Trump Opens "Hundreds of Thousands" of Pacific Miles to US Commercial Fishing

President Donald Trump signed an Executive Proclamation on June 11 titled "Restoring American Commercial Fishing in the Pacific," opening expanded fishing grounds for American fishermen across three Pacific marine national monuments.

The proclamation restores commercial fishing access to:

-- The Islands Unit of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument

-- The Mau Zone and Ho'omalu Zone and areas seaward of 50 nautical miles within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

-- Waters between 12 and 50 nautical miles surrounding Rose Atoll within the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument...

USDA Office of Seafood Secures First Federal Funding in 2027 Appropriations Bill

The US House of Representatives passed the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act of 2027 (HR 8646) last week with a vote of 213 to 210, allocating $500,000 to fund the USDA Office of Seafood in fiscal year 2027.

The appropriation marks the first federal funding for the office since its establishment in April 2026. The Trump administration created the office, described as the "first of its kind," to provide customer service for American seafood cultivators, producers, and processors seeking to...

EU Prepares New Sanctions Targeting Russian Fish Exports, Including Cod Ban

The EU's new sanctions package against Russia may restrict Russian fishery supplies to Europe, including a complete ban on cod sales, which may lead to serious losses for Russian fishermen.

According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, fisheries have so far been among the sectors not significantly affected by sanctions; this may change soon.

The EU market has been among the most important sales markets for Russian fishermen despite current tensions between the two sides. According to estimates by the Russian Fisheries Union, in 2025, total...

Japan's 2025 Frozen Sockeye Imports up 37% from Russia, Plummets 69% from the US

Japan imports wild sockeye salmon, mainly caught in the summer from Russia and the United States, and uses it as a raw material for salted salmon.

According to trade statistics from the Ministry of Finance, Japan's 2025 imports of frozen sockeye salmon increased by 17% year-on-year (YOY) to 18,602 tons, with an average price of 1,150 yen/kg ($7.16/kg), up 14%. While the increase in imports from Russia, the main source, drove the overall increase...

Crop-Threatening 'Super El Niño' Also Likely to Create Regional Winners, Say Expana Experts

This year’s (2026-2027) El Niño weather phenomenon can significantly affect global commodities, and food price inflation can be expected, especially if it is confirmed to be what is commonly known as a ‘Super El Niño’.

While most of the mainstream media's focus is on the devastating consequences of the Super El Niño phenomenon, it is worth noting that it will have a large but also highly varied economic impact across different regions. There are both winning and losing countries - and by extension, agricultural commodities

Canada Launches Mission to Combat IUU Fishing in the North Pacific Ocean

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing threatens national and international fish stocks, ocean ecosystems, and global markets. Last Tuesday, Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) launched its fourth annual high seas patrol to detect and deter IUU fishing in the North Pacific Ocean.

The mission, known as Operation North Pacific Guard (Op. NPG), is led by DFO fishery officers and supported by the Canadian Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The patrol also includes representatives from the US Coast Guard...

Winding Glass: Section 301 Tariffs Set to Permanently Twist Seafood Trade

The recent headline that section 301 seafood tariffs will reach $2.9 billion does not tell the industry story. The headline number is the result of an 11.4% blended tariff calculation applied to the value of goods shipped by 60 targeted countries to the US in 2025. That is one result of the Section 301 forced-labor duties proposed by the US Trade Representative on June 2. It is more than the roughly $2.2 billion importers paid last year, most of it under the IEEPA tariffs the Supreme...

ANALYSIS: Argentina Squid Exports Surge 43.5% YTD, China Accounts for Majority of Growth

The Illex squid (Illex argentinus) 2026 season began in January, and according to market participants, catches in Argentina's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the South Atlantic Ocean have been successful. The latest report from Argentina's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries indicates cumulative landings from January 1 to May 26 totaled 187,762 MT, up 2.4% from 183,324 MT in the same period in 2025 (Figure 1)...

UK Salmon Sales Surge to £1.6 Billion as Summer World Cup Drives Demand

New data shows that sales of the United Kingdom's favorite fish — salmon — increased in volume by 8.5 percent and in value by 7.3 percent in the year ending March 30. The figures show more than 81,000 tonnes of salmon were sold in the 12 months to March.

Even as overall fish sales have remained largely unchanged, salmon continues to grow strongly.

The figures come as families turn to lighter, healthier meals over the summer, with salmon well suited to barbecues, salads, simple dinners, and World Cup...

Peru Extends Fishing Ban Indefinitely as Global Fishmeal Output Plunges 26%

Peruvian authorities have extended the current fishing ban beyond its June 10 deadline with no termination date announced, covering the maritime area from Peru's northern border to 16°00′S latitude.

The indefinite extension reflects ongoing Coastal El Niño conditions, with warm waters and a high share of juvenile fish indicating a dispersed biomass. The Vice-Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture may lift the measure in full, in part, or gradually, based on IMARPE's scientific assessments and updated biological, fishing, and environmental conditions...

House Committee Advances Trade Crime Legislation as Trump Signs Customs Enforcement Order

The House Judiciary Committee unanimously advanced the bipartisan "Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes (PAIL) Act" (H.R. 1869) last week by a 23-0 vote, while President Trump signed an Executive Order strengthening US customs law enforcement on the same day.

The PAIL Act, introduced by Representative Ashley Hinson (R-IA) with 42 co-sponsors, would establish a Justice Department task force to investigate and prosecute trade-related crimes. The task force would increase investigations of trade fraud while providing advanced training to Homeland...

Nueva Pescanova Adds Modern Freezer Vessel to Namibian Fleet

Grupo Nueva Pescanova has acquired the freezer vessel Olupale for its NovaNam subsidiary in Namibia, reinforcing the Spanish company's investment in African fishing operations.

The 59.82-meter vessel features a 900-cubic-meter hold capacity and can accommodate up to 66 crew members. Built in 2024 but not yet operational, the Olupale will primarily target hake processing with the capacity to catch and process up to 2,500 tons of finished product annually.

Nueva Pescanova acquired the vessel from Mar de Arbo SL to replace the Mar del Cabo...

Murray Cod Australia Names Kelly Sperl as CFO and Company Secretary

Murray Cod Australia Ltd has appointed Kelly Sperl as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and company secretary, effective June 22, as the ASX-listed premium food company looks to strengthen its financial and operational leadership.

Sperl brings more than 25 years of finance experience across ASX-listed, private and family-owned businesses. She has held senior finance leadership roles at Foster's Group, STIHL Australia, Bakers Delight, Gale Pacific and PaperlinX. According to the company, her background spans financial management, treasury, business transformation, manufacturing operations, ERP...

Cousins Maine Lobster Returns to South Texas as Touring Strategy Drives Growth

Cousins Maine Lobster's food truck tour is an out-of-the-box marketing strategy that was first introduced in 2020 by franchisee Chris Papp. The initiative allows the brand to test new markets while building awareness and connecting directly with customers.

Today, the fast-casual seafood company announced its latest tour, which will return to South Texas. The food truck is scheduled to make stops in Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen, Rockport, and Victoria, offering its full menu of fresh Maine lobster dishes, including its...

ANALYSIS: Tight Pacific Halibut Supply Conditions Continue to Shape the Market

The Pacific halibut market has remained firm through the early months of the 2026 season, with prices holding near the elevated levels reached at the close of 2025. Support continues to come from an exceptionally tight supply outlook, as the 2026 coastwide quota of 29.33 million pounds represents the lowest total allowable catch in the fishery’s more than 100-year history. Even so, signs of price fatigue have begun to surface, as buyers show greater resistance to historically high Pacific halibut values...

Half of US Seafood Consumers Say Oceans Can Still be Saved, MSC Survey Finds

Half of US seafood consumers believe the world’s oceans can be saved from irreparable damage over the next 20 years, according to new consumer research commissioned by the Marine Stewardship Council.

The findings, released for World Ocean Day, are part of a GlobeScan survey of more than 20,500 seafood consumers globally and point to rising optimism and stronger engagement with sustainability claims in the US market.

Among US respondents, 51% said they believe the oceans will be saved from irreparable damage within...

ASMI Enhances Processing Capacity in Southeast Asia for Alaska’s Seafood Industry

Since 2024, the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) has been providing the state’s seafood processors with opportunities to use re-processing services in the Southeast Asia (SEA) region. The program is funded in part by the federal Emerging Markets Program (EMP), a part of the Marketing Access Program in the US Department of Agriculture.

In 2024, ASMI hosted technical training seminars in Southeast Asia to enhance processing capacity by assessing local seafood processors. After a successful first year of identifying and establishing partners with the capacity to reprocess Alaska...