed by the environmental group Māui and Hector's Dolphin Defenders NZ Inc...