Record Harvest for Mowi in 2025, But Canadian Operations Hit by Market and Regulatory Pressures

Mowi posted record global harvest volumes of 559,000 tonnes in 2025, though the world's largest Atlantic salmon farmer faced significant headwinds in its Canadian operations as regulatory uncertainty in British Columbia and challenging North American market conditions weighed on profitability.

Operational EBIT for salmon of Canadian origin plunged to negative €39.8 million in 2025 from positive €3.4 million in 2024, according to the company's annual report released this week. The company attributed the decline to reduced spot prices from "more challenging market...

Scotia Harvest Diversifies Portfolio With Acquisition of Established Clam Specialist IFP

Nova Scotia-based seafood company Scotia Harvest announced March 23 that it has acquired Innovative Fishery Products Inc. (IFP), an established player in the province's clam sector.

Scotia Harvest said the acquisition represents an "important opportunity to diversify its seafood portfolio," with IFP's clam harvesting, processing and exporting capabilities complementing its existing operations.

"Innovative Fishery Products has built an impressive business, and we see an opportunity to grow this business alongside our existing operations," said Alain d'Entremont, President of Scotia Harvest Inc...

DMV Senators Introduce Bill to Reauthorize NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office

Four senators from Virginia and Maryland introduced legislation this week to reauthorize NOAA's Chesapeake Bay Office, a key federal partner in Bay restoration efforts and fishery management across the nation's largest estuary.

The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Advancement for Training, Education, Restoration, and Science (WATERS) Act was introduced February 26 by Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), with companion House legislation from Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA), Rob Wittman (R-VA), Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA), and Sarah...

ANALYSIS: China’s North American Lobster Imports Show Early-Year Decline

The latest GACC (General Administration of Chinese Customs) import figures show that volumes of Homarus Americanus entering China fell year‑over‑year in January–February. Two years ago, combined January–February imports stood at 6,427 metric tons (MT); they dropped by 7.1% in 2025 and declined by a further 18.1% in 2026 to reach 4,889 MT. In USD value, this translates into a 12.3% decrease last year, followed by a 21.1% fall year-over-year for the first couple of...

Clearwater Dismisses MP's Allegations of Illegal Lobster Trans-Shipping in Area 41

Canadian MP Clifford Small accused Clearwater Seafoods of illegally trans-shipping lobster at sea to circumvent Area 41 quota restrictions during Monday's House of Commons Fisheries Committee hearing, according to the Chronicle Herald.

Small told Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson that inshore harvesters witnessed smaller vessels tying up to Clearwater's offshore vessel Randell Dominaux to offload lobster, violating quota management protocols for the Southwest Nova Scotia fishery, the Chronicle Herald reported.

During the meeting, Small went on the offensive...

Soaring Frozen Cod Prices Force Japan to Cut Imports

According to a report by the Minato Shimbun, the price of frozen imported cod soared last year due to a global decline in catch, drastically reducing Japanese imports. Both US and Russian cod largely disappeared from the domestic market. The unit price for frozen 9/10 counts in 18/19 kg blocks (longline-caught and dressed) from Alaska was "around 1,530 yen/kg ($9.58/kg) if a domestic price were to be assigned," according to a trading company source.

The total annual import volume...

Marine Ingredients Market Trends (January - February 2026)

Fishmeal and fish oil production in January 2026 decreased in the countries analysed by IFFO in the reports it dedicates to its Members*, except for the Denmark/Norway area and the USA. Despite the positive fishing effort in the South, Peruvian output has remained below previous year´s levels also in February. “The anchovy biomass evaluation in the North-Centre remains underway, with official announcements on quotas and starting dates of the new fishing season in 2026 expected during the first half of April”, Enrico Bachis...

Kura Sushi Builds Momentum with Bluefin Tuna Promotions

Kura Sushi USA is doubling down on premium offerings with a new push around bluefin tuna amid continued demand for luxury seafood.

The revolving sushi chain is highlighting its bluefin program with everyday offerings such as Bluefin Chutoro and Seared Bluefin Chutoro priced under $5 per plate, alongside limited-time items under $10. The move underscores a broader effort to balance premium sourcing with value, as operators look to keep high-end species on menus despite pricing pressures.

From March 27–31, Kura Sushi will...

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...

Harvester Union Fires Back at Newfoundland Processors Over Snow Crab Export Allegations

The Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) has fired back at seafood processors' criticism over snow crab exports, calling the Association of Seafood Producers' (ASP) public letter to the premier "inaccurate and misleading."

In a March 25 media release responding to ASP's letter to Premier Tony Wakeham, FFAW disputed key allegations about harvesters refusing to fish and plans to ship large volumes of unprocessed crab out of province.

"ASP's assertion that harvesters are refusing to fish is incorrect," said FFAW President Dwan Street. "Harvesters are prepared to...

Government of Canada Announces Management Measures for the 2026 Elver Fishing Season

The Government of Canada is committed to sustainable and orderly fisheries that support rural, coastal, and Indigenous communities. These fisheries rely on the best available science advice. In Southwest Nova Scotia, Cape Breton and Southwest New Brunswick, the elver fishery is an important source of income for commercial licence holders, and First Nations communities.

Today, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, announced the 2026 elver fishing season will open around April 1 with an increased total allowable catch (TAC). This season, licence holders can harvest...

NOAA Fisheries Hits Two Importers with $223K in Penalties Over Mislabeled 'Dolphin Safe' Tuna

Two seafood companies have agreed to pay $222,902 in civil penalties after NOAA Fisheries investigations found they imported 3.4 million pounds of tuna products from Mexico that were improperly labeled as "dolphin safe," the agency announced this week. NOAA did not identify the companies in its enforcement announcement.

The enforcement actions, stemming from multi-year investigations by NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement, targeted a distribution company that imported 74 shipments totaling 2.2 million pounds over 11 months...

Major Shareholder in Norway’s Måsøval Initiates Strategic Review of Ownership, CEO Steps Down

Yesterday Norwegian salmon farming company Måsøval AS announced that its controlling shareholder has decided to initiate a strategic review of its ownership in the company. At the same time, Måsøval CEO Helge Kvalvik announced his departure after three years with the company.

Måsøval’s 70% majority owner is Heimstø AS, an investment company owned by the Måsøval family. As they announced their decision to undertake a strategic review of its ownership, they also noted, “The strategic review does not entail a...

Global Groundfish Supply Tightens as Cod Prices Surge

Global groundfish markets are tightening as supply constraints continue to drive up prices—especially for cod, forcing buyers to adjust.

In 2025, cod prices rose by about 20 % amid ongoing quota cuts, prompting consumer resistance in key European markets and a growing shift toward more affordable species. Supply remains under pressure: Barents Sea quotas are expected to fall further in 2026 after historic lows in 2025, North Sea quotas have dropped 44 %, and Baltic Sea stocks are so depleted that directed fishing is effectively banned.

These limits are...

Umios, Fujitsu Launch Consumer-Facing Seafood Traceability System to Combat IUU Fishing

Japanese seafood company Umios has completed an electronic traceability pilot program designed to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing within its supply chain.

Umios partnered with Fujitsu on a pilot program that began on February 1, 2026, and focused on bluefin tuna farmed by the Umios Group in Wakayama Prefecture. The system established a mechanism for consumers to check distribution information from farm to retail stores via smartphone, according to a March 24 Fujitsu announcement.

The pilot was deemed successful, and both companies plan to expand the...

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)...

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.