ANALYSIS: Live Lobster Market Follows Seasonal Pattern as Supply Builds While Demand Remains Muted

The Canadian Spring lobster season has opened earlier than usual across several LFAs, accelerating the seasonal increase in supply into a market already facing subdued demand. As is typical for this time of year, the influx of product has applied downward pressure on pricing, though the pace of the decline has been more pronounced given the lack of buying interest. Canadian shore prices have fallen sharply from approximately CAD 14.00 to CAD 9.00 in a short period, with expectations for further easing as additional areas come...

Lutnick Pledges Maine Lobster Coordination, Disaster Relief Reform Under Bicoastal Senate Pressure

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faced intense scrutiny from senators representing both coasts during his April 22, 2026, Senate Appropriations Committee testimony, addressing mounting concerns over federal fisheries management from Maine's lobster industry to Alaska's disaster-stricken crab fleet.

Senator Susan Collins secured multiple commitments from Lutnick regarding Maine's lobster industry as the sector approaches a critical regulatory transition. With Congress's 2022 moratorium on new NOAA regulations affecting the American Lobster Fishery set to expire in 2028, Collins pressed for comprehensive industry coordination...

Gigante Salmon Name Kristian Lorentsen as CEO

Gigante Salmon announced executive leadership changes today.

Chief Executive Officer Kjell Lorentsen is stepping down after returning to the role in 2024 following a brief departure.

"When I returned to the position of CEO in 2024, I promised to lead the company through the construction project on little Rosøya. The facility has now received its completion certificate, and the time has come"

The family business said Kristian Lorentsen will take over as CEO, effective May 1.

Kristian has played a key role in the company’s development. He has...

Seafood Expo Global Sets Attendance Record with 35,500 Industry Professionals in Barcelona

Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global concluded its 32nd edition in Barcelona with record-breaking attendance of more than 35,500 seafood professionals, marking the largest turnout in the event's history.

The three-day expo, held April 22-24 at Fira de Barcelona's Gran Vía venue, brought together 2,290 exhibiting companies from 85 countries across more than 52,980 net square meters of exhibit space. The event generated an estimated economic impact exceeding €161 million for Barcelona...

Warming Waters May Be Increasing Northern Pike Predation in Alaska

Scientific research suggests that warming waters are increasing the appetite of invasive northern pike.

For the study, researchers compared the stomach contents of northern pike caught by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in the Deshka River during the summers of 2021 and 2022 with data collected a decade earlier.

The study, Warming causes modest increase in the consumptive demands of invasive Northern Pike (Esox lucius) in Alaska freshwaters, was published in Biological Invasions, a peer-reviewed journal with research led by the University of Alaska...

ANALYSIS: Temporary Price Dip Masks Potential Supply Constraints in New Scallop Season

With the 2026-2027 scallop season now underway, early Open Area landings and Northern Gulf of Maine product are bolstering supply levels. Initial demand appears somewhat quiet, leading to lower prices across many domestic product categories, marking the first notable price relief in quite some time. However, market participants widely anticipate this easing could prove short-lived as...

Canadian Fishermen Face Fuel Cost Surge Amid Start to Lobster, Snow Crab Seasons

Canadian fishermen are grappling with soaring fuel costs as snow crab and lobster seasons get underway, with operating expenses jumping nearly 30% according to Quebec harvesters.

A recent Canadian Broadcasting Corporation report highlighted the diesel price burden on Quebec fishermen, prompting calls for government assistance similar to the aid recently provided to the province's farmers.

"Whether you drive a tractor or a boat, the costs associated with the increase in diesel fuel costs are the same," said Joel Arseneau, member of Quebec's National Assembly...

Coast Guard Removes Press Release on American Seafoods Pollock Roe Seizure

The US Coast Guard removed a press release from its website detailing the seizure of $65,000 worth of Alaska pollock roe from American Seafoods' catcher-processor Northern Eagle.

The Coast Guard told Alaska's NBC-2 KTUU that it removed the posts to prevent "unintended consequences, distractions from NOAA's ongoing investigation, or confusion about the compliance record within the Alaska pollock fishery."

The USCG said it pushed back on the case's conclusions, noting the issue shouldn't be viewed as evidence of illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing in one...

NOAA Says Venezuela's MMPA Comparability for Blue Crab Fishery Still Pending

After Venezuela's fisheries and aquaculture ministry said its blue crab fishery completed the registration process for an MMPA comparability finding, NOAA said the country is still in the process of applying for a finding.

Venezuela's Ministry of Popular Power for Fisheries and Aquaculture announced on April 16 that it had "successfully completed" the Marine Mammal Protection Act comparability registration process with NOAA Fisheries, claiming the process began on March 27 and was completed in less than three weeks.

However, NOAA Fisheries spokesperson...

Pacific Seafood Hit with $3.2 Million in Oregon DEQ Fines for Water Pollution Violations

A trio of companies under Oregon-headquartered Pacific Seafood was hit with $3.2 million in fines from the state's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) on April 23.

The largest penalty, $2.9 million against Pacific Seafood's Charleston facility near Coos Bay, represents the second-largest civil penalty DEQ has ever issued. The facility was cited for failing to install a required wastewater treatment system by an April 2023 deadline and for continuing to discharge fish parts, oil, grease, and suspended solids into coastal waters...

Alaska Delegation Secures $115.4 Million in Federal Port Infrastructure Funding

US Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan and Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) secured over $115.4 million in federal funding for ports across Alaska, the delegation announced on April 22.

The funding will go to seven projects selected through the US Department of Transportation's Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), a competitive grant initiative administered by the DOT's Maritime Administration that funds projects to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of goods moving through US ports.

Alaska has more ocean coastline than all other US states combined, making port infrastructure...

Blumar Salmon Farm Part of New Chilean Minister’s First Trip to Magallanes Coast

Chile's presidential elections last December brought José Antonio Kast and a new administration into power on March 11. Kast redesigned the cabinet to fold the Mining Ministry into a new Economy-and-Mining structure, with Daniel Mas Valdés at the helm. The dual ministry is unique, and Mas is referred to as a ‘biminister.’

Mas’s first trip as biminister was to Chile’s Magallanes region last week, to learn firsthand about the productive and social reality of the southern region, local press reported. Mas held meetings with sector...

ANALYSIS: US Frozen Tuna Imports Drop 20% YTD While Market Holds Steady

Frozen tuna has remained one of the more stable categories in an otherwise volatile imported seafood market. While many competing species posted sharp price gains amid tight supply, elevated replacement costs, tariff uncertainty, shifting demand patterns, and rising fuel and freight expenses tied to geopolitical instability, frozen tuna continued to trade within a relatively narrow range. That relative stability is especially notable given the added complexity from changing tariff policy, NOAA’s MMPA comparability rule, and softer foodservice demand. Supported by more balanced...

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...

Alaska's 2026 Salmon Forecast Falls 36% on Lower Pink Salmon Returns

The most recent forecast from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game was released April 21 with a total predicted harvest of 125.5 million salmon, a 36 percent drop from last year’s harvest of 197.4 million fish.

ADF&G’s final report for the coming season, “Run Forecasts and Harvest Projects for 2026 Alaska Salmon Fisheries and Review of the 2025 Season,” provides context for how fisheries managers develop forecasts, including a comparison of actual returns and harvests against forecasts over several years...

India's Seafood Exports Hit Record as Shrimp Drives Growth Amid US Market Decline

India's seafood exports reached an all-time high of ₹72,325.82 crore ($ 8.28 billion) in FY 2025-26, with volumes hitting 19.32 lakh metric tons, according to provisional data released by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) on April 21.

Frozen shrimp remained the cornerstone of India's marine exports, contributing ₹47,973.13 crore ($ 5.51 billion) and accounting for over two-thirds of total export earnings. Shrimp shipments grew 4.6% in volume and 6.35% in value, reinforcing India's position as a global shrimp supplier...

Lithuanian Vičiūnai, French Frais Embal Win Top 2026 Seafood Excellence Awards

Vičiūnai Group of Lithuania and Frais Embal of France captured the top prizes at the 2026 Seafood Excellence Global Awards during Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, beating 35 finalists from 16 countries.

Vičiūnai Group took the Best Retail Product award for its Smoked Herring Slices – Natural Flavor, a ready-to-eat product featuring simple ingredients and a smoky taste. Judges praised the well-balanced herring and smoke flavors, precise slicing and packing, and eye-catching packaging design.

Expana caught up with Vičiūnai at Seafood Expo North America last month...