ANALYSIS: Rising Middle East Tensions Cast Uncertainty Over Growing US Seafood Imports

Middle East and North African seafood exports to the United States totaled approximately 95.3 million lbs. in 2025, advancing from 91.3 million lbs in 2024. Normally, this steady growth would indicate healthy demand and resilient supply chains. Now, however, the numbers are being scrutinized in a new light as an intensifying regional conflict threatens to derail trade flows and disrupt maritime logistics. 

War threatens key shipping routes 

Israeli and US strikes on Iran, followed by Iranian retaliation, have forced shutdowns of oil and gas facilities across...

Maine Lobster Harvest Drops 8M Pounds in 2025, Value Down More Than $75M

Maine’s lobster fishery softened in 2025, with preliminary state data showing landings down by roughly 8 million pounds and total value falling by more than $75 million year‑over‑year.

The Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) reported lobstermen landed 78.8 million pounds last year, generating just over $461 million at the dock. The average boat price was $5.85 per pound — the third‑highest on record — but higher per‑pound returns did not offset the volume decline...

Seafood Excellence Award Finalists Unveiled for Seafood Expo North America 2026

The finalists for the Seafood Excellence Awards have been announced ahead of Seafood Expo North America in Boston.

Diversified, producer of the continent’s largest seafood trade show, said 12 finalists were chosen from the New Product Showcase long list of market‑ready products launched or due to launch in North America in the past 18 months. The finalists were selected from 108 entries and will compete for two honors: Best New Foodservice Product and Best New Retail Product.

An expert panel will evaluate entries on product uniqueness and market...

Save Our Shrimpers Act Clears Key House Committee, Aims to Block Fed Financing of Foreign Farms

The House Financial Services Committee passed Congressman Troy E. Nehl’s (R-TX) Save Our Shrimpers Act on March 4.

The bill would ban federal funds from being made available to international financial institutions to finance foreign shrimp farms, as Expana covered when it was first introduced in 2024. It was reintroduced in March 2025.

“Shrimpers across the country, including shrimpers in my district, are struggling to stay afloat due to an excess of foreign shrimp flooding our markets,” Nehls said...

USTR, Mexican Economy Secretary Launch Initial USMCA Review Discussions

US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer and Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard launched an initial round of discussions ahead of the Joint Review of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) on March 5.

Greer said negotiators are expected to hold initial meetings the week of March 15 with regular meetings to follow.

“The ministers instructed negotiators to begin a scoping discussion on the necessary measures to ensure the benefits of the Agreement accrue primarily to the parties, including by reducing dependence on imports from outside the region...

Whitecap Strengthens North American and European Sales Teams with New Managers

Canada-based seafood export firm Whitecap International bolstered its sales team with the hires of Bryan Carroll as US Sales Manager and Steve Spicer as European Sales Manager.

Spicer announced his new role with Whitecap on LinkedIn earlier this week. Spicer previously held roles with Nordic Seafood and Ocean Choice International, per his profile on the social media platform.

“Whitecap is delighted to add Steve Spicer to our UK and European Sales team,” Whitecap’s President and CEO, Darrell Roche, wrote on LinkedIn. “Steve brings an immense amount of experience...

Quebec Clears the Way for AquaBoreal Land-based Salmon Farming

AquaBoreal has reached a major milestone with yesterday's official filing of a ministerial decree authorizing the implementation of its land-based aquaculture project in Quebec. This major regulatory breakthrough confirms the project's full compliance with current environmental requirements and attests to the rigour and depth of the assessment process it has gone through in order to meet all the Government of Quebec's expectations.

This authorization marks a key milestone for the project and means the company can start the process of obtaining construction permits...

US-Spain Seafood Trade Faces Uncertainty as Trump Threatens Sanctions Over Military Base Dispute

The key seafood trade between Spain and the United States is under potential threat as US President Donald Trump has threatened to cut off all trade with Spain over the country's refusal to allow US military use of its bases for strikes on Iran.

For the seafood sector, such a move would have significant consequences. According to US Customs data compiled on Expana's Foreign Trade Data platform, Spain exported roughly 65.6 million pounds of seafood to the US in 2025, valued at over $300 million...

ANALYSIS: Fresh Salmon Offers Could Increase as Middle East Conflict Disrupts Supply Chains

Norwegian and Chilean salmon exporters are beginning to offer additional volumes into alternative markets, including the USA, as deteriorating logistics in the Middle East threaten to upend regular trade flows. The move highlights the urgency of redirecting fresh product away from blocked routes.

Industry contacts indicate that both nations are actively seeking buyers outside their Middle East channels, spurred by constrained maritime and air logistics through the Strait of Hormuz and key air hubs in Dubai (DXB) and Doha (DOH)...

Regal Springs Launches King Tilapia as Whitefish Alternative Amid Supply Constraints

Regal Springs CEO Graham Ellis unveiled the company's new King Tilapia product at the North Atlantic Seafood Forum (NASF), calling it a “significant step forward” for the whitefish category.

The launch comes as Regal Springs positions tilapia as a key fill-in amid ongoing supply constraints and quota reductions for other whitefish species.

The firm said King Tilapia is part of a broader push to align the industry around a formal tilapia standard. The initiative includes size and grading specifications...

US-Israel War on Iran Enters Seventh Day Amid Ongoing Strikes and Regional Fallout

The US-Israel war on Iran has entered its seventh day, with strikes continuing across the Middle East. Operation Epic Fury, the joint US-Israel campaign, has killed over 1,330 people in Iran, with Israel claiming near-complete air superiority over Iran.

Regional impacts are mounting. In Kuwait and Bahrain, missile attacks from Iran were intercepted, with a fire contained at a Bahraini oil refinery. The UAE and Qatar faced multiple missile and drone strikes, while Tel Aviv was targeted in Iran’s attacks.

Israel intensified its bombardment in Lebanon, and Azerbaijan suspended cross-border traffic following drone attacks...

Korea’s Japanese Seafood Imports Recover to Pre-nuclear Power Plant Accident Levels

According to import and export statistics from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of South Korea, imports of Japanese seafood reached $247 million in 2025, up 27% from the previous year. This increase was primarily driven by significant growth in live fish such as yellowtail and sea bream, which helped imports return to levels seen before the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in 2011. 

After the accident, South Korea continued to ban seafood from eight prefectures, including Fukushima. Imports stagnated at around $100 million from 2012...

Princes Hits 100% MSC-Certified Tuna Sourcing Milestone

Princes Group says it has met its 2025 goal to source 100% of its branded tuna from Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified fisheries, representing around 70 million cans a year, marking what it calls a major step forward for sustainable seafood supply in the UK.

The achievement comes after several years of investment in traceability, collaboration with fishing partners and what the company describes as a large-scale supply chain transformation. Princes set the ambition in 2022 and says it has helped drive a 15‑fold increase in MSC‑certified...

Seafood Nutrition Partnership to Host ‘Fall in Love with Seafood’ Progressive Party at SENA 2026 

The Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) will bring its National Seafood Council Task Force (NSCTF) members together at Seafood Expo North America (SENA) in Boston from March 15-17 to promote seafood nutrition and sustainability through its “Fall In Love With Seafood” campaign.

At the event, SNP will co-host a progressive party at participating member booths to spark conversations on seafood nutrition and offer attendees a chance to engage directly with industry leaders. Registration is available online ahead of the Expo...

ASC Opens a Stakeholder Consultation on Supply Chain Requirements 

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is launching a 60-day public consultation today (2 March 2026) on proposed revisions to its Chain of Custody (CoC) Module. The consultation forms part of ASC’s wider programme of upholding strong social and animal welfare protections across the seafood value chain. It also reflects the organisation’s commitment to robust assurance and meaningful stakeholder engagement. The proposed revisions aim to introduce human rights and humane slaughter requirements, and improve food safety provisions, while aiming to maintain alignment with the Marine Stewardship...

18-Member MAFAC Replaced by One “Fisherman in Residence” AT NOAA, Huffman and Dexter Cry Foul

On Monday this week, two members of Congress sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Under Secretary Dr. Neil Jacobs demanding accountability for the newly appointed “Fisherman in Residence” — Dustin Delano, who continues to work for industry trade associations in a role as advocate, often before the agency responsible for regulating U.S. fisheries, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  

“Based on the available evidence, Mr. Delano has continued to work in both roles simultaneously...

US Attorney’s Office in Anchorage Charges Three SE Alaska Fishermen With Sinking Their Vessels

According to a case put together by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Environmental Crimes Unit, three fishermen from Southeast Alaska have been charged with intentionally sinking their own boats and abandoning the wreckage.

The vessels were allegedly scuttled in waters near Sitka and Petersburg. Separate criminal filings were made by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska in Anchorage yesterday.

The accused are John Fisher, 59, of Sitka, is charged with...