US Senate Unanimously Passes FISH Act Targeting IUU Fishing Operations

Last Monday, the US Senate unanimously passed the Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvest (FISH) Act, sponsored by Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan, Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and several co-sponsors.

The FISH Act would combat foreign illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by blacklisting offending vessels from US ports and waters, bolstering the US Coast Guard's enforcement capabilities and partnerships, and advancing international and bilateral negotiations to achieve enforceable agreements and treaties.

A companion bill in the House was introduced last June by Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska)...

Newfoundland Processors Challenge Outside Buyers' Licence Program Over FFAW Crab Export Plans

The Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) has publicly challenged Newfoundland and Labrador's outside buyers' licence program, arguing the policy enables the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) union to ship four million pounds of unprocessed snow crab to other provinces.

In a March 24 letter to Premier Tony Wakeham, ASP argued the outside buyers' licence program allows the FFAW to "operate outside the provincial collective agreement, outside established grading rules, outside the fee structures paid by local processors, and outside the economic...

Venezuelan Blue Crab Industry Faces Prolonged Export Shutdown Over Marine Mammal Protections

About three months after NOAA's enforcement of Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) restrictions took effect on January 1, 2026, Venezuelan blue crab remains completely blocked from US markets, the only major supplier facing no legal reprieve or reconsideration pathway.

On-the-ground reporting from Lake Maracaibo in March 2026 paints a stark picture. According to BBC Mundo, of roughly 20 processing companies that once operated on the San Francisco coast, only two remained open. Fishermen who earned roughly $30 per day before the January shutdown now face...

Global Bivalve Sector Expands Amid Ongoing Challenges

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) released its bivalve trade analysis, showing expansion despite ongoing challenges.

Mussels

Global mussel trade recorded 8.8% year-over-year growth in the first nine months of 2025, despite a continued decline in production from Italy driven by invasive blue crab.

Spain experienced reduced production volumes but higher market values during the same period.

In France, strong domestic demand and the appeal of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) products—such as mussels from Mont Saint Michel Bay—helped keep...

Day 26 of Iran War: Oil Eases on Ceasefire Hopes as Diplomatic Signals Remain Mixed

The war involving the United States and Israel against Iran has entered its 26th day, marked by continued military escalation alongside increasingly frequent and conflicting diplomatic signals.

Airstrikes and missile exchanges persist across Iran, Israel, and parts of the Gulf, even as talk of negotiations grows. US officials have signaled readiness to escalate military operations while also leaving the door open to diplomacy. Reports of a potential framework to end the war remain unverified, though multiple outlets indicate that a 15-point proposal has been...

Echo Falls Seafoods Names Kyle White Sales Manager for West Coast Retail Accounts

Echo Falls Seafoods appointed Kyle White as Sales Manager effective March 24, where he will oversee the company's key retail accounts on the West Coast.

White brings extensive retail packaged sales experience from his previous role at MultiX's Latitude 45 brand, where he managed national retail accounts. The company highlighted his track record in growing branded programs, building customer relationships, and expanding market reach.

"I'm excited to join Echo Falls at such a dynamic time for the brand," White said. "Echo Falls has built a strong reputation...

Charter Vessel Operator Fined $5,000 for Illegal Crab Fishing Activity

Illegal harvesting and non-compliance with conservation measures pose serious risks to Canada’s marine resources. In the recreational crab fishery, retaining undersized male crab or female crab is illegal and threatens species sustainability. These actions also jeopardize the significant economic and cultural value of the crab fishery, which supports coastal communities, recreational fishing, tourism, commercial harvesters, and serves as a traditional food source for Indigenous peoples. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) fishery officers work to protect these resources through regular patrols, inspections, public education, and enforcement...

Launch of Energy Transition for EU Fisheries and Aquaculture Champions

The Energy Transition Partnership (ETP) for EU fisheries and aquaculture is launching the first edition of the Energy Transition for EU Fisheries and Aquaculture Champions in 2026.

This new best practices competition highlights and rewards outstanding success stories, forward-looking solutions, and inspiring initiatives that help the fisheries and aquaculture communities advance their energy transition. The selected champions will serve as exemplary models for innovation, efficiency, and sustainability across the sector.

Awarded categories:

1. Innovations for energy transition in fishing operations
2. Advancements in energy efficiency...

Alaska Board of Fish Is Silent on Mid-Water Bottom Contact But Proposes Joint Protocol With NPFMC

Four proposals addressing pelagic (mid-water) trawls brought before the Alaska Board of Fisheries were unanimously voted to “take no action.” 

Proposal 11, submitted by Linda Kozak, F/V Alaska Trojan, called for a closure of state waters west of 170 degrees West longitude for non-pelagic (bottom) trawls and pelagic (mid-water ) trawls. Proposals 163, 164, and 165 were submitted by the Alaska Healthy Habitat Alliance (AHHA), and called for a redefinition of pelagic trawls; new requirements for sensors...

The Retail Rundown: Retailers Pivot to Spring Promotions as Seafood, Pork Lead Features

Spring officially arrived last week, bringing seasonal shifts that grocers are already leveraging. The warming trend is prompting retailers to spotlight items like fresh produce alongside grilling favorites, as shoppers move away from winter staples and prepare to fire up their grills.

Norwegian NGO Funding of Chilean Indigenous Groups Sparks 'Unfair Competition' Claims

A Chilean television investigation has highlighted allegations of unfair competition in the global salmon industry, focusing on Norwegian government-funded NGO support for indigenous communities that can block salmon projects in Chile.

The 24 Horas report examined how Norwegian organizations have provided over 500 million pesos to Lafkenche indigenous communities in Chile, which have legal authority to halt salmon farming developments in coastal areas where both countries compete for market share.

"It's absolutely unacceptable lobbying from the point of view of improper interference...

Join Us This April as the Executive ConferenceMarks 50 Years

Navigating 2026 means managing simultaneous pressure across trade policy, disease risk, input costs, and shifting consumer demand. The Executive Conference is where senior protein leaders come to cut through it, and this year marks its 50th edition.

This April 20–22 at the Wynn Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, 400+ senior leaders from across the animal protein supply chain will convene for three days of expert analysis and high-level discussion.

Hear directly from Expana analysts and industry experts as they share insights, discuss market dynamics, and take your questions

Salmon Sector Rebounds Despite Trade and Policy Pressures

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has unveiled its report highlighting trade shifts and production trends in the global salmon market.

According to the analysis, the salmon sector experienced disruptions in 2025 driven by policy and tariff changes. Despite this turbulence, Atlantic salmon supply rebounded during the January–September period, returning to growth after tight conditions in 2024.

Norway’s sector faced a challenging operating environment, impacted by elevated sea lice pressure in several coastal areas and shifting trade conditions in key export markets...

Far East Waters Drive Russia's Octopus Industry Revival Plans

Russia plans to significantly increase octopus catch in the coming years as part of efforts to revive the industry after a period of serious stagnation.

According to the Russian Fish Union, Russian fishermen caught 145 tons of octopus in 2025, up 44% from the previous year. Most of the catch consisted of common octopus, giant Doflein octopus, and sand octopus, which is less well-known but also in demand.

Octopus catches in Russia have fluctuated over the past decade. While the total catch reached 318 tons in 2016...

Cousins Maine Lobster Opens Second South Carolina Location in Greenville

Cousins Maine Lobster is continuing its expansion in South Carolina with the grand opening of a new Greenville food truck.

A celebration is set to take place on April 4, from 12 pm to 6 pm, at Grateful Brew, a vibrant local gathering spot for community events and craft beer, located at 501 S. Pleasantburg Drive in Greenville, SC.

This move builds on the brand's momentum in the South. The company announced last month the opening of its first permanent truck and another South Carolina location in...

ANALYSIS: China Shrimp Imports Remain Steady Before Lunar New Year

According to the latest figures from the Chinese General Administration of Customs (GACC), China imported slightly more shrimp before the Chinese New Year this year than last year. Considering shrimp imports from December 2025 through February 2026, the three‑month volume of 276,615 MT is 1.9% higher than in the comparable November 2024 to January 2025 period. In value terms, this represents a 1.1% increase to 1,508 million USD. The Lunar New Year fell two weeks earlier in 2025, so the comparison is not strictly like‑for‑like...

Maine Lobsterman Petitions Supreme Court Over GPS Tracking Rule

A Maine lobsterman has petitioned the US Supreme Court to hear his challenge of a federal rule requiring 24/7 GPS tracking on licensed lobster vessels, arguing the mandate violates Fourth Amendment protections against warrantless surveillance.

Frank Thompson, a fifth-generation lobsterman, seeks to overturn the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission rule passed in 2023 that requires all federally licensed lobster vessels to install and continuously operate GPS trackers that transmit location data to the government at least once per minute...