ANALYSIS: US Groundfish Imports Show November Gains but Yearly Deficits Keep Prices Firm

November import data reveals a groundfish market marked by uneven month-over-month gains and persistent structural supply constraints. While cod and pollock experienced monthly increases in shipments, year-to-date volumes remain significantly lower than 2024, reinforcing upward price momentum in twice-frozen Atlantic and Pacific cod loins...

Ecuador Pushes US Negotiations Amid Potential Shrimp Shift Back to India After Tariff Cut

Following the recent India-US trade agreement lowering shrimp tariffs, Jose Antonio Camposano, head of Ecuador's National Aquaculture Chamber, urged renewed trade negotiations with the US to safeguard the country's position in its top shrimp export market.

“This is crucial for shrimp, which accounts for 30% of our non-oil exports to that market. Taking full advantage of all negotiation opportunities is key to consolidating and expanding the space gained in that strategic destination,” Camposano wrote on social media platform X on February 2...

New Coalition Calls on Administration to Safeguard USMCA, Highlighting Ag and Seafood Stakes

The Agricultural Coalition for USMCA, backed by 40 farm and agricultural groups, launched today with a new website and an ad blitz in Washington DC as it pushes to defend and strengthen the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) ahead of the Trump administration's July 2026 review.

The new coalition aims to highlight the USMCA's critical importance to the US farm economy and to call for its renewal with ag-targeted improvements.

“USMCA is one of President Trump’s...

Surimi Producer Trans-Ocean Products Appoints Chris Cameron as President

Trans-Oceans Products, a US-based surimi producer, announced the appointment of Chris Cameron as its new President.

Cameron assumed the role of head of the firm, which is owned by the Japanese seafood giant Maruha Nichiro, on January 1, 2026. Cameron succeeds Murry Park, who served as President and CEO of the company since 2014.

"I'm honored to step into the role of President and build on the strong foundation that has made Trans-Ocean a leader in the surimi seafood category," said Cameron...

Rabobank: Salmon Supply Growth to Stall, Tariffs, Trade Shifts to Drive Shrimp Volume

Resilient consumer demand is keeping prices firm across major aquaculture species as 2026 gets underway, even with constrained supply, shifting trade flows, and geopolitical uncertainty continuing to test seafood markets around the world, according to Rabobank’s latest Global Aquaculture Update.

“While inflation has eased in major economies, supporting demand, the industry still faces headwinds from macroeconomic uncertainty, evolving tariff regimes, and climate‑related pressures,” said Novel Sharma, Seafood analyst at RaboResearch.

Farmed salmon input is expected to largely stall in 2026, with a potential...

Vaseline and Red Lobster Unite for Valentine's Day Kissing Booth Experience

This Valentine's Day, an unexpected partnership is making its debut.

Vaseline and Red Lobster are teaming up to introduce the Vaseline® x Red Lobster Kissing Booth.

Though the collaboration might seem surprising at first, it's grounded in a timeless Valentine's Day truth. Red Lobster has long been a favorite for romantic evenings, celebrated for its indulgent dishes and intimate atmosphere.

Conversely, Vaseline® Limited Edition Valentine's Day Lip Therapy® is the perfect companion when those special moments lead to a...

Expana’s 2026 Valentine’s Day Index: Lower Lobster Tail Prices Help Pull Meal Costs Down

Expana’s US Valentine’s Day Index is live — and the big story for dinner tables is lobster. The Valentine’s Meal Index (beef tenderloin, lobster tail, potatoes) fell 7.8% year over year and 10.4% month over month, driven largely by softer lobster tail and potato prices.

For frozen North American lobster tails (5–6 oz, EBP), the year-to-date average sits near $19.50/lb, about 18% below the same period last year and well under the five-year seasonal average...

Captain Fresh to Restart Indian Supply Chains as US-India Trade Deal Lowers Shrimp Tariff

The CEO of the India-based seafood giant Captain Fresh said the company would shift most of its sourcing back to India following its recent trade deal with the United States, according to an interview with The Times of India.

Captain Fresh founder and CEO Utham Gowda told the publication that the company has already agreed with its Indian suppliers to resume manufacturing as soon as possible. Gowda added that before the massive 50% tariff on India, the company sourced two-thirds of its products...

ANALYSIS: Norwegian Salmon Production Grows 11.9% in 2025, With the Outlook Indicating Stability

The Norwegian Atlantic salmon production closed 2025 with a harvest volume increase of 11.9% year-on-year (y-o-y), according to the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries (Figure 1). Biomass in seawater declined slightly from December 2024 levels, falling 0.7%. This stable biomass suggests that salmon supply in 2026 may follow a similar trend to 2025...

FDA Warns Carolina Seafood Over HACCP Failures for Ready-to-Eat Crab, Shrimp Dips

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning letter to Carolina Seafood Inc., owner Rutledge Leland III, following an April 29–May 2, 2025, inspection that found significant violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation (21 C.F.R. Part 123). The letter was issued on August 21, 2025, and posted on the FDA's website on Tuesday.

The FDA says revised, undated HACCP plans submitted by the McClellanville, S.C., processor for its ready-to-eat (RTE) crab dip and shrimp dip...

DHS, DOL Release 64,716 Supplemental H-2B Visas for 2026 to Aid Seafood Processing, Seasonal Labor

The Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Labor (DOL) have announced the release of up to 64,716 supplemental H‑2B visas for fiscal year 2026, in addition to the statutory annual cap of 66,000. The time‑limited authority, detailed in a Feb. 3 Federal Register notice, addresses widespread seasonal labor shortages across industries, including seafood processing, hospitality, landscaping, and construction.

The move comes after a bipartisan request led by Senators Angus King (I‑ME) and Mike Rounds (R‑SD)...

Canada Unveils New Initiatives to Modernize Fisheries and Reduce Regulatory Burdens

Canada’s Minister of Fisheries, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, announced Feb. 4 a series of policy initiatives aimed at strengthening Canada’s fisheries while reducing regulatory burden for harvesters.

The measures are intended to modernize fisheries management, improve efficiency, and ensure regulations better reflect real-world fishing operations, while continuing to protect the health and safety of Canadians, the environment, and the long-term sustainability of fish stocks.

"Fishing is more than just an economic driver for rural, coastal, and Indigenous communities...

Importers Face Higher Duties as Commerce Completes 19th India Shrimp Review

The US Department of Commerce has released the final results of its 19th administrative review of the antidumping duty (AD) order on certain frozen warmwater shrimp from India, setting company-specific and review-wide dumping margins for imports entered between February 1, 2023 and January 31, 2024.

Commerce determined a weighted-average dumping margin of 5.08% for Sandhya Aqua Exports Private Limited. The Devi Group, Devi Fisheries Limited, Satya Seafoods Private Limited, Usha Seafoods and Devi Aquatech Private Limited received a 2.71% margin...

Massachusetts Ethics Commission Approves Penalty After Harbormaster Had Employee Do His College Work

Former Gloucester Harbormaster Thomas Ciarametaro Jr. paid a $15,000 civil penalty and $1,200 in restitution for violating a conflict of interest law.

Ciarametaro had a subordinate city employee complete his Endicott College coursework, which he submitted as his own while working toward a bachelor's degree.

The State Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement under which Ciarametaro admitted to the violations and waived his right to a public hearing and agreed to pay the aforementioned penalties to the City of Gloucester for work time spent on...

GAPP Embarks on its Strategic Push for Alaska Pollock in Global Markets with an Indonesia Stop

The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) is set to explore new international strategic opportunities to expand the presence of US wild-caught Alaska Pollock products in 2026.

As part of this initiative, GAPP participated in a trade mission to Jakarta, Indonesia from Feb.2-5, alongside USDA Foreign Agricultural Service officials, state agriculture departments, agribusiness executives, and representatives from other US commodities. Indonesia, the fourth most populous nation globally, presents a significant market of interest.

"Indonesia is referred to as the ‘kitchen’ of Southeast...

EU Seafood Sectors Call for Urgent Corrections to Fisheries Control Regulation Implementation

European organizations representing the fishing, processing, aquaculture and seafood trading sectors are calling on the European Commission to urgently revise the implementation of the EU Fisheries Control Regulation, with particular concern over the CATCH IT system and the application of Articles 14 and 58.

In line with a joint statement submitted by Member States to the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, and concerns widely shared during the AGRIFISH Council discussion, the sectors warn that key provisions are proving unworkable in practice and risk...

SalmonChile Elects Patricio Melero as President

SalmonChile's Board of Directors has elected Patricio Melero Abaroa as president of the trade association representing Chile’s salmon producers and suppliers, effective March 1. An agricultural engineer from the University of Chile, Melero brings decades of public policy experience, including service as a deputy (1990–2021), president of the Chamber of Deputies (2011–2012), and Minister of Labor and Social Security (2021–2022).

During his parliamentary tenure, Melero served on and chaired the Lower House Fisheries and Aquaculture Committee for five terms, contributing to the passage of the 1991 Fisheries and...

The Curse and the Blessing of Diverse Fisheries For Communities that Rim Alaska’s Bering Sea

In Anchorage this week and next, the federal, state, and local fisheries managers, industry stakeholders, and scientists are addressing ways to reduce chum salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea trawl fishery. Hundreds of miles away in communities that rim the Bering Sea from Bethel to Nome, and along the two river systems that feed the Bering Sea, the Yukon and Kuskokwim, residents are also grappling with chum bycatch off their shores, and how much it may be impacting the disappearance of chum from the rivers...

Patrick Keliher Named 2025 Captain David H. Hart Award Recipient

At its Winter Meeting in Arlington, Virginia, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) presented Patrick Keliher, former Commissioner with the Maine Department of Marine Resources (ME DMR), the Captain David H. Hart Award for 2025 for his longstanding contributions to and exceptional leadership towards the sustainable management of marine resources along the Eastern Seaboard...

ANALYSIS: China's Lobster Imports Hit Record High Amid Supplier Shift

Since lobster imports began gaining momentum in China in 2017, Chinese consumers have increasingly embraced this high-end seafood, appreciating its delicate taste and juicy flesh. According to the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), lobster imports (all species combined) reached a record volume of 69,774 metric tonnes in 2025. This marks a 14.7% increase over 2024 and a substantial 61.6% rise from the low point of 43,185 metric tonnes recorded during the coronavirus crisis in 2021...

US Market Challenges Push Norwegian Salmon Fillet Exports Down 37%, Poland and China Surge

Norwegian seafood exports fell 3% in value at the start of 2026 compared to January last year, as the US market faced “unpredictable tariffs,” a weaker dollar, and rising competition, the Norwegian Seafood Council reports. CEO Christian Chramer pointed to lower salmon prices, reduced quotas for several wild species, and challenging market access as key factors behind the decline.

At this point last year, the US was the largest single market for Norwegian seafood. Today, the value of exports destined for the US has declined...

StarKist Launches ‘Fuel Good, Feel Good’ Campaign Featuring Former Bachelorette, US Hockey Hero

Staple US seafood brand StarKist launched its latest campaign, ‘Fuel Good, Feel Good,’ which is designed to show how fueling up with protein helps consumers accomplish their everyday goals, both big and small.

To bring its new campaign to life, StarKist partnered with a group of creators who will showcase how StarKist’s ready-to-eat products support energy and help people feel good. Partners include former Bachelorette Becca Kufrin, Savannah Bananas star Jackson Olson, and former US Olympic hockey hero TJ Oshie...

Canada's Whalesafe Fishing Gear Protects Whales and Supports Coastal Economies

Yesterday, Canada’s Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson launched the country’s new Whalesafe Fishing Gear Strategy – a five-year plan to help protect whales and promote sustainable fisheries. 

Harvesters and fishery stakeholders share Canada’s oceans with many whale species, including the endangered North Atlantic right whale, which is vulnerable to entanglement in fishing gear. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is committed to supporting prosperous fisheries that coexist with healthy whale populations. 

Whalesafe gear falls into two general categories: 

On-demand gear...

Newfoundland and Labrador to Close Boston Trade Office, Reallocates Outreach Homeward

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced it will close its Boston trade office as part of a fiscal‑management and economic‑development shift, a move that will save the province roughly $1 million a year.

The province says international business development will be consolidated and managed from St. John’s by the Departments of Jobs, Growth and Rural Development; Energy and Mines; Fisheries and Aquaculture; and the Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat. Officials stressed that longstanding ties with New England partners will be maintained, but future outreach...

ANALYSIS: Tariff Aftershocks Could Redirect Shrimp Flows Between Ecuador, India, China

The immediate impact of the new trade deal between the US and India is likely to be a near-term increase in Farmgate prices in India. Prices in India and Indonesia have been trending up moderately, while Ecuador's remain lower (Gabriel Luna's updated prices will be released soon). It is reasonable to expect a meaningful portion of US demand currently satisfied by Ecuador to shift back to India, particularly for peeled product...

Larry's Catch Secures Investment on Canadian Show Dragons' Den

"Dragons' Den" is a television program in which aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas and models to a panel of Canadian business moguls, similar to the US hit show "Shark Tank."

On January 22, 2026, Larry's Catch debuted on the show, presenting its vision to make premium, wild-caught, and sustainable Canadian seafood accessible to households nationwide. After sharing their compelling mission and support for Canadian fishing families, co-founders Glen Creaser, James Quinn, and Javier Mejorada received offers from three Dragons.

"Pitching on Dragons'...

Darden Restaurants Outlines Strategic Changes for Bahama Breeze Banner

Today, Darden Restaurants announced that it has completed its exploration of strategic alternatives for its Bahama Breeze banner, following previous discussions of potentially selling or introducing other Darden brands at those locations.

The company has now confirmed both decisions: 14 Bahama Breeze locations will permanently close, while space from the remaining 14 stores will be used for other restaurants within the Darden umbrella.

Seafood Industry Set for Rapid Change in 2026 Led by Transformation Economy, Asian Growth, and Tech

The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) has highlighted key trends expected to shape the global seafood landscape in 2026, drawing on insights from its recent annual conference.

Among the drivers of change is the rise of the “transformation economy,” in which consumers increasingly prioritize health, longevity, and well-being, reshaping food choices toward nutrition-dense proteins such as seafood. Louise Byg Kongsholm, CEO of Pej Gruppen and a featured speaker at the NSC event, highlighted how the shift from an experience economy to a transformation...

Russia's 2025 Salmon Catch Up 100,000 Tons Year‑on‑Year

Russia remains the world’s largest producer of Pacific salmon, according to recent statements from experts at the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo).

An agency spokesperson said that during the last salmon fishing season, Russia’s catch totaled approximately 335,500 tons, about 100,000 tons higher than in 2024. The bulk of the catch traditionally comes from Kamchatka.

As a result, Russia is currently fully self‑sufficient in salmon and caviar, though it continues to import Atlantic salmon, primarily from Chile...

Del Taco Brings Back Jumbo Shrimp Tacos for LTO with Lent on the Horizon

Del Taco has announced the much-anticipated return of its popular Jumbo Shrimp Tacos and Burrito, available for a limited time as Lenten season nears.

Guests can enjoy two tacos filled with crispy jumbo shrimp for $6, while fish enthusiasts can savor three Beer Battered Fish Tacos, featuring wild-caught Alaska Pollock, for $7.

"At Del Taco, great taste and great value go hand-in-hand,” said Noah Chillingworth, Chief Marketing Officer. "Whether for Fish Fridays during Lent or any time, these meals...