ANALYSIS: Fish Meal Prices Surge as Peru Cuts Anchovy Catch Limits

The first 2026 anchovy (Engraulis ringens) and white anchovy (Anchoa nasus) season in the North-Central zone of the Peruvian coast opened April 1. The Peruvian Marine Institute (IMARPE) recommended a Total Allowable Catch Limit (TAC) of 1,914,049 MT, representing a 36% reduction compared to the same season in 2025 when the TAC was set at 3 million MT. The same season last year closed early on July 24 due to environmental and biological factors, with juveniles comprising a significant portion of the catch...

Maine Senators Press NMFS on Ropeless Gear Concerns as Industry Testing Continues

Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) are urging the National Marine Fisheries Service to fully consider Maine lobstermen's documented concerns about ropeless fishing gear requirements, and to continue stakeholder engagement as the agency prepares future North Atlantic right whale conservation rulemaking.

In a letter to NMFS Assistant Administrator Eugenio Piñero Soler, the senators highlighted industry feedback from the recent Maine Fishermen's Forum, where lobstermen directly shared concerns about costs, safety risks, and operational challenges posed by ropeless technology mandates...

Vital Pet Life Brings First ASC-Certified Pet Supplement to US Market Through Walmart Launch

Vital Pet Life has launched what it calls the first ASC-labeled pet supplement in the US market, rolling out "Only Salmon Oil for Dogs & Cats" across more than 1,600 Walmart stores nationwide this spring.

The move marks a significant expansion for the Aquaculture Stewardship Council into North America's pet sector, as the certification body seeks to build on growing consumer demand for traceable, responsibly sourced ingredients in pet products.

Only Salmon Oil features responsibly farmed salmon oil...

MSC Report Shows Seafood Shoppers Demand Simplicity, Value and Trust

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has released new insights, in partnership with global growth and creative firm Prophet, showing that consumers are prioritizing simplicity, value, and trust when shopping for seafood.

The data highlights "the evolving mind of the conscious shopper," revealing that consumers are making more mindful decisions by balancing health, sustainability, affordability, and convenience, under the pressure of today’s economic climate.

"Shoppers want to do the right thing for their health, their budgets, and the environment, but don’t have the mental...

Seafood Expo Global Heads to Barcelona for Record-Breaking Edition

Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global is heading to Barcelona for its largest edition yet, running April 21–23 at the Gran Via halls of Fira de Barcelona. Organizers Diversified report the show now exceeds 52,950 net square meters of exhibit space, with more than 2,300 companies from 86 countries and 65 national and regional pavilions registered.

"As company participation reaches record levels and continues to grow, the scale and diversity of this edition reflects the growing global appetite for innovation and collaboration across the...

American Seafoods Refutes Federal Seizure of Pollock Roe, Calling it a Paperwork Discrepancy

American Seafoods is taking issue with the US Coast Guard and the Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) of the NOAA Fisheries Service within the Department of Commerce. In response to a USCG press release last Monday, the Seattle-based owner of seven vessels, some of which harvest and process pollock in the Bering Sea, issued a press release the next day saying the investigation of, as the Coast Guard press release said “major discrepancies between the vessel’s production reports and electronic logbook” is nothing more...

ANALYSIS: Chilean Atlantic Salmon Harvest Surges 15.4% in 2025 as Mortality Rates Decline

Chilean Atlantic salmon harvest reached 815,288 metric tons (MT) in 2025, a 15.4% increase year over year (YOY). Harvest volumes accelerated significantly from August through December (Figure 1). Early 2026 performance remains strong, with accumulated harvest through February totaling 135,377 MT, a 26.5% increase year-to-date (YTD) compared to the same period in 2025. While harvest declined 16.2% between January and February, volumes remained 20.5% higher YOY...

Alaska Peninsula Communities File Suit to Void Conflicted Fisheries Regulations 

Canada Commits $1.1 Billion to Renew Pacific Salmon Recovery Strategy

The Government of Canada has released results from the first phase of the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI) alongside announcing a major renewal of the program under Canada’s Nature Strategy.

Phase 1, from 2021–2026, of the PSSI focused on protecting, conserving, and restoring wild Pacific salmon across British Columbia and Yukon through broad collaboration with Indigenous partners, governments, scientists, and local communities. The initiative laid "the foundation for long-term recovery" by advancing habitat restoration, improving fishery management, and expanding...

USTR Greer Blasts WTO as "Not Serious Forum" After Cameroon Conference

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer delivered a scathing critique of the World Trade Organization following last month's ministerial conference in Cameroon, signaling continued US frustration with multilateral trade frameworks governing global seafood commerce.

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed published Monday, Greer described the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé as a poorly attended gathering where "WTO staff bopped to the beat" of self-congratulatory presentations about an incomplete fisheries subsidies agreement while only "a couple dozen cabinet-level trade ministers" bothered to attend...

SeaPak's National Picky Eaters Day Builds Momentum for Family Seafood Adoption

SeaPak leveraged its second annual National Picky Eaters Day on April 4 to expand its family-focused marketing strategy, building on the frozen seafood brand's successful Lent campaign and reinforcing its position as a solution for parents navigating mealtime challenges.

The company partnered with child nutrition expert Diana Rice and launched a national influencer campaign to celebrate "mealtime wins" rather than demanding perfection at the dinner table. The approach continues SeaPak's broader push to position seafood as accessible and family-friendly, extending momentum from its Lent promotion covered by...

Evolving Strategies and Market Momentum in Foodservice

The foodservice industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace, with major consolidation moves, strategic partnerships, and value-driven innovation shaping the landscape. This biweekly roundup highlights a blockbuster acquisition poised to reshape distribution, high-profile collaborations bringing new offerings to consumers, and continued momentum in emerging categories like sushi. At the same time, operators are doubling down on menu innovation and aggressive value platforms to navigate cost pressures and drive traffic, signaling a competitive environment where scale, differentiation, and affordability are more critical...

ANALYSIS: Canadian Lobster Exports Recover in February After Weak Start to the Year

Last week, Statistics Canada published February trade data showing Canadian exports of Homarus americanus totaled 3,915 metric tonnes. This was up 2.1% month‑on‑month and 43.3% year‑on‑year, supported by elevated live‑lobster shipments to China for the Lunar New Year in mid‑February.

Despite February’s strength, cumulative exports for January–February are down 4.1% year‑on‑year, a shortfall concentrated in January: volumes that month were 28.4% below the previous year and 39.2% below the five‑year average. Part of January 2025’s strength...

Norway's Seafood Exports Rise 3% Despite Continued US Decline

Norway exported seafood worth NOK 15.5 billion ($1.6 billion) in March, up 3% from the same month last year, despite a third consecutive month of declining US shipments exceeding NOK 500 million.

The US market share fell to 9% of Norwegian exports, down 4 percentage points from March 2025, as increased tariffs and a weaker dollar against the Norwegian krone continued to impact trade. Salmon fillets bore the brunt of the US decline, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council.

"The main reason for the decline to the US is increased...

Mersey Seafoods Acquires Nova Scotia's Comeau's Sea Foods

Nova Scotia-based Mersey Seafoods has struck a deal to acquire fellow provincial seafood firm Comeau's Sea Foods, the companies announced April 8.

Comeau's said day-to-day operations will remain unchanged, and the company will continue operating from its Southwest Nova Scotia locations under the same name. The scallop and herring processor serves foodservice and retail sectors and also handles Atlantic salmon, haddock, halibut, and Alaska pollock.

"We have a strong foundation in the Clare community and have been a staple employer in the region," Comeau's stated. "We believe this...

Mexico Launches New Campaign to Boost Seafood Industry and Regional Economies

The National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (Conapesca) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRICULTURA) have initiated "Mexico Sabe a Mar"—or "Mexico Tastes like the Sea". This campaign brings together more than 100 producers to boost awareness of seafood's role in the food industry while strengthening regional economies through increased commercialization.

The fishing and aquaculture industry is vast in the region. Conapesca's registry shows 328,932 workers collectively producing 2.17 million tons of seafood in 2025, based on preliminary harvest...

Nomad Foods Expands Executive Leadership with Two Newly Created Roles

Nomad Foods Limited is expanding its executive leadership with two newly created roles designed to strengthen the company's presence in European markets.

Chief Executive Officer Dominic Brisby said, "Both roles will help sharpen our commercial execution, enhance agility and create greater alignment between our local teams, our brands, and our long-term strategic priorities." He added, "I am delighted to welcome Jon this month and look forward to completing the appointment of our President for Central Europe later this year. Each leader will...