ANALYSIS: China’s April Imports of Homarus Americanus Fall by Over 45%, GACC Reports

According to customs data released last week by the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC), imports of Homarus americanus (American lobster) into China declined by 45.2% year-over-year in volume for the month of April. A total of 766 metric tons of live and frozen lobsters were shipped to China during the month, representing a 44.4% decrease compared to March. In terms of value, imports totaled CNY 150.1 million (USD $20.8 million) in April, reflecting...

ANALYSIS: Overview of Ecuadorian Skipjack Tuna Landings, Exports, and Market Sentiment

Ecuador plays a vital role as a fishing nation in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO), and as a key tuna canning processor, particularly for the European market.  This year, the Expana Benchmark Prices (EBP) for Ecuadorian skipjack tuna have shown a consistent upward trend, with prices rising from the beginning of the year to the latest assessment in April. The price of whole frozen Ecuadorian skipjack tuna reached $1,650 per metric ton (MT), reflecting an increase of 13.8% year-on-year (y-o-y). The Ecuadorian skipjack...

New Report Shows Upward Trajectory for European Union's Blue Economy

On May 22, 2025, the European Commission (EC) published its annual Blue Economy Report, detailing the current economic performance of the European Union’s (EU) blue economy sectors and providing estimates of the sectors’ future economic performance.

The EC defines “blue economy” as all economic activities based on or related to the ocean, seas and coasts, including economic sectors like fisheries and aquaculture, coastal tourism, shipping, ports, and marine renewable energy.

According to the recent report, the EU blue economy has been on an upward trajectory since the COVID-19 crisis...

ANALYSIS: EU-UK Q1 Shrimp Imports Rise 8.5% Y-O-Y, Rise 10% Since Q1 2023

In the first quarter of 2025, the EU-UK region imported 159,231 metric tons of shrimp, marking an increase of 8.5% compared to the same period in 2024 and 10.0% above Q1 2023. In value terms, imports reached €1,115.9 million, reflecting an 18.2% year-on-year rise. The composition of imports remains heavily weighted toward warm water shrimp, which accounted for the majority of the growth. Cold water shrimp imported from outside the EU-UK represented only 4% of the total value...

The Retail Rundown: Father’s Day Fires Up Demand for Premium Cuts

Meat sales over Memorial Day weekend appeared to underperform in some regions this year, as cool weather across the Midwest curbed outdoor grilling activity.

Retailers are now setting their sights on the next major grilling event, Father’s Day, paired with hopes for improved weather. Falling on June 15th this year, the event presents another opportunity to drive protein consumption. 

This week’s retail buying opportunities are led by seafood, which accounts for 28.2% of protein ads. Beef has 26.4%, trailed by pork at 23.2%, chicken at 18%, and turkey with...

Russia Optimistic About 2025 Salmon Catch in Kamchatka Region

Kamchatka will become one of Russia's main salmon regions this year, with a catch of almost 200,000 tons of salmon expected this summer alone.  

As reported in the Russian business paper Kommersant, the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries cited June 1 as the season opening for the peninsula’s main fishing season.

According to forecasts by Russian scientists, 89,000 tons of salmon can be caught on the eastern coast of Kamchatka and about 110,000 tons on the western coast. Traditionally, the bulk of catch will account for pink salmon, amounting to approximately...

USDA Announces Section 32 Pre-Solicitation for Atlantic Groundfish and Pacific Pink Shrimp

On May 23, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced plans to purchase commercially available Atlantic Groundfish and Pacific Pink Shrimp for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs.  

According to the USDA’s announcement, potential materials purchased include frozen Atlantic pollock fillets (material code 111291), frozen haddock fillets (material code 111292), frozen ocean perch fillets (111293), and Pacific salad shrimp (material codes 111453 and 111454).  

The May 23 notice was only a pre-solicitation for seafood bids. Formal solicitations for firm-fixed-price contracts with the...

FDA Issues Advisory on Frozen Half-Shell Oysters from the Republic of Korea

On May 22, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an advisory regarding frozen half-shell oysters distributed by Khee Trading, Inc. of Compton, California.

Due to potential norovirus contamination, Khee Trading recently recalled all frozen half-shell oysters with Lot Code: B250130, harvested from Designated Area No. 1 in the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Jan. 30, 2025, and processed by JBR KR-15-SP in Tongyeong-si, ROK.

The FDA is advising consumers not to eat and restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell...

OPINION: NOAA’s Budget Crunch Trimming Fat, or Cutting Muscle?

Federal programs that keep mariners safe are on the chopping block. What does this mean for coastal communities and small boat fishermen? 

Fishermen live in a world without guardrails. No traffic lines. No brakes. Just the limits of our vessels, navigational tools, experience, and the shifting moods of the ocean. 

My fishing operation’s primary platform is a 26-foot open skiff, which we use to set and haul nets, gather and deliver fish, and travel around our small corner of the North Pacific. It’s small but seaworthy, and in many conditions...

SSP and CNA Host 2025 SustainED Event in Ecuador, Focused on Efficient, Sustainable Shrimp Farming

The Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) and Ecuador's National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) recently hosted a new edition of the SustainED shrimp aquaculture program in Guayaquil, Ecuador.  

This edition of the program was focused on nutritional innovation and upholding aquaculture standards in order to strengthen efficiency and sustainability within the world’s largest shrimp-producing nation, Ecuador.  

This year’s program was titled “Nutritional Innovation: How to Maximize Feed Efficiency at Every Stage of Shrimp Farming,” and took place on May 22, 2025, at the Hilton Colón Hotel...

Fujisan Salmon Markets White Fujisan Salmon: White Meat Rainbow Trout Grown at the Foot of Mt. Fuji

Japanese newspaper Minato Shimbun recently highlighted the production and sale of "White Fujisan Salmon,” rainbow trout grown by aquaculture company Fujisan Salmon Co., Ltd. (Fujisan Salmon) at the foot of Mt. Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Unlike the image of salmon with red meat, this beautiful white meat is different from both regular salmon and white fish varieties, characterized by its moderate fat content. Utilizing the abundant spring water of Mt. Fuji, Fujisan Salmon strives for sustainability through farming practices aimed at coexisting with...

ANALYSIS: Q2 Trends in Norwegian Cod Landings and Price Dynamics

In the first quarter of 2025, the price of Norwegian cod has been significantly influenced by the potential tariff changes in the U.S. market, particularly for products that rely on the trade route from Norway to China before reaching the U.S.  

As tariffs on Chinese exports to the US are expected to rise, the demand for Norwegian cod has declined. In May, the price increased by 11.5 % year-on-year (see Figure 1), largely due to...

Andfjord Salmon’s Q1 Results Reflect Low Production and Zero Revenue Amid Kvalnes Build-Out

Norwegian salmon producer Andfjord Salmon Group AS recently released its financial results for Q1 2025, indicating stalled profits amid the company’s ongoing construction at its facility in Kvalnes, Norway.

The five-stage construction plan has been in progress since 2023, with Phase 1 reaching 90% completion as of November 27, 2024.

As a result, Andfjord Salmon did not produce any salmon in the first quarter of this year, resulting in zero revenue for the period, as was the case for the same period last year...

Turning the Tide Announces 2025 Marine Industry Awards

On May 26, 2025, Turning the Tide announced its 2025 recipients for the 8th annual Marine Industry Awards, including two businesses, two individuals, and a UNESCO-recognized historic site.

Each year, five awards are given out for exemplary leadership, innovation, and long-term commitment to Newfoundland and Labrador’s marine industries. The five awards include the following: the Industry Leadership & Excellence Award, Industry Lifetime Achievement Award, Innovation Leadership Award, Award of Historical Marine Significance, and Next Wave Leadership Award.  

Turning the Tide Chair Paul Antle and his fellow Board of Directors announced the...

Over 27,000 Sockeye and 1,000 Chinook Salmon Netted in Copper River’s First Opener on May 22

For the first time in recent history, the iconic Copper River salmon season opened about a week late for the fleet based in nearby Cordova.

Rather than May 15, state salmon managers delayed the first opener until the 22nd to allow more Chinook salmon through to their spawning grounds in the Copper River watershed. In 353 deliveries during a 12-hour opener, drift netters delivered 27,368 sockeye, 1,083 Chinook, 189 chum salmon, and one pink salmon. The fishery began at 7 a.m. local time...

Russia Remains Major Salmon Producer in North Pacific Region

According to experts from the Russian Federal Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography, one of Russia’s leading research institutions in the field of fisheries, salmon landings in the North Pacific Ocean (NPO) amounted to 528,000 tonnes in 2024, with Russia leading fish catches in the region.  

This marks the largest share of Russian catch in the region, accounting for almost 48% of the NPO’s total catch last year. In second place was the United States with 42% and Japan in third place with 9%.  

According to experts from Russian newswire Fish News...

Lake Charles Has a 79% Authenticity Rate for Gulf Shrimp Labeling, Test Results Indicate

According to recent genetic testing conducted by SEAD Consulting, 19 out of 24 shrimp dishes (78%) sampled in local restaurants in Lake Charles, Louisiana were found to be either selling authentic wild-caught Gulf shrimp or correctly labeling imported seafood on their menus.

This round of testing is part of an 8-state study being commissioned by the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) and the Louisiana Shrimp Task Force, utilizing SEAD’s patented genetic test RIGHTTest™. As part of this effort, more than 300 randomly selected restaurants...