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...

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...

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...

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...

Salmones Camanchaca Strike Ends After Less Than Two Days as Company and Union Reach Agreement

The legal strike at Salmones Camanchaca's processing plant in Tomé ended on Wednesday, July 8, after the company and Sindicato No. 1 reached an agreement under the supervision of Chile's Dirección del Trabajo, according to SalmonExpert and sabes.cl.

The work stoppage — the first in the facility's history — lasted less than two days. It was launched on Tuesday at midnight after collective bargaining and mandatory mediation concluded without agreement, with 99.46% of the union's roughly 230 members voting in favor of the action. Workers had been...

Russia on Track for Record Herring Catch in 2026, Driven by Surging Sakhalin-Hokkaido Stocks

Russia may set a new all-time record for herring catch in 2026, with total landings projected to reach approximately 700,000 tons. A significant share of that volume is expected to come from Sakhalin-Hokkaido herring, a stock that has grown substantially in recent years.

The outlook was confirmed by Denis Kiku, deputy head of the Pacific branch of VNIRO, Russia's federal fisheries research institution. "In the first half of the year, 327,000 tons of herring were caught. This is a significant figure compared to...

Seafood Industry Split at USTR Forced Labor Tariff Hearings as July 24 Deadline Looms

The US seafood industry arrived at this week's USTR Section 301 hearings divided — importers warning of a $2.86 billion annual tariff hit, domestic shrimp and catfish producers pushing for higher duties and outright import bans — with a hard statutory deadline adding urgency to the entire proceeding.

The three-day hearings, held July 7–9 at the US International Trade Commission, covered USTR's proposed forced labor tariffs on 60 economies: 10% on countries with at least partial forced labor import bans, including Canada, Mexico, Ecuador, and...

ANALYSIS: European Frozen Squid Imports Fall 21% in H1 2026 as Peru Surges

Frozen squid imports into Europe (EU and UK) decreased by 21.2% year-to-date (YTD) in the first half of the year. The decline affected most of the seven key source countries; only Peru recorded growth, with a 47.5% YTD increase. India, Peru, and China have historically been Europe's main squid suppliers, but in 2026, Indian and Chinese exports declined by 27.7% and 49.4%, respectively.

Peru has had a very successful season. In the 2025 season for Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas), total capture...

Just Shrimp Introduces High‑protein Shrimp Nuggets to CPG market

Just Shrimp is expanding its frozen consumer packaged goods (CPG) portfolio with the introduction of its new, BAP certified, Shrimp Nugget. This better-for-you snack was designed to meet the growing demand for clean-label, protein-forward seafood options.

The new product delivers 12 grams of shrimp protein per serving and is made with a short list of simple, recognizable ingredients. At its core is Pacific white shrimp sourced from coastal Mexican waters, a region with a long-established shrimping and aquaculture industry known for producing shrimp with...

St. James Smokehouse Extends Seven-Year Food Safety Streak with 2026 BRCGS Grade AA Recertification

St. James Smokehouse has extended a seven‑year run of top‑tier food safety performance after its Miami production facility was recertified at BRCGS Grade AA for 2026.

The supplier, known for premium smoked salmon, has held BRCGS Grade AA status since 2019 and earned an AA+ designation following an unannounced audit in 2025,  a distinction industry buyers will note because it signals day‑to‑day compliance without the benefit of advance preparation. After this rigorous audit...

ANALYSIS: US May Shrimp Imports Rise 7% as Ecuador Posts Record Monthly Volume

Total US shrimp imports for May 2026 came in at 152.9 million lbs, up 7.0% year over year versus 143.0 million lbs in May 2025. The monthly gain was driven almost entirely by Ecuador, while declines across the major Asian origins continued to weigh on the broader supply picture. YTD through May, imports stand at 690 million lbs, down 7.9% against 749 million lbs in the same period of 2025.

Ecuador recorded 64.0 million lbs in May, up 46.8% year over year and...

Salmones Camanchaca Workers Launch Strike at Tomé Plant Over Pay and Conditions

Workers at Salmones Camanchaca's processing plant in Tomé, Chile, began a legal strike Tuesday after collective bargaining negotiations broke down, marking the first industrial action of its kind at the facility.

The strike was approved by 99.46% of members of the company's Sindicato No. 1, which represents around 230 workers, according to Radio Bío Bío. The union's press release said the action took effect at 00:00 on Tuesday, following the conclusion of both collective bargaining and mandatory mediation stages without agreement. Traffic disruptions were also reported...

NOAA Links Chinook Salmon Declines in Yukon River to Bering Sea Heatwaves

In a new study, NOAA scientists at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center have linked the rapid decline of Chinook salmon in the Yukon River to marine heatwaves during 2016–2019, a period when adult run sizes reached their lowest levels on record.

The researchers used a new modeling approach to reconstruct the full Chinook life cycle by combining data from multiple sources: juvenile marine survey data and bycatch information collected by the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, and adult monitoring data collected by the Alaska Department...

Hokkaido Surimi Production Plummeted 55% to 760 Tons in May

The Minato Shimbun reported that frozen surimi production in Hokkaido for May—based on data compiled by the National Surimi Manufacturers Association based in Abashiri City, Hokkaido—fell 55% year-on-year to 755 tons. This marked the third consecutive month of decline, driven by sluggish landings of the primary raw material, Alaska pollock.

Of this total, pollock surimi production dropped 59% to 672 tons, also marking a third straight month of decline. According to surimi manufacturers, raw fish landings fell across the board...

New Zealand Supports Green-lipped Mussel Industry With NZ$4.5M Loan for Spat Nursery

New Zealand’s most valuable aquaculture species — Green-lipped mussels — is getting a boost from the New Zealand government, according to a press release last week from Mark Patterson, Associate Regional Development Minister. Green-lipped mussels generate approximately NZ$336 million annually in export revenue, making it New Zealand's most valuable aquaculture species.

“The New Zealand mussel industry is a high value food and export sector that relies heavily on wild-caught spat. That supply is often unpredictable leading to shortages and limiting the ability of our mussel farmers to fully utilise their consented marine space,” Patterson said.

Portugal Grants First Permit for Offshore Open-Sea Fish Farm

Portugal has issued its first-ever permit for an offshore aquaculture facility in the open sea, marking a notable step for the country’s marine farming sector and wider European offshore aquaculture development.

Israel-based Mariculture Systems said it has secured an Aquaculture Activity Title from Portuguese authorities, clearing the way for construction of an offshore fish farming facility off the Portuguese coast.

The project will use the company’s CORALIS offshore aquaculture technology, built around a semi-submersible platform designed to operate in exposed...

Les Hodges: Market Access Becomes the New Measure of Value

The defining issue in the global crab market is no longer production alone. Across every major producing region, the ability to access the highest-value markets is becoming a more important factor of profitability than the size of the harvest itself. Biological conditions continue to improve in Alaska, Norway remains constrained by lower king crab quotas, Russia continues directing premium live product into Asia, and Japan is finding it more difficult to compete for available supply. The result is a global market increasingly shaped by tariffs, sanctions...

Ecuador's Shrimp Sector Targets Electrification as CNA and Government Sign Energy MOU

Ecuador's National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) and the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MAE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate the electrification of the country's shrimp farming sector — an industry where 90% of operations still run on diesel, according to the CNA.

The agreement, developed over more than six months of technical working groups involving the CNA, the Export and Investment Promotion Corporation (Corpei), the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP), the MAE, Arconel, and CNEL, establishes a roadmap of 16 strategic actions structured around...

Proximar Seafood Pursues Convertible Bond and Launches Strategic Review as It Eyes Profit

Proximar Seafood, the Norwegian land-based salmon farmer operating at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan, is planning a private placement of a convertible bond with a minimum initial tranche of NOK 100 million and has initiated a strategic review with the engagement of Japanese investment bank Nomura International, the company announced on July 10.

The convertible bond — structured with a July 2029 maturity and a conversion price of NOK 0.60 per share — will comprise at least NOK 75 million in new subscriptions and NOK 25...

EU Extends US Seafood Catch Certificate Deadline Following Months of Industry Pressure

The European Union has granted an extension of flexibilities for US seafood export catch certificate requirements through November 30, 2026, providing American exporters a reprieve from a July 10 compliance deadline that industry groups warned could effectively block Alaska seafood from European markets.

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) applauded the announcement on July 9, thanking President Trump, Commerce Secretary Lutnick, and NOAA staff for their advocacy on behalf of the US seafood sector. "This extension provides much-needed certainty for American exporters while NOAA...

Peru Raises Giant Squid Catch Limit to 589,230 MT as Season Approaches Capacity

Peru's Ministry of Production (PRODUCE) has raised the Maximum Allowable Total Catch Limit (LMCTP) for giant squid — also known as jumbo squid or pota — from 539,230 MT to 589,230 MT for 2026, citing the latest scientific advice from the Peruvian Marine Institute (IMARPE). The measure was approved under Ministerial Resolution No. 00191-2026-PRODUCE and published in the official gazette El Peruano on July 4.

The revision was triggered by accumulated catches reaching 95.44% of the previous limit. For the remainder of the season...

Deepening Fuel Crisis in Russia May Threaten Fish Production and Processing Sectors

Russia's fish sector may face serious near-term disruption as the country's fuel and gasoline shortage continues to worsen.

Ukrainian armed forces recently struck the Omsk refinery — Russia's largest, located more than 2,000 km from the front line. The attack is the latest in a series of strikes on Russian refining infrastructure that have forced facilities across the country to reduce output, contributing to a growing fuel shortage with direct consequences for the fish industry...

FFAW Renews Push for Commercial Mackerel Reopening after DFO Maintains Closure

The Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW-Unifor) is ramping up pressure on the federal government to revisit its 2026 Atlantic mackerel management decision, arguing that the latest stock assessment and conditions on the water no longer justify keeping the commercial fishery closed.

The call comes after Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) released its latest science assessment, which found Atlantic mackerel biomass increased by nearly 50 per cent over the past year. Despite the improvement, the stock remains in the critical zone under Canada's rebuilding...

SalMar to Acquire 70% Stake in Måsøval in $350 Million Deal

SalMar ASA has agreed to acquire Heimstø AS's entire 70% stake in Måsøval AS, the Central Norway salmon farmer, in a deal valuing Måsøval's total share capital at approximately NOK 4.84 billion. The transaction was announced on 8 July 2026.

Under the terms of the agreement, SalMar will pay NOK 39.50 per share for Heimstø's 85,727,553 shares — a premium of 71.7% to Måsøval's closing price on 25 March 2026, the day before Heimstø announced a strategic review of its ownership. The NOK 3.4 billion consideration is structured...

Norway Doubles Down on Seafood as Tournament Diet Captures Global Headlines

Norwegian seafood has received a notable publicity boost since the start of the world's most competitive soccer tournament.

Earlier last month, ahead of the opening matches, Norway's national soccer team arrived in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Word quickly spread that the squad had brought a substantial shipment of seafood from home to fuel the players throughout the tournament. The detail soon took on a life of its own, generating global headlines and widespread discussion across social media.

Media intelligence firm Meltwater tracked more...

US Identifies Costa Rica for IUU Fishing Over Longline Monitoring Failures, Conservation Groups Warn

The United States has formally identified Costa Rica as engaged in Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, citing years of failed commitments to establish a national observer program for its industrial pelagic longline fleet. The finding comes in NOAA's 2026 Report to Congress on Improving International Fisheries Management and was highlighted in a July 3 press release from CREMA, a Costa Rican marine conservation organization.

According to CREMA, NOAA found that Costa Rica failed to meet mandatory observer coverage requirements set by the...

UNFI Shuffles Leadership to Strengthen Operations and Commercial Execution

United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) is making leadership changes aimed at strengthening execution, improving efficiency and supporting long-term profitable growth.

Effective Aug 3, Matteo Tarditi will become President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), overseeing product sales, enterprise customer relationships, supply chain operations, technology and lean implementation. Tarditi previously served as president and chief financial officer.

Louis Martin will serve as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), with responsibility for commercial strategy and capabilities across conventional and natural merchandising, supplier partnerships and services, private brands, professional and digital services...

Atlantic Mackerel Quotas Surge More Than 1,000 Percent After Stock Assessment Shows Recovery

Atlantic mackerel's decade-long rebuilding effort is showing results. A September 2025 management track assessment by NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Science Center found the population is no longer dangerously low and overfishing is not occurring — with 2024 spring trawl survey abundance near a record high, egg production the highest since the 1980s, and estimated recruitment the strongest since 1983, according to NOAA Fisheries.

The turnaround has been years in the making. A 2017 benchmark assessment found the mackerel population dangerously low and overfishing occurring, triggering a five-year...

Alaska Salmon Harvest Trails YOY Catch, Bristol Bay On Track to Reach 33.5 Million Harvest

Bristol Bay’s current catch of sockeye salmon has reached 17.95 million sockeye, on track to achieve pre-season forecasted total harvest of 32.26 million.  

Of the five river districts in the bay, Egegik has reached its escapement goal of 1.4 million sockeye, and currently has 5.94 million landed out of a forecasted 7.44 million, a goal within reach now that escapement has been met. 

Ugashick’s escapement, however, was 370,000 out of a needed 950,000 sockeye. Current landings are at 3.85 million...

Farmed Fish Overtakes Wild Catch for First Time as Global Seafood Output Hits Record 188.2M Tonnes

Aquaculture has become the leading source of fish for human consumption, surpassing capture fisheries for the first time and marking what the UN Food and Agriculture Organization called a "turning point" for global food systems.

In its State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2026 report, FAO said global fisheries and aquaculture production reached a record 188.2 million tonnes in 2024. Of that, aquaculture contributed 103.3 million tonnes, continuing a long growth trend that is reshaping seafood supply...