ANALYSIS: Domestic Scallop Supply Influx Dominated by Smaller Counts Amid Global Shortfalls

The 2026-27 scallop season has commenced with 2.04 million lbs through April, representing a significant improvement from last season's exceptionally weak 1.42 million lb start. However, the landing data reveals the broader context of this recovery - current volumes, while encouraging, remain well below the historical framework that supported the industry through stronger cycles. Recent data demonstrates how domestic production has contracted dramatically from the robust 56-57...

2026 Economic Value of Alaska’s Seafood Shows Strength of Industry Amid Turbulent Times 

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute has released it’s 7th update of Economic Value of Alaska’s Seafood, covering the turbulent years of 2023 and 2024, a period that saw the lowest ex-vessel value for Alaska seafood since 2000, amid global market pressures and changing supply conditions.That said, the industry employed nearly 42,000 workers resulting in $1.9 billion in labor income and $5.3 billion in economic impact, representing a full 7 percent of Alaska’s GDP.

“While the past few years...

Russia’s Salmon Catch Could Fall Up to 30% in 2026, Fisheries Head Says

Russia may face a steep decline in salmon catches this year, with volumes potentially falling by as much as 30% compared with 2025.

This was previously confirmed by Ilya Shestakov, head of the Federal Agency for Fisheries, who said that Russia’s Pacific salmon catch could decline this year to around 230,000 tons, down from last year’s level.

“So far, our forecasts for salmon catches in 2026 have been not very good, being lower than 2025 levels. We forecast between 200,000 and...

Distinguished Programs Opens Marine Cargo Program for Business With Allianz Capacity

Distinguished Programs (“Distinguished”), a national MGA and insurance program manager, today announced that its Marine Cargo program is officially open for business.

The program provides coverage for physical loss or damage to goods in transit and storage. Coverages include Stock Throughput, Ocean/International Transit, Domestic Inland Transit, Foreign Inland Transit, and Contingent Cargo, addressing complex global supply chains and specialized logistics exposures across a range of industries.

The program is led by Ralph Salce, who brings more than 30 years of...

Silver Bay Raises Opening Price for Bristol Bay Sockeye Up 23 Percent From 2025

Yesterday, Silver Bay Seafood sent out a letter to their Bristol Bay fleet posting their pre-season price of $1.60/lb for chilled, floated, and bled sockeye. “This is $.30/lb more than last year’s pre-season price and is considered a conservative starting price for the 2026 season,” the letter said.

The Bristol Bay salmon season officially opens June 1, but catches peak around the Fourth of July. Landings drop off significantly by the third week...

China’s First Mobile Salmon Farm Delivers Commercial Harvest

China’s effort to build a domestic salmon industry hit a milestone this week as the country’s first large-scale “smart” aquaculture vessel harvested thousands of Atlantic salmon raised entirely at sea.

The 150,000-tonne vessel, Guoxin No. 1 2-2, delivered its first commercial batch of roughly 3,000 salmon on Monday, according to Chinese state media. Operated by Qingdao Conson Development Group, the ship is being promoted as the world’s first mobile offshore fish farm capable of producing salmonids on a commercial...

Russia Forecasts Record Herring Catch off Sakhalin on Rising Stock Levels

Russia expects a significant increase in herring catches off Sakhalin this year, driven primarily by strong growth in fish stocks.

Much of the optimism is focused on the East Sakhalin subzone, where scientists report a notable recovery of Pacific herring from the Sakhalin–Hokkaido population. In recent years, expanding stocks have created favorable conditions for higher catches along the southern coast of Sakhalin and the southern Kuril Islands.

Most herring are harvested between April and June along Sakhalin’s east coast, including Aniva Bay...

PEI Targets Oyster Industry Stability with Wage and Debt Relief

Prince Edward Island is rolling out a new package of financial supports for oyster fishers, growers, and processors as the sector confronts mounting losses linked to MSX and Dermo, with a focus on job retention and short‑term stability.

At the center of the measures is a new Oyster Relief Wage Assistance Program, designed to help businesses absorb higher labor costs tied to increased sorting and handling. The program is intended to keep experienced workers on payroll and provide greater certainty heading into th...

Russia Expands Inspector Mobile App for Fisheries Enforcement

The Russian Government has expanded the functionality of its “Inspector” mobile application, a tool used for field control in fisheries and oversight of aquatic biological resources. The update is part of a broader push toward digitalizing inspection and supervisory work, allowing more interactions between inspectors and regulated parties to take place remotely, with official recording of all actions through the app.

A key change is the formal consolidation of the platform under a single name: the “Inspector” mobile application.

The app now supports several new capabilities, including...

ArcelorMittal Fined Record $100M for Fisheries Act Violations in Quebec

A Quebec court has ordered ArcelorMittal Exploitation Minière Canada s.e.n.c. (AMEM) to pay a record-setting $100 million fine after the mining company pleaded guilty to 100 counts of violating Canada’s Fisheries Act.

The sentence, handed down May 15 by the Court of Québec, marks the largest fine ever imposed in Canada under the Fisheries Act. AMEM was fined $1 million for each count tied to the unlawful deposit of harmful substances into waterways in the Fermont region between...

Sweden Invests SEK 30 Million to Build Domestic Oyster Industry

Sweden is looking to reduce its heavy reliance on imported oysters after a new research program secured nearly SEK 30 million in funding to help build a domestic, sustainable oyster industry.

Today, Sweden produces only about nine tons of oysters per year, while imports exceed 300 tons. The five‑year project, running from 2026 to 2031, is led by Alyssa Joyce at the University of Gothenburg and is designed to strengthen hatchery capacity, test cultivation systems, and create a fully functioning value...

Good News Stories for Endangered Species Day 2026

Future Market Insights Projects Plant-Based Fish Market to Reach $3.6 Billion by 2036

Future Market Insights projects the global plant-based fish market to grow from $0.8 billion in 2025 to $3.6 billion by 2036, representing a 14.9% CAGR as sustainable seafood alternatives gain traction across retail and foodservice channels.

Growth is being driven by rising demand for sustainable proteins, expanding plant-based adoption among Gen Z and Millennials, and broader commercialization across supermarkets, frozen foods, and restaurants. Manufacturers are investing in texture innovation, algae- and seaweed-based ingredients, and advanced extrusion technologies...

Moxies Rolls Out Limited‑Time Sushi Menu for Summer

Canadian premium‑casual restaurant brand Moxies is welcoming the warmer months with a slate of fresh, limited‑time menu innovations designed for summer dining. Leading the seasonal rollout is Sushi by Moxies, now available at locations across Canada through September 6.

Created in collaboration with Chef Tom Jeon, the new sushi offerings blend classic Japanese inspiration with Moxies’ signature modern twist. The lineup includes:

• Miso Tuna Crispy Rice
• Salmon & Prawn Aburi Oshi
• Spicy Tuna Dynamite Roll

“Moxies is all about creating memorable dining experiences...

ASMFC Defends Menhaden Delay as Debate Over Chesapeake Science Intensifies

A debate over Atlantic menhaden management in the Chesapeake Bay intensified this week after critics pushed back against a recent statement from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation accusing regulators of delaying protections for the species.

The dispute centers on a May 5 decision by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to postpone public comment on Draft Addendum II, a technically complex proposal involving potential changes to menhaden management measures.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation described the move as a failure to address “dire warning signs” in the Bay, including...

Expana's Weekly Top 10

This week’s Top 10 highlights how geopolitical tensions, inflation, and industry disruption are reshaping food and commodity markets. Conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran is raising risks to Gulf shipping, oil, and fertilizer supplies, while renewed US inflation pressures and weaker JBS margins point to growing strain across supply chains. Meanwhile, companies are accelerating long-term shifts through AI, automation, and trade realignment. Driverless trucking expansion, Walmart’s tech consolidation, growing plant-based seafood demand, and increased seafood trade scrutiny all signal how rapidly the industry is evolving. This list is in no...

ANALYSIS: Atlantic Cod Prices Surge 26% Year Over Year as Catch Limits Tighten Supply

The price for head and gutted (H&G) Norwegian cod reached a historic high in December 2025 at NOK 103.2 per kg, but has declined since then to NOK 89.2 per kg in March 2026. In April, the price recovered to NOK 92.9 per kg, representing a 4.2% month-over-month (MOM) increase and 26.1% year-over-year (YOY) gain. The firm market sentiment for H&G cod has extended to the fillets market, where...