Alaska Salmon Harvest Trails YOY Catch, Bristol Bay On Track to Reach 33.5 Million Harvest

Bristol Bay’s current catch of sockeye salmon has reached 17.95 million sockeye, on track to achieve pre-season forecasted total harvest of 32.26 million.  

Of the five river districts in the bay, Egegik has reached its escapement goal of 1.4 million sockeye, and currently has 5.94 million landed out of a forecasted 7.44 million, a goal within reach now that escapement has been met. 

Ugashick’s escapement, however, was 370,000 out of a needed 950,000 sockeye. Current landings are at 3.85 million...

Les Hodges: Market Access Becomes the New Measure of Value

The defining issue in the global crab market is no longer production alone. Across every major producing region, the ability to access the highest-value markets is becoming a more important factor of profitability than the size of the harvest itself. Biological conditions continue to improve in Alaska, Norway remains constrained by lower king crab quotas, Russia continues directing premium live product into Asia, and Japan is finding it more difficult to compete for available supply. The result is a global market increasingly shaped by tariffs, sanctions...

NOAA Lifts Suriname Seafood Import Ban After Drift Gillnet Fishery Reforms

NOAA Fisheries has reinstated a comparability finding for Suriname's drift gillnet fishery under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), removing an import prohibition that had been in effect since January 1, 2026 and restoring US market access for products harvested from the fishery. The finding, published in the Federal Register on June 22 (91 FR 37086), is valid through December 31, 2029.

The restoration of access matters commercially: Suriname shipped 11.6 million pounds of seafood to the US in 2025, valued at $40.2 million across 569 shipments, according...

The Retail Rundown: The Battle for the Summer Food Dollar Intensifies

With the Fourth of July behind us, the protein industry is entering the "dog days of summer," when seasonal demand typically slows. Holiday movement over the past weekend was reportedly mixed, with retail performance varying by region as weather patterns influenced consumer plans and outdoor activity.

This year, the seasonal slowdown is unfolding against a challenging economic backdrop. Although inflation has moderated, consumers continue to face elevated costs for housing, utilities, and other essentials.

Rather than pulling back on discretionary spending entirely, households are becoming more intentional about where they spend their food dollars, placing greater emphasis on value. That dynamic is especially evident in the restaurant industry...

Russian Pacific Salmon Catch Lags Behind 2025 Amid Declining Stocks

Russia may face one of the worst red caviar production and salmon catch figures this year in the last two decades due to weak results from the ongoing salmon fishing season.

Regarding red caviar, according to recent Rosrybolovstvo forecasts, the catch will not exceed 227,000 tons, which would be among the lowest figures for the country and its salmon sector.

According to fishermen, the Russian salmon sector is already lagging compared to last year's results, which may lead to price growth for both salmon and red caviar...

Bakkafrost Q2 Trading Update: Faroe Islands Clean on Mortality, Scotland Chalks Up 32 mDKK in Losses

Bakkafrost harvested a combined 29.9 thousand tonnes head-on gutted (HOG) in Q2 2026 across its Faroe Islands and Scotland operations, bringing year-to-date volumes to 61.3 thousand tonnes HOG, according to the company's Q2 trading update published on Oslo Børs.

The Faroe Islands operation drove the bulk of output, delivering 26.7 thousand tonnes in Q2 at an average harvest weight of 5.6 kg, with volumes building steadily through the quarter from 7.7 thousand...

FMI Report Finds Food Retailers Doubling Down on Value, Health and Tech Amid Economic Pressure

Food retailers and suppliers are continuing to invest in affordability, health-focused products and technology despite ongoing economic strain, according to The Food Retailing Industry Speaks 2026 report released by The Food Industry Association (FMI).

The report found industry leaders concentrated on five core priorities: managing macroeconomic volatility, meeting consumer demands for value and health, improving the shopping experience, adopting new technologies and building business resilience.

“Consumers are increasingly sensitive to both the cost of food and the nutritional...

ANALYSIS: A North–South Comparison of Shrimp Import Patterns in the EU-UK

Shrimp consumption and sourcing patterns in the EU‑UK region differ noticeably between Southern and Northern Europe. These differences largely reflect historical sourcing and cultural cooking habits, which in turn shape species preferences, product forms, and supplier choices. When focusing on the major importing countries (each exceeding 10,000 MT in 2025), clear contrasts emerge between the two regions...

Sustainable Scalloping Fund Applauds Trump's National Scallops Day, Northern Edge Opening

The Sustainable Scalloping Fund (SSF) applauded President Trump's declaration of National Scallops Day, marking NOAA Fisheries' move to open the Northern Edge of Georges Bank to the scallop fleet.

According to the SSF, the decision now allows for Scallop Permit Stacking, a move the group has pushed for since its inception. This will allow scallop permit holders to see several benefits, including operational consolidation, cost-cutting, and safer fishing, per the SSF.

"We are grateful to President Trump and his team...

Farmed Fish Overtakes Wild Catch for First Time as Global Seafood Output Hits Record 188.2M Tonnes

Aquaculture has become the leading source of fish for human consumption, surpassing capture fisheries for the first time and marking what the UN Food and Agriculture Organization called a "turning point" for global food systems.

In its State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2026 report, FAO said global fisheries and aquaculture production reached a record 188.2 million tonnes in 2024. Of that, aquaculture contributed 103.3 million tonnes, continuing a long growth trend that is reshaping seafood supply...

Thai Union Launches Industry-First Recyclable Shelf-Stable Tuna Pouch Under John West Brand

Thai Union Group has launched what it claims is the seafood industry's first shelf-stable tuna product in a recyclable mono-material pouch, rolling it out under its John West brand in the UK and Ireland as a product line called Stir & Serve. The launch, developed in collaboration with packaging supplier Mondi, is now available at Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Asda, and Ocado, with further retailer expansion planned through 2026.

The innovation addresses a longstanding technical barrier in flexible seafood packaging. Conventional retort pouches...

Japan’s Mackerel Exports Show a 1.7 Fold Increase in January-May with Record High Price

Exports of Japanese frozen mackerel are recovering. The cumulative export volume for the January–May period reached 58,200 tons, 1.7 times the same period the previous year, driven by increased landings in Kyushu. In recent years, poor catches across domestic fishing grounds—particularly in the Sanriku and Joban regions—combined with a sharp drop in production in Norway (the world's largest producer) have caused landing prices to skyrocket. With high international demand for Japanese mackerel tightening the supply...

Pokeworks Expands Texas Footprint as Franchise Pipeline Grows

Pokeworks is continuing to build momentum in Texas, one of the brand’s key growth markets, as the fast-casual poke concept expands its development pipeline and strengthens its franchise network across the state.

The brand currently operates 26 locations throughout Texas with 11 franchisees, with six additional restaurants under construction across Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and El Paso. Pokeworks also recently expanded its Texas footprint with the opening of its newest location in The Woodlands area of Houston in June.

The Texas growth comes as Pokeworks continues to expand nationally, with 14 locations currently in development across Texas, Massachusetts, Colorado and New York.

NOAA Awards $4.2M to States, Tribes to Advance Endangered Marine Species Recovery

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded $4.2 million through its Species Recovery Grant Program to support state and tribal efforts to recover marine species protected under the Endangered Species Act.

The funding includes $1.9 million for six new projects across five states: Alaska, California, Florida, New Jersey and South Carolina. Another $2.3 million will continue 13 multi-year projects approved in previous grant cycles.

A significant share of the investment, $1.6 million, will support...

RARE Steak Championship to Make New York Debut at Industry City

Brooklyn's Industry City will host the New York debut of the RARE Steak Championship on Thursday, Sept. 10, bringing together more than 25 of the city's steakhouses and restaurants for a head-to-head culinary competition featuring unlimited tastings, cocktails and live entertainment.

Presented by Buckhead Meat & Seafood and produced by DiningOut Media + Events, RARE is a national food and beverage festival that showcases premium proteins, culinary talent and craft cocktails in major US markets. The New York event brings together restaurant...

Norway H1 Seafood Exports Decline 1% as China Surpasses US in Market Rankings

Norwegian seafood exports fell 1% by value to NOK 84.5 billion ($8.6 billion) in the first half of 2026, with CEO Christian Chramer of the Norwegian Seafood Council citing a combination of domestic quota cuts and international market disruption.

"Here at home, low quotas for several wild-caught species have resulted in record-low export volumes and record-high export prices, whilst geopolitical unrest in the markets has made global trade even more challenging," Chramer said...

DNR's Proposed Water Rules Sharply Criticized, Constitutional Protection of Salmon at Risk

Alaska's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wants to change regulations that guide the state's water reservation process, an arcane but critically important procedure that guarantees enough water in salmon streams and rivers to support wild salmon populations.

Last August, DNR's Division of Mining, Land, and Water announced its intent in an online public notice and a legal ad in the Anchorage Daily News. The agency identified four regulations for potential changes and opened a scoping period that ran from August 1 to November 29, 2024...