Biden Signs FISHES Act to Expedite Fishery Disaster Relief

President Joe Biden signed the FISHES Act, legislation that aims to speed up the process of fishery disaster relief allocation, into law on January 4.

“The Fishery Improvement to Streamline Untimely Regulatory Hurdles post Emergency Situation Act (FISHES) will create procedures for reviewing spending plans submitted to the Department of Commerce by requesters seeking fishery resource disaster assistance funding,” per a briefing from the White House.

The legislation has received the support of 160 endorsing entities, including 107 organizations and 52 members of the U.S. House of Representatives...

Genetic Testing Finds Texas Restaurants Mislabeling Shrimp

More restaurants in the Gulf region have been found to sell imported shrimp despite “claims, implications, or menu descriptions” that indicate the offerings were wild-caught shrimp from Texas.

SEAD (Seafood Development) Consulting conducted another genetic testing investigation in the Gulf of Mexico region, this time finding that just shy of 60% of restaurants tested in Galveston and Kemah, Texas, were serving imported shrimp.

SEAD noted that several sampled restaurants advertised Gulf shrimp on their menus but served imported farm-raised products instead. Restaurants also used “misleading marketing, imagery, or descriptions” that implied...

Bakkafrost Renews Sponsorship of Faroese Men's National Football Team for Four More Years

Faroese salmon farmer Bakkafrost recently signed a new partnership agreement with the Faroese Football Association (FSF), confirming that the aquaculture company will remain the main sponsor of the Faroese men’s national football team for another four years, extending through 2028.

The partnership has been in place since 2012, now going on 13 years.

Regin Jacobsen, CEO or Bakkafrost, commented on the matter, saying, “We see great value in the Faroese national football team, which we also believe is an excellent representative for the Faroe Islands..."

Global Seas Announces Leadership Transition as Seafood Industry Veteran Bob Desautel Steps Down

Global Seas, a Seattle-based harvesting and vessel management company, announced that its founder, Bob Desautel, would be stepping down from his role as chief executive of the firm and transitioning to the role of Chairman, per a January 7 announcement from the company.

Desautel has worked in the seafood industry for over four and a half decades and has become a staple within the Wild Alaska Pollock industry. Global Seas said his vast experience has been pivotal to the company’s growth and success over...

Maine Cooperative Lobster 207 Wins $5 Million Settlement in CEO Misconduct Case 

Lobster 207, a co-op formed by the Maine Lobstering Union (MLU), landed a $5 million settlement in its favor after five years in court against a former CEO, Warren Pettegrow, his parents, and other parties.

Lobster 207 alleged that the defendants engaged in a “course of misconduct that resulted in serious economic injuries to Lobster 207 " through schemes, rackets, and misrepresentations. The Portland Press Herald reported that the family continues to deny the charges.

The lawsuit, filed in 2019, alleges that the Pettegrows defrauded...

USDA’s Section 32 Program Agrees to Purchase up to $55M in Farm-Raised Catfish and Gulf Shrimp

Catfish and shrimp producers in the southern U.S. will soon benefit from a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchase agreement involving the procurement of up to $30 million in farm-raised catfish products and $25 million in Gulf shrimp for distribution to various nutrition assistance programs.

The $55 million seafood purchase agreement—allowed through the permanently authorized Section 32 Program—follows two USDA purchase agreements from 2024 for up to $36 million in Gulf of Mexico and...

Chicken of the Sea Partners with McCormick for New Tuna Products and OLD BAY Collaboration

Seafood company Chicken of the Sea recently partnered up with food company McCormick to incorporate OLD BAY Seafood Seasoning into two of its new tuna packet offerings. Together, the two powerhouses have a combined industry presence of more than 230 years.

The seafood company added the following two items to its on-the-go lineup: Chicken of the Sea Wild Caught Light Tuna Packet with OLD BAY(R) Seasoning and Chicken of the Sea Wild Caught Light Tuna Packet with McCormick(R) Chili Lime...

Trudeau Resigns Amid Controversy Over BC Salmon Farming Transition

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the leader behind the decision to shift British Columbia’s salmon farming industry away from net-pen farming, announced that he would resign from his post on January 6. 

Trudeau will leave office once a new ruling party leader is chosen, according to reports. The Liberal Party leader for the last 11 years, Trudeau, has faced rising discontent of late amid key resignations of close political allies. 

One of the lasting impacts of Trudeau’s term is the salmon farming transition plan the government first introduced in 2019...

Commercial Fisherman Caught with Hidden Catch Behind False Wall in San Francisco 

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) discovered a commercial fisherman illegally catching fish and trying to deceive authorities by hiding the catch behind a false wall on his fishing vessel.

CDFW said that an angler coming ashore at San Francisco’s Pier 45 was found to have fillets of salmon behind a false wall.

While under surveillance, the owner of the commercial trawl vessel was seen unloading several burlap sacks out of the boat and into a vehicle before leaving the scene. The vessel owner...

Japanese Sea Urchins to Be Exported to EU for the First Time

Kitasanriku Factory of Iwate Prefecture, the first sea urchin facility in Japan to receive EU HACCP certification, will export to the Netherlands, France, Italy, and other countries in the future. The company's CFO, Hirokazu Suzuki, has received inquiries from several European companies, saying, "High-quality sea urchins are in demand in Europe, and there is strong demand for Japanese sea urchins in French and Italian restaurants," reported Minato Shimbun.

On December 13, 2024, the company's head office plant was certified for four items...

The Retail Rundown: Post-Holiday Slowdown Influences January Spending 

January typically marks a slowdown in consumer spending as households transition from the holiday season to their regular routines.

Early in the month, retailers experience a short-lived boost in sales, driven by replenishment efforts after the holiday food rush. As schools reopen and guests leave, families restock essentials for breakfast, lunch, and weeknight meals.

This restocking coincides with New Year’s resolutions, especially those focused on healthier eating. Consequently, shoppers gravitate toward the perimeter of the stores where fresh items, including produce, proteins, and dairy, are featured. Although retail...

Grieg Seafood NL Clarifies Temporary Pause in Post-Smolt Facility Construction

Grieg Seafood NL confirmed that the pause in construction for its planned post-smoltification (PSA) facility in Newfoundland and Labrador was a temporary measure.

The statement from the company follows a news report produced by NTV, which featured the mayor of Marystown, NL, showcasing his worries about the project's future, along with Grieg’s presence in the community.

“Is this just a ploy to let it go gingerly into the future to soften the blow?” Marystown Mayor Brian Keating theorized...

Washington Hits the Magic Number to Open Dungeness Fishery

At long last, the Dungeness crab off Long Beach in Washington tested full enough to open the fishery north of Cape Falcon.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Tuesday that Oregon's commercial Dungeness crab fishery will open Jan. 15 from Cape Falcon, on the northern Oregon Coast, to Klipsan Beach, Washington. A fourth round of preseason testing in Long Beach, Wash., shows crab quality at 24.3%, which is above the 23% necessary to open the season. In other words, it meets the optimal commercial harvest ...

Russie Eyeing Increase in Crab Exports to China in 2025

Russia hopes to increase its crab exports to China this year, as it has witnessed stable demand within the market, according to recent statements, made by representatives of local producers and some Russian media reports.

As Alexey Dakhnovsky, a Russian Trade Representative in China, recently told an interview with the Russian RIA Novosti newswire, the demand for Russian crabs in China is steadily growing, while Chinese customers are actively buying Russian crabs.

In recent months, Russia has significantly increased its...

Eight-Year High for FDA Entry Line Refusals of Antibiotic Contaminated Shrimp

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released data showing a total of 64 seafood entry line refusals in December 2024—not including entry line refusals of shrimp for reasons related to banned antibiotics—and a total of 79 entry line refusals of shrimp for the presence of banned antibiotics, as determined by product traces of veterinary drug residues.

The latter datum marks an eight-year high since 2016, when the FDA refused 134 shrimp entry lines due to the presence of banned antibiotics. Meanwhile, the...

ILA and USMX Set to Resume Talks as Port Strike Threat Looms

Talks between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), the union representing over 45,000 dockworkers from Maine to Texas, and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) are set to resume on January 7.   

ILA and the USMX reportedly met in private on January 5 as both sides try to reach an agreement over the primary automation issue that has been raised since talks last stalled in November, according to industry publication FreightWaves.

The contract between the ILA and USMX, which represents ports and ocean carriers, expires on January 15...

Federal Court Dismisses "Whistleblower" Lawsuit Vs. Cooke Inc., Omega Protein, and Ocean Harvesters

On January 3, 2025, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York fully dismissed the qui tam "whistleblower" lawsuit brought against Canadian seafood company Cooke Inc. and its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, and employees, including fishing companies Omega Protein and Ocean Harvester, by relators W. Benson Chiles and Chris Manthey.

The lawsuit focused on allegations that the defendants violated the False Claims Act (FCA), misstated key facts regarding, and ignored the law.

History of the False Claims Act 

The FCA was first enacted...