Canada and China Reach Deal to Remove Tariffs on Lobster, Snow Crab by March 1, 2026

Canada and China have reached an initial trade agreement that will eliminate tariffs on Canadian lobster, snow crab, and select agri-food products. The agreement, announced January 16, sets a target of March 1 for China to remove retaliatory duties, reinstating market access after a steep 25% tariff hindered Canadian seafood exports.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the deal would remove trade barriers and “unlock billions of dollars in business for Canadian farmers, fish harvesters, and workers across agri-food sectors...

Gulf Senators Demand Stronger NOAA Action to Stop Illegal Red Snapper Fishing

A group of 10 US senators from Gulf states urged the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to step up enforcement against illegal red snapper fishing by Mexican vessels in US waters.

“We would appreciate NOAA Fisheries’ action in more aggressively applying its existing authorities to ensure that illegally harvested red snapper is not sold in the United States,” the senators wrote to Neil Jacobs, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator.

The letter noted successful Coast Guard interdictions and seizures but said Mexican...

SeaPak Rolls Out Trio of New Frozen Seafood Items Featuring Shrimp, Flounder and Scallops

SeaPak Shrimp & Seafood, a major frozen retail seafood brand, unveiled a trio of new products to kick off 2026.

The company debuted Chili Lime Shrimp, Breaded Flounder Tenders and Breaded Scallops, all expected to hit the shelves at select retailers, including Food Lion, Weis Markets, SpartanNash and BJ's Wholesale Club this month.

SeaPak said the new products meet the demands of shoppers seeking globally inspired tastes, greater variety, and high-quality seafood that is simple and quick to prepare at home...

Shadow Crab Market Persists in Russia Despite Crackdown and Legal Reforms

A recent case in the Murmansk region saw local police disrupt an organized group involved in the illegal sale of Kamchatka crabs. According to Irina Volk, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, up to 77 live crabs weighing approximately 300 kg were illegally caught in coastal waters of the Barents Sea and intended for unlawful delivery and sale in other parts of Russia.

This incident is one of many involving illegal catches of Kamchatka and other crabs investigated by Russian law enforcement. While past annual volumes of...

NWAA Expands Board Leadership Now, Honored Wally Pereyra With Lifetime Award Last Month

The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) expanded its leadership team last week, after honoring Wally Pereyra, former Board Member, with a lifetime achievement award last month.

The election of new officers and directors from across the Pacific Region and the Americas established Dick Jones, global seafood industry leader, as President and Alaska seafood veteran Jeff Hetrick as Vice President. New Directors include Marcela Paz Delgado, DVM, founder and CEO of Sudvet Corp., and Landen Talbot, Global Sales Manager of Troutlodge, Inc...

Popeyes Announces New Head Chef and Chief Marketing Officer Appointment

Restaurant Brands International was featured in Expana's latest foodservice roundup, highlighting leadership shifts taking shape in 2026.

Just before the new year, the company announced internal promotions for Head Chef positions at two of its flagship brands.

Amy Alarcon has been appointed Head Chef for Burger King, U.S. & Canada, bringing 18 years of industry experience. She will lead Burger King's culinary strategy, including menu innovation, product development, and quality standards across the brand.

Robert (Bobby) O’Brien has been appointed Head Chef for Popeyes...

New Guidelines Spark a Protein-Driven Food Revolution in Foodservice

New dietary guidelines have now been out for a week.

In the update, Americans are encouraged to include protein foods at every meal, focusing on high-quality, nutrient-dense sources. The serving goals outlined in this report are 1.2–1.6 grams (approximately 0.042–0.056 ounces) of protein per kilogram of body weight per day.

"Pretty interesting shift toward protein overall. Under the previous 0.8 g/kg guidelines, intake would have been roughly 69 g/day, while the updated guidance implies about a +34 to...

Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces Planning Grant for the Eastern Shore Hub Opportunity Assessment

Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced a multijurisdictional award of a Governor's Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund Planning Grant to Accomack and Northampton counties and the towns of Wachapreague, Parksley, and Onancock to support the development of the Eastern Shore Hub Opportunity Assessment, which includes a feasibility study for a blue catfish processing facility. The $35,000 grant will fund an assessment of sustainable agriculture and agritourism opportunities within an existing 35,000-square-foot facility in Accomack County...

US Court of International Trade Ruling Preserves Countervailing Duties on Vietnamese Shrimp

The US Court of International Trade (CIT) has upheld the Department of Commerce’s final determination imposing countervailing duties on Vietnamese shrimp. The January 8 decision keeps countervailing duty (CVD) rates at 2.84% for most Vietnamese exporters and 221.82% for one company, with importers required to continue depositing those duties alongside current antidumping tariffs.

The court rejected Soc Trang Seafood (STAPIMEX)’s challenge to Commerce’s subsidy finding and methodology, declining to overturn the agency’s judgment. The decision was successfully defended by...

ANALYSIS: Norwegian Atlantic Farmed Salmon Export Growth and Price Trends, 2025–2026

The Norwegian Atlantic farmed salmon industry exported 1,101,187 metric tonnes (mt) in 2025, an increase of 13.8% year-on-year (y-o-y), according to Statistics Norway. The higher supply in 2025 likely contributed to weak market sentiment in the first part of the year...

Canadian Farmed Salmon Sector Signals Alarm Over BC Ban Amid Food Security Concerns

The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance’s latest report warns that the 2024 ban on west coast open-net pen salmon farming by the Trudeau government threatens Canada’s food security and jobs, and undermines the “Buy Canadian” push amid tariff uncertainty in the US.

“Canada’s aquaculture production is a national economic treasure, but it has been seriously weakened by irresponsible government policies,” said Timothy Kennedy, CAIA President & CEO. “Once a world leader in seafood, Canada now underperforms against global competitors, jeopardizing Canada’s independence and food security at...

SNP Names Gormley, Bedi to Head Seafood Task Force Marketing Committee for National Campaign

The Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) announced  Daryl Gormley, CEO of Aquamar, and Vnay Bedi, Senior Vice President at Cox’s Seafood, as co-chairs of the National Seafood Council Task Force (NSCTF) Marketing Committee.

SNP explained that Gormley and Bedi bring unique perspectives that reflect the full scope of the seafood industry. SNP said its leadership will help ensure the NSCTF is formed around insights from throughout the supply chain and allow it to be responsive to the needs of consumers, retailers, and foodservice partners...

Atlantic Sapphire Reports Lower Q4 Harvest, Average Weight and Price Slip

Land-based salmon farmer Atlantic Sapphire saw its harvest volumes in Q4 2025 dip compared to the previous quarter. The company harvested 1,183 metric tons of gutted weight (HOG), down from 1,426 metric tons in Q3. For the full year, Atlantic Sapphire harvested 5,096mt HOG.

In the final quarter of the year, net biomass gain was 1,683mt live weight (RLW) (Q3: 1,741mt). Standing biomass at the end of the year was roughly 3,437mt (3,215mt RLW).

Average harvest weight in the quarter was 2.9 kg HOG (Q3 2025: 3.1 kg)...

Golden Secures Funding for Maine Lobster Industry, Law Enforcement in House Appropriations Package

Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) voted today for a package of three appropriations bills — Commerce-Justice-Science; Interior and Environment; and Energy and Water — to fund part of the government through the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. The package, also known as a minibus, includes more than $5.1 million for local projects across Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.

The minibus passed the House in a 397-28 vote...

IFFO Comments on New Research on the Critical Role of Seafood in Global Food Security, Biodiversity

IFFO, The Marine Ingredients Organisation, announces the publication of a new open-access paper led by Duncan Leadbitter (Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, University of Wollongong) in Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture. The paper, available here, is the independent outcome of a workshop funded by IFFO, bringing together leading scientists* to explore the impacts of global food production...

ANALYSIS: Revised US Shrimp Import Estimates for Late 2025 Signal Stronger Year-End Supply

Our review of US Customs import manifests, covering roughly 304 million data points across about 13,000 shipments, yielded revised preliminary estimates for October, November, and December shrimp imports. The updated data reveal unexpectedly high volumes in November and preliminary strength in December, resulting in year‑end import totals modestly surpassing previous forecasts.

These revisions help explain the market weakness that began in November, as higher-than-anticipated supply flowing into the system likely exerted downward pressure on spot prices in recent months. Despite significant increases...

Jessica Simpson Reunites With Chicken of the Sea in a Playful Throwback Campaign

"Is this chicken, what I have, or is this fish? I know it’s tuna, but it… it says chicken… by the sea."

The innocence of Jessica Simpson’s question was famously met with a thoroughly perplexed Nick Lachey in the debut episode of Newlyweds more than two decades ago- and television history was made.

Now, in its latest strategic move, Chicken of the Sea is paying homage to that unforgettable pop-culture moment.

Today, the company announced that Jessica Simpson herself will reunite with the...