Mass Firings at NOAA Spark Outrage Among Fishery Scientists

Yesterday 880 employees of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including those working for NOAA Fisheries, received their pink slips as part of the Trump administration’s effort to make the federal bureaucracy more efficient. 

NOAA, part of the Department of Commerce, is the latest in a string of federal agencies targeted for cuts by billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

“The firings jeopardize our ability to forecast and respond to extreme weather events like hurricanes, wildfires, and floods—putting communities in harm’s way,” said U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell...

Crescent City Seafoods Officially Launches, Bringing Decades of Industry Expertise

Crescent City Seafoods (CCS), DBA of CMU & Associates, Inc., announced its official launch on March 3. Founded in 2024, the company will provide frozen seafood items to businesses in the US and around the globe.

The announcement comes directly from CMU & Associates, Inc., Founder and Chairman, Charlie Umamoto, who stated, “We are extremely pleased to be partnering with Ricardo A. Baeza (CEO), Francisco J. Baeza (CFO), and Eddie Corvalan (Managing Partner) of South Pacific Fish SL and MCS Mediterranean SA as well as Butch Vidrine in introducing a new...

Oregon Considers Following in Washington’s Footsteps with Aquaculture Legislation

The Oregon Legislature is considering a bill that would ban open water finfish aquaculture, a move some say is a preemptive strike based on Washington’s ban last year. 

House Bill 2965 sets requirements for raising fish as food for humans and creates a related fund for managing those efforts.  

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Mark Gamba, a Democrat from the Portland metropolitan area and co-sponsored by other Democrats. The first hearing on the bill was held on Wednesday this week, in the Committee on Agriculture, Land Use...

Japan’s 2024 Alaska Pollock Exports Dipped in Most Countries While Doubling in Nigeria

Since 2019, 100% of fresh Alaska pollock exported from Japan has been destined for South Korea, while frozen pollock is targeted at Asian countries and parts of Africa due to the prolonged Chinese embargo. Still, due to resource constraints, it has not been possible to ensure a sufficient supply. Last year, the combined export volume was 5,868 tons, halved from the previous year, which marks the lowest it has been in recent years, reported Minato Shimbun.

Since 2019, fresh pollock has been destined exclusively for South Korea...

Grieg Seafood Completes Successful Placement of Perpetual Green Hybrid Bond

On February 27, 2025, British Columbian (B.C.) salmon farmer Grieg Seafood ASA announced the successful placement of a new perpetual green hybrid bond issue of NOK 2 million ($177.6 million) with a first call date after four years.

Bond details

Proceeds for the bond—which has a coupon, or interest rate, of three months at a Norwegian Inter-Bank Offer Rate (NIBOR) of 5.75%—will go towards financing Grieg’s green projects, as further defined by the Green Bond Framework.

Among its financial activities will be the refinancing of existing...

Lucasinas SL Regains 100% Control of Profand with $133M Buyback

Lucasinas SL has regained 100% of control in Spain-headquartered seafood company Profand.

The Vigo, Spain-based holding firm reacquired the 23.7% minority stake held by Corporacion Financiera Alba for 127 million euros ($133 million).

Corporacion Financiera Alba was credited with contributing to Profand’s growth and leadership strategy in the sector, helping to accelerate "its geographic expansion and strengthening its position in the value chain” since it became a shareholder in 2021.

“To this end, significant investments have been made to increase production capacity, both in...

McDonald’s, Red Lobster, and Long John Silver’s Lead Off the 2025 Lenten Seafood Promotions

In anticipation of the fast-approaching 2025 Lenten season, several U.S. restaurants—including McDonald’s, Red Lobster, and Long John Silver's, to name a few—are showcasing new or existing seafood products on their menus.

While some menu items are consistent landmarks, others are limited-time only (LTO) offerings available now and for the duration of Lent, with most promotions running until the end of April. This year, the Lenten season will run from March 5 through April 17.  

Several restaurants are collaborating with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute...

Lobster Prices Drive Improved Landings Value for Maine’s Fishing Industry

New data shared by the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) indicated that harvesters in the state earned $74 million more in 2024 than in 2023 with total landings valued at $709,509,984.

“During a year shaped by unprecedented storms and damage to our working waterfronts, Maine’s commercial fishermen, aquaculturists, and seafood dealers once again delivered a major economic benefit to our state,” said Governor Janet Mills. “They did so through hard work and their time-honored commitment to producing and delivering the best seafood in the world...

GAPP Reports Record Year for Wild Alaska Pollock Consumption

The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) said 2024 was a record year for American consumers' consumption of US-caught Wild Alaska Pollock.

GAPP explained that it tracks the global supplies and trade of Pacific pollock and classifies the amount consumed in the US into two categories: “Alaska Pollock,” made from Pacific pollock harvested in US waters, and “pollock,” which was harvested in other countries, mostly in Russia.

“Because of consumer preferences for U.S.-origin products and because only Pacific pollock...

Maine Fishermen's Forum Honors US Coast Guard, District 1, for Heroic 2024 Rescue

Rockport, ME – During a special ceremony at the 2025 Maine Fishermen’s Forum, the U.S. Coast Guard, District 1, was honored for its heroic rescue of the crew of the Maine fishing vessel Three Girls.

On Sunday, August 11, 2024, the Three Girls issued a Mayday distress call: “United States Coast Guard, this is the fishing vessel Three Girls. We are on fire. We are going to be abandoning ship.” The First Coast Guard District command center in Boston also received an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon alert...

ANALYSIS: Positive Trends in 2025 Illex Squid Fishing Season

Market participants have noted that landings for the illex squid (Illex argentinus) 2025 fishing season have been satisfactory compared to last year. Fishing began on January 2, 2025 in the Argentine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) with nearly two months of fishing in the books.  According to Argentina’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, the total illex squid catch in Argentina reached 154,565 metric tons (MT) in 2024, reflecting an increase of 1,281 MT from the previous year. This volume indicates an 18% increase over the 10-year average harvest... 

Japan: January Exports up 54% in Volume, 26% in Value; Frozen Scallop Exports Doubled to US

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on February 27, January fishery product exports (including fishmeal and fish and shellfish products) increased 54% in volume and 26% in value compared to the same month last year, amounting to 25,321 tons and 20,396 million yen ($135.42 million). Frozen scallop adductors increased in both volume and value. Frozen yellowtail fillets increased as well.

Minato Shinbun reported that, of the frozen scallops, scallop adductors increased 46%, amounting to 1,104 tons, and 2.4 times in...

Iceland Seafood Int’l Releases Positive Q4 Financial Results, Exceeding 2024 Outlook

On February 26, 2025, Iceland Seafood International (ISI) published its fourth quarter financial results for 2024, reflecting overall success in sales for Q4 and the year as a whole.

The seafood company saw a lot of increases in 2024, with sales soaring 16% in Q4 2024, amounting to €129.2 million more than the same period last year. Meanwhile, sales for the year increased by 3% compared to 2023, amounting to a total of €443.2 million.

Net margin was also up this year, amounting to...

ANALYSIS: Deep Dive into the World of Snow Crab in 2025 as Canadian Season Looms

 

As February turns to March, all eyes become fixated on the snow crab markets around the world. Late this month and into the beginning of March, the US market will begin to see new season product out of Norway. The quota in Norway for snow crab was increased for the 2025 season, up 24 percent or 3.5 million pounds. It’s a healthy increase, but in comparison to total Canadian imports into the US market in 2024, which were 112.9 million...

NWAA Sues Washington DNR Over Commercial Net Pen Ban, Citing Flawed Rulemaking

The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) filed a lawsuit against Washington State’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for its ban of commercial finfish net pen aquaculture in state waters.

NWAA President, Jim Parsons, said DNR, led by its former Lands Commissioner, “Conducted a predetermined and inadequate rulemaking process that ignored the best-available science and ignored the intent of the State Legislature when it set forth a new law allowing for the production of native species in commercial net pens...

Santa Monica Seafood Shutters Costa Mesa Market, Cafe After 25 Years

In an unexpected social media post, Los Angeles-based Santa Monica Seafood announced that it will close its Costa Mesa Market and Cafe. The statement was brief, with gratitude to loyal customers in the area, about an hour and ten minutes by car from its Santa Monica flagship store.

“This isn’t goodbye, it’s see you soon,” the company posted on Facebook February 19. “We’d love to welcome you at our Santa Monica location: 1000 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401. Thank you for your support...

Russian Cod Catch Dips Amid Stock Declines

Russia is experiencing a decline in cod catch, contributing to the growth of prices in the local market.

According to the latest data of the Russian Fish Union, the cod catch in the Russian Far East declined by 6.4% to 107,000 last year compared to 2023, while in the Northern Basin, the decline was even deeper – by 19.5% to 223,000 tons.

The situation with cod catch remains complex this year, while as of February 9, the decline of catch in the Northern Basin declined by further 13.8% year-on-year...