NL Snow Crab Fishery Season Delayed, To Start One Week Late

Today, the Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) snow crab fishery—initially set to open in most areas on April 1—announced that it would be delaying the start of the season by one week.

The announcement was first issued in the form of a letter written by the Honorable Gerry Byrne, Minister of the District of Corner Brook, and addressed to key representatives for the involved parties: FFAW-Unifor’s Dwan Street, ASP’s Jeff Loder, and the Standing Fish Price-Setting Panel Chair Sheilagh Murphy.

According to the March 27 letter...

Alaska Seafood Industry, Lawmakers, and Media Urge US to Cool Down Trade War and DOGE Cuts

Two of Alaska’s leading seafood trade associations and the State House of Representatives issued plain-spoken opposition to President Trump’s trade policies this month, while Alaska Public Media President Ed Ulman testified to the importance of public news and broadcasting in a US House hearing on Tuesday.

A March 11 letter from Matt Tinning, CEO of the At-Sea Processors Association and Julie Decker, President of the Pacific Seafood Processors Association, was sent to Catherine Gibson, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Monitoring and...

Icelandic Salmon Farmer Kaldvik Acquires Two Farming Operations and One-Third of Another

On March 25, 2025, Icelandic salmon farmer Kaldvik AS (Kaldvik) completed its acquisition of two fish farming operations on Iceland’s east coast as well as one-third of another fish farming operation in the same region, thus securing key additional assets in the fish farming value chain.

The process for obtaining these assets began in December 2024, with an update coming in February 2025, and now, the official completion of the above transaction.

The acquisition—which cost an estimated NOK 190 million (USD $18.2 million)—includes...

Russia Plans to Ramp up Fight Against Poaching This Year

This year, Russia plans to ramp up its fight against poaching by increasing its use of advanced technologies such as drones.

So far, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia has put forth a proposal to amend the country’s existing legislation, which will allow the use of drones to combat ongoing, and prevent future, poaching activities within Russia’s borders.

Currently, the legislation does not make any direct mentions to drone usage as a means of combatting poaching activity, which, at present, complicates the legitimate use of drones in the...

New Study Shows Wild Alaska Sole’s “Impressive Levels” of Omega-3s and Other Key Nutrients

New findings from a recent study by ISO-certified lab Exact Scientific revealed higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids for all species of Wild Alaska sole (also known as flounder) than previously thought.

According to the study, two 4- to 5-oz servings of Wild Alaska sole provide up to 1,885 mg of omega-3 fatty acids, satisfying the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendation of 1,705 mg of omega-3s per week for a healthy diet. Unlike many other fish that are also...

SENA 2025: Expana Analysts Break Down Forecasting and Algo-Forecasting in the Seafood Market

On March 16, the second day of the Seafood Expo North America (SENA), Expana’s own Angel Rubio and Andrei Rjedkin presented on the Price Reporting Agency’s (PRA) unique price forecasting methods in today’s dynamic, and at times volatile, seafood market.

Rubio, who is an economist and lead analyst at Urner Barry by Expana, kicked off the presentation by diving into the methodology behind forecasting, showing a world map depicting the global seafood trade, which was borrowed from Rabobank.

He explained how seafood is the world’s most...

Vietnam’s Shrimp Exports Exceed $4 Billion in 2024

Vietnam recorded a shrimp yield of over 1.264 million metric tons in 2024, up 5.3 percent year on year, while exporting over US$4 billion worth of shrimp, a significant increase from the previous year, according to the Vietnam Fisheries Society.

In 2023, the nation’s shrimp export value reached $3.38 billion, down 21.7 percent year on year.

The 2024 export growth was attributed to the widespread application of advanced scientific techniques and hi-tech models in shrimp farming.

However, Nguyen Viet Thang, chairman of the Vietnam Fisheries Society, pointed...

Leading Russian Fish Producers and Processors Expect Further Revenue Decline in 2025

As a result of the unfavorable market environment and the improved strength of the ruble, Russia’s leading fish producers and processors are anticipating a further revenue decline this year.

According to recent statements made by Herman Zverev, head of the All-Russian Association of Fish Producers (VARPE), in an interview with the Russian Vedomosti business paper, there is a high possibility that negative trends that appeared in the Russian fish sector in 2022–2024 will intensify later this year. Zverev stated that, in the case of pollock fishing...

Decline of Russian Pollock and Cod Catches Leads to Increased Export Prices in Foreign Markets

Export prices for Russian pollock and cod are steadily growing due to the reduction of catch and deliveries. According to data from Natsiabresurs, the Russian Federal State Unitary Enterprise, the sale price of Russian cod on the foreign market in February 2025 was $7.20 per kg, increasing by 24.1% from the previous month and 65.9% year-on-year (y-o-y). In the meantime, a sharp growth of prices has also been observed in the case of other Russian white fish species including pollock...

Oregon Issues Annual Pink Shrimp Review Report as New Season Approaches

Oregon’s pink shrimp fishery has had its share of struggles over the years, but it seems the only thing holding it back is broader markets. Last year was particularly strong, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s recently released annual report. 

The 36th Annual Pink Shrimp Review 2025 provides the following: a comprehensive 2024 season review, indicators for the 2025 season (which opens April 1), a review of research regarding pink shrimp, and regulatory changes and more. 

ODFW summarized the 2024 season this way: “The 2024 pink shrimp season was very productive, seeing the highest catch volume since 2015. Shrimp abundances were high, but market demand seemed low.”

FDA Updates Advisory on Frozen Half-Shell Oysters from the Republic of Korea

On March 26, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an update on its safety alert regarding frozen half-shell oysters from Korean food processor Daihung Mulsan CO., LTD, due to potential norovirus contamination.

The impacted oysters initially included those harvested from the Republic of Korea (ROK) Designated Area II, KR-7-SP, between 1/30/2024 and 2/4/2024.

The FDA is now expanding its safety alert to include additional oysters that were processed by KR-7-SP in ROK...

Navigating the Trump Tariff Turbulence: A Comprehensive Timeline

As April 2 approaches, the ongoing tariff saga continues to unfold, bringing new developments each day. Expana is tracking the latest headlines and breaking down the key updates as they happen, as evidenced in the latest newsletter.

This week, US President Trump announced a new “secondary tariff” directed at Venezuela and any country buying their oil, citing Venezuelan criminal activity in the US. 

On March 26, Trump announced a separate 25% tariff on all imported cars and light trucks, effective April 3, reported Expana. The measure applies to American brands assembling cars...

Mississippi Rep. Mike Ezell Introduces Bi-partisan Cormorant Relief Act to Protect Catfish Farms

Yesterday, Mississippi Representatives Mike Ezell, Michael Guest, Bennie Thompson, and Trent Kelly (MS-01) introduced the Cormorant Relief Act of 2025, a bill that will provide immediate relief to states struggling with the costly impacts of cormorant predation on catfish farms.

Unchecked population growth of double-crested cormorant populations has led to significant damage to fish aquaculture operations, impacting commercial and recreational fishing industries and farmers. The Cormorant Relief Act of 2025 grants greater flexibility in managing cormorant populations to safeguard fisheries and local economies. Congressman...

Alaska's 2024 Salmon Season Sees Many Lows, with Five Fishery Disasters; 2025 Looks Better

Alaska’s 2024 salmon fishery was not only the third lowest in total fish harvested for the past 38 years (1985-2023); it was also the lowest on record for total pounds harvested.

The fishery includes both wild runs and hatchery returns, as well as the consistently abundant Bristol Bay wild salmon return and the disastrously low returns in other major river systems.

In the 2024 Alaska Salmon Fisheries Enhancement Annual Report, which was released earlier this week, the hatchery portion of the 2024 salmon season was...

Japanese Shipments of Farmed Bluefin Tuna Increased by 11% in 2024

According to a March 24 announcement by the Fisheries Agency of Japan, based on preliminary figures, farmed bluefin tuna shipments in 2024 increased 11% from the previous year, totaling 18,687 tons.

In addition, shipments derived from wild seedlings (including short-term farming) increased by 14% to 18,282 tons. Shipments derived from artificial seedlings decreased by 46% to 405 tons. With the recovery of wild resources, major trading companies have shifted from complete farming to short-term farming to raise larger wild seedlings, which is thought to have led to...

Fortune Fish & Gourmet Unveils New Fish Cutting Facility at Northeast Regional Headquarters

U.S. seafood processor Fortune Fish & Gourmet just unveiled a new fish cutting facility at its Northeast Regional Headquarters in Union, NJ, which will effectively expand the company’s ability to serve fresh fillets to key markets in areas like Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey.

The new refrigerated fillet room will provide Fortune customers with fresh, custom-cut fish, which can then be quickly distributed to restaurants, hotels, and retailers throughout the highly populated Northeast region.

The new cutting room joins Fortune’s growing portfolio of fish processing facilities, which...

Hokkaido's Herring Fishery Season is Open, but Supply Remains Uncertain

Ishikari Bay’s coastal fishery may fall below 2,000 tons for the first time in four years. While Hokkaido herring catches have been stable at around 20,000 tons in recent years, dark clouds are hanging over the future of this fishing season, Minato Shimbun reported.

Gillnet fishing in the Sea of Japan, which began in mid-January, is nearing the end of its season. According to the Hokkaido government’s summary, the total catch as of March 10—mainly in the Shiribeshi, Ishikari, and Rumoi areas—was 1,446 tons, down 61% from...