Fortune Fish & Gourmet Unveils New Fish Cutting Facility at Northeast Regional Headquarters

U.S. seafood processor Fortune Fish & Gourmet just unveiled a new fish cutting facility at its Northeast Regional Headquarters in Union, NJ, which will effectively expand the company’s ability to serve fresh fillets to key markets in areas like Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey.

The new refrigerated fillet room will provide Fortune customers with fresh, custom-cut fish, which can then be quickly distributed to restaurants, hotels, and retailers throughout the highly populated Northeast region.

The new cutting room joins Fortune’s growing portfolio of fish processing facilities, which...

Decline of Russian Pollock and Cod Catches Leads to Increased Export Prices in Foreign Markets

Export prices for Russian pollock and cod are steadily growing due to the reduction of catch and deliveries. According to data from Natsiabresurs, the Russian Federal State Unitary Enterprise, the sale price of Russian cod on the foreign market in February 2025 was $7.20 per kg, increasing by 24.1% from the previous month and 65.9% year-on-year (y-o-y). In the meantime, a sharp growth of prices has also been observed in the case of other Russian white fish species including pollock...

East Coast Seafood Adopts Hiperbaric’s HPP Technology

East Coast Seafood (ECS) recently announced its acquisition of a new Hiperbaric high pressure processing (HPP) machine, which will support the seafood wholesaler’s operations in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

HPP utilizes an all-natural, cold-pasteurization method that preserves seafood by subjecting it to extreme water pressure. This technology keeps products fresh so that ECS can extract crustacean and bivalve meat using its existing automation technology, resulting in superior meat extraction, microbial control, and process efficiency.

In addition, the new technology will deliver post-packaging benefits for raw and cooked seafood products, which are...

Nova Sea’s CEO Resigns Following Recent Merge with Mowi

According to a recent press release from Norwegian salmon farmer Nova Sea, CEO Tom Eirik Aasjord will be stepping down from his post of almost six years due to personal reasons, effective April 1, 2025.

Aasjord was employed by Nova Sea since 2013 and has been on a sick leave for a period of time. He expressed his gratitude for the position and stood by his decision to part ways.

“After more than 10 years of commuting, I have come to the conclusion that this is the right time to say..."

Get Crackin’ with New Dungeness Crab License Plate

Whales, sharks, puffins and crabs, oh my!

Oregon license plates featuring sea creatures got a big boost recently with the addition of Dungeness crab, sharks and puffins to the available background choices. They join the gray whale, which came out roughly six years ago.

But Dungeness crab joining salmon demonstrates how it is both an iconic part of Oregon and a vital sport and commercial fishery.

The crab design features a bold, bright orange Oregon Dungeness crab against a light blue sea background, inspired by the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission logo...

Federal Jury Convicts Florida Fisherman for Falsifying Trip Reports and Lying to NOAA Agents

On Friday, March 21, 2025, the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Carolina, announced that a federal jury had convicted Don Michael Rynn, 61, of Augustine, Florida, for making false statements on trip reports regarding the amount and quality of fish that he caught during a fishing expedition in March 2023. Rynn was also found guilty of lying to federal agents, who were with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) Office of Law Enforcement Southeast Division.

The jury came to its decision after...

Blue Star Foods Adds Asian Food Division

Blue Star Foods announced it has added an Asian Food Division to its business, focusing on sushi categories.

The company launched the new division on February 1 under the Blue Star brand, looking to capitalize on popular Japanese cuisine, health-conscious dining preferences, and the growing demand for authentic sushi experiences, which are driving the market expansion.

High value sushi categories such as Hamachi, responsibly raised & harvest in Japan’s Kagawa prefecture, Seto Inland Sea and Kagoshima Bay are the primary farming areas, the company shared in a press release...

ANALYSIS: Slow Start of the Year for Chinese Shrimp Imports

The latest data from Chinese Customs Statistics reveals a double-digit slowdown in Chinese imports of shrimp so far this year. In January and February, China imported 145,567 MT of shrimp of all species, which represents a 14.1% drop y-o-y in volume. However, at $808.9 million USD, the fall in value is less steep at -3.2% y-o-y for the two first month of the year...

Russia Hopes to Significantly Increase its Fish and Seafood Exports in 2025

Russia is hoping for a significant increase in its fish and seafood exports this year after seeing a decline in both areas in 2024.

According to recent statements by Ilya Shestakov, head of Rosrybolovstvo, the Russian agency hopes for export increases in terms of both value and volume.

In value terms, the growth of exports may be equivalent to US$5.7 billion.

Shestakov said, “Based on the results of last year, exports amounted to 1.9 million tons. This is slightly less than in 2023. In terms of value..."

Hokkaido's Herring Fishery Season is Open, but Supply Remains Uncertain

Ishikari Bay’s coastal fishery may fall below 2,000 tons for the first time in four years. While Hokkaido herring catches have been stable at around 20,000 tons in recent years, dark clouds are hanging over the future of this fishing season, Minato Shimbun reported.

Gillnet fishing in the Sea of Japan, which began in mid-January, is nearing the end of its season. According to the Hokkaido government’s summary, the total catch as of March 10—mainly in the Shiribeshi, Ishikari, and Rumoi areas—was 1,446 tons, down 61% from...

Final 2025 Alaska Groundfish TACs Show Drop in Greenland Turbot, Slight Increase in Pollock

The total catch limits have been finalized for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI), with the biggest year-over-year (YOY) decline in Greenland turbot and yellowfin sole.

In all, BSAI total allocable catches (TACs) for 2025 remain at two million metric tons for over 20 species, from the perennially abundant Alaska pollock to the smallest volume-landed shortraker rockfish.

In 2025, the pollock limit increased by 75,000 metric tons (mt) over 2024’s TAC to 1.375 million mt in the Bering Sea. For the...

Heathrow Airport Closure Impacts European Salmon Market

A fire that occurred at a major electricity substation near London’s Heathrow Airport on Friday, March 21, is causing noticeable ripples in the global supply chain, specifically in relation to fish being transported out of Europe.

The fire, which caused an airport closure and significant diversions at Europe’s largest airport, has severely impacted cargo shipments for salmon departing Europe, including key salmon shipments from Norway, Scotland, and the Faroe Islands.

According to Janice Schreiber, Managing Editor at Expana, and Josh Bickert, Market Reporter at Expana, fish shipments from Europe average between 14.3 and...

Western Pacific Scientists Tackle Protected Species Issues and Strategic Planning

When it comes to fishing in the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council region, concerns over threatened or endangered species may be more prominent than concerns about fishing and its successful contributions to the region’s economy.

With that backdrop, the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee met earlier this month and reviewed protected species management in the region’s fisheries. Scientists discussed how the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act do more to regulate fisheries than the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, or MSA...

Maruha Nichiro Debuts New Company Name, Unveils New Long-term, Mid-term Strategies

Maruha Nichiro unveiled a new company name along with a new long-term vision and mid-term management plan. The Japanese seafood giant will be now known as Umios Corporation The company said ‘Umios’ is a word that combines “umi,” “one” and “solutions.”

“Our corporate identity has been changed to "Making people and the earth healthy through food, with value creation power originating from the ocean." We aim to become one with our bodies and the earth, and to find solutions to global social issues through food...

NL Snow Crab Fishery: Quota Rises, Protests Erupt, Prices Unresolved

It was a very, very busy weekend for the Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab fishery which featured a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) announcement, and update on dock price negotiations and protests.

The NL snow crab fishery received a 9% quota increase for the upcoming season. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) announced a 62,883 metric ton (t) quota, above 2024’s 57,568t mark and roughly 15% higher than 2023’s total. In February, the DFO showcased mostly good news for the snow crab fishery in the province, as Expana...

Premium Brands Minimizes Tariff Risk; Clearwater Seafoods Results Hit by Subpar Catches

Canada’s Premium Brands reported a record Q4 revenue of CAD 1.64 billion ($1.14 billion), a 5.4% increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. The company also netted record Q4 adjusted EBITDA ($148.7 million). For the fiscal year, the company hit record revenue ($6.47 billion) and adjusted EBITDA ($593.7 million).

“2024 finished on a strong note driven by our Protein and Bakery Groups’ US sales initiatives, which generated approximately $50 million in sales volume growth in the quarter...

SENA 2025: Echo Falls Debuts New Retail Products and Packaging

During the Seafood Expo North America (SENA) 2025, seafood company Echo Falls Seafoods debuted new products and product packaging both at its booth exhibit and a seafood tasting held in the Wave Makers’ Zone on Monday, March 17.

The product and packaging debuts come six months after Echo Falls Seafood’s business rebranding, previously known as Ocean Beauty Seafoods Smoked and Value-Added division.

The company unveiled several new products for distribution at the seafood expo, also incorporating packaging upgrades, such as new, colorful packaging for its popular hot-smoked Atlantic...