Newfoundland Snow Crab Opens at CAD $5.30/lb as Pricing Dispute Threatens Season Start

Newfoundland and Labrador's Standing Fish Price Setting Panel has set the 2026 initial snow crab price at CAD $5.30/lb ($3.80/lb.), according to its April 2 decision, after accepting the Association of Seafood Producers' (ASP) pricing submission.

The price represents approximately a 5-cent increase over the 2025 end-of-season settlement of $5.25/lb, but falls well short of harvesters' expectations. FFAW-Unifor, representing the province's fishery workers and harvesters, boycotted the panel process and did not submit a...

ANALYSIS: Crab Meat Market Faces Perfect Storm of Supply Constraints and Pricing Pressures

The US crab meat market is navigating a confluence of factors that are compounding pricing pressures as the industry enters the critical summer demand season in the Mid-Atlantic region. Firm pricing has become the market baseline, driven by a complex web of supply constraints, regulatory uncertainty, and cost pressures that show no signs of abating in the near term.

Raw Material Scarcity and Production Slowdowns

The recent completion of Ramadan in Indonesia, historically a major supplier, has not yet translated into accelerated production...

Northern Cod Stock Surges 20% in Single Year, Reaches 'Healthy Zone' Status

Canada's Northern cod stock has grown by approximately 20% in a single year and now sits firmly within the "Healthy Zone" under Fisheries and Oceans Canada's precautionary approach framework, according to the latest science assessment released April 1.

The milestone marks a dramatic turnaround just two years after the commercial fishery returned following a 32-year moratorium. At 540,000 tonnes, the Northern cod stock now represents the largest spawning stock biomass of any cod stock globally.

The assessment, covering the stock off the northeast coast of Newfoundland and Labrador...

Ventisqueros Joins Chile’s Salmon Council Strengthening Industry Collaboration

Productos del Mar Ventisqueros S.A. announced that it has accepted an invitation to join Chile's Salmon Council, an assembly of the country’s main producers—representing nearly 60% of the industry in Chile.

The company is recognized both nationally and globally as a leading producer in the industry. It is made up of nearly 1,300 workers and is part of a European holding company with an international presence. Its inclusion strengthens the Salmon Council as a space for unions to help shape long-term government policy supporting sustainable aquaculture.

Russia Eyes African Waters Expansion After First Research Mission Since 1980s

Russia plans to significantly increase fish catch volumes in Africa in the coming years, based on results from the Great African Expedition conducted by the Russian fishing fleet in territorial waters of several African states.

Russia's Great African Expedition, which began in August 2024, was completed this year. Research was conducted in waters of six coastal countries in Northwest and Southeast Africa: Morocco, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Mozambique. The expedition used two research vessels, the Atlantis and the Atlantiro, to assess fish stock status in Africa's...

ANALYSIS: US Shrimp Retail Prices Drop as Market Enters Recalibration Mode Amid Lent Season

Consumer shrimp prices have declined noticeably over the past week, reflecting what appears to be a market recalibration rather than a fundamental collapse in demand. While some of this softening aligns with typical Lent promotional activity — evident in historical seasonal patterns, see the blue line in the chart below — the broader dynamics suggest inventory and cost pressures are finding a new equilibrium after months of elevated pricing...

Peru Opens First 2026 Anchovy Season with 1.91 Million Metric Ton Quota

Peru's Production Ministry has authorized the start of the first 2026 anchovy fishing season in the North-Central zone with a total allowable catch of 1.91 million metric tons (MT), down 36% from the 3.0 million MT authorized for the first 2025 season.

The significant quota reduction reflects current stock conditions and aligns with scientific recommendations from the country's marine research institute, IMARPE. The season for anchovy (Engraulis ringens) and white anchovy (Anchoa nasus) was approved based on hydroacoustic surveys conducted between February 16 and March 23 using...

Erling Haaland Renews Norwegian Seafood Ambassador Deal Until Autumn 2028

Norwegian football (soccer) star Erling Haaland has signed a new contract, and no, not for a new team in the Premier League.

Haaland has extended his partnership with the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), where he will continue to serve as an ambassador and partner for Norwegian seafood.

Haaland’s work alongside the council began in 2024, and the new agreement will see Haaland work alongside the council through autumn 2028.

“I’m very happy to continue the partnership with Norwegian seafood. It feels natural to me, and it’s something...

BSF Links Lenten Seafood Price Increases to Import Challenges

According to BSF (formerly Beaver Street Fisheries), in an interview with News4JAX, tariffs, shipping delays, and supply chain disruptions have led to higher-than-usual prices for frozen seafood in the southeastern United States.

BSF said current consumer prices for staples like cod and shrimp reflect global market conditions amid the spike in demand for Lent. 

The interview was framed around consumers noticing rising seafood prices amid the Lenten season in the southeastern US.

During the interview, Mark Frisch, the company's owner...

Red Lobster Considers Bringing Back Ultimate Endless Shrimp Promotion

Red Lobster's Ultimate Endless Shrimp promotion, which played a role in sending the brand into bankruptcy, could return as soon as this month, according to a Bloomberg report.

The infamous promotion may return as a limited-time offer as the brand continues to mount a comeback following its 2024 bankruptcy. The publication spoke with people familiar with the potential return of endless shrimp who were not authorized to speak publicly.

Red Lobster sent a statement to the Orlando Business Journal saying it has no announcements at this time and is listening...

Authorities Seize Nearly 4 Tons of Illegal Seafood in Lanco

Chilean authorities uncovered the illegal transport of marine species during an April 2 inspection.

"The controls we carry out in the region are strategic, in the sense that all the fishing that comes from the Los Lagos region passes through here to supply a large part of the country. In the context of Easter, we can report that we have inspected a total of 225,163 kg of seafood resources, of which 2.1% have been of illegal origin, that is, 4,774.6kg, in addition...

ASC Highlights Certification, New Label at Seafood Expo Global 2026

The industry is gearing up for the next major event: Seafood Global Expo, an annual conference of major players in the seafood space, set to run April 21–23 in Barcelona, Spain.

This year’s program will feature more than 20 educational sessions presented by top industry experts.

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is returning this year with a power-packed agenda at Hall 4, Booth A401. Experts will be on hand to help attendees understand certification requirements.

ASC local market specialists will...

Innovasea Offers Topian Initiative Sustainable Seafood with Cutting-Edge, Fully Submersible Net Pens

Innovasea, a global leader in technologically advanced aquatic solutions for aquaculture and fish tracking, announced today the success of using its fully submersible aquaculture systems to grow and harvest greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) in the Red Sea. This project is part of Topian’s aquaculture initiative, the sustainable food component of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s NEOM project.

In 2025, Innovasea’s revolutionary SeaProtean Pens were installed and stocked, marking the first time this pen was deployed in the region. Despite a summer...

FFAW Walks Out of Snow Crab Price Talks Days Before Season Start

FFAW-Unifor, the union representing crab harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador, has walked away from price negotiations just days ahead of the scheduled start of the snow crab fishing season.

The union said no crab will be processed in the province "until a fair price is agreed upon," after 13 hours of talks failed to reach an agreement with processors.

FFAW rejected the Association of Seafood Producers' (ASP) latest offer of $5.22 per pound, which came in below the 2025 final price of $5.25 per pound...

Quinlan Brothers Plans Fish Waste-to-Value Facility at Bay de Verde Operations

Quinlan Brothers Ltd. wants to build a new facility at its Bay de Verde plant to convert crab shells, salmon scraps, and other seafood waste into fish oil and meal products, rather than dumping the materials at sea or sending them to landfills.

The Newfoundland processor plans to convert the waste materials into ingredients for fish feed, pet food, and human consumption products at the facility adjacent to its existing crab and salmon operations.

Construction would begin in fall 2026, with the facility expected to be fully...

Sernapesca Hosts FDA and Mattilsynet to Showcase Chile’s Salmon Farming Standards

The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) recently carried out a series of initiatives, including meetings and field visits with international delegations, to showcase the high standards of Chile’s salmon farming industry.

The visit brought together representatives from Sernapesca, the US Food and Drug Administration, and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

"We held a series of meetings to strengthen our strategic alliances that go beyond our borders, such as the FDA of the United States and Mattilsynet of Norway, to learn about the high...

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...