ANALYSIS: Frozen Whiting-Record Prices and Tight Whitefish Supplies Heighten Concerns Ahead of Lent

Frozen whiting prices have continued their upward trajectory, reaching record levels as constrained supplies and elevated replacement costs lend support to the market. Since May, imported whiting fillet prices have advanced from approximately $2.35/lb to $2.70/lb in October, an increase of nearly 15%. Current values are also 14.9% above year-ago levels and approximately 20% above the five-year October average, highlighting the extent of the market's strength despite a generally cautious buying...

Trump Announces $8 Billion for Farmers and Fishermen to Offset Soaring Diesel Costs

On a campaign swing through Kansas last Monday, President Donald Trump announced a new program to offset high diesel costs incurred by farmers across the country amidst competitive political races in areas like Kansas where voters have not sent a Democrat to Congress since 1932. Trump attributed the plan, called Harvest Fuel Relief program, to Kansas’s incumbent, Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, who won his seat by more than 11 percentage points in 2020 but now is locked in a close race with...

Expana's Weekly Top 10

From trade policy and supply chain disruption to shifting retail demand and commodity market pressure, this week’s top 10 stories offer a snapshot of the key developments influencing food, agriculture and commodity trade. Explore Expana’s latest coverage spanning regulation, logistics, proteins, seafood, crop weather and key input markets below.

Find archived Top 10's here. 

Trade, Tariffs and Regulation

10. Trump signed an executive order authorizing steep tariffs on Russian goods and major buyers of Russian oil, but a pause clause kept them from taking effect, leaving USTR to monitor conditions as trade talks...

NOAA Allocates $15.8 Million in Fishery Disaster Funding to Florida, California and Makah Tribe

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the US Department of Commerce (DOC) has announced $15.8 million in fishery disaster funds for Florida, California and Washington, for disasters previously declared.

In Florida, the funds cover Hurricane Ian in 2022, which was declared by Governor DeSantis. In Washington State, the allocation recognizes the Makah Tribe's ocean treaty troll fishery in 2020 and 2021, as well as the Fraser sockeye salmon fisheries in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023. California's red sea urchin fishery received...

MSC's New Model Says Well-Managed Fisheries are Twice as Valuable

The Marine Stewardship Council has launched a prototype fishery financial model, giving banks and financiers insight into risk and resilience within the seafood sector. The model suggests a well-managed fishery — MSC-certified, that is — is better for the ocean and supports a more resilient long-term economic model, making it roughly twice as valuable as the same fishery that is not well-managed.

With over a third of fish stocks currently exploited at unsustainable levels, MSC says it’s even more important to “steer capital towards resilient...

Canadian Seafood Farmers Names 2026-2027 Executive Committee, Chaired by Cooke's Joel Richardson

Canadian Seafood Farmers has named its 2026-2027 Executive Committee, elected by the board on Oct. 16. Joel Richardson of family-owned Cooke Aquaculture in New Brunswick will chair the committee. The group, which announced the appointments on Oct. 22, brings together leaders from Canada's finfish, shellfish and aquaculture supply sectors.

Jennifer Woodland of Cermaq Canada is vice-chair, Cyr Couturier is treasurer, and Mia Parker of Mowi Canada is secretary. Executive members at large are Elizabeth Barlow of Cermaq Canada...

Russia Targets Processing 50% of Pollock Catch Into Fillets and Surimi by 2030, Buglak Says

Russia aims to process half of its pollock catch into fillets and surimi by 2030, supported by plans to commission new vessels and processing facilities, Alexey Buglak, President of the Russian Pollock Association, said at the International Groundfish Forum.

Buglak said the Russian pollock sector is showing positive dynamics: stocks remain stable, catches are high, and exports are growing. In 2025, Russia’s pollock catch totaled 2.175 million tonnes, and it is expected to remain around 2.2 million tonnes this year...

GSA Prepares Major Revision of Aquaculture Feed Mill Standard

The Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) is preparing a major revision of its Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) Feed Mill Standard as it looks to strengthen responsible sourcing requirements for aquaculture feed ingredients.

GSA has convened a technical committee to develop Issue 4.0 of the standard, which will examine emerging best practices in aquafeeds, including the role of marine ingredients and how to ensure their responsible sourcing and inclusion. The revision follows changes GSA made to the existing standard in 2026 to more clearly address marine...

ANALYSIS: US Shrimp Replacement Costs Normalize as Import Costs Rise

Expana's peeled replacement cost model, which uses declared value on new entries, is depletion-weighted and includes applicable duties for India, Indonesia and Ecuador, and stands at $3.77. The UB Peeled index is at $4.57. The relationship between the two series is 7.0%, down from 9.1% in August and slightly above the historically typical 5% to 6% range.

The relationship had been negative through late 2025 and reached a low near -9.4% in March, when replacement cost peaked at $4.79 and wholesale prices had already begun...

Russia and Norway Agree on a 14% Barents Sea Cod Quota Increase for 2027

Russia and Norway have agreed to raise the 2027 Barents Sea cod quota by 14%, Russia's fisheries agency Rosrybolovstvo said. Speaking to journalists in Istanbul on Oct. 22, Rosrybolovstvo head Ilya Shestakov said the joint Russian-Norwegian Fisheries Commission had decided on the increase for next year. The increase marks the first rise after five years of continuous cuts.

The 2026 total allowable catch was set at 285,000 tonnes, the lowest since 1991. A 14% increase would take the 2027 TAC to roughly...

Norcod Reaches 98% Cod Utilization as Fish Oil Plant Starts Up

Norwegian cod farmer Norcod says it has reached 98% utilization of its harvested cod after starting fish oil production at its Kråkøy harvesting facility. The company announced the milestone on Oct. 22.

In its first two weeks, the factory produced more than 14 tonnes of fish oil. Norcod says the plant can use nearly all offcuts from cod harvesting, including parts that were previously sent to ensilage. The oil is aimed at the nutritional supplements market, giving the company a new revenue stream from existing production...

Norwegian Scientists Advise 35% Snow Crab Increase for 2027

Norwegian scientists recommend that snow crab catches on the Norwegian shelf not exceed 16,594 tonnes in 2027, a 35% increase on the 2026 advice, according to the Institute of Marine Research (HI). The 2026 advice and the final 2026 quota were both 12,336 tonnes.

Stock assessment lead Ann Merete Hjelset said the advice rises because every survey index in the assessment is higher in 2026 than in 2025. "It indicates the stock has grown and that there is room for higher catches in 2027," she said...

Australis Aquaculture Expands Vietnam Barramundi Capacity With New Farm Leases and Processing Plant

Australis Aquaculture has secured 16 ocean‑farming leases in Vietnam’s An Giang Province, adding permitted production capacity of up to 30,000 metric tons annually as the company looks to expand barramundi supply for global whitefish markets. Stocking is underway at the first farm, with initial harvests expected to begin in mid‑2027.

The 30‑year leases, issued by the An Giang Provincial People’s Committee, more than double Australis’ total permitted capacity. The company also said Blue Loop, its new seafood processing...

New York Adds $6.5 Million to Islip Regional Shellfish Hatchery, Bringing State Total to $16.5M

Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced an additional $6.5 million in state capital funding for the Town of Islip Regional Shellfish Hatchery, bringing New York's total commitment to $16.5 million for construction of a new facility. The governor's office announced the funding on Oct. 20.

The state's earlier commitment was $10 million, announced in 2024. Construction costs have since risen, pushing the total project cost to $16.5 million, and the new money is meant to cover that gap and advance...

Vital Role of Pelagic Sector Highlighted at Inaugural Meeting in London

Seafish, the UK’s seafood industry organization, held the first meeting of their Pelagic Sector Issues Group recently at the Fishmongers’ Hall in London. The group brought together representatives from across the seafood supply chain, including harvesting, processing, retailers, alongside government policy and science advisors, to discuss issues affecting the sector...

Middle East Market Intelligence Brief: Week Ending October 23, 2026

Iran has warned that renewed US and Israeli strikes would trigger attacks on American forces, energy facilities, and other infrastructure. The warnings come as stalled negotiations and increased US military deployments raise concerns about renewed fighting.

Washington is moving additional forces to the region while reducing some personnel at risk. Iran has also warned it could target US warships and undersea internet cables near the Strait of Hormuz, where recent attacks have already sunk two vessels.

Escalating Houthi activity near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has heightened concerns over shipping...

Walmart Faces Class Action Over Great Value Shrimp Weight Claims

Walmart faces a class action alleging its Great Value frozen shrimp contains less shrimp than its labels claim, with the shortfall reaching up to 11%, according to Top Class Actions.

Plaintiff Elijah Baptist filed the case, Baptist v. Walmart Inc. (Case No. 2026CH09745), in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, on Oct. 8. The suit alleges that Walmart includes the weight of ice glaze in the net weight listed on packages, so consumers pay for ice rather than shrimp. It argues the practice is unfair, deceptive and fraudulent...