Alaska Halibut Fisherman Receives Fishing Ban, $15,000 Fine for Lacey Act Violations

Southeast Alaska halibut fisherman Vincent Jacobson, 52, was sentenced on Wednesday to five years’ probation, a $15,000 fine and a worldwide fishing and hunting ban during his probation for his part in a conspiracy to illegally harvest halibut with another commercial fisherman. That conspiracy violated the Lacey Act. 

Timothy Ross, 58, of Washington, pleaded guilty to one count of Lacey Act conspiracy on Sept. 8, 2025, and was sentenced to five years’ probation and a $15,000 fine on Dec. 10, 2025... 

Conservation Groups Sue Trump Administration Over Northeast Canyons Monument Fishing Access

Three conservation groups and a naturalist filed a lawsuit on May 4 challenging the Trump administration's decision to reopen the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument to commercial fishing.

The Conservation Law Foundation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Center for Biological Diversity, and naturalist Zack Klyver argue that allowing commercial fishing in the 4,900-square-mile monument off New England's coast would "inflict long-term damage to precious natural resources without meaningful economic benefits."

The plaintiffs contend Trump lacks legal authority to abolish or diminish national monuments established by...

North Pacific Fisheries Commission Addresses IUU, Bottom Fishing Among Regional Issues Last Month

Although the full report of the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC) has not been released from its April meeting, NOAA Fisheries has issued a press release about achievements there.  

Three primary topics addressed during their 10th NPFC annual meeting, which took place in Osaka, April 14-17, were IUU fishing, bottom trawls used in the Emperor Seamounts, and management of the commercial species in the Convention area. 

The United States does not have fishing vessels active under NPFC but shares objectives...

Fishing and Farm Groups Voice Concerns Over New USDA Seafood Office Direction

Two advocacy organizations representing small-scale food producers are raising red flags about the newly launched USDA Office of Seafood, warning that without proper safeguards, the office could serve corporate interests rather than fishing communities.

The North American Marine Alliance (NAMA) and National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC) released a joint statement welcoming the inclusion of fishing communities in USDA programs but expressing serious concerns about the office's potential direction. The groups worry the office could replicate what they see as USDA's historical pattern...

Scottish Salmon Survival Rates Hit Record High in Q1 2026

Scottish salmon farming achieved record survival rates in the first quarter of 2026, with March posting the highest monthly performance since reporting began in 2018.

Salmon Scotland reported survival rates of 99.1% in March and 99.03% for the full first quarter, marking the strongest start to the year for the sector. The trade body attributed the improvements to more than £1 billion ($1.4 billion) invested since 2018 in veterinary care, technology, and stock management.

The strong performance supports...

FDA Issues Warning Letters to Three California Seafood Processors Over HACCP Violations

The FDA has issued warning letters to three California seafood processing facilities over serious violations of seafood HACCP regulations and sanitation standards, with one facility showing a history of Listeria contamination.

AAA International Seafood Corp. in Vernon fell short on basic food safety protocols during a March-April 2025 inspection, earning a November warning letter for HACCP plan deficiencies involving fresh tuna and salmon destined for raw consumption. Investigators found the company lacked adequate critical limits for pathogen control and failed to address undeclared allergens in...

83% of Fast-Food Chains Are Invisible to AI Restaurant Recommendations, Uberall Finds

As AI assistants increasingly shape where people decide to eat, most quick-service restaurants are being left out of the conversation. That’s the core takeaway from a new Uberall report, Fast Food, Faster Discovery: The 2026 GEO Playbook for Multi-Location QSRs, which examines how tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity surface restaurant recommendations — and why many multi-location brands aren’t making the cut.

Based on Uberall’s GEO Studio benchmark data and performance metrics from its global QSR customers, the report...

ANALYSIS: US Shrimp Imports Drop 19% in March as Product Mix and Origin Shifts Reshape Market

March US shrimp imports totaled 124.8 million pounds, landing within our forecasted range of 122.4–132.1 million pounds and toward the lower end as anticipated. The result marks a 19% decline from the same period last year, as structural changes in both product-form preferences and origin composition continue to reshape the market. The monthly results underscore the persistent impact of tariff pressures and supply-chain disruptions on import flows since mid-2025.

March performance across product categories reflected the ongoing rebalancing...

Cousins Maine Lobster Debuts Fried Seafood Concept

Cousins Maine Lobster is expanding its brand with a new concept, Cousins Fried Seafood, which is scheduled to make its debut at a Grand Opening on Saturday, May 16 between 11 AM to 7 PM, at McMahan Plaza (3039 Breckenridge Lane in Louisville, Kentucky).

Co-founder Jim Tselikis described the new venture as "incredibly personal" and tied it to memories and flavors that helped shape the menu.

"We've built a strong foundation with Cousins Maine Lobster, and this is the...

Premium Brands Holdings Posts Record Q1 Results Despite Clearwater Seafoods Challenges

Premium Brands Holdings Corporation reported record first-quarter revenue of $2.1 billion, up 24.6% year-over-year, though its Clearwater Seafoods investment continued to face headwinds from asset divestitures and lower scallop catch rates.

The Vancouver-based specialty food company posted adjusted EBITDA of $171.2 million, a 26.7% increase, and adjusted earnings per share of $0.83, up 18.6% from the prior year. Premium Brands maintained its 2026 guidance ranges and reaffirmed its expectation to exceed its five-year sales targets of $10 billion...

Fishmeal Output Slides in Early 2026 as China Demand Signals Soften

Global fishmeal production started 2026 on a weak footing, with cumulative first‑quarter output down 28% year on year and March production alone falling 38%, according to IFFO‑compiled data. The figures reflect reports from member countries accounting for around 40% of global fishmeal output and half of fish oil production.

Fish oil production also declined, though less sharply. First‑quarter output was down 12% year on year, with relative resilience in Denmark/Norway and Spain helping to limit the overall...

Mother’s Day Momentum Builds Across Foodservice

As May gets underway, the foodservice industry is turning its attention to the season’s next major occasion: Mother’s Day. At the same time, headlines are filling with first-quarter earnings, new menu launches and brand expansions. Below is a roundup of the latest stories shaping the foodservice sector in the last two weeks.

Mothers Day in focus

Pizza Hut is bringing back a fan favorite to drive traffic during lunch and dinner on the big day. Its heart-shaped pizzas are returning for a limited time, with advance online...

US Virgin Islands Seeks Federal Support for Aquaculture Development Through Farm Bill Amendment

Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI) has secured language in the House version of the Farm Bill directing USDA to conduct a comprehensive study identifying suitable aquaculture sites in the US Virgin Islands, marking a potential breakthrough for the territory's blue economy ambitions.

The amendment requires the US Department of Agriculture to complete the study within 180 days of enactment, in collaboration with the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources. The assessment will evaluate water quality, coastal access, infrastructure needs, and applicable environmental and regulatory...

Navy Will Commission New USS Ted Stevens Destroyer in Whittier but Homeport in Norfolk

The U.S. Navy will hold a commissioning ceremony for the future Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Ted Stevens in Whittier, Alaska. Considered the “backbone of the Navy’s surface fleet”, there are 24 new Arleigh Burke-class destroyers under order, with three launched: 

–USS Patrick Gallagher (DDG-127), launched on July 27, 2024, with an expected commissioning sometime in the spring of 2026. 

-USS Ted Stevens (DDG-128), launched on August 15, 2023. 

-USS Jeremiah Denton (DDG-129), launched on March 26, 2025...

NFI Urges USTR to Exempt Seafood from Section 301 Tariffs in Excess Capacity Investigation

The National Fisheries Institute pushed back against proposed tariffs during testimony before the US Trade Representative on May 5, arguing seafood should be excluded from the administration's Section 301 investigation into excess capacity.

NFI Executive Vice President Bob DeHaan told USTR that imposing "significant and perhaps prohibitive tariffs" on seafood would undermine the Agriculture Department's Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which recommend increased seafood consumption. He warned the tariffs would price "value seafood products" out of reach for American families and stoke consumer inflation...

Strong Kroner, Middle East War, US Tariffs Hit Norway's Seafood Exports in April

Norwegian seafood exports declined in April as a strong kroner, US tariffs, and the Middle East conflict all weighed on performance, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council's latest export update.

Norway exported seafood worth NOK 13.4 billion ($1.4 billion) in April, down NOK 742 million (5%) compared with April 2025. The decline stems mainly from the significant strengthening of the Norwegian krone, the council said in its May 6 update.

Norwegian Seafood Council CEO Christian Chramer said the Middle East war is having...