ANALYSIS: Salmon Retail Promotions Approach Record Highs; Europe Gains on Chile in US Imports

The farmed salmon fresh fillet market is navigating a period of modest volume growth alongside some potentially significant shifts in supply patterns. Global shipments totaled approximately 36.2 million pounds in December, just 0.2% higher than in November. Total year-to-date volume for fresh salmon fillets ended the year at 454.9 million pounds, which is 2.9% higher than the previous year.

Yet, beneath the stable headline figures, Chile’s longstanding dominance is facing renewed competition from a strengthening European presence, as Norway, the largest global salmon producer...

ANALYSIS: Frozen Yellowfin Tuna Imports Hold Steady in 2025 as Prices Show Little Volatility

US imports of frozen yellowfin tuna closed 2025 largely in line with recent historical trends, reinforcing the sector's relative stability. Total imports reached 91.9 million pounds, down 3.5% from 2024 but firmly within the established five-year range. Indonesia and Vietnam continue to anchor supply, collectively representing the bulk of total arrivals and maintaining consistent shipment patterns despite shifting trade conditions...

Senate Democrats Introduce Tariff Refund Act to Reclaim $175B in IEEPA Duties

A coalition of democrats senators introduced legislation that would require refunds of President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, which were shot down last week by the US Supreme Court.

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Small Business Committee Ranking Member Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., and Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., released the Tariff Refund Act of 2026 on February 26. The bill was co-sponsored by over 23 senators.

According to the US Senate Finance Committee, the Trump administration...

ACT Capital: US Seafood Revenue Rose on Pricing, Tariffs Reshaped Supply and M&A Stayed Active in 25

ACT Capital Advisors on Feb. 26 released its 2025 Seafood Industry Report, finding that US seafood market growth last year was driven largely by higher prices and premium product mixes rather than volume gains, and that trade policy and consolidation were the sector’s defining themes.

The Seattle investment bank said ready‑to‑eat and shelf‑stable formats captured incremental share and margin as consumers — especially younger buyers — shifted toward convenient, higher‑quality seafood for at‑home and on‑the‑go meals...

Golden Sea Brand Sushi EBI Shrimp Recalled in Quebec

Certain lots of Golden Sea brand Sushi EBI Frozen Cooked Shrimp have been recalled due to the presence of 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone, per a February 25 notice from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Transhing Investment Inc. initiated the Class 3 recall of the products that were distributed in Quebec, Canada to hotels, restaurants and institutions...

China Confirms 25% Tariff Removal on Canadian Lobster, Crab Effective March 1

China’s Finance Ministry confirmed on Friday that its 25% tariff on lobster and crab imports from Canada will be lifted on March 1 through the end of 2026.

The initial trade agreement between China and Canada was announced in mid-January, with an implementation target of March 1. The deal included the elimination of tariffs on snow crab and lobster, as well as on other agricultural products such as Canadian canola meal and peas.

After the deal was first announced, Geoff Irvine, the Executive Director...

Waitrose Becomes First UK Retailer to Suspend Mackerel Purchases

Waitrose became the first supermarket in the United Kingdom to suspend mackerel sourcing, citing a “stand against overfishing” and its effort to support sustainable fish stocks, the company announced on February 26.

The massive retailer will halt sourcing of fresh, chilled and frozen mackerel by April 29, with tinned mackerel following once its stock has sold through.

Waitrose highlighted the September 2025 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) recommendation to slash mackerel quotas by 70% to help stocks rebuild. Three months later, four Coastal States agreed to cut catches by 48%, and while the retailer believes that move was a step in the right direction, it doesn’t meet the scientific advice.

Spex Flex: Pacific Fisheries Management Council Faces Uncertainty Brought By Climate Change

This year, the Pacific Fishery Management Council took major steps toward making groundfish management more flexible and reactive to change. The lessons learned from making these changes to groundfish management may eventually be applied to other fisheries managed by the Council. 

The “flexibility in harvest specifications” (“spex flex”) initiative began as part of the routine groundfish workload and new management measure process, and became a focal area of the Council’s adaptive management effort after being pushed forward by public comment...

Iceland Seafood International Achieves Notable Success in 2025 Across All Divisions

Iceland Seafood International announced its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 financial results late Thursday afternoon, showcasing robust performance across all divisions and surpassing projected profit expectations.

"The year 2025 was a strong operating year for Iceland Seafood, building on the turnaround achieved in the previous year. All divisions within the Group delivered strong results during the year despite various external challenges, highlighting the business's resilience and competitiveness. This performance strengthens my belief that there are opportunities ahead that...

Japan: January Scallop Exports to the US Plummet by 86% to 63 Tons, 79% in Value

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance, January's seafood exports (fish and shellfish preparations, fish meal) increased 33% in quantity to 33,660 tons compared to the same month last year, and 34% in value to 27.373 billion yen ($175.37 million). Scallops increased 9% to 2,325 tons and 12% to 7.179 billion yen ($45.99 million). Frozen shelled scallops decreased in both quantity and value, while frozen whole scallops in shell increased. Yellowtail decreased 3% to 2,758 tons and 49%...

Spex Flex: Pacific Fishery Management Council Faces Uncertainty Brought by Climate Change — Part 2

The concept of flexibility has been discussed in the Council process since its beginning, but the “spex flex” idea arose from the drastic cuts in canary, shortspine, and quillback mentioned above, as well as from existing initiatives coming together in the spring of 2025.  

Several ideas for increasing flexibility had been circulating in the Council process. In March, the Council was discussing an adaptive management project when Executive Director Merrick Burden noted that although the concept had originally focused on climate as the driver of change...

Expana's Weekly Top 10: Markets Rally After SCOTUS Tariff Ruling, Section 122 Takes Center Stage

Welcome to Expana's Weekly Top 10 Stories, where we highlight the week's most significant events and trends across various sectors.

This edition features a crucial Supreme Court tariff ruling that leads to strategic pivots by the administration, a major sustainability-focused investment in China's industrial sector, and pivotal European Commission proposals affecting the fertilizer market.

We also cover notable shifts in the foodservice industry, dramatic agricultural incidents, and key economic indicators suggesting potential inflationary pressures. Explore these stories for a concise overview of impactful...

The Winding Glass: Tariff Uncertainty Returns; More Damaging than Actual Tariffs

Right now, in the first week of Lent, shrimp is on sale at Walmart. Kroger is running surf-and-turf promotions. Long John Silver's brought back its $6 Shrimp Basket. White Castle has Buttermilk Shrimp Nibblers. Del Taco is pushing Jumbo Shrimp Tacos. The seafood aisle looks, briefly, like things are fine. 

They are not fine. After a 9-month period of adjusting to tariffs, the seafood industry was finding pockets of stability, allowing for normal contracting and promotion activities. These promotions were all locked in months ago an...

PEIXE BR: Brazil Reaches 1M Ton Aquaculture Milestone Despite Tariff-Driven Export Headwinds

PEIXE BR, the Brazilian Association of Fish Farming, announced that Brazil's fish farming industry grew 58.6% in 2025, reaching a landmark 1 million tons of production. During that time, tilapia saw a notable 148.2% increase in production, cementing its top spot in the country.

The results stem from the 10th edition of the Brazilian Aquaculture Yearbook 2026, which was released on February 24.

“The results presented in this 10th edition demonstrate the strength and maturity of Brazilian fish farming...

Seafood Spotlight, Brand Revamps and Store Closures Signal Shifts in Foodservice

Over the past two weeks, significant developments have shaped the foodservice and grocery industries. In this recap, Expana has curated the stories that resonated most with our customers — from major policy initiatives and Lent promotions to product innovation and high-profile closures. Here are the key headlines from the latter half of the month.

National Restaurant Association Release Federal Policy Priorities

The National Restaurant Association released its federal policy priorities aimed at stabilizing the workforce, supporting employment growth, reducing operator costs...

Ninth Circuit Reopens Forced Labor Case Against Rubicon Resources

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has revived a long‑running case against California‑based seafood distributor Rubicon Resources, reversing a district court decision that had shut down claims over alleged forced labor at Thai shrimp factories between 2010 and 2012. The ruling could lead to significant implications for US seafood companies sourcing from overseas.

In a Feb. 20 en banc decision, the appeals court held that a 2023 amendment to the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, clarifying that defendants can be civilly liable if they attempt to benefit, even without...

Search For F/V Lily Jean Led by USCG Now Includes NOAA, NTSB, MA Environmental Police

The location of the 72-foot fishing vessel Lily Jean, which sank 22 miles off Cape Ann, MA, on the morning of January 30, 2026, is being sought by specialized vessels from NOAA Woods Hole Laboratory, US Coast Guard cutters, Massachusetts Environmental Police, and others.

The tragic sinking, with the loss of six crew and the captain, has rocked the town of Gloucester, MA and the New England fishing community. Last week, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey held a press conference to update...