ANALYSIS: US Tariffs and Their Potential Impact on the Tuna Trade

On April 2, US President Donald Trump announced changes to tariffs affecting more than 180 countries, introducing a minimum 10% tariff that will take effect on April 5. Higher increases in reciprocal rates will come into effect on April 9. The US Trade Representative (USTR) has determined the elevated reciprocal tariff rates based on a formula that focuses on the trade deficit with its partners, along with each country’s monetary tariffs, non-monetary trade barriers, currency manipulations, and other factors...

FFAW Applauds Panel’s Decision on NL Snow Crab Price

According to a news release published yesterday afternoon by the Fish, Food & Allied Workers Union (FFAW), the Standing Fish Price-Setting Panel finally reached a decision on snow crab pricing for the 2025 season in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), ruling in favor of the FFAW’s proposed floor price of $4.97 per pound.

Per the Panel’s decision, the FFAW’s starting price was approved across the board, with an adjustment at the end of the season based on market performance, says FFAW-Unifor President Dwan Street. The chosen floor price is...

Russia to Continue Reorienting Fish Exports from EU to Alternative Markets

According to reports from local media and analysts in the Russian fishing sector, Russia will continue reorienting the flow of its fish exports, originally directed to the European Union (EU), to alternative sale markets, primarily those in Asia.

According to German Zverev, president of the All-Russian Association of Fish Producers (VARPE), the shift will lead to a shortage in certain fish species in the EU market, particularly for cod and pollock.

In an interview with Russian newspaper Ria Novosti, Zverev said that the current niche, which was previously...

Lineage Acquires New Cold Storage Facility in Bellingham

Earlier this month, refrigerated-storage company Lineage, Inc. acquired three warehouses from Bellingham Cold Storage (BCS) located on Washington’s west coast in Bellingham.

The acquired assets span approximately 24 million cubic feet and include 85,000 pallet positions across three warehouses: the Bellingham Waterfront Warehouse Center, the Orchard/I-5 Warehouse Center, and the Burlington Dry location.

The expansion creates a foothold for the cold storage company at the Port of Bellingham, thus building on Lineage’s network in the U.S. Pacific Northwest region, which now includes 40 warehouse facilities across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho...

SalMar’s Q1 2025 Results Show 19.3% Decrease Y-O-Y in Total Harvest Volume

Salmon aquaculture company SalMar recently released its financial results for Q1 2025, which showed a 19.3% decrease in the total consolidated harvest volume when compared to the same period last year.

The total consolidated harvest volume for Q1 2025 amounted to 42,700 tonnes gutted weight (tgw), therefore marking a decrease of 10,200 tgw compared to 52,900 tgw during Q1 2024.

For Q1 2025, consolidated harvest volumes were down for Farming Central Norway by 6,700 tgw from Q1 2024, for SalMar Ocean (previously SalMar Aker Ocean) by...

US Senators Introduce Bill to Combat Foreign Illegal Fishing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and John Curtis (R-UT) introduced the Protecting Global Fisheries Act, bipartisan legislation to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Predatory IUU fishing, particularly by China, disrupts international trade and undermines maritime security, marine ecosystems and biodiversity, and food and economic security. It often involves forced labor, human trafficking, unsafe working conditions, and other human rights abuses. IUU fishing directly harms the United States—a major harvester, importer, and consumer of seafood—by...

Ace Aquatec Appoints New CFO

Ace Aquatec appointed Alan MacLeod as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on April 4, 2025, replacing the aquaculture company’s previous CFO, Duncan Montgomery, who was appointed back in 2021.

MacLeod has more than 20 years’ experience in various financial leadership roles across technology, construction, energy, and oil and gas settings. His most recent position was a director within the advisory section at investment firm N4 Partners. Before that, MacLeod was CFO and board director at asset management company Allrig.

“Joining Ace Aquatec at such a pivotal time in its growth journey is incredibly exciting..."

Les Hodges: Could Russian Crab Return to US Shores?

Diplomatic talks in Riyadh may signal the first steps toward reopening U.S. markets to Russian seafood. A recent meeting between Russian and U.S. officials aimed to lay the groundwork for ending the war in Ukraine and normalizing bilateral relations. On March 25, Moscow released a summary of the meeting's outcomes. Among them were the restoration of the Black Sea Initiative and to see renewed access to global markets for Russian exports of agricultural products and fertilizers -- specifically citing fish products currently restricted under food sanctions.

If Ukraine is able to achieve...

Russia is Increasing its Shrimp Catch This Year

This year, Russia is increasing its shrimp catch, thanks to an ever-growing demand for the shellfish species both globally and domestically.

According to latest data from the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries, Russia’s volume of shrimp catch during the period of January-March 2025 amounted to 5,400 tons, which is 29% more than the same period last year. In 2024, the total volume of catch grew by 24%, amounting to 27,000 tonnes.

At the same time, according to data of the Russian Fish Union, shrimp imports to Russia in 2024 also increased...

Navigating the Trump Tariff Turbulence: A Comprehensive Timeline

US President Donald Trump and his administration have paused reciprocal tariffs on most countries.

“Based on the lack of respect that China has shown... I am hereby raising the [tariff] charged to China by the [USA] to 125%, effective immediately,” wrote Trump on Truth Social at 1:18 pm ET. 

It’s not clear if this 125% is in addition to the 20% imposed on Chinese imports to the US. In early March, Trump noted that he would add another 10% tariff on Chinese goods...

JBT Marel Appoints Two New Fish Division Directors

Global technology solutions provider JBT Marel recently announced two new appointments in its Fish division, including Diego Lages as the division’s new service director and Jón Birgir Gunnarsson as the new sales director.

Lages, who previously held the role of Global Sales Director within the Fish division, brings forth 26 years of experience working in the fish industry.

"I am incredibly excited to take on the role of Director Service, Fish at JBT Marel. This feels like a return to the days when I built strong sales and service organizations in several..."

Russian Fishermen to Significantly Increase Fish Exports to Brazil

This year, Russian fishermen plan to significantly increase their fish exports to Brazil, as part of their plans for market diversification.

For example, the local K-Flot, one of Russia’s largest fish holdings, has begun the procedure for certifying its fleet for the requirements of the Department of Inspection of Products of Animal Origin (DIPOA) of Brazil.

As an official spokesman of K-Flot said in an interview with the Russian Vedomosti business paper, the first shipments of cod to Brazil will begin already by the end of 2025...

Sluggish Prices for Russian Pollock Roe at Busan Auction; 10% Lower Than 2024

According to a report in the Minato Shimbun newspaper, the bidding for this season's new Russian pollock roe, currently being held in Busan, South Korea, has shown that STD (high-quality) grade roe for Japan has seen prices fall compared to the same period last year.

As of April 3, the highest successful bid price was $6.50/kg, 10% lower than the previous bid session. The average price per kilo was between $5.00 and $5.50, and in many cases, the Russian side's desired price...

Southern Shrimp Alliance Responds to “The Pause”

The Trump Administration announced a 90-day pause on shrimp and other tariffs, dropping the effective rate to 10% to allow for negotiations on trade, trade barriers, tariffs, currency manipulation, and non-monetary tariffs.

The Southern Shrimp Alliance responds:

“It is encouraging that the Trump Administration’s tariffs have prompted countries to show a new willingness to address trade policies disadvantaging American producers. We want to compete in a market where competitors cannot use intolerable practices like forced labor and banned antibiotics to undercut us,” said John Williams, executive director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance...

Reciprocal Tariffs Impact Japan's Yellowtail and Scallop Exports

On April 2, the White House announced it would impose reciprocal tariffs on imports worldwide. The first round of tariffs—a flat 10% for all countries—took effect on April 5 at 12:01 a.m. EST. The second round—targeting a total of 57 countries and regions, including Japan and the European Union—imposes different tax rates for each country and region effective today, April 9, at 12:01 a.m. EST. Japan's total tariff will be 24%, Minato Shimbun reported.

Per the tariff rules, any goods loaded onto a ship at the...

The Retail Rundown: Easter Momentum Builds

In the final full week of Lent, seafood accounts for 35% of all protein retail promotions, gaining ground on pork, which holds 23% of ad space. Beef promotions slipped to 20%, while chicken has 15%. Lamb and veal promotions, though still minimal, doubled from the previous week, rising to 2% ahead of Easter.

Notably, Easter falls late this year—on April 20—affecting year-over-year (YOY) comparisons. Ham promotions last week were offered at premium price points compared to 2024. Discounted boneless smoked hams averaged...

WA Gov. Ferguson Makes Changes to Fish and Wildlife Commission

The phrase, “out with the old, in with the new,” has a new twist in Washington.  

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson asked the state Senate not to consider former Gov. Jay Inslee’s two recommendations for the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission and instead, approve his own recommendations – two of whom are returning members.  

The Senate agreed.  

Last week, Ferguson re-appointed two returning members and appointed one new member to the Commission. 

Molly Linville was re-appointed and fills one Eastern Washington position. Jim Anderson was also re-appointed and fills...