Trump Says Canada-Mexico Tariffs Delayed Until April 2, Hints at EU Trade War

US President Donald Trump announced that tariffs on Canada and Mexico will be delayed until April 2 during a televised press conference with his cabinet.

This comes just days after Trump said the tariffs would be implemented at the start of March as the President continues to oscillate on the tariff implementation date involving the country’s neighbors.

Amid Trump’s comment regarding the April 2 tariff start date, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick added that America’s neighbors had to satisfy the president’s demands regarding border security and fentanyl crossing into the US border, suggesting that some levies could be enacted next week.

“It’s going to be hard to satisfy,” Trump said following Lutnick’s explanation.

DFO Says NL Snow Crab Fishery in Good Shape, But Cautious on Long-Term Outlook as Season Draws Near

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) showcased mostly good news for the Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) snow crab fishery in its latest stock assessment update. However, findings did indicate that the stock may see poor growth rates due to “unfavorable ecosystem conditions and low abundances of small snow crab observed in surveys.” 

The DFO indicated that stocks appear to sit at healthy levels, which may pave the way for a similar quota in 2025. Last year’s quota was...

Agri-Food Europe: 2025 Marks a Game-Changing Year

The food industry is on the cusp of radical transformation, with 2025 set to be a pivotal year of disruption and reinvention, according to food futurologist Dr. Morgaine Gaye. Speaking at the Agri-Food Europe event, hosted by Expana in Amsterdam on February 26, Gaye outlined key trends shaping the Agri-Food sector.

Gaye identified recurring patterns of crisis over recent years:

2020: Crisis

2021-2023: Chaos

2024-2025: A second wave of disruption and transformation

2020: Crisis

2021-2023: Chaos

2024-2025: A second wave of disruption and transformation

Maruha Nichiro Merges US Pollock Subsidiaries

Maruha Nichiro announced the merger of two US-based Alaska pollock subsidiaries, Westward Seafoods and Alyeska Seafoods.

“The merger of the two companies, which have overlapping business operations, will create a more efficient operating structure and increase profitability through production efficiency,” per a notice published by the Japanese seafood giant.

Both businesses were described as Alaska pollock companies that produce surimi, fillets, roe, and meat, along with cod and crab products.

The firm said the merger would not impact its financial results because they are wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries...

Bakkafrost Q4 Results Indicate Stalled Revenue Stream Amid Strong Smolt Production

On February 17, 2025, Faroese salmon farmer Bakkafrost released its Q4 2024 financial results, indicating stalled quarterly revenues for the company amid strong overall smolt production and a decreased mortality rate.

In total, Q4 revenues totaled DKK 1,470 million ($207.28 million), amounting to DKK 12 million less than the same period last year. The Faroe Islands operations carried the majority of revenues, reaching DKK 1,184 million (a decrease of 294 million from Q4 2023), while Scotland operations reached DKK 286 million (an increase of 282 million from Q4 2023)...

CDFW Looks for Success in Spring Chinook Pilot Project on North Yuba River

A fourth major salmon project in California has resulted in spring-run Chinook swimming in some of the best river waters in the state.

The North Yuba River hasn’t seen salmon in almost 100 years due to dams and other habitat impediments. But California is testing a technique used in other areas of the Pacific Northwest to determine whether injecting salmon eggs in the gravel riverbed – their historic spawning and rearing habitat in the mountains of Sierra County – is feasible.

In late October 2024, the California Department...

Alaska House Leaders Oppose Governor’s Plan to Allow Fish Farms, Dunleavy Responds in Video

The debate over whether to lift a 35-year ban on fish farms in Alaska continued yesterday. On Friday, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy proposed HB111, which would keep the ban on salmon farming but allow Alaskans to raise other finfish, in closed water systems, potentially for sale. 

Yesterday, Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, and House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, issued a written statement after reading the bill.

“Alaska’s commercial fishing industry, our coastal communities, and fishing families across the state are suffering through historically...

UK’s Largest Retailer Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Norwegian Salmon Companies

Tesco, the largest food retailer in the United Kingdom (UK), has filed an antitrust lawsuit against several Norwegian salmon producers, alleging the firms engaged in a price-fixing conspiracy.

The suit filed on February 18, lists eight salmon farmers as defendants, including Cermaq Group AS, Lerøy Seafood Group ASA, Scottish Sea Farms Limited, Bremnes Seashore AS, Grieg Seafood ASA, Grieg Seafood UK Limited, SalMar ASA, and Sjor AS. The suit also includes other retailers as claimants alongside Tesco, including Booker Limited and Budgens Stores...

NMFS Uses Early Genetic Detection Methods for Bitter Crab Disease Amid Low Bering Sea Crab Stocks

Amid unprecedented low abundance levels for Tanner crab and snow crab in the Bering Sea, scientists from the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS, or NOAA Fisheries) have been utilizing sensitive genetic detection methods to establish earlier detection of bitter crab disease.

The ailment, which has recently impacted the Bering Sea’s historically large Tanner crab and snow crab fisheries, is caused by microscopic parasites that infect crabs, leading to increased crab mortality rates. Infected crabs are known to taste bitter, hence the name of the disease.

NOAA scientists were able to use these...

The Retail Rundown: Seafood Rides the Lenten Wave

With March just around the corner, the first signs of spring and warmer days are emerging—welcome news for both consumers and grocers.

Seafood leads this week's protein advertisements, accounting for 26% of total features, closely followed by beef and chicken at 23% each. Pork ads make up 22%, while turkey holds a 3.5% share. Egg promotions remain scarce, extending a two-week trend.

In the seafood complex, fillet promotions are ramping up ahead of the Lenten season, now making up 33.5% of the category’s volume. Ads for both raw and cooked...

Atlantic Sapphire is the First US Land-Based Salmon Farmer to Achieve ASC Certification

Atlantic Sapphire recently earned an Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification for its salmon farming operations in Homestead, Florida. This makes the Florida-based aquaculture company the first salmon farm in the United States, and the latest salmon farm in North America, to achieve ASC certification.

Initially founded in 2010, Atlantic Sapphire utilizes a Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) for its land-based commercial salmon farming operations, which eliminates the use of antibiotics or pesticides, removes the presence of microplastics and mercury in the water source, and mitigates...

WFA Panel Explores Role of AI and Digitalization in Shaping Agriculture's Future

Corinne Bonadei, Katja Hermans and Luana Clapis shared their perspectives on the evolving agricultural landscape, focusing on the role of technology, generational shifts, and workforce challenges at Expana's Women in Food and Agriculture event, held in Amsterdam on February 25, 2025.

Bonadei, head of Precision Services Animal Nutrition and Health at nutrition research firm DSM-Firmenich, highlighted the growing impact of automation and AI in agriculture. She noted that while digital transformation in agriculture remains limited, the sector is adopting technologies like AI to analyze animal data to forecast, for example, health issues.

Trump: Canada, Mexico Tariffs 'Will Go Forward'; Reciprocal Tariffs On Schedule

President Donald Trump announced Monday that tariffs on Canada and Mexico will take effect next month, ending a monthlong delay set to expire next week. Speaking at a White House news conference alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump emphasized that the tariffs were moving forward as planned.

“We’re on time with the tariffs, and it seems like that’s moving along very rapidly,” he said, according to the Associated Press.

He also reaffirmed that his reciprocal tariff plan remains on track to begin as early as April...

ANALYSIS: The Effect of US Tariffs on Food Packaging Materials

US President Donald Trump’s long-touted import tariff regime has started to take shape throughout February.

Trump’s administration has targeted China with tariffs of 10% on all imports and 25% import tariffs were applied to Canada and Mexico.

On February 13, Trump signed a memorandum ordering his advisers to create a plan to tackle the US trade deficit.

This followed an announcement on February 11 of the imposition of tariffs of 25% on all imports of aluminum and steel.

Expana analysts have assessed the impact on packaging materials...

ANALYSIS: Shrimp Major Markets Dropped Imports, Europe More Resilient

The three largest shrimp markets, China, the US, and the EU & UK, slightly declined warm water shrimp imports in 2024 compared with 2023. According to customs data, total imports from these regions dropped by 3.1% y-o-y in volume and 6.8% in value. This represents 2,517,444 metric tons of shrimp, for a value just below $17.4 billion, and a value per metric ton at 6,910 USD/MT, also declining by 3.9% y-o-y. However, the situations are rather different per market...

National Food Distributor Harvest Sherwood to Cease Operations Amid Rising Costs

National food distributor Harvest Sherwood is shutting down its operations across several states, resulting in 1,500 layoffs. The company distributes products throughout protein categories, including beef, poultry, pork, and seafood.

Harvest Sherwood Food Distributors, headquartered in Detroit, issued WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act) notices in Michigan, Florida, and Oregon, per the Detroit Free Press. Notices were also issued in Ohio, according to local media reports.

One notice filed in Ohio stated that employees would remain on payroll and benefits through April 21, 2025...

Russian Salmon Fishermen to Pay Hefty Bill for Catch Rights Over Next Two Decades

Russia may face a decline in its salmon catch in the short term amid state plans to make domestic fishermen re-register their catch rights for the next two decades.

According to data from the All-Russian Association of Fish Producers (VARPE), there are 2,175 salmon fishing sites in Russia, while their lease terms range from 10 to 25 years and, in most cases, expire in 2027–2028. That means that fishermen's existing rights to use these sites should be extended already this year...