ANALYSIS: Importers Grapple with Mahi Mahi Challenges in Central and South America

As we approach the close of the fourth month of the 2024-2025 fishing season in Peru and Ecuador, it’s clear that this has been a challenging period, with production consistently falling below expectations...

The Retail Rundown: Record Championship Game Viewership Expected to Drive Food Sales

As January comes to a close, grocers are actively preparing for the year's first major food-buying event, the pro-football championship game in New Orleans.

With a record-breaking audience expected to tune in to the big game on Sunday, February 9, retail and foodservice sectors anticipate a boost in sales as consumers indulge in game-day finger foods.

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), an estimated 203.4 million U.S. adults will tune in with total spending projected to reach $18.6 billion...

96% of Tampa-St Petersburg Restaurants are Misleading Shrimp Consumers

According to recent genetic testing conducted by Seafood Development Consulting (SEAD), approximately 96% of shrimp in Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida restaurants (42 out of 44 establishments) were determined farm-raised imported shrimp instead of the wild-caught local shrimp they were advertised as.

This coincides with previous SEAD genetic tests and repeated cases of shrimp mislabeling in the U.S.A.’s Gulf of Mexico region, as we reported on earlier this month.

“When diners think of Tampa and St. Pete, they think of seafood fresh from the Gulf..."

Portuguese Fish Cannery BELA Rebrands and Introduces Direct-to-Consumer Experience

Today, Portuguese tinned fish producer BELA revealed new branding and a revamped website for its hand-packed cod, mackerel, and sardine products.

The change is the first rebranding since BELA’s operations began in 1997, working with local European fishing communities to source sustainable cod, mackerel, and sardines.

To go with the company’s refreshed identity, BELA also introduced a new tagline, “Everyone’s Welcome to the Table™”, emphasizing the inclusivity and accessibility of BELA’s products.

As part of its new website formatting, the family-owned seafood cannery is now...

Azure Seafood Endorses GSA’s Best Aquaculture Practices Certification Program

Yesterday, North American seafood supplier Azure Seafood endorsed Global Seafood Alliance’s (GSA) Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification program.

In a company statement, Azure Seafood outlined its commitment to improving the seafood industry via the BAP Program and facilitating environmental stewardship and ethical sourcing.

Azure Seafood expressed its dedication to ensuring responsible aquaculture practices and high quality seafood products....

Seafood Featured in Retailer Giant Food’s Latest ‘Fresh Low Prices’ Effort

Giant Food, a prominent retailer in the Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Washington D.C. region, expanded its ‘Fresh Low Prices’ campaign, which features price reductions for seafood and other key categories.

The company shared that over the last nine months, Giant has lowered the price of hundreds of items across its private brand portfolio, which includes the Giant brand, Nature’s Promise, Taste of Inspirations, Smart Living, Always My Baby, Companion, and CareOne.

The new reductions include essential items across categories, including seafood, like shrimp and salmon...

Seafood Set to Lead Global Protein Supply Growth in 2025: Rabobank

Seafood is expected to outpace poultry as the top contributor to global protein supply growth in 2025, according to Rabobank.

Rabobank’s ‘Global Animal Protein Outlook 2025’ highlighted the impact of geopolitics, economic conditions and supply availability on animal protein markets for the remainder of the year.

2025 was described as a “turning point,” with seafood leading the pact in terms of supply growth. The banking and financial services firm expects 2025 growth to surpass 2024, with farmed and wild-caught seafood, followed by poultry, leading the charge...

ANALYSIS: Scottish Salmon Witnesses Strong Export Growth Driven by US, EU Demand

Scottish salmon exports reported positive growth in the year to November 2024. In October 2024, the Scottish government disclosed its prediction of a 23% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in total harvest for 2024. Scotland had 210 active salmon farms in November 2024, according to the report published in January 2025 by the Scottish Salmon Organization. The organization also reported a monthly mortality rate of 1.94% in November, a y-o-y decrease, reflecting improved health performance and supporting the good production level recorded in 2024...

Sysco Corporation Reports Strong Q2 Results

Sysco Corporation today announced its financial results for the second quarter, ending December 28, 2024, showing robust growth across key metrics.

Sales increased by 4.5%, reaching $20.2 billion, while gross profit rose by 3.9% to $3.7 billion, reflecting solid performance across the business.

The company met analysts' expectations for the quarter, driven by strong top- and bottom-line growth. International operations, in particular, delivered exceptional results, with operating income rising by 14.5% and adjusted operating income increasing by 26.5%.

"Second quarter results included improvements across the company's core financial drivers... 

Russia Aims to Become a Leading Surimi Producer Within the Next Several Years

Russia aims to become one of the world’s leading surimi producers within the next several years as the country looks to expand its domestic production significantly.

Last year, the production volume significantly increased, allowing the country to join the top five world leaders in pollock surimi production.

According to data from the Russian Pollock Association, production grew by 47% from 2023 to 70.800 tons last year.

According to the President of the Association, Alexey Buglak, the rapid production growth completely covered the domestic market's demand...

Browne Trading Company Welcomes Three New Partners to Drive Growth & Sustainability

Portland, Maine-based Browne Trading Company announced an organizational shakeup, including the formation of 260 commercial investments via three new investment partners.

The company explained that the new partnership will enhance its capacity to grow its distribution network and improve its sustainability goals.

Rod Browne Mitchell, the company’s founder and CEO, will continue to handle day-to-day operations. Ed Chiles, who brings 45 years of experience into the fold, recently sold his three waterfront restaurants in Florida. He is the first of the three new investment partners...

Whole Foods Market Issues New Seafood Code of Conduct

Whole Foods Market just issued its new Seafood Code of Conduct (SCC), which reinforces the company’s commitment to ensuring human rights and worker welfare within its global supply chain.

The SCC commits to responsibly sourcing fresh, frozen, and canned seafood with respect to the following areas:

-- Maximum working hours and time at sea (including rest hours and port visits every eleven months)

-- Ethical recruitment (prohibiting recruitment fees and unclear contracts)

-- Communication access for crew members (including crew contact with family and Wi-Fi prioritization)

-- Health and safety onboard vessels (including required...

Alaska Seafood Partners with FujiSan Sushi for Alaskan Cruise Giveaway

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute recently partnered with FujiSan Handcrafted Sushi for an Alaskan cruise giveaway contest.

As part of the collaboration, both Alaska Seafood and FujiSan logos were featured prominently on the sushi packaging.

The products—which were sold at 500 Sam’s Club locations over the course of a 30-day promotional period—advertised a sweepstakes contest where customers were given a chance to win an Alaskan cruise for two.

To engage with consumers, FujiSan and Alaska Seafood embarked on a social media campaign on their respective accounts...

Alaska Seafood Launches Nationwide Lent Menu Promotion

Alaska Seafood recently launched a string of promotions in advance of Lent 2025, showcasing its products on multiple menus across the country, ranging from fast casual restaurants to more upscale café and dining locations.

Products being promoted include the following Alaskan fish staples: salmon, cod, pollock, flounder, and snow crab.

For the Lent promotions, Alaska Seafood partnered with big names like McDonalds, Popeyes, Jack in the Box, Dairy Queen, and Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, among others.

Below are Alaska Seafood’s fast casual dining menu collaborations:

-- Popeyes: Featuring the Alaska Flounder Fish Sandwich...

Last Areas in Washington Will Open for Dungeness Soon

As Dungeness crab seasons go, this one has seen progressive openings along the West Coast that has kept crab in the marketplace but also created a convoluted overlay of regulatory boundaries, especially in Washington.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced this week that the coastal Dungeness crab fishery will open from Klipsan Beach, Wash., to the US/Canada border, including Grays Harbor to state crabbers on February 11, 2025. Special Management Areas, ...

Maine DMR Updates Bulletin on Right Whales and Pauses Two-Endline Gear Enforcement

On January 24, 2025, the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) released an updated bulletin for lobstermen regarding the North Atlantic right whales recently spotted off the western edge of Jeffreys Ledge.

Over the last two weeks, up to 90 individual right whales have been identified in the area around Jeffreys Ledge. According to the DMR’s update, right whales may be feeding within this area at depths of around 300 feet or greater.

On January 17, the DMR issued a bulletin urging fishermen to remove their fishing...

Better Seafood Board Debuts Third Edition of Best Practices for Addressing Seafood Fraud

The Better Seafood Board (BSB) released the third edition of its “/Industry Guidance of Best Practices for Addressing Seafood Fraud” this month.

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) sponsored initiative includes a new principle in the new edition: “Products are correctly labeled for all added ingredients, including water.” This principle joins existing principles, “Products are correctly labeled for weights and counts”; “Products are correctly labeled for identity and species are not substituted in any manner”; “Products are correctly labeled for country of origin”; and “Product labeling...