The Winding Glass: Tariff Uncertainty Returns; More Damaging than Actual Tariffs

Right now, in the first week of Lent, shrimp is on sale at Walmart. Kroger is running surf-and-turf promotions. Long John Silver's brought back its $6 Shrimp Basket. White Castle has Buttermilk Shrimp Nibblers. Del Taco is pushing Jumbo Shrimp Tacos. The seafood aisle looks, briefly, like things are fine. 

They are not fine. After a 9-month period of adjusting to tariffs, the seafood industry was finding pockets of stability, allowing for normal contracting and promotion activities. These promotions were all locked in months ago an...

China Confirms 25% Tariff Removal on Canadian Lobster, Crab Effective March 1

China’s Finance Ministry confirmed on Friday that its 25% tariff on lobster and crab imports from Canada will be lifted on March 1 through the end of 2026.

The initial trade agreement between China and Canada was announced in mid-January, with an implementation target of March 1. The deal included the elimination of tariffs on snow crab and lobster, as well as on other agricultural products such as Canadian canola meal and peas.

After the deal was first announced, Geoff Irvine, the Executive Director...

Senate Democrats Introduce Tariff Refund Act to Reclaim $175B in IEEPA Duties

A coalition of democrats senators introduced legislation that would require refunds of President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, which were shot down last week by the US Supreme Court.

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Small Business Committee Ranking Member Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., and Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., released the Tariff Refund Act of 2026 on February 26. The bill was co-sponsored by over 23 senators.

According to the US Senate Finance Committee, the Trump administration...

Seafood Spotlight, Brand Revamps and Store Closures Signal Shifts in Foodservice

Over the past two weeks, significant developments have shaped the foodservice and grocery industries. In this recap, Expana has curated the stories that resonated most with our customers — from major policy initiatives and Lent promotions to product innovation and high-profile closures. Here are the key headlines from the latter half of the month.

National Restaurant Association Release Federal Policy Priorities

The National Restaurant Association released its federal policy priorities aimed at stabilizing the workforce, supporting employment growth, reducing operator costs...

Ninth Circuit Reopens Forced Labor Case Against Rubicon Resources

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has revived a long‑running case against California‑based seafood distributor Rubicon Resources, reversing a district court decision that had shut down claims over alleged forced labor at Thai shrimp factories between 2010 and 2012. The ruling could lead to significant implications for US seafood companies sourcing from overseas.

In a Feb. 20 en banc decision, the appeals court held that a 2023 amendment to the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, clarifying that defendants can be civilly liable if they attempt to benefit, even without...

Search For F/V Lily Jean Led by USCG Now Includes NOAA, NTSB, MA Environmental Police

The location of the 72-foot fishing vessel Lily Jean, which sank 22 miles off Cape Ann, MA, on the morning of January 30, 2026, is being sought by specialized vessels from NOAA Woods Hole Laboratory, US Coast Guard cutters, Massachusetts Environmental Police, and others.

The tragic sinking, with the loss of six crew and the captain, has rocked the town of Gloucester, MA and the New England fishing community. Last week, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey held a press conference to update...

Proximar Seafood's 2025 Results Highlight Steady Operational Progress and Stability

Proximar Seafood reported its fourth quarter and preliminary full-year 2025 results, pointing to continued operational improvements, stable biology and normalized feeding across its facility.

The report highlighted significant performance improvements after AI fish cameras were brought into use in December, verifying standing biomass and monitoring growth performance, which is showing solid gains. The company ended the year with close to 2,000 tonnes in standing biomass, providing a strong base for higher harvest weights and better price achievement in 2026.

Commission Seeks Feedback on the Future of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector

The European Commission has launched a call for evidence to gather views from stakeholders, experts and citizens on the Vision 2040 for fisheries and aquaculture. The Vision 2040 will establish a 15-year strategic framework to address the sector’s structural challenges and secure its long-term sustainability and competitiveness.

The EU fisheries and aquaculture sector are crucial for European food security and the livelihoods of coastal communities. Yet they face mounting pressures: an ageing workforce, insufficient generational renewal, external shocks, fossil fuel dependency and the pressing...

DFO Warns Newfoundland & Labrador Snow Crab Biomass Could Hit Historic Lows by 2028

A Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) stock assessment released Feb. 24 warned that exploitable biomass for snow crab in Newfoundland and Labrador could fall to historic lows by 2028, driven by warming ocean temperatures and low numbers of mature females and non-commercial‑size crab. 

“Continued warming of ocean temperatures, low numbers of mature female and non‑commercial‑size crab indicate that the exploitable biomass in all assessment divisions is expected to be at or near historic lows by 2028,” DFO stock assessment biologist Julia Pantin said...

PEIXE BR: Brazil Reaches 1M Ton Aquaculture Milestone Despite Tariff-Driven Export Headwinds

PEIXE BR, the Brazilian Association of Fish Farming, announced that Brazil's fish farming industry grew 58.6% in 2025, reaching a landmark 1 million tons of production. During that time, tilapia saw a notable 148.2% increase in production, cementing its top spot in the country.

The results stem from the 10th edition of the Brazilian Aquaculture Yearbook 2026, which was released on February 24.

“The results presented in this 10th edition demonstrate the strength and maturity of Brazilian fish farming...

Waitrose Becomes First UK Retailer to Suspend Mackerel Purchases

Waitrose became the first supermarket in the United Kingdom to suspend mackerel sourcing, citing a “stand against overfishing” and its effort to support sustainable fish stocks, the company announced on February 26.

The massive retailer will halt sourcing of fresh, chilled and frozen mackerel by April 29, with tinned mackerel following once its stock has sold through.

Waitrose highlighted the September 2025 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) recommendation to slash mackerel quotas by 70% to help stocks rebuild. Three months later, four Coastal States agreed to cut catches by 48%, and while the retailer believes that move was a step in the right direction, it doesn’t meet the scientific advice.

Spex Flex: Pacific Fisheries Management Council Faces Uncertainty Brought By Climate Change

This year, the Pacific Fishery Management Council took major steps toward making groundfish management more flexible and reactive to change. The lessons learned from making these changes to groundfish management may eventually be applied to other fisheries managed by the Council. 

The “flexibility in harvest specifications” (“spex flex”) initiative began as part of the routine groundfish workload and new management measure process, and became a focal area of the Council’s adaptive management effort after being pushed forward by public comment...

Iceland Seafood International Achieves Notable Success in 2025 Across All Divisions

Iceland Seafood International announced its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 financial results late Thursday afternoon, showcasing robust performance across all divisions and surpassing projected profit expectations.

"The year 2025 was a strong operating year for Iceland Seafood, building on the turnaround achieved in the previous year. All divisions within the Group delivered strong results during the year despite various external challenges, highlighting the business's resilience and competitiveness. This performance strengthens my belief that there are opportunities ahead that...

Golden Sea Brand Sushi EBI Shrimp Recalled in Quebec

Certain lots of Golden Sea brand Sushi EBI Frozen Cooked Shrimp have been recalled due to the presence of 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone, per a February 25 notice from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Transhing Investment Inc. initiated the Class 3 recall of the products that were distributed in Quebec, Canada to hotels, restaurants and institutions...

New FMI Research Reveals How the Food Industry Is Supporting Consumers’ Evolving Health Priorities

Today [February 26, 2026], FMI – The Food Industry Association unveils the findings of the 2026 Report on Food Industry Contributions to Health & Well-Being following the recently released Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) and ahead of National Nutrition Month®. The report offers insights into the industry’s efforts to serve as a destination for health and well-being and drive meaningful progress by providing grocery shoppers with products, resources and services that support their individual health goals...

ANALYSIS: US Shrimp Import Takeaways from December 2025; Q1 Inventories Signal Tightening Supplies

This piece breaks down the key takeaways from December 2025 US shrimp imports by product type — peeled volumes were near record highs but slipped 7% YOY, shell-on prices felt the weight of Ecuador’s heavy share, cooked shrimp from India jumped on new retail deals despite higher costs, and breaded shrimp saw a steep drop after Indonesia’s pullback. It also looks at January–February 2026 inventory estimates from preliminary customs data, which point to a tighter market heading into Q1 and a higher-than-usual demand...

High Liner’s Sales Rise in Q4, Margins Narrow as US Seafood Tariffs Bite

High Liner Foods reported higher sales and slightly stronger volumes in the fourth quarter of 2025 but said margin pressure from US seafood tariffs, raw‑material costs and promotional activity weighed on profitability. The frozen‑seafood specialist said it expects margin improvement to return through operational initiatives, and that adjusted EBITDA growth should resume starting in Q1 2026.

"We delivered sales and volume growth in the fourth quarter and made progress across our business towards improved profitability in what remains a challenging environment...