The Retail Rundown: Post-Holiday Slowdown Influences January Spending 

January typically marks a slowdown in consumer spending as households transition from the holiday season to their regular routines.

Early in the month, retailers experience a short-lived boost in sales, driven by replenishment efforts after the holiday food rush. As schools reopen and guests leave, families restock essentials for breakfast, lunch, and weeknight meals.

This restocking coincides with New Year’s resolutions, especially those focused on healthier eating. Consequently, shoppers gravitate toward the perimeter of the stores where fresh items, including produce, proteins, and dairy, are featured. Although retail...

Maine Cooperative Lobster 207 Wins $5 Million Settlement in CEO Misconduct Case 

Lobster 207, a co-op formed by the Maine Lobstering Union (MLU), landed a $5 million settlement in its favor after five years in court against a former CEO, Warren Pettegrow, his parents, and other parties.

Lobster 207 alleged that the defendants engaged in a “course of misconduct that resulted in serious economic injuries to Lobster 207 " through schemes, rackets, and misrepresentations. The Portland Press Herald reported that the family continues to deny the charges.

The lawsuit, filed in 2019, alleges that the Pettegrows defrauded...

USDA’s Section 32 Program Agrees to Purchase up to $55M in Farm-Raised Catfish and Gulf Shrimp

Catfish and shrimp producers in the southern U.S. will soon benefit from a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchase agreement involving the procurement of up to $30 million in farm-raised catfish products and $25 million in Gulf shrimp for distribution to various nutrition assistance programs.

The $55 million seafood purchase agreement—allowed through the permanently authorized Section 32 Program—follows two USDA purchase agreements from 2024 for up to $36 million in Gulf of Mexico and...

Genetic Testing Finds Texas Restaurants Mislabeling Shrimp

More restaurants in the Gulf region have been found to sell imported shrimp despite “claims, implications, or menu descriptions” that indicate the offerings were wild-caught shrimp from Texas.

SEAD (Seafood Development) Consulting conducted another genetic testing investigation in the Gulf of Mexico region, this time finding that just shy of 60% of restaurants tested in Galveston and Kemah, Texas, were serving imported shrimp.

SEAD noted that several sampled restaurants advertised Gulf shrimp on their menus but served imported farm-raised products instead. Restaurants also used “misleading marketing, imagery, or descriptions” that implied...

Trudeau Resigns Amid Controversy Over BC Salmon Farming Transition

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the leader behind the decision to shift British Columbia’s salmon farming industry away from net-pen farming, announced that he would resign from his post on January 6. 

Trudeau will leave office once a new ruling party leader is chosen, according to reports. The Liberal Party leader for the last 11 years, Trudeau, has faced rising discontent of late amid key resignations of close political allies. 

One of the lasting impacts of Trudeau’s term is the salmon farming transition plan the government first introduced in 2019...

Commercial Fisherman Caught with Hidden Catch Behind False Wall in San Francisco 

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) discovered a commercial fisherman illegally catching fish and trying to deceive authorities by hiding the catch behind a false wall on his fishing vessel.

CDFW said that an angler coming ashore at San Francisco’s Pier 45 was found to have fillets of salmon behind a false wall.

While under surveillance, the owner of the commercial trawl vessel was seen unloading several burlap sacks out of the boat and into a vehicle before leaving the scene. The vessel owner...

Circle Seafoods Launches Wild Alaska Salmon Filets in H-E-B and Sprouts Markets

Circle Seafoods, a new processor in the wild Alaska salmon scene, announced that its frozen Wild Alaska Salmon filets have debuted in H-E-B stores across Texas and Sprouts Farmers Market stores across the country.

The company’s 12-ounce frozen salmon filets are now available in 23 states.

“Why is this a big deal? Because we’re not just slingin' salmon—we’re shaping the future of wild salmon,” the company said on LinkedIn. “Think fresher fish, less waste/ more taste, and a...

Genome Sequencing in Red King Crab Stocks May Mean Better Odds to Survive Climate Change

A new research paper released December 31, 2024 by the Alaska Science Center showed a higher level of diversity over different regions in Alaska than previously known, suggesting the stocks may be more resilient to climate change and changing ocean conditions.

Lead author Carl St. John, a post-doctoral assistant at Cornell University, Laura E. Timm and Wesley Larson of NOAA Fisheries, and Kristen M. Gruenthal of ADF&G,  looked at the Aleutian Islands, eastern Bering Sea, northern Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, and Southeast Alaska ...

Biden Bans New Offshore Oil and Gas Development Along Most US Coasts

Today President Joe Biden announced a ban for new offshore oil and gas development across 625 million acres of U.S. coastal waters.

Areas encompassed by the ban

Per the ban, oil and gas drilling rights along the following coasts will be prohibited: the entire U.S. Atlantic coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific coast along California, Oregon, and Washington, and the remaining portion of the Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area in Alaska.

The ban does not involve the central and western areas of the Gulf of...

Washington Hits the Magic Number to Open Dungeness Fishery

At long last, the Dungeness crab off Long Beach in Washington tested full enough to open the fishery north of Cape Falcon.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Tuesday that Oregon's commercial Dungeness crab fishery will open Jan. 15 from Cape Falcon, on the northern Oregon Coast, to Klipsan Beach, Washington. A fourth round of preseason testing in Long Beach, Wash., shows crab quality at 24.3%, which is above the 23% necessary to open the season. In other words, it meets the optimal commercial harvest ...

Russie Eyeing Increase in Crab Exports to China in 2025

Russia hopes to increase its crab exports to China this year, as it has witnessed stable demand within the market, according to recent statements, made by representatives of local producers and some Russian media reports.

As Alexey Dakhnovsky, a Russian Trade Representative in China, recently told an interview with the Russian RIA Novosti newswire, the demand for Russian crabs in China is steadily growing, while Chinese customers are actively buying Russian crabs.

In recent months, Russia has significantly increased its...

Chicken of the Sea Partners with McCormick for New Tuna Products and OLD BAY Collaboration

Seafood company Chicken of the Sea recently partnered up with food company McCormick to incorporate OLD BAY Seafood Seasoning into two of its new tuna packet offerings. Together, the two powerhouses have a combined industry presence of more than 230 years.

The seafood company added the following two items to its on-the-go lineup: Chicken of the Sea Wild Caught Light Tuna Packet with OLD BAY(R) Seasoning and Chicken of the Sea Wild Caught Light Tuna Packet with McCormick(R) Chili Lime...

ILA and USMX Set to Resume Talks as Port Strike Threat Looms

Talks between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), the union representing over 45,000 dockworkers from Maine to Texas, and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) are set to resume on January 7.   

ILA and the USMX reportedly met in private on January 5 as both sides try to reach an agreement over the primary automation issue that has been raised since talks last stalled in November, according to industry publication FreightWaves.

The contract between the ILA and USMX, which represents ports and ocean carriers, expires on January 15...

Federal Court Dismisses "Whistleblower" Lawsuit Vs. Cooke Inc., Omega Protein, and Ocean Harvesters

On January 3, 2025, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York fully dismissed the qui tam "whistleblower" lawsuit brought against Canadian seafood company Cooke Inc. and its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, and employees, including fishing companies Omega Protein and Ocean Harvester, by relators W. Benson Chiles and Chris Manthey.

The lawsuit focused on allegations that the defendants violated the False Claims Act (FCA), misstated key facts regarding, and ignored the law.

History of the False Claims Act 

The FCA was first enacted... 

Keith Sullivan Takes the Helm as NAIA's New Executive Director 

The Newfoundland and Labrador Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA) welcomed Keith Sullivan as its new executive director on January 6.

Sullivan has had his fair share of experience in the seafood industry, having his most recent role as President of NL’s largest private sector union, FFAW-Unifor. He will now be tasked with advocating for growth in coastal communities through sustainable aquaculture.

“I am thrilled to be joining the team of NAIA. The aquaculture industry has such a vital role in our province’s economy, particularly in rural regions. Throughout my career...

ASMI Continues to Experience Great Success, Thanks to USDA Funding

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) has experienced great success at the helping hands of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), both throughout 2024 and the last 20 years.

Excellent export numbers

Among its successes is a recent string of positive return on investments (ROI) for ASMI’s 2024 exports, as achieved through its Southeast Asia Marketing Program (SAM Program), which saw a 2.867% ROI, and its Northern Europe Campaign (NEC), which saw a 3.828% ROI.

The former program was established in response to industry demand and drove an export increase of...

China Announces 2025 Tariff Increases on Key Seafood Imports

China’s State Council announced adjustments for tariff rates in 2025, with some of the adjustments leading to rate increases for key imported seafood items like shrimp, whitefish and abalone.

Some key seafood items will see increased tariff rates from 2% to 5% in 2025. Specifically, the tax rate for frozen shrimp will see a 3% tariff jump, along with frozen Arctic shrimp, while fresh abalone will jump from 7% to 10%.

EU SME Centre highlighted the following species with increased tariffs (all impacted items are frozen product): Greenland halibut, flounder...