NOAA Proposes 10-Year Extension of Gulf of Mexico Commercial Shrimp Permit Moratorium

Federal fishery managers are seeking to extend the existing moratorium on new commercial shrimp permits in the Gulf of America (Mexico) for another decade, keeping the freeze in place through October 26, 2036.

NOAA Fisheries published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on August 25 that would implement Amendment 19 to the Gulf Shrimp Fishery Management Plan. The current moratorium, which has been in place for years and renewed through successive amendments, is set to expire on October 26, 2026. Without action, the door would...

Ninth Circuit Rejects Oceana's Gulf of Alaska Seafloor Habitat Challenge, Finding No Legal Standing

The US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against Oceana's challenge to federal management of seafloor habitats in the Gulf of Alaska, finding the conservation group lacked the legal standing necessary to pursue its claims.

In a ruling issued last Thursday in Anchorage, a three-judge panel found that Oceana, represented by Earthjustice, "failed to show that any injury to the organization's members is traceable to the challenged [NMFS management plan] amendments." As one example, the court rejected Oceana's contention that, if required to redo...

Industry Veteran Cathy DuPuis Joins Coastal Villages Region Fund to Lead Pollock Sales 

Cathy DuPuis, a 30-year veteran of Alaska whitefish sales, marketing management, and international business development has been hired as the director of pollock sales at  Coastal Villages Region Fund (CVRF) based in Anchorage.  

CVRF announced the move last Friday.  

“Cathy brings tremendous experience and knowledge of the seafood industry, but what really stood out to me was why she wanted to come to Coastal Villages Region Fund,” said Nick Souza, CEO of Coastal Villages Region Fund...

MSC-Certified Fisheries Rise to 600 as Ecolabelled Seafood Sales Hit Record Highs

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) said participation in its sustainable seafood program continued to grow in 2025/26, with the number of MSC-certified fisheries reaching 600 globally and a record 115 fisheries recertified during the year.

According to MSC’s latest annual report, fisheries engaged with the program now account for nearly 20% of global marine catch, including more than 70% of the world’s whitefish catch and over half of global tuna catch. The group also reported record market growth for certified...

Loreto Seguel King to Step Down as Head of Chile’s Salmon Council

Loreto Seguel King will step down as Executive President of Chile’s Consejo del Salmón after nearly four years leading the producers’ association, with the transition expected to take place over the coming months as she assumes a new role as president of the Chilean Maritime and Port Chamber (CAMPORT).

The Salmon Council announced the change over the weekend in a LinkedIn post, praising Seguel’s leadership in raising the political and public profile of Chile’s salmon industry during her tenure.

According to the association, Seguel helped strengthen...

Bakkafrost's Faroe Islands Operations Drive EBIT Jump in Q2 as Scotland Struggles Continue

Bakkafrost delivered a sharp turnaround in Q2 2026, with group operational EBIT rising to DKK 273 million from DKK 65 million a year earlier, driven almost entirely by a standout performance in the Faroe Islands while Scotland remained a drag on results.

Faroese farming was the engine of the quarter. Harvest volumes increased 67% to 26,749 tonnes gutted weight, with strong biological performance, lower ring-side costs, and high average harvest weights pushing operational EBIT to DKK 411 million...

Japanese Wholesalers Feel Crisis: Ikura May Be Bumped from Store Shelves.

Ahead of the full-scale start of Hokkaido's fall chum salmon fishery in September, domestic ikura salmon caviar inventories are estimated at 800 tons. Last year's exceptionally poor catch led to record-low production of Hokkaido-origin ikura and record-high prices.

High prices—including for imports—led to sluggish sales, leaving significant volumes of unsold stock. The Hokkaido Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations (DOGYOREN) disclosed these supply-and-demand trends on August 18 at a liaison meeting for major salmon, trout, and roe wholesalers...

Russia Tightens Grip on China's Crab Market as US Share Shrinks

Russia increased its crab exports to China by 25% in the first half of 2026, with revenue rising more than a third to $697 million, as the country continues to pull away from the US in the world's most competitive crab market.

According to the Russian Fish Union, which analyzed data from China's General Administration of Customs, Russia shipped 25,000 tonnes of crab to China in January–June 2026. Live crab — the dominant product — accounted for 22,000 tonnes of that volume...

Massachusetts Launches 'Flat Is Back' Campaign to Put Locally Caught Flounder Back on the Plate

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) has launched a statewide promotional campaign aimed at reviving consumer and restaurant interest in locally harvested flounder, as the state's commercial quota for the species sees a significant increase.

Running through September 30, 2026, the "Flat Is Back" campaign centers on a collaboration with a newly formed Massachusetts Flounder Chef Council — a ten-member group of chefs from across the state who are putting flounder dishes on their menus to showcase the fish's versatility to diners and home...

Grieg Family Splits Business Ownership and Brings in Belgian Co-Investor

After more than 140 years of unified stewardship, the Grieg family has divided the business ownership of the Grieg Group — separating the salmon farming interests of the Willumsen Grieg branch from the rest of the family and bringing in Belgian investment giant Ackermans & van Haaren (AvH) as a new co-owner and majority shareholder in Grieg Seafood.

Under the restructuring, announced August 27, the Willumsen Grieg branch will take over the group's 50.2% stake in Grieg Seafood ASA through the holding...

Expana's Weekly Top 10

This week’s Top 10 reflects a market still being shaped by trade disruption, supply chain strain and shifting demand signals across agriculture, food and energy. From geopolitical risk and tariff policy to low river levels in Europe and changing promotional strategies in retail and foodservice, the latest developments show how quickly operating conditions can shift, and how closely global commodity, logistics and end-market trends remain connected. This list is in no particular order.

Find archived recaps here.

Returning Weekly Columns

10. US sanctions on Iran intensified this week, while efforts...

Back-to-School and Nostalgia Marketing Drive Menu Buzz In Foodservice

Foodservice operators are heading into fall leaning on nostalgia, value and expansion to drive traffic, strengthen loyalty and navigate a competitive operating environment.

Nostalgia continues to prove its staying power as an industry strategy, with operators revisiting familiar flavors, menu items and experiences to reconnect with consumers. Limited-time offers have become a particularly effective vehicle, creating urgency around products that already carry a sense of familiarity.

Taco Bell has brought back four fan-favorite 2016 menu items: the Naked Chicken Chalupa, Meximelt, Beefy...

Supreme Crab & Seafood Adds Mark Laubner for Business Development and Culinary Support

Supreme Crab & Seafood, Inc. has added Mark Laubner to its team, where he will focus on business development and culinary support across the company’s customer channels.

Laubner brings experience from both sides of the foodservice business, with a background spanning food distribution sales, restaurant operations and culinary management. Most recently, he worked in food distribution sales and previously held an area management role with a national foodservice distributor. That experience gave him a strong understanding of customer negotiations, service...

Proximar Sees Stronger Q2 Growth, Targets 3 KG-Plus Harvest Weights from September

Proximar Seafood reported improved biological performance in Q2 and said average harvest weights are expected to reach around 3 kg and above from September, a key step toward better pricing and profitability.

The company harvested 726 tonnes HOG in the quarter, up from 697 tonnes in Q1, while average harvest weight rose to 2.56 kg from 2.25 kg. Proximar said the increase came despite a targeted harvest of smaller fish from May to July aimed at retaining larger fish and lifting harvest weights...

Iceland Seafood International Posts 16.7% Sales Jump in First Half of 2026 as Net Profit Doubles

Iceland Seafood International delivered a strong first half of 2026, with sales rising 16.7% to €273.0 million and net profit doubling to €2.2 million from €1.1 million in the same period last year. Normalized profit before tax climbed 26.1% to €2.9 million, and the company maintained its full-year normalized PBT guidance of €11.5 million to €13.5 million.

Growth was broad-based across all three divisions. The Sales and Distribution division was the standout performer...

Pink Salmon Surge in Sitka and Kodiak Lifts Alaska Season Totals

A late-season surge of pink salmon into Sitka and strong returns in Kodiak have brightened Alaska's salmon harvest picture heading into the final stretch of the season.

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute's (ASMI) weekly harvest summary through August 22 showed the cumulative salmon catch had exceeded year-to-date 2025 levels — and 2024 levels for pink salmon — though totals remained well behind both the forecast and the prior-year cumulative harvest as the season began to wind down. That picture improved further after the report was distributed...

Court Preliminarily Approves $2.25M Dungeness Crab Settlements

A federal magistrate judge has preliminarily approved $2.25 million in partial settlements in the Dungeness crab price-fixing class action, moving the case toward its first formal payout to class members while litigation continues against the remaining defendants, including Pacific Seafood Group.

US Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse signed the order on August 24 in the Northern District of California, clearing settlements with Pacific Dream Seafoods, Inc. ($1 million), Caito Fisheries, Inc. and four Caito family members ($1.25 million), and non-party Fisherman's Choice LLC, which agreed...

Mowi Tops Global Seafood Rankings as WBA Benchmark Finds Industry Progress Offset by Persistent Gaps

The World Benchmarking Alliance's 2026 Ocean Benchmark has found that the seafood industry is making incremental progress on sustainability, but significant shortfalls remain — particularly on ecosystem and biodiversity indicators — with the sector averaging just 21 out of 100 across 22 major companies assessed.

Published July 7, the benchmark evaluated the world's largest seafood companies across 47 indicators in four areas: Governance, Ecosystems and Biodiversity, Social Responsibility, and food and agriculture core metrics. Scores were highest in...

Avanti Feeds Posts Strong Revenue Growth in Q1 FY2027 but Soaring Input Costs Slash Margins

Avanti Feeds reported consolidated gross income of INR 1,966 crores for Q1 FY2027 (quarter ended June 30, 2026), up 19% year-over-year, but surging feed ingredient costs hammered profitability across the group, with consolidated profit before tax falling 37% to INR 157 crores. Management warned that FY2027 will be a challenging year for India's aquaculture industry.

Feed Division: Volume Strong, Margins Squeezed

Feed sales grew 17% to 193,852 MT, driving gross income up 27% to INR 1,615 crores. But raw material costs told...

Research Vessel Eventide Arrives at St. Paul Island, Anchoring the Pivot to a Research Economy

The small community of Saint Paul Island gathered at the harbor on August 15 to welcome the 50-foot research vessel Eventide — the latest and most visible sign of the island's ongoing transition toward a research-based economy.

This October marks four years since the sudden closure of the Bering Sea snow crab fishery, which had been the primary economic driver for the island's roughly 400 residents. Two years after the closure, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game reopened a limited fishery...

Barramundi Group Narrows H1 Loss Despite Lower Revenue

Barramundi Group posted lower revenue but a sharply narrower net loss in the first half of the year, as improved biological performance and tighter operational discipline in Brunei helped offset continued challenges in its marine farming business.

In results released Aug. 28, the company reported revenue of 6.45 million Singapore dollars (nearly $5.1 million), down 9.7% year over year (YOY). Net profit improved to negative 1.89 million Singapore dollars (a loss of about $1.5 million), while cash and cash equivalents...

ANALYSIS: What India's Rising Shrimp Farmgate Prices Look Like Against the Seasonal Range

India's whiteleg 30-count farmgate price (ex-farmgate in Andhra Pradesh) has risen about ₹30 (₹435 to ₹465) since late June and early July, running through early August, against a dataset high of ₹505. The move is real. It is also normal, given the seasonal record.

The first large harvest of the year has wound down, and what is moving through the market now is the tail end of that supply. With demand holding roughly steady, tighter on-the-ground availability is doing...

Ecuador's Shrimp Industry Calls for Trade Retaliation Against Brazil Over Prolonged Import Ban

Ecuador's National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) is pressing the government to implement retaliatory trade measures against Brazil, nearly nine months after Brasília suspended imports of Ecuadorian shrimp over sanitary concerns with no resolution in sight.

Brazil banned shrimp imports from Ecuador effective December 9, 2024, citing unsanitary conditions identified during an inspection mission by its Ministry of Agriculture. Since then, the CNA says, market access has not been restored despite ongoing diplomatic engagement, leaving Ecuadorian exporters locked out of what had been a significant regional market...

Royal Greenland Swings to First-Half Profit as Revenue Rises 16.5%

Royal Greenland swung to a first-half profit in 2026 as stronger market prices and ongoing operational improvements lifted earnings, while the company continued to invest across its North Atlantic footprint. The seafood group reported profit before tax of DKK 217 million for the first half of 2026, compared with a loss of DKK 11 million year-over-year (YOY). Revenue rose 16.5%, while sales volumes were stable YOY.

“We are pleased with the significant improvement in our first-half results,” CEO Toke Binzer...

Canada Commits $53M to Build Three New Pacific Salmon Hatcheries in British Columbia

The federal government has announced more than $53 million in construction contracts for three new Pacific salmon hatcheries across British Columbia, all developed in partnership with Indigenous nations and aimed at reversing steep declines in Chinook and sockeye populations.

The announcements, made August 25 by Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson, cover facilities on the upper Fraser River near Hanceville, in Prince George, and on the Kitwanga River in Gitanyow territory — each tied to a separate First Nation and targeting distinct at-risk salmon populations...

Norcod Reports Strong Q2 Biological Performance as Biomass Surges, Company Eyes H2 Inflection Point

Norwegian cod farmer Norcod posted solid operational and biological results for the second quarter of 2026, with biomass at sea climbing 31% during the period and the company now moving into continuous harvesting at higher volumes as it builds toward its 2027 production targets.

Biomass at sea grew from 4,123 tonnes at the start of Q2 to 5,390 tonnes at quarter end, bringing the total first-half increase to 76%, or 2,330 tonnes. Norcod harvested 791 tonnes round weight during the quarter...

Russia Eyes Stable Barents Sea Halibut Catch as Far East Stocks Spur Two-Year Fishing Ban

Russia is targeting a further increase in halibut catches in the Barents Sea in the coming years, aiming to grow supplies to both domestic and export markets — even as a sharp stock collapse in its Far Eastern basin has forced authorities to impose sweeping restrictions.

The quota for Greenland halibut in the Barents Sea is expected to be set at 8,000 tonnes for 2027, pending final recommendations from the joint Norwegian-Russian research working group currently reviewing Barents Sea catch levels...

Canada Pulls Seafood From Counter-Tariff List After Industry Pushback

Canada's Department of Finance has reversed course on one of the more contentious elements of its retaliatory tariff package, removing fish and seafood products from its list of US goods facing counter-tariffs, less than 24 hours after the measures were announced.

The department said it made the adjustment based on feedback from Canadian industries, citing a commitment to continually assess the effectiveness of its counter-tariff measures, with a primary focus on sectors that have themselves been targeted by US tariffs. Seafood, notably, has not been...

Chile Presses for Salmon Tariff Removal as Two-Day US Trade Talks End

High-level trade talks between Chile and the United States concluded in Santiago this week without a final agreement, as both sides described ongoing negotiations over the 12.5% Section 301 tariff that has burdened Chilean exports — including salmon — since late July.

Deputy US Trade Representative Jeffrey Goettman led the US delegation for the two-day visit on August 24-25. Chile's government pressed for the removal of the 12.5% tariff across key export sectors, including salmon, wine, timber, and fruit...

Three Environmental Groups: NOAA is Violating the Endangered Species Act on Gray Whale Protections

Exactly one day after the deadline for NOAA to respond to a petition from Oasis Earth (OE) to list the Eastern North Pacific gray whale population as threatened or endangered, OE and two other conservation groups sent a notice of intent to sue the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration over gray whale protections.

The gray whale population along the North American west coast has dropped by half in just ten years. A year ago, the trio of environmentalists...