ANALYSIS: US Shrimp Retail Prices Drop as Market Enters Recalibration Mode Amid Lent Season

Consumer shrimp prices have declined noticeably over the past week, reflecting what appears to be a market recalibration rather than a fundamental collapse in demand. While some of this softening aligns with typical Lent promotional activity — evident in historical seasonal patterns, see the blue line in the chart below — the broader dynamics suggest inventory and cost pressures are finding a new equilibrium after months of elevated pricing...

FFAW Walks Out of Snow Crab Price Talks Days Before Season Start

FFAW-Unifor, the union representing crab harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador, has walked away from price negotiations just days ahead of the scheduled start of the snow crab fishing season.

The union said no crab will be processed in the province "until a fair price is agreed upon," after 13 hours of talks failed to reach an agreement with processors.

FFAW rejected the Association of Seafood Producers' (ASP) latest offer of $5.22 per pound, which came in below the 2025 final price of $5.25 per pound...

Quinlan Brothers Plans Fish Waste-to-Value Facility at Bay de Verde Operations

Quinlan Brothers Ltd. wants to build a new facility at its Bay de Verde plant to convert crab shells, salmon scraps, and other seafood waste into fish oil and meal products, rather than dumping the materials at sea or sending them to landfills.

The Newfoundland processor plans to convert the waste materials into ingredients for fish feed, pet food, and human consumption products at the facility adjacent to its existing crab and salmon operations.

Construction would begin in fall 2026, with the facility expected to be fully...

Sernapesca Hosts FDA and Mattilsynet to Showcase Chile’s Salmon Farming Standards

The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) recently carried out a series of initiatives, including meetings and field visits with international delegations, to showcase the high standards of Chile’s salmon farming industry.

The visit brought together representatives from Sernapesca, the US Food and Drug Administration, and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

"We held a series of meetings to strengthen our strategic alliances that go beyond our borders, such as the FDA of the United States and Mattilsynet of Norway, to learn about the high...

ANALYSIS: Pacific Halibut Market Enters 2026 Season With Firm Undertone

The 2026 Pacific halibut season opened on March 26 and will run through December 7, with the market once again entering the year under a tight supply backdrop. The new season follows a sharply reduced 2025 harvest, as commercial landings fell 12.9% year over year, according to IPHC data. That decline marked one of the lowest-producing seasons in recent years and helped drive record-high prices across both the fresh and frozen markets, as reduced landings limited fresh availability and left little opportunity to build meaningful frozen inventories...

Southeast Alaska Troll Chinook Limit Jumps 57% to 146,000 Fish for 2026

Yesterday, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced that the annual all-gear allowable catch limit for Southeast Alaska/Yakutat (SEAK) is 207,400 treaty Chinook salmon, or non-Alaska hatchery-produced Chinook salmon.  

This year’s all-gear catch limit includes a 1% reduction that will serve as a buffer to avoid exceeding the all-gear limit and payback provisions within the treaty.  

The resulting preseason troll treaty harvest allocation for 2026 is 146,000 Chinook salmon, which is 53,200 fish above the preseason limit available in 2025...

18 Pacific Rockfish Species Could Get 'Snapper' Market Name Under FDA Proposal

The FDA announced Tuesday that it is requesting information on a potential update to the acceptable market name for 18 species of Sebastes, commonly known as rockfish. The request follows legislation enacted in November 2025 that directed the agency to engage with stakeholders on an acceptable market name change for certain Sebastes species.

The Federal Register notice says the request will help the FDA make an evidence-based determination that balances food safety, regulatory clarity, and industry interest. The species under consideration are Sebastes alutus...

Avanti Feeds Secures 10% Stake in New Ecuadorian Aqua Feed Venture

India's Avanti Feeds is expanding into South America through a strategic $3 million investment, it said in a filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange.

The company's board has approved acquiring a 10% stake in Thai Union Feedmill Ecuador S.A.S., a newly incorporated entity.

The venture, established in partnership with Thai Union Feed Mill Public Company Limited, will manufacture and distribute aquaculture feed, strengthening Avanti's market presence in Ecuador's aquaculture sector.

Private-Label Brands Surge Across US and Global Markets, Circana Reports

According to two new reports from Circana, private-label brands are rapidly expanding across CPG and FMCG markets, led by food and beverage in the US, where private label holds a 24% value share in those aisles. The data shows the sector has evolved into a strategic growth driver for retailers and has built strong momentum recently.

Circana’s global research, Category Transformation or Simply Competition: A Global Private Label Perspective, explores regional approaches to private brands across the European Union, Australia, and the...

Peru Opens First 2026 Anchovy Season with 1.91 Million Metric Ton Quota

Peru's Production Ministry has authorized the start of the first 2026 anchovy fishing season in the North-Central zone with a total allowable catch of 1.91 million metric tons (MT), down 36% from the 3.0 million MT authorized for the first 2025 season.

The significant quota reduction reflects current stock conditions and aligns with scientific recommendations from the country's marine research institute, IMARPE. The season for anchovy (Engraulis ringens) and white anchovy (Anchoa nasus) was approved based on hydroacoustic surveys conducted between February 16 and March 23 using...

Erling Haaland Renews Norwegian Seafood Ambassador Deal Until Autumn 2028

Norwegian football (soccer) star Erling Haaland has signed a new contract, and no, not for a new team in the Premier League.

Haaland has extended his partnership with the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), where he will continue to serve as an ambassador and partner for Norwegian seafood.

Haaland’s work alongside the council began in 2024, and the new agreement will see Haaland work alongside the council through autumn 2028.

“I’m very happy to continue the partnership with Norwegian seafood. It feels natural to me, and it’s something...

BSF Links Lenten Seafood Price Increases to Import Challenges

According to BSF (formerly Beaver Street Fisheries), in an interview with News4JAX, tariffs, shipping delays, and supply chain disruptions have led to higher-than-usual prices for frozen seafood in the southeastern United States.

BSF said current consumer prices for staples like cod and shrimp reflect global market conditions amid the spike in demand for Lent. 

The interview was framed around consumers noticing rising seafood prices amid the Lenten season in the southeastern US.

During the interview, Mark Frisch, the company's owner...

High Liner Slashes 9% of North American Office Staff Amid Tariff, Input Cost Pressures

High Liner Foods laid off roughly 9% of its North American office workforce in a move to "further align its cost structure with current market conditions," the company announced on March 31.

The value-added frozen seafood company said the 35 departures are part of a broader set of moves, including margin management, cost reduction, and supply chain efficiency efforts. The moves are aimed at mitigating the impact of inflation, tariffs and higher input costs and at improving its value proposition to customers and consumers...

DOT Allocates $489M for US Port Improvements to 'Restore Maritime Dominance'

US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced a total of $488,628,000 in funding to restore American maritime dominance and revitalize American ports, shipyards and maritime capabilities.

Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) today will allocate the funding through a process of applications.

“Thanks to President Trump and Secretary Duffy, we are investing in much-needed port infrastructure that will strengthen our supply chains,” said MARAD Administrator Stephen M. Carmel. “America’s ports fuel our economy, bolster domestic energy, and cut costs for hardworking families, making them worthy of taxpayer investment...

Lubimar Sea Bass and Seabream Farm is First Certification to ASC Farm Standard

A family-owned sea bass and sea bream farm on the southwestern coast of Spain has become the first farm in the world to receive certification from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) under their new Farm Standard. 

CUPIBAR, known also as Lubimar, produces 2,000 metric tonnes of fish per year in a unique estuarine system built on former salt fields. 

Located in the protected Parque Natural de la Breña y Marismas del Barbate south of Cadiz, Lubimar is an example of farming fish in harmony with nature...

Pure Salmon Japan Secures $180 Million Fortress-Led Funding for Land-Based Salmon Facility

Pure Salmon Japan, previously known as Soul of Japan, announced the completion of a $180 million funding round led by a Fortress Investment Group fund on April 1.

This transaction completes the preferred note financing for this project, marking a significant milestone in the development of the land-based salmon farming facility currently under construction in Japan. The company comprises a group of firms under the 8F Asset Management umbrella.

"Pure Salmon Japan is one of the key projects in our global Pure Salmon platform...

The Retail Rundown: Ham Leads the Holiday Table as Promotions Surge

During Easter week, pork dominates the spotlight, accounting for 30% of all protein promotions. Within this category, ham stands out as the clear leader, making up 37% of all pork features and the highest share in the segment. Promotional activity has surged dramatically, with approximately 13,583 ham-related opportunities this week, a sharp increase from about 1,300 the week prior.

Data from Expana’s US Easter Index shows that wholesale prices for key holiday items have generally declined in 2026. The overall index dropped about 7% year-over-year (YOY)...