Key NL Snow Crab Fishery Updates; ASP Clashes with NL Government Amid Season Delay

The season opening for Newfoundland and Labrador's (NL) 2025 snow crab fishery is still set for April 13, per a news release by the Fish, Food & Allied Workers Union's (FFAW), despite the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) application filing on March 28 with the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, seeking to revert the snow crab fishery’s season opening back to April 1.

In ASP’s same-day press release, ASP Executive Director Jeff Loder had called out the NL government for its political interference with the...

Analysis: US Shrimp Imports; Beyond the Headlines

Upcoming trade figures will provide critical insights into the dynamics of U.S. shrimp imports. The market has recently shown signs of stabilization after a prolonged downtrend since the second half of 2022, occurring amid rising overseas prices. This shift reflects intensified global competition from China and Europe, strategic inventory building ahead of potential tariff changes, and adjustments to the countervailing duty determinations from October 2024...

ANALYSIS: The 2025 Pacific Halibut Season Begins Amid Quota Reductions and Tariff Uncertainty

The 2025 Pacific halibut fishery officially opened on March 20^th, launching under a cloud of challenges that continue to shape the market. The season begins amid concerns over low recruitment and a smaller exploitable biomass compared to 2024, prompting the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) to implement significant quota cuts. Adding to the uncertainty, the industry is closely watching the potential impact of new tariffs and concerns over a possible looming recession—both of which could influence trade flows and pricing in the weeks ahead...

Japan's 2024 Frozen Surimi Imports Fall to Two-Thirds of Peak Level, Fourth Lowest Level in 35 years

According to the Ministry of Finance, Japan’s 2024 import volume of frozen surimi was 212,061 tons, down 2% from the previous year. It marks the fourth lowest import volume in the past 35 years, falling to two-thirds of the peak level. This is due to decreased imports from the main production areas of the United States and India. Of these, the import volume of surimi made with Alaska pollock, which was the largest by fish species by volume, was 87,795 tons...

Norway Reverses Unused Third Country Quotas for Cod and Haddock

According to a news release from Norway’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, Norway will be returning unused Northeast third-country quotas to the national quotas for both cod and haddock north of 62°N.

In total, 321 tonnes of cod and 1,229 tonnes of haddock were returned to the national quotas, which together represent a small increase in the cod and haddock quotas allotted to Norwegian fishing vessels, as stated by the Ministry.

Of the total cod quantity, 100 tonnes will be distributed to conventional...

Connecticut Lawmakers Address Secretary Lutnick, Demand Reinstatement Of Terminated NOAA Employees

On Friday, March 28, 2025, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Representatives John Larson and Rosa DeLauro sent a joint letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick demanding the reinstatement of 800-plus federal employees from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The employees, who were terminated as part of the new Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) efforts to cut back on costs across various federal departments, included those who worked at the Milford Laboratory, part of NOAA’s National Marine Fishery Services (NMFS)...

California Reports Progress in Supporting Healthy Salmon Populations and Habitat

It is clear that salmon are struggling on the West Coast, particularly in California. Salmon seasons have been closed or limited for a couple of years now, with returns to major salmon-producing rivers remaining low and a changing climate only increasing the competition for water resources. 

However, a recently released progress report from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife shows what the state has done to help California’s salmon populations. The California Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future: Progress Report was developed in partnership with the California...

Western Pacific Council Flags Economic Burdens of Electronic Monitoring, Backs Relief Efforts

While more fleets across the country move to electronic monitoring, the costs continue to be a concern. The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council is the latest Council to document the burden on fishermen and seek help.

Last week’s Council meeting discussions focused on electronic monitoring in longline fisheries in Hawaii and American Samoa regarding cost allocation, funding strategies and economic viability.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) confirmed it will cover $4 million in upfront EM program costs, separate from the estimated $2.4 million in...

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...

Seafood Giant Maruha Nichiro Will Be Umios, Signaling “Third Founding” Since 1880

Last Friday the board of directors of the world’s largest diversified seafood company, Maruha Nichiro, announced that they will change the company name to Umios Corporation, subject to shareholders approval in late June 2025.

“Umios” means “ocean” or “sea” in Japanese, an appropriate nod to the source of Maruho Nichiro’s products and to the global reach of the company’s customers and markets.

“The new company name reflects our commitment to solving global social issues through food, starting from the origins of our Group, the ocean [UMI],” the board explained...

Russia to Increase Total Allowable Catch for 2026

According to recent statements made by representatives of Russian Rosrybolovstvo, Russia will be increasing the total allowable fish catch for 2026. The increase will be based on recommendations prepared by industry scientists, particularly those at some of the country’s leading research institutions in the field of fisheries.

Ilya Shestakov, head of Rosrybolovstvo, said, “It is important that the total allowable catch is set using a precautionary approach, taking into account the recommendations of scientists. In 2026, the catch is planned to be increased by 61,100 tons—up to 3.65 million tons. Recent scientific expeditions have shown an increase in the stocks of a number of species, primarily pollock and herring. Thanks to this, Russian fishermen will be able to increase the volume of their catch.”

Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries Expands Protections for Wild Atlantic Halibut

Last week, Norway’s Directorate of Fisheries extended the winter closure of commercial fishing for Atlantic halibut by almost three weeks. Effective immediately, the new rule prohibits fishing for halibut from December 20 to April 20, rather than the previous opening date of March 31.

Per the new rule, fishing is allowed no earlier than April 21, 2025.

Exceptions to this rule remain very limited and in line with Section 44 of the Harvesting Regulations. The conservation closure applies to all gear throughout the country.

“This is an important measure to..."

Viciunai Group Invests €100M in Lithuanian Salmon Processing Facility

The Viciunai Group recently began construction of a €100 million salmon processing facility in Plungė, Lithuania, as the Lithuanian seafood processor stated in a March 28 LinkedIn post.

Once completed, the solar-powered facility—which will have state-of-the-art automation and robotics—will have an annual processing capacity of 50,000 tons of salmon, which is an increase of 32,000 tons, or 4.5 times more, than the current production capacity.

The new facility is being constructed next to Viciunai’s existing production and warehouse facility and will span more...

Grieg Seafood CEO Resigns

Yesterday, Grieg Seafood ASA announced that its CEO, Andreas Kvame, would be stepping down from his post of ten years, effective immediately.

The decision to resign came after a joint agreement between Kvame and Grieg Seafood’s Board of Directors. Since then, the Board has begun searching for a replacement Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Kvame commented on his resignation, calling it a true privilege to lead the company for more than ten years.

“I want to thank all of my colleagues for their efforts,” he said. “A main priority has been the development of post-smolt production..."

Rhode Island Congressional Delegation Introduces Bill To Add Two Seats to Mid Atlantic Council

On Friday, March 28, 2025, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo introduced the Rhode Island Fishermen’s Fairness Act in both the Senate and the House. The legislation requested the addition of two voting seats on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC). 

If passed into law, Rhode Island fishermen would have a voice and voting power on the Council, which manages some of the most important fish stocks for the state’s commercial fishing industry – chief among them...

Supreme Crab & Seafood Revamps its Canned Crab Packaging in Time for Spring

On March 25, 2025, seafood importer Supreme Crab & Seafood launched a new can design for its Signature Catch ® (SC) brand, which is hitting shelves this spring.

The revamped labels take on a clean, modern look with varying color-rimmed tops and bold, matching lettering, which allows customers to easily distinguish between the company’s different canned crab products.

In addition, half of the lid design now includes images that are to-scale of the contents within.

The new design is being applied to the SC Blue Line, which...

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 almost two weeks.

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 Standing Fish Price-Setting Panel Chair Sheilagh Murphy.

According to the March 27 letter...