Northline Seafoods’ New Freezer Barge At Reduced Capacity Following Electrical Fire

In late May Northline Seafoods’ new freezer barge, Hannah, departed Bellingham’s Fairhaven Shipyard for its maiden voyage to Bristol Bay. The one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art vessel was entering the 2024 salmon season in Bristol Bay with the capacity to freeze up to 1 million pounds of salmon per day, with cold storage on board the vessel able to hold over 10 million pounds of frozen fish, and 2.3 million pounds of fresh.

“This is a dream come true,” Northline Seafoods CEO Ben Blakey...

It's Early: Alaska Wild Salmon Landings on Par With ADF&G Forecasts So Far

With 10.6 million wild salmon caught in Alaska this year so far, landings are on par with ADF&G forecasts of 135.7 million salmon rather than last year’s actual landings of 232.4 million salmon, a 41.6% drop that is due to lower projected catches of pink salmon in Southeast and sockeyes in Bristol Bay. It is still too early in the season to make statements on timing: the latest numbers are as of July 1 when the peak of the Bristol Bay Run is still at ...

The Retail Rundown: Retail Segment and Temperatures Heat Up Ahead of Holiday

The retail segment is heating up for the July 4^th holiday, as are the temperatures across the country.

Scorching heat along with the holiday falling on a Thursday could dampen this year’s cookouts. Residents in the south-central and West Coast are in the midst of a dangerous and record-breaking heat wave, with blistering temperatures forecast to extend into next week.

Meanwhile, severe weather including flash flooding and strong wind gusts is possible over the next few days across the Plains and Midwest, according to the National...

AquaBounty Enters Into Agreement With Superior Fresh To Sell Indiana Aquaculture Facility

AquaBounty Technologies has found a buyer for its Indiana farm. The aquaculture company filed an 8-K form on Tuesday, revealing in the 31-page document that it has entered into an asset purchase agreement with Superior Fresh, "pursuant to which Superior Fresh will acquire AquaBounty Indiana’s land-based aquaculture facility in Albany, Indiana."

AquaBounty announced its plans to sell off its Indiana farm in February. The Indiana facility, which is 12,000 square feet, can raise 1,200 metric tons of salmon each year. The company said...

USDA Announces Winners Of Section 32 Farm Raised Catfish Solicitation 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the contract winners for the Section 32 farm raised catfish products solicitation.

The USDA released an invitation in late May for 4,940,000 lbs of unbreaded raw catfish fillets (20/2 lb) for use in the domestic food distribution programs. Bids were due by June 13, and acceptances were announced by the USDA late last week. The USDA awarded contracts for the full solicitation with a purchase total of $22,864,985.48. Deliveries of the product are to be made from...

Gloucester’s Atlantic Fish and Seafood Reaches Settlement With EPA Over Clean Air Act Violations

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed late last month that it has reached a settlement with NSD Seafood Inc., d/b/a Atlantic Fish and Seafood. According to the EPA, the seafood processor violated the General Duty Clause of Section 112(3) of the Clean Air Act through its handling of anhydrous ammonia at its facility in Gloucester, Massachusetts. 

“EPA’s mission is rooted in safeguarding all communities from pollution, including chemical releases,” commented David W. Cash, the EPA New England Regional Administrator. “This is...

Proximar Triples Biomass at Oyama, Japan Facility and Lauds First Sales Agreement

Bergen-based Proximar Seafood announced its fourth production update of its Oyama, Japan Atlantic salmon facility since it began operating in October 2022. By the end of Q2 2024, Proximar had a standing biomass of 360 metric tonnes, more than tripling its total of 112 metric tonnes at the end of Q1 2024.

"We are very pleased to see the positive development in our biomass continuing through the second quarter of 2024,” said Joachim Nielsen, CEO of Proximar. “The water quality remains good which again is...

Da Yang Seafoods, Astoria Pacific Seafoods Fined By Oregon Department of Environmental Quality 

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued 12 penalties in May for “various environmental violations.” Of those 12 penalties, two were issued to seafood companies: Da Yang Seafoods and Astoria Pacific Seafoods.

Da Yang Seafoods was hit with the largest penalty of all those fined by the state’s DEQ in May. The company must pay $150,000 for discharging wastewater from its processing facility on Pier 2 at the Port of Astoria to waters of the state without a permit on 33 occasions between...

Commerce Announces Council Appointments to All Councils But North Pacific and Pacific

The U.S. Department of Commerce on Friday announced 22 new and returning regional fishery management council members — that is, for all but two of the Councils.

"Appointments to the Pacific and North Pacific fishery management councils will be announced later this summer," the notice on the NMFS website stated, noting that the Secretary of Commerce made appointments for open council seats from the governors’ lists of nominees.

The open seats on both the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and the Pacific Fishery Management Council have been ...

Conagra Brands’ Evol Foods Adds First Seafood Dish To Frozen Single-Serve Meal Offerings

Conagra Brands’ Evol Foods, which is known for its wholesome frozen single-serve meals, has introduced its first seafood offering: Garlic Shrimp Cavatappi.

Evol prides itself in being “forward thinking” about frozen food, which to them means “freezing fresh, simple ingredients in order for busy people to eat better, healthier food whenever they want.” The brand’s single serve meal line has a handful of chicken products, like Chicken Adobo and Hot Honey Chicken, as well as red meat options, like...

SeafoodNews Closed on Thursday, July 4

SeafoodNews will not be publishing on Thursday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day. We will return to our normal publishing schedule on Friday, June 5. 

In the meantime, catch up on our recent major news stories by checking our Featured Stories page. 

You can also watch all the latest SeafoodNews Weekly Videos here or listen to the latest SeafoodNews Podcast episodes here.

Minato Shimbun Counted 104 Branded Salmon Farms in Japan, up 26 from 2022

The number of local salmon brands nationwide in Japan has surpassed 100, a significant milestone. According to a survey by Minato Shimbun, as of early July, there are 104 local salmon brands nationwide, an increase of 26 from the previous survey in 2022. This growth trend indicates a promising future for the local salmon industry.

Each producer grows fish focusing on the breeding environment and feed, differentiating them as domestic salmon with a strong regional flavor. With imported products remaining at a...

Shrimp Is The Star Of The Show This Summer

Summer is the perfect season to enjoy seafood. And while seafood boils and lobster rolls are always popular menu items, it wouldn’t be summer without a sizzling shrimp dish. And based on seasonal promotions it seems that all different types of restaurant chains agree. 

Brazilian Steakhouse Texas de Brazil, which serves all-you-can-eat grilled meat, does not typically offer seafood. However, the restaurant, which has 54 locations, has added two shrimp dishes to their third quarter menu.

For a limited time guests will be able to...

Nissin’s New Seafood Noodle Cup In Japan Targets Thrill Seekers

Japan’s Nissin Foods is well known for its Cup Noodles brand microwavable ramen noodle soup. But while stores in the U.S. stock flavors like shrimp or chicken, the company is launching much more daring new flavors in its home country — like Nissin Raoh Fugu Dashi Salt.

Nissin describes its new product as a “light salt soup.” The base is a seafood and kelp stock that is “accented with the refreshing aroma of yuzu.” The noodle cup comes with a “special pufferfish seasoning oil” that the consumer can...

ANALYSIS: Farmed Salmon Complex Looks Weak Heading into July

Heading into the week of Fourth of July, the farmed salmon complex in the U.S. market looks to be feeling more of the “heat” of the summer doldrums. All origins — Canada, Chile, Norway, and Scotland — saw readily available supply this week, coupled with a fair to at times report of lackluster demand.

From a historical perspective, the farmed salmon complex in 2024 was ahead of the curve for most of the month of June. The farmed salmon index was above the 5-year average for most of the month, ranging...

Norwegian Food Safety Authority Confirms New Detection Of Infectious Salmon Anemia 

Norway’s Food Safety Authority has confirmed the positive detection of Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA) at yet another sea location; this time in Bømlo municipality in Vestland county.  Varde Fiskeopdrett AS, Tombre Fiskeanlegg AS and Lingalaks AS are all engaged in farming salmon at the 11513 Andal site.

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority was first alerted to a suspicion of ISA at 11513 Andal on June 18. The diagnosis was confirmed on June 28 following histopathological findings that were compatible with ISA. With ISA...

Red Lobster’s Crabfest Menu Features “Secret” Flavor Flav Entree 

Red Lobster’s Crabfest menu is expanding with yet another new addition to the lineup: “Flavor Flav’s Faves.” Say that 10 times fast. But there’s a catch. It’s an “off-menu meal,” meaning that it’s a secret menu item that you have to specifically ask your server for. 

In honor of the rapper/ reality TV star and his public devotion for the struggling seafood restaurant, Red Lobster has dropped its limited time “secret menu meal.” The Flavor Flav’s Faves entree features a Maine lobster tail, paired with...