US Seafood Industry Weighs in on China Tariff Framework

The US seafood industry is navigating a pivotal moment in its trade relationship with China, as the Trump Administration moves to formalize a new bilateral framework that could reshape tariff rates on a wide range of fish and shellfish products.

In June, USTR published a Federal Register notice seeking public comment on the scope of a proposed US-China Board of Trade, a managed trade mechanism announced during President Trump's May 2026 visit to Beijing. The Board is intended to identify "non-sensitive" goods on both sides eligible for reciprocal tariff...

WEBINAR: El Niño 2026/27 Fundamentals in Focus — Coffee, Cocoa & Seafood

El Niño does not affect every origin at once or in the same way. The timing and location of these shifts matter for the coming agricultural crops and seafood catch.

With El Niño conditions possibly strengthening into the Northern Hemisphere winter, dryness and heat could reshape agricultural crop balances into the 2026/27 cycle, while warmer Pacific waters could reshape seafood stocks and aquaculture.

On July 23 at 11 AM ET | 4 PM BST, our market experts will take a deep, fundamentals-led look to uncover...

EU Fish Sanctions Against Russia Stall as 21st Sanctions Package Hits Resistance

Proposed restrictions on Russian seafood imports — the first of their kind to be included in an EU sanctions package — appear set to be dropped or softened after EU foreign ministers failed to finalize the bloc's 21st sanctions package at their July 13 meeting in Brussels. The failure has added urgency to ongoing negotiations, with a Wednesday, July 15 deadline looming over the oil price cap on Russian crude, currently set at $44.10 per barrel. If no agreement is reached...

Chile's Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector Tops $5 Billion in First Half of 2026, With Gains Spreading

Chile's fisheries and aquaculture sector generated $5.0 billion in export revenue in the first half of 2026, a 6.4% increase over the same period last year, according to ProChile's Non-Copper Non-Lithium Export Report for June 2026. The figures confirm the sector's continued strength — but the more notable story may be what's happening outside of salmon.

Salmon and trout, which account for the lion's share of Chile's seafood export value, grew 6.5% to $3.504 billion through June...

The Retail Rundown: Grocers Push Promotions to Drive Summer and Back-to-School Baskets

As grilling season nears its peak, retailers are competing for consumer dollars with promotions aimed at increasingly value-conscious shoppers willing to switch proteins, or trade down within a protein category, to stretch grocery budgets.

Beef, along with several premium seafood products, command the highest retail prices, consistent with historical norms. However, price premiums have widened noticeably for several red meat and seafood categories, including steaks, shellfish, and finfish.

Retailers have limited flexibility to aggressively promote beef amid historically tight cattle supplies and elevated wholesale beef prices. While ground beef remains one of the strongest...

Chile Strengthens AgroSalmon Alliance to Boost Domestic Aquafeed Supply Chain

Chile’s AgroSalmon Alliance is a collaborative initiative that brings together leading organizations from the country’s agriculture and salmon farming sectors.

Minister Jaime Campos of the Ministry of Agriculture convened a meeting to strengthen the alliance with industry representatives. Attendees included Antonio Walker, president of the National Society of Agriculture (SNA); Juan Pablo Matte, secretary general of the SNA; Ricardo Montesinos, president of SAGO; Loreto Seguel, executive president of the Salmon Council; representatives from the Office of Agricultural Studies and Policies (ODEPA); and leaders...

Norway's World Cup Run Ends with a Seafood Feast Fit for the Occasion

Norway's remarkable run to the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals came to an end on July 11, when England edged past the team 2-1 in extra time in Miami, with Jude Bellingham scoring the decisive goal. But if the squad was going to bow out, they did so in style — with a farewell dinner loaded with Norwegian seafood.

The spread featured 15 kg of king crab, 20 kg of crayfish, 10 kg of snow crab, 3 kg of salmon fillet, and 3 kg of halibut fillet...

DFO Enforcement Roundup: Snow Crab, Lobster, and Groundfish Violations Highlight Busy Start to July

Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has released a series of enforcement updates this month, covering incidents from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The actions span illegal snow crab offloading, lobster violations, groundfish monitoring failures, and an earlier elver smuggling conviction.

860 Pounds of Snow Crab Intercepted in Newfoundland

On July 1, fishery officers from the Springdale Detachment in Newfoundland and Labrador intercepted a fishing vessel returning to port in the Triton area carrying approximately 860 pounds...

Mowi Posts Record Q2 Harvest of 150,000 MT, EBIT Jumps 23%

Mowi delivered a record second-quarter harvest of 150,000 tonnes gutted weight in Q2 2026, up 13% from 133,000 tonnes in Q2 2025 and ahead of the company's own guidance of 140,000 tonnes. Norway led output at 85,000 tonnes, followed by Scotland at 26,500 tonnes and Chile at 17,500 tonnes. Canada contributed 10,000 tonnes — a notable rebound given the pressures flagged in the 2025 annual report.

Group Operational EBIT came in at approximately EUR 231 million, a 23% year-on-year increase from...

Humane Stunning Gains Ground as Producers Target Welfare and Yield Improvements

Producers are increasingly looking for ways to improve harvest yields while meeting rising animal welfare standards. In a pair of announcements published by Ace Aquatec, the company highlighted producers that have invested in its technology as a humane way to streamline operations.

Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation (Vina Cleanfood), a leading Vietnamese shrimp producer and exporter, has invested in Ace Aquatec's Humane Stunner Universal (A-HSU®) technology. The system stuns shrimp unconscious in less than one second.

"Shrimp welfare is becoming an increasingly important topic across...

ANALYSIS: Canada YTD Lobster Exports Decline Since Last Year

According to Canadian statistics, May exports of Homarus americanus fell 9.3% year‑on‑year to 8,629 MT. Two‑thirds of total volume is live lobster, with 61% shipped to the US, 16% to China and 13% to the EU‑UK...

Morey’s Launches New Fish and Shrimp Variety Packs Exclusively at Sam’s Club This Month

Morey's Fine Fish & Seafood is rolling out two new seafood variety packs exclusively at Sam’s Club this July, a strategic push into the club-retail channel timed for peak grilling and summer entertaining.

The Fish Variety Pack combines Atlantic Salmon Steakhouse (a Sam’s Club exclusive not currently available in stores), Wild Alaskan Flounder Garlic & Herb, and Tilapia Blackened.

The Shrimp Variety Pack introduces three new SKUs from Morey's: Teriyaki Shrimp, Garlic & Herb Shrimp, and Citrus Mango Shrimp. Both packs...

Expana’s Team Presents Webinar on Strengthening El Niño Conditions

On June 25, the message was clear: El Niño has begun, according to Expana's Weather & Crop Researcher, James Tyler, the Director of Fundamental Analysis, Philip Manamel, as well as Editor and webinar host, Thess Mostoles.

The weather pattern is one that has the capability to influence crop conditions, supply, and ultimately the prices of agri-commodities across the globe.

EU Opens Infringement Proceedings Against Italy and Portugal Over Fisheries Control Failures

The European Commission has launched infringement proceedings against Italy and Portugal for failing to comply with their obligations under the EU Fisheries Control Regulation, sending letters of formal notice to both countries on July 7, according to the Commission's July infringements package.

"The prolonged failures by both member states to comply with their fisheries control obligations undermine the level playing field in the EU," the Commission said in its statement.

Italy faces action over several outstanding measures it committed to in its 2019 Fisheries Control Action Plan, including...

New England Aquarium Debuts Harbor Exhibit as Summer Season Gets Underway

The New England Aquarium has launched a new exhibit highlighting New England harbor ecosystems as part of its expanded summer programming, which also includes extended operating hours, new visitor experiences, and seasonal attractions.

Open daily from 9 am to 6 pm through Labor Day, the Aquarium enters the peak summer season with a renovated front lobby completed this spring and a refreshed lineup of exhibits and programming.

The centerpiece of the summer season is the new New England Harbor exhibit, a 1,000-gallon display showcasing native...

ANALYSIS: Live Lobster Faces Post-Holiday Demand Lull as Maine Supply Steps Up

The live lobster market is entering its next seasonal transition as Canadian spring production tapers off and Maine landings continue to build. Holiday demand provided the expected support through early summer, but buying interest has faded following July 4. Sales have become harder to secure, with buyers focusing on short-term and weekend needs rather than building inventory. Lower Canadian offers continue to surface while improving Maine landings add to the softer tone.

This softer demand pattern is typical for midsummer, though broader consumer pressures are reinforcing...

USDA to Add US Wild-Caught Shrimp to TEFAP Foods List for FY27

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to add US wild-caught, peeled and deveined shrimp to the FY2027 Foods Available List for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), a move expected to support future government purchases of domestic shrimp and provide an additional market for US harvesters.

The addition enables Section 32 purchases of shrimp harvested during the upcoming season, while expanding the availability of US wild-caught shrimp through the federal food assistance program.

"Adding US...

Landing Prices of Hokkaido Okhotsk Scallop Soar Due to High Prices for Frozen Adductors

Driven by high market prices for the region's frozen scallop adductor muscles, the price of whole scallops along Hokkaido's Okhotsk coast has reached "unprecedented highs," according to fisheries cooperatives in the Southern district.

Meanwhile, according to a Minato Shimbun report, although scallop growth was better than the previous year during the early stages of the season, growth has slowed in some coastal areas ahead of the summer peak. There is also a noticeable lack of inquiries for the "5S" size category...

Nichirei Hit by Cyberattack, Logistics and Frozen Food Shipments Disrupted

Japanese frozen food giant Nichirei Foods said it was the victim of a cyberattack on July 13 that disrupted inbound and outbound operations at refrigerated warehouses run by its logistics arm, as well as frozen food shipments.

The company launched an investigation immediately, and on July 15 confirmed its servers had been compromised. To prevent further damage, Nichirei said it would not disclose details of the attack.

Parent company Nichirei Corporation said some of the affected servers stored personal information and that the matter had been reported to Japan's Personal...

WA Congresswoman Touts Bill Expanding Lethal Take of Sea Lions to Protect Columbia River Salmon

Last week, Washington Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez introduced a bill that would allow increased lethal removal of California and Steller sea lions by Southwest Washington's Indian Tribes and extend removal authority to nearly 292 miles from the mouth of the Columbia River.

Members of five tribal groups with ancestral history in the area, as well as state managers, have been taking California and Steller sea lions under a law passed in 2018 designed to protect endangered salmon...

Captain D’s Expands Texas Footprint With New Corsicana Restaurant

Fast-casual seafood chain Captain D's is expanding its Texas footprint with the opening of its newest restaurant in Corsicana, the company announced Tuesday.

The new location opened July 13 at 3920 W. State Highway 31.

The store marks Captain D's 19th location in the state and is owned and operated by multi-unit franchisee Joseph Omobogie.

"Joseph is a highly accomplished, growth-minded operator who understands how to scale successful restaurant concepts," said Brad Reed, Chief Development Officer of Captain D's. "His expansion into Corsicana...

Study Backs Marine Conservation Farming as Tool for Atlantic Salmon Recovery

A newly published study on the Fundy Salmon Recovery (FSR) project is adding momentum to calls for Canada to adopt new tools to restore wild Atlantic salmon populations, arguing that habitat work alone will not be enough to reverse declines.

The research, published in Fisheries Research by scientists from the University of New Brunswick, Parks Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, found that salmon raised through the project’s marine conservation farming approach produced more than four times as many offspring as fish reared entirely in traditional...

Piñeiro Soler Adds Clarity to Trump’s Sweeping Deregulation Efforts via Letters to Councils

Last week Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, NOAA’s Assistant Administrator for Fisheries sent letters to each of the nation’s eight regional fisheries management councils further clarifying and adding to Trump’s sweeping deregulation efforts. 

Soler’s letters urged councils to deprioritize development of ropeless gear solutions for trap or pot gear to avoid whale entanglements; rescind industry-funded monitoring requirements with no mention of where funding would come for that critical need; revise accountability measurements “to stabilize local seafood markets and prevent...

PanaPesca USA Partners with Cedar Key Aquaculture Farms for Florida-Grown Littleneck Clams

Frozen seafood supplier PanaPesca USA has announced a new sourcing partnership with Cedar Key Aquaculture Farms (CKAF), a fourth-generation family business farming clams in the Gulf of America off Florida's Nature Coast.

Under the agreement, PanaPesca will source hand-farmed littleneck clams from CKAF, adding a fully traceable, domestically farmed product to its supply chain. PanaPesca, which has supplied premium frozen seafood for over 30 years, said the partnership reflects its commitment to transparency and sustainable sourcing...

Handy Seafood Promotes Doug Santschi to President

Maryland-based Handy Seafood has promoted Doug Santschi to President, effective July 13. In the new role, Santschi will assume broader responsibility for the company's day-to-day operations, working alongside Handy's leadership team to drive growth, operational excellence, customer service, and innovation.

Santschi previously served as the company's Chief Commercial Officer, where he strengthened customer relationships, expanded market opportunities, and aligned commercial strategies across the organization.

"Doug has demonstrated exceptional leadership, business judgment, and commitment to our customers and employees," said Todd Conway, Chief Executive Officer of Handy Seafood...

Louisiana Harvesters Cited after Unrefrigerated Oyster Catch Seized

Two Louisiana oyster harvesters are facing alleged sanitation violations after enforcement agents found oysters intended for the raw market that had not been properly refrigerated during a patrol in Terrebonne Parish.

According to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), enforcement agents cited Houma residents Juan Raul Cardenas Calderon, 23, and Luis Angel Perez-Macedo, 29, on June 24 for allegedly violating the state's oyster sanitation code covering refrigeration requirements.

Agents encountered the pair harvesting oysters in Four League Bay before conducting a routine inspection...

Circana’s 2026/2027 Global Food and Beverage Outlook Predicts Slow-to-Moderate Growth 

U.S. consumers are no longer just cutting back; they are recalibrating how they buy, according to new Circana Compass research released today by Circana LLC. The insights show the U.S. retail food and beverage (F&B) industry grew 2.2% in the first half of 2026, and Circana projects growth will settle into a 2-3% range in 2027 as shoppers optimize spending amid financial pressure, shifting lifestyle priorities, and increasingly digital, AI-assisted shopping behavior. The findings signal a return toward pre..

Steakholder’s Perfecta Line Lands in US, Kicking Off Northeastern Retail Rollout

Steakholder Foods Ltd. has entered the US retail market with the arrival of the first shipment of its Perfecta™ Premium Plant‑Based Meat, ahead of an initial launch across dozens of retail stores in the Northeastern United States.

The company first announced in May that it planned to launch Perfecta™ Premium Plant‑Based Meat in the US market in the second half of 2026.

According to Expana's recent report, Perfecta is the company's new line of plant‑based proteins, featuring whole‑cut steaks and...

ANALYSIS: US Frozen Scallop Prices Hit Record Highs as Tariffs and Tight Supply Squeeze Imports

Total frozen scallop imports into the US are down 48.9% year-to-date in 2026, falling from 27.5 million pounds to just 14.1 million pounds. The headline decline is heavily influenced by the front-loading that inflated Q1 2025 — importers aggressively accelerated shipments ahead of tariff implementation, creating an artificially elevated baseline. As the year progresses and both periods fall within a tariff environment, the year-over-year comparisons begin to...

UK Seafood Awards Open Nominations, Add Fishmonger and Producer Categories

The UK’s leading fish farmers and sustainable fishmongers are being invited to throw their hats in the ring as nominations open today for the country’s foremost seafood awards.

Now in their 13th year and run jointly by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) UK and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) UK, the annual awards have added two new categories to recognise important roles in the growing market for certified seafood. The MSC UK Fishmonger of the Year award is open to any business, large or small...