European Commission Announces Countermeasures to US Steel and Aluminum Tariffs

The European Commission (EC) has responded to new US tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the European Union (EU) by launching countermeasures on imports from the US into the EU.

On February 10, 2025, the US announced that it would impose import tariffs of 25% on steel and aluminum derivative products. The tariffs will apply to industrial-grade steel and aluminum, other steel and aluminum semifinished and finished products, as well as their derivate commercial products, covering EU exports to the US worth up to €26 billion, according to the EC...

ANALYSIS: Fresh Chilean Salmon Fillets Trend Higher than European

Many protein commodities have been behaving oddly for the past several weeks. Fresh farmed salmon fillets are among them.

The fresh salmon fillet market continues to act in a way that is not on trend, but it’s been somewhat off trend for the past 4 months. Looking back at the 4^th quarter of 2024, we observed the fresh Chilean fillet market firming through mid-October and straight through November. November is usually a time for turkeys and farmed salmon at retail where it thrives starts to wane ahead of the...

The Retail Rundown: Grocers Leverage Seasonal Trends; Inflation Update

As temperatures rise across much of the US, grocers are highlighting seasonal offerings for springtime occasions and grilling essentials.

Retailers are refining their marketing strategies to align with shifting demand, appealing to sports fans to boost traffic in the meat department. However, securing lower year-over-year protein prices remains a challenge, as factors like animal disease continue to affect availability across key categories.

The wholesale chicken market is gaining traction with baseball season on the horizon, driving demand for boneless items. Expana reports that buyers are scrambling to secure supply...

US Shrimp Industry Sees Two Protectionist Bills Introduced in the 119th Congress

Two bills aimed at protecting the beleaguered U.S. shrimp industry have been introduced in the current U.S. Congress: one in the House yesterday and one in the Senate on February 20, 2025. 

Both bills would restrain imports from foreign suppliers using different tools. The Senate bill—the text of which is currently unavailable—would tighten federal inspection requirements for U.S. shrimp imports. The House bill would ban U.S. financial support for “any activity relating to shrimp farming, shrimp processing, or the export of shrimp from any foreign country..."

Alaska Fisherman Sentenced to Prison for Ordering Crew to Kill Endangered Whale, Illegal Catches

A Southeast Alaska fisherman was sentenced to six months in prison for falsifying fishing records and ordering his crew to kill an endangered whale.

Dugan Paul Daniels, 55, of Coffman Cove, tried to take the endangered sperm whale by having a crewman shoot the whale and attempting to ram the whale with his fishing vessel in March 2020.

Daniels documented the encounter in writing and through text messages sent from a GPS communication device. Some of the messages stated he wished...

Seafood Industry Veteran Guy Lott Joins Bama Sea Products as Chief Commercial Officer

Bama Sea Products, a Florida-based seafood processor and distributor, announced that seafood industry veteran Guy Lott has been named Chief Commercial Officer.

The company, which produces wild-caught shrimp and other raw and value-added seafood products, highlighted how Lott’s experience with multi-unit restaurant chains, key retailers and fine-dining establishments will help the company’s sales strategy.

“We are thrilled to welcome Guy aboard to lead our sales efforts,” said Michael Stephens, CEO of Bama Sea Products. “We pride ourselves on having some...

FDA Advises Restaurants and Retailers Not to Sell Frozen Half-Shell Oysters from Republic of Korea

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell, and consumers not to eat frozen half-shell oysters from Korean food processor Daihung Mulsan CO., LTD, due to potential norovirus contamination.

The affected oysters—which came from KR-7-SP—were harvested from the Republic of Korea (ROK) Designated Area II between 1/30/2024 and 2/4/2024.

Oysters were distributed to restaurants and food retailers in California (CA) and were recalled by the...

BioMar Acquires Full Ownership of Norwegian Research Center to Boost Aquaculture R&D

Aquaculture feed company BioMar has acquired full ownership of LetSea, a fish farming research center in Norway.

BioMar said it has taken over the remaining shares from KapNor and the move “reinforces (its) position as a global leader in research and development for fish feed and strengthens its innovation capacity within aquaculture feed solutions.

After partnering for years, BioMar said it can advance its work on waterborne feeding, developing feed ingredients and its work to improve fish performance, health and welfare...

Chile’s Salmon Council Signs 50-Year Plan to Promote the Salmon Farming Development Board

The signing took place within the framework of the first session of the 50-year Salmon Plan.  

The Salmon Council participated in the formation and signing of the commitment of the "Table for the Development of Salmon Farming".  

The author of the initiative is the mayor of Puerto Montt, Rodrigo Wainraihgt. His plan, with many others in the area as well as public agencies, private companies, and NGOs, is to establish a strategy for the sustainable development of salmon farming in the future...

Russia Increases its Live Crab Exports to China in 2025

This year, Russia is increasing its exports of live crab to China—an uptick which coincides with a stable local demand and high export profits.

As a rule, live crabs account for 80% of Russia’s overall crab exports to China, with the majority of crab entering through the ports of Primorye and transported by road to the city of Hunchun before being distributed throughout China.

According to Russian research agency Agroexport, China imported a total value of US $1.3 billion in crab and shrimp from the Russian Federation during...

RODA Files Supreme Court Petition Against Vineyard Wind, Challenges OCSLA Interpretation

On March 10, 2025, the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA) filed a petition for a writ of certiorari with the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit regarding the U.S. Department of the Interior’s reinterpretation of Section 1337(p)(4) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), specifically in relation to the approval of the Vineyard Wind 1 offshore wind energy project in Massachusetts.

RODA is a broad coalition of American fishing associations and companies focused on improving the compatibility of new offshore development with the...

West Coast Salmon Season Alternatives Set; PFMC to Finalize in April 

It was a tough week for salmon fishermen and salmon managers as the Pacific Fishery Management Council crafted three alternatives for 2025 ocean salmon fisheries off Washington, Oregon, and California.  

The Salmon Technical Team, which includes state, federal and tribal fishery managers, had to deal with limited access to federal partners, corrupted data files, limited times to run models and more. But in the end, the Team, advisers and Council established three commercial and recreational alternatives for review. 

The Council will make a final decision...

New ASC-Certified Smoked Salmon Bites Hit Shelves at H-E-B

On March 11, 2025, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) announced the arrival of a new ASC-labeled retail product: Hot Smoked Norwegian Atlantic Salmon Bites - Garlic & Herb, produced by Netherlands-based seafood company Foppen.

The ready-to-eat salmon product—which is available at select H-E-B locations across America—is smoked, marinated in garlic and herbs, and then packaged as bite-sized pieces into 4 oz. snack packs for purchase at retail locations.

The Hot Smoked salmon bites follow after Foppen’s similar ASC-certified product...

Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods Bolsters Commercial Team with New Additions

Thai Union-owned Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods (COSFF) added four seafood industry veterans to its commercial team on March 11. COSFF expressed its excitement about the move as it looks to remain at the forefront of the seafood industry.

Leading off, Jon Christophersen was appointed as Business Development Director in the Consumer channel. Before his stop at COSFF, Christophersen worked at Regal Springs, The Fishin’ Company, Hofseth, True North, and Roundy’s. He has buyer and supplier experience and will report to Michael Richards, Senior Vice...

FDA Ends Two-Month Streak of No Entry Line Refusals for Antibiotic-Contaminated Shrimp

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released new data showing a total of 92 seafood entry line refusals in February 2025, and a total of four entry line refusals of shrimp (4.2%) for the presence of banned antibiotics, per product traces of veterinary drug residues.

Of the total 92 seafood entry line refusals during February, 26 entry lines were for shrimp imports unrelated to banned antibiotics.

This data follows marks the end of the FDA’s two-month consecutive streak where the federal agency reported...

Echo Falls Seafoods Hires New Midwest Regional Sales Manager

On March 10, 2025, U.S. seafood producer Echo Falls Seafoods announced the appointment of a new Regional Sales Manager for its Midwest operations, Jeremy Titsworth.

Titsworth is a retail expert with more than 18 years of food and retail experience, having previously held the positions of Retail Sales Merchandiser and Business Development Manager at retail broker Advantage Solutions, as well as a grocery manager and prep chef.

“I’m eager to take on the new role of Regional Manager with Echo Falls Seafood and look forward pairing my expertise with the country’s..."

Packaging Firm DS Smith Showcases DryPack Seafood Box

Packaging manufacturer DS Smith said its DryPack seafood box has helped seafood processors reduce costs and CO2 emissions.

The company, which was acquired by International Paper earlier this year, said its DryPack is 100% water-resistant and when it's packed with ice, can keep fish fresh below  40 degrees Fahrenheit for over 40 hours in cold chain operations.

DryPack is the only container board seafood box approved for air freight by the International Air Transport Association. The boxes arrive to processors’ doors flat and are easy to assemble manually or through automated...