NFI Urges USTR to Exempt Seafood from Section 301 Tariffs in Excess Capacity Investigation

The National Fisheries Institute pushed back against proposed tariffs during testimony before the US Trade Representative on May 5, arguing seafood should be excluded from the administration's Section 301 investigation into excess capacity.

NFI Executive Vice President Bob DeHaan told USTR that imposing "significant and perhaps prohibitive tariffs" on seafood would undermine the Agriculture Department's Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which recommend increased seafood consumption. He warned the tariffs would price "value seafood products" out of reach for American families and stoke consumer inflation...

Alaska Rep. Begich Offers Bill to Add Four Seats to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council

Alaska’s sole representative in the U.S. House introduced a bill last Thursday to expand the number of voting seats on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) from 11 to potentially 15. The bill, titled the North Pacific Fishery Management Council Representation Enhancement Act of 2026, calls for “balanced representation” that includes “at least one representative each from recreational, small-scale commercial, rural subsistence, and urban subsistence user groups.” 

The bill was immediately referred to the House Natural Resources Committee, with the full text...

FDA Removes Ecuadorian Shrimp Producer SONGA from Red List

The US Food and Drug Administration has removed Sociedad Nacional de Galápagos C.A. (SONGA) from Import Alert 16-81, ending the detention-without-physical-examination status that had subjected the prominent Ecuadorian shrimp producer's US-bound shipments to heightened scrutiny since February 6, 2026.

SONGA's removal from the red list indicates the company successfully demonstrated consistent compliance and provided sufficient corrective measures to address Salmonella contamination concerns that led to its original placement on the alert. The company's shipments can now proceed through normal import procedures without automatic detention at US ports.

Thai Union Posts 7.6% Q1 Sales Growth to $983M Despite Tariff, FX Headwinds

Thai Union Group announced a 7.6% year-on-year increase in sales to THB 32.1 billion ($983 million) in Q1 2026, showcasing growth despite headwinds including unfavorable foreign exchange rates, the Middle East conflict and lingering US tariff cost pressures.

Thai Union credited the sales jump to 2.8% growth in sales volume in the pet and frozen foods categories. Organic sales (excluding the impact of foreign exchange) grew by 9.3%, underscoring sustained demand recovery across core businesses, the company said in a May 5 update...

Royal Greenland Returns to Profit After Divesting Chile, Norway Operations

Royal Greenland returned to profitability in 2025 following its strategic decision to divest operations in Chile and Norway as part of a broader streamlining effort to refocus on its North Atlantic core business. The company also resolved a long-standing tax case in Germany during the year.

The Greenlandic seafood company delivered a "positive result" in 2025 after two challenging years, reporting a modest DKK 6 million ($935,000) profit compared to a DKK 196 million loss in 2024. Revenue remained stable at DKK 5.7 billion ($888 million)...

The Retail Rundown: May Ignites Grocery’s Biggest Early-Season Rush

Following a long and unpredictable winter, May finally ushers in its first run of sunny days, signaling a noticeable change in consumer behavior.

Shoppers are ready to head outside and start grilling. For grocers, this seasonal shift creates a key opportunity, driven by a lineup of high-impact shopping occasions.

At the start of the month, Cinco de Mayo kicks off one of the first notable spikes in spending. The occasion encourages shoppers to trade up to fresh guacamole kits, taco fixings, and ready-to-heat meals, driven by a...

New NOAA Mapping Tool Tracks Shifts in West Coast Fisheries

A new public mapping system is giving regulators, industry and coastal communities a clearer view of how West Coast fisheries have shifted over time and how they may overlap with other ocean uses.

The Pacific Fishing Effort Mapping Project, led by researchers at NOAA, state wildlife agencies and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, combines decades of fisheries data with landings and economic information to create maps and dashboards for major West Coast fisheries.

“By combining all this data into one place to visualize...

Pacific Hybreed Secures $1M to Scale Shellfish Seed Production

Pacific Hybreed, a Big Island aquaculture biotechnology company, has raised $1 million in a funding round backed by Hawaiʻi Angels and Blue Startups to support expanded hatchery operations as the company works to meet growing demand from shellfish farmers in Hawaiʻi, on the West Coast and beyond.

The company said it has pioneered the commercial use of hybrid breeding in shellfish, bringing an agricultural breeding strategy known as "hybrid vigor" to oysters and clams. Using traditional selective breeding rather than genetic modification...

Chicken of the Sea Achieves Full MSC Certification Across Retail Tuna Portfolio

Chicken of the Sea will complete Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification across its entire retail tuna product line by year's end, making it the first of the three major US tuna brands to achieve 100% MSC certification, the company announced May 4.

The milestone positions Chicken of the Sea ahead of competitors StarKist and Bumble Bee in sustainable sourcing commitments. MSC certification ensures that tuna comes from fisheries that demonstrate environmentally sustainable practices, minimal ecosystem impacts, and effective management...

Cousins Maine Lobster Debuts Fried Seafood Concept

Cousins Maine Lobster is expanding its brand with a new concept, Cousins Fried Seafood, which is scheduled to make its debut at a Grand Opening on Saturday, May 16 between 11 AM to 7 PM, at McMahan Plaza (3039 Breckenridge Lane in Louisville, Kentucky).

Co-founder Jim Tselikis described the new venture as "incredibly personal" and tied it to memories and flavors that helped shape the menu.

"We've built a strong foundation with Cousins Maine Lobster, and this is the...

USDA Solicits Bids for Major 2.3 Million-Pound Alaska Pollock Purchase

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking bids to purchase over 2.3 million pounds of Alaska pollock products, according to a May 4 solicitation notice.

The government procurement covers frozen Alaska pollock products, including fillets, sticks, breaded sticks and bulk containers for domestic food distribution programs. The solicitation also seeks roughly 1,800 cases of frozen haddock fillets. Bids are due May 15, with acceptances announced May 22.

If awarded, this would mark the first government seafood purchase of 2026, according to the USDA's procurement website...

Summer in the Cities Buyers Mission Returns in August Across Three US Markets

Food Export USA will bring back its flagship Summer in the Cities Buyers Mission on August 10–14, 2026, with stops in Detroit, Michigan; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Albany, New York.

The multi-city event will connect small and midsize US food and agricultural suppliers with international buyers from nearly 20 global regions through pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings, retail tours and company profiles designed to accelerate business development.

Teresa Miller, Chief Program and Partnership Officer at Food Export USA, said the event is designed to create...

Thai Union Feed Mill Credits Their Shrimp Feed Business for Impressive Q1 2026 Report

Thai Union Feed Mill (TFM), a leading manufacturer and distributor of aquaculture and animal feed in Thailand, released its first quarter 2026 financial report on Monday, headlined by revenue of THB 1.325 billion (US$41 million) and net profit of THB 148 million (US$4.6 million) up nearly 12% from Q1 2025. The company maintained a net profit margin 11.1%. 

Growth was driven primarily by TFM’s core shrimp feed business, despite rising raw material prices, most notably fishmeal, which increased 30% year-on-year...

EU, Mediterranean Nations Back New 2027 Pact to Rebuild Fish Stocks

EU and Mediterranean countries agreed today to keep working together to rebuild fish stocks in the region and to adopt a new MedFish4Ever Declaration in 2027, following a ministerial conference in Nicosia co-organized by the European Commission and Cyprus.

The planned declaration will map out the next decade of action on Mediterranean fisheries and aquaculture, building on the framework first established in 2017.

Officials said the region has made measurable progress over the past decade, with about half of Mediterranean...

Ace Aquatec Names Gonzalo Boehmwald Trigo General Manager for Latin America

Ace Aquatec SpA has appointed Gonzalo Eduardo Boehmwald Trigo as General Manager for Latin America as the company looks to build on its growth in Chile and the wider South American market.

Gonzalo will lead regional expansion, strengthen customer relationships and oversee commercial delivery of Ace Aquatec’s equipment and service offerings across the region. The company said it has already seen strong demand in Chile for its stunning and biomass products, working with major salmon producers in the country and globally.

Gonzalo brings more...

Trump White House Supports Delaying Right Whale Regulations for Maine Lobster Fishery Until 2035

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has announced it "strongly supports" legislation that would delay new fishing regulations affecting Maine's lobster industry from 2028 to 2035, giving the sector additional time to adapt to North Atlantic right whale protection measures.

The endorsement backs H.R. 8509, introduced by Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME), which would extend the current regulatory moratorium by seven years. In a Statement of Administration Policy published May 1, the OMB said that "if H.R. 8509 were presented...

House Hearing Spotlights Safer Shrimp Imports Act Amid Food Safety Push

The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing last week titled "Healthier America: Legislative Proposals on the Regulation and Oversight of Food," featuring discussion of the Safer Shrimp Imports Act.

The legislation would require foreign shrimp exporters to meet US food safety standards and undergo inspections to prevent contaminated imports from entering US commerce. Expana highlighted the bill in March, noting strong support from the domestic wild-caught shrimp industry.

During the hearing, Representative Troy Carter (D-LA), a co-sponsor of the legislation, questioned Steven Mandernach...