US Valentine's Day Index 2025

As Valentine’s Day traditionally provides a boost for restaurants and confectionary retailers, Expana has analyzed the key commodities associated with this holiday.

Expana’s US Valentine's Day Chocolate Index consists of cocoa beans, sugar, and skimmed milk powder (SMP). In addition, consumption of strawberries increases during the Valentine’s Day period, and vanilla is widely used in preparation of cakes and chocolates. As a result, Expana has included the prices of these commodities separately in this report.

Although US consumers and retailers will welcome more affordable meal prices than in 2024, the cost of confectionery this Valentine’s...

CenSea and Ocean Garden Join Forces, Boosting Captain Fresh’s Global Reach

CenSea, a top US seafood importer and distributor, announced it had acquired Ocean Garden’s brand portfolio, bringing another significant name under the Captain Fresh umbrella.

Two of the largest US-based seafood companies have joined forces with the deal, which is now inked. CenSea boasts a strong foundation in Asian shrimp and other products and can combine with San Diego-based Ocean Garden, which specializes in Mexican and Ecuadorian shrimp.

Jeff Stern, Co-President, CenSea, added, “We at CenSea are committed...

Japan: Shrimp Imports Rose 8% in 2024, with Ecuador Imports Doubling and Argentina Imports up 40%

Japan's shrimp imports in 2024, including frozen and processed shrimp, reached 213,826 tons, an increase of 8% from the previous year and exceeding the lowest level since 2012. The increase is due to a doubling of frozen shrimp imports from Ecuador. Japan’s 2024 shrimp import value came in at 186.3 billion yen ($1.22 billion), reported Minato Shimbun.

According to the Ministry of Finance's trade statistics, frozen shrimp increased by 10%, amounting to 152,451 tons and a total value of 199.8 billion yen...

Emily Menashes is New Acting Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries

In a quiet move that did not generate much news, former Deputy Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries is now Acting Assistant Administrator for the agency. Menashes has 24 years of experience working within the federal government on a wide range of coastal and ocean conservation and management issues. She replaces Janet Coit, whose tenure as head of the agency ended with the Biden administration.

As “acting”AA, Menashes is expected to be replaced by President Trump’s pick or that of his nominee for Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick. Lutnick’s nomination ...

Tri-Union Seafoods Issues Recall of Select Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s Tuna Cans

On Thursday, February 7, Tri-Union Seafoods issued a voluntary recall of select Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s canned tuna products due to a potential clostridium botulinum contamination.

According to the seafood producer, the recall was issued out of an abundance of caution following the notification from Tri-Union Seafoods’ supplier about a manufacturing defect that had occurred with the "easy open" pull tab can lid on certain tuna products. As a result, the defective lids compromised the...

Company Owner Identifies Two N.S. Fishermen Who Died After Boat Capsized Off Coast

The captain and deckhand who died when their fishing boat capsized off the coast of eastern Nova Scotia on Thursday have been identified by the vessel's owner.

Jose Teixeira, owner of the 18-meter Fortune Pride, said Saturday the captain who died was John Allen Baker, a veteran fisherman, and the deckhand who died was Philip MacInnis.

Teixeira says the two other deckhands on board had been released from hospital.

The vessel had been fishing for silver hake before the capsizing, and it overturned while returning with...

The Last Skipper in Ouzinkie: How Gulf of Alaska Villages Lost Their Native Fishing Fleets

KODIAK — On an early, foggy summer morning, Nick Katelnikoff steered his boat through the treacherous waters off Kodiak Island’s Spruce Cape and chuckled.

“Trust a blind guy through the rock pile?” he asked.

Katelnikoff, 76, is a veteran fisherman — the kind of guy who, friends say, can call his catch into his boat.

He’s made a career chasing the bounty of the North Pacific, building up a storehouse of knowledge about his maritime backyard that allows him, even with failing eyesight, to confidently steer his ...

Swedish Scientists Find Way to Remove Mercury From Canned Tuna Through Added Amino Acid

A new study called New Insight into Mercury Removal from Fish Meat Using a Single-Component Solution Containing cysteine in Global Challenges  describes how an amino acid cysteine can remove up to 35 percent of the accumulated mercury in canned tuna, significantly reducing human exposure to mercury via food.

While fish is an important source of protein, containing omega-3 fatty acids and many other beneficial nutrients, some long-lived species may carry accumulations of toxic mercury (methylmercury), presenting concerns for ...

Photo Courtesy of Chalmers University

ANALYSIS: Diving into Market Dynamics, Fishing Levels as 2025 Argentine Illex Squid Season Begins

The illex squid (Illex argentinus) fishing season, starting on January 2, 2025, in the Argentine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), has been ongoing for over a month. Market participants have reported that the landing has been adequate, and the price for the raw materials increased by around 10%. However, the companies in Argentina will have to face several challenges this season, such as the rising cost of operation and labor and the uncertainty regarding the stock levels. In the last two years...

FDA Issues Oyster Advisory for Louisiana Area 3, Now 191 Confirmed Norovirus Cases

Today, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an advisory to restaurants and retailers for oysters harvested from Louisiana Area 3 between January 10, 2025, and February 4, 2025, due to potential norovirus contamination.  

The advisory follows a February 4 recall by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) for oysters harvested from Area 3. At the time, 15 diners had reportedly gotten sick after eating oysters from local Louisiana restaurants between January 15 and January 31.

According to an update from the LDH, there are now...

ANALYSIS: Vietnamese Shrimp Sector Strengthening Position in the US and China

Several sources show that shrimp exports from Vietnam to all major markets increased last year in volume and value, which gives Vietnamese shrimp market players a promising outlook for 2025.

According to the Vietnamese customs office, Vietnam's total shrimp exports reached 175,255 MT from January to November, reflecting a 9.7% year-over-year increase. China remains Vietnam’s largest market, accounting for 26.1% of exports, at 45,715 MT. In value, the Vietnam  Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) announced last Friday a 39% y-o-y progression...

Maine DMR Loosens Guidance on Fishing Near Jeffreys Ledge, Citing Whales Have Moved on

On February 8, Commissioner Patrick Keliher of the Main Department of Marine Resources (DMR) issued an update on lobster fishing near Jeffreys Ledge, allowing fishermen to replace their second end line and shift gear as needed.

This announcement comes after recent observations were gathered from the DMR’s right whale monitoring vessel, the DMR’s arial survey, and local fishermen observations, which indicate that the North Atlantic right whales spotted in January near Jeffreys Ledge have significantly decreased in number and likely moved on from the area...

Russia Looking to Double Crab Exports by 2030 as it Eyes New Markets

Russia may nearly double its crab exports by 2030 as it enters new markets.

According to recent statements made by Herman Zverev, by 2030, crab exports from Russia may grow to more than US$3.58 billion, which will be 1.9 times higher compared to 2023.

As he told in an interview with Forbes Russia magazine, there is potential for Russian crab fishers to enter new markets, among which are Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, with the biggest demand...

Small Fire at Trident’s Sand Point Plant Pauses Operations For Two Days

Early in the morning last Thursday, an incident involving one of Trident Seafoods' four generators at their Sand Point processing plant started a small fire that was quickly extinguished by the local fire department.

“During the incident, their generator threw a connecting rod out the side of the engine block and it ruptured the fuel line to the generator,” Sand Point Police Chief Benjamin Allen told KUCB/Alaska Public Media, last Saturday. “And there was a good bit of diesel on the surface of the water that Trident's ...

Shark Tank Phenom Cousins Maine Lobster Plans Food Truck Visit to Des Moines

Local seafood lovers will be excited to hear that Cousins Maine Lobster has planned a road trip to Central Iowa for February 12th – 16th, 2025. The iconic food truck brand, made famous as one of the top five all-time investments on Shark Tank, will be serving up Maine's most coveted comfort foods, including their famous warm and buttery wild-caught lobster rolls, savory New England clam chowder, and fan favorites like lobster tacos, lobster grilled cheese and even loaded lobster tots...

A Major Paradigm Shift in King Crab and Shellfish Sector

As we enter the second month of 2025 we are witnessing a paradigm shift where king crab is taking over premium lobster tails as the "luxury" shellfish. Despite record-breaking prices, demand remains strong with consumers willing to support the continued price growth.

The record-high prices of 2024 have carried into 2025, with red and golden king crab reaching all-time highs. Total supply ----combining Alaska production and imports from Norway and Argentina ---declined again by over 7% from the prior year to just 7.7 million pounds...

Royal Greenland Fires CEO, Cites Need for 'Different Profile' Leadership

Royal Greenland fired CEO Susanne Arfelt Rajamand effective immediately, per a statement from the company.  

Arfelt Rajamand has served in the role since February 1, 2023. 

Chair of the Board, Maliina Abelsen, said of the decision: 

"Over the past two years, Royal Greenland has faced challenges in several areas. At this time, the Board has unanimously concluded that the company requires a CEO with a different profile, and we are therefore initiating a recruitment process. We thank Susanne for her cooperation and contributions...