FDA Issues Advisory on Frozen Half-Shell Oysters from the Republic of Korea

Yesterday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an advisory regarding frozen half-shell oysters distributed by Khee Trading, Inc. of Compton, California.

Due to potential norovirus contamination, Khee Trading recently recalled all frozen half-shell oysters with Lot Code: B250130, harvested from Designated Area No. 1 in the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Jan. 30, 2025, and processed by JBR KR-15-SP in Tongyeong-si, ROK.

The FDA is advising consumers not to eat and restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell...

Oregon Gov. Kotek, Lawmakers Applaud $16 Million Pink Shrimp USDA Purchase

In another win for consumers, the seafood industry, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Oregon pink shrimp will soon become available thanks to a $16 million government purchase.  

The West Coast pink shrimp industry has been reeling from uncertainty due to global markets and potential European retaliatory tariffs; the purchase will help offset some of that, shrimp fishermen and processors said.   

"This is a great day for Oregon seafood communities,” Nick Edwards, Secretary of Shrimp Producers Marketing Cooperative, said in a press release...

Lake Charles Has a 79% Authenticity Rate for Gulf Shrimp Labeling, Test Results Indicate

According to recent genetic testing conducted by SEAD Consulting, 19 out of 24 shrimp dishes (78%) sampled in local restaurants in Lake Charles, Louisiana were found to be either selling authentic wild-caught Gulf shrimp or correctly labeling imported seafood on their menus.

This round of testing is part of an 8-state study being commissioned by the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) and the Louisiana Shrimp Task Force, utilizing SEAD’s patented genetic test RIGHTTest™. As part of this effort, more than 300 randomly selected restaurants...

Japan’s Frozen Pollock Surimi Imports Increased 4% in Q1

Japan's frozen pollock surimi imports for the first quarter of 2025 reached a cumulative volume of 15,478 tons, up 4% from the same period last year.

Of that total quantity, 10,953 tons were exported from the U.S., falling 18% year-on-year, while 4,525 tons were exported from Russia, increasing 2.8 times year-on-year. As such, the import volume ratio between the two countries was 71 to 29.

Imported pollock surimi is the main ingredient of Japanese-produced surimi products, with the United States and Russia being the only two...

Bakkafrost Q1 Results Show Decreased Earnings Amid Increased Supply

Faroese salmon farmer Bakkafrost recently released its financial results for Q1 2025, reflecting an overall decrease in earnings amid increased supply and weaker prices.

Regin Jacobsen, CEO of Bakkafrost, said the company is satisfied overall with this quarter’s results, noting the strong biological performance at its various facilities.

He cited Bakkafrost’s successful Faroese freshwater and marine operations, which delivered another strong biological performance, and Scotland’s continued focus on high-quality smolt and scaling up production for long-term sustainability and profitability.

In total, Bakkafrost’s Q1 revenues totaled DKK 1,899 million...

Mowi Unveils New Post-Smolt Facility in Norway

On May 21, 2025, Mowi cut the ribbon on its new post-smolt facility at its freshwater site in Haukå, Norway. This development comomes after several years of construction and NOK 600 million in investments.

“This is a large and strategically very important investment for Mowi. With this facility, we will be able to produce healthy and sustainable food in an even better and more efficient way” said Ivan Vindheim, CEO of Mowi.

The expansion more than doubles the number of facility employees, increasing it from 11 to 25 workers, including two...

Cousins Maine Lobster Expands Southern Territory to Gainesville and Savannah

Fast-casual lobster roll company Cousins Maine Lobster (CML) just announced the expansion of its territory in the Southern U.S. with the launch of a new truck in the Gainesville, Florida, and Savannah, Georgia, markets. This marks CML’s eighth territory in Florida and third territory in Georgia.

CML entrepreneurs Damon Cole and Mandy Ottesen—who already own and operate a CML food truck in Jacksonville, Florida, since November 2024—will debut their second truck in July 2025.

"We're excited to announce that Cousins Maine Lobster will be serving the Gainesville..."

GAPP Appoints Three New Staff Members to its Communications Team

The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) recently announced three new staffing appointments, including: Sam Murphy as Vice President, APFA Director of Communications; Jasmine Butler as Manager, Graphic Design and Content Creation; and Michael Loreno, Manager of Social Media and Website.

In a company statement, GAPP said that these moves reflect the Association’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its communications, reputation management and stakeholder engagement.

“Sam, Jasmine, and Michael bring an exceptional combination of expertise in communications, digital strategy, content development, and storytelling that will be pivotal to the future..." 

New NOAA Research Suggests that Alaskan Salmon Sought Temporary Refuge During Marine Heatwaves

The NOAA Alaska Regional Office recently released new research indicating that Pacific salmon in the Gulf of Alaska used the inshore waters of the Icy Strait as a temporary buffer during marine heatwaves.

Researchers found that salmon likely gravitated towards the Icy Strait’s cold, low salinity waters, seeking refuge during these marine events, which occurred in 2014-2016 and 2019.

According to NOAA, prior studies also found connections between the survival and growth rates of juvenile Pacific salmon to oceanographic conditions and food availability in the marine...

Navigating the Trump Tariff Turbulence: A Comprehensive Timeline

US President Donald Trump and his administration have paused reciprocal tariffs on most countries.

“Based on the lack of respect that China has shown... I am hereby raising the [tariff] charged to China by the [USA] to 125%, effective immediately,” wrote Trump on Truth Social at 1:18 pm ET. 

It’s not clear if this 125% is in addition to the 20% imposed on Chinese imports to the US. In early March, Trump noted that he would add another 10% tariff on Chinese goods...

ANALYSIS: Scallop Market Sees Imports Surge as New Domestic Season is Underway

With the 2025/2026 Atlantic sea scallop season well underway, market conditions remain unsettled for both domestic and imported product. The previous season was characterized by reduced landings and a notable shortage of larger sea scallops, particularly U/10s, which drove prices to near-record highs. Some price relief has emerged, primarily in the fresh market, as the new season progresses and supply shows modest improvement. However, supply gains remain limited. Current harvest projections...

91 Gray Whales Reported Dead in Mexican Pacific: Highest Number Since 2020

MEXICO CITY -- The number of gray whales killed in Mexican Pacific waters rose to 91, surpassing the highest record of the "Unusual Mortality Event," reached in 2020, with 88 dead whales.

"This year only 69 births were recorded -- the lowest rate," said Dr. Jorge Urban Ramírez, head of the Marine Mammal Research Program (PRIMMA) of the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur (UABCS).

"Starting in 2018 we began to see skinnier whales and an increase in mortality throughout their distribution from Alaska to Mexico. After a few years...

Russia May Face a Flounder Shortage This Year

This year, due to a significant reduction in flounder catch and a high share of export products (up to 25%), Russia may be facing a flounder shortage and a coinciding price surge to match.

According to the latest data, flounder prices in Russia have already grown by more than 30% since the beginning of the current year, with growth still ongoing.

According to the Fish Union, 2025 flounder catch in the Far East has decreased by 25% year-on-year, though the “high season,” for flounder catch is still underway, falling in the...

Norway Reports One Million Fish Mortalities in Production Areas 9 and 10

Today, the Norwegian government announced that the algal bloom in production areas 9 and 10 has led to approximately one million fish mortalities for several farms in Nordland and Troms. Of these mortalities, 250,000 are smolts.

The highest mortality was reported between May 10-12 in production area 10, particularly in the area around Astafjorden, with four companies being affected to varying degrees. However, fish mortalities decreased throughout the week after the peak mortality period.

This comes after the government announced the harmful algal bloom on May 13...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #9

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #9."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text...

Mowi Launches New Atlantic Salmon Product at the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show

Seafood giant MOWI recently launched its new product, “MOWI Signature” into the U.S. food service market at the 2025 National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show in Chicago, Illinois.

MOWI Signature offers 4-8 kg packages of fresh, premium, and accessible salmon sourced from Mowi’s farms in Norway and Scotland and tailored for the professional kitchen.

The new product is fresh, never frozen, and all trimmed, cleaned, de-scaled, and de-boned for easy preparation in high-paced kitchens.

“We're excited to bring the Mowi Signature line to market..."

New Japanese Scallop Processing Plants Start Running One after Another, Aiming at Overseas Markets

Following Japan's release of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean, China has banned importing all Japanese seafood products since August 24, 2023. In September 2024, the Chinese and Japanese governments agreed to open negotiations toward lifting the import ban. The two governments negotiated on April 10, 2025, but the Chinese government has kept silent about when to lift the ban.

About 50% of Japan's scallop exports were to China, reaching a record high of 91.1 billion yen in 2022...

Russia Focuses on Boosting Seafood Exports, Particularly Value-Added Fish Products

Throughout the year, Russia plans to continue expanding its export geography for Russian fish and fish products.

At the recent meeting of the State Council commission on “International Cooperation and Export,” Ilya Shestakov, head of Rosrybolovstvo stated that Russia currently exports fish to more than 90 countries.

Shestakov added, “We see potential for further export growth, primarily to friendly countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. We continue systematic work to promote Russian fish and seafood in foreign markets.”

As Shestakov believes, the Russian fisheries complex...

Russia and Caspian Countries Consider Extending Ban on Commercial Sturgeon Fishing in Caspian Sea

Russia and the other countries bordering the Caspian Sea will consider an extension of the commercial ban on sturgeon fishing in the world's largest inland body of water, which lies before Europe and Asia.

This has been recently confirmed by Ilya Shestakov, head of Rosrybolovstvo, at the XI Nevsky International Ecological Congress in St. Petersburg.

Recalling that this ban was introduced by Caspian countries in 2013, Shestakov reported that the ichthyofauna of the Caspian Sea includes 150 species, of which 30 are commercial...

The Retail Rundown: Seafood Leads Memorial Day Retail Ads; Weather Poses Challenges

Seafood leads retail protein promotions heading into Memorial Day weekend, accounting for 28.7% of total featured protein ad volume. Pork follows at 25.9%, with beef at 21.3% and chicken at 19.3%.

Egg feature volume is virtually absent amid sluggish retail demand. Warmer weather is prompting a shift toward fruit and cereal for breakfast, while elevated, though easing, shelf prices continue to dampen consumer interest, according to Expana.

Within the seafood category, fresh and frozen fillets represent the largest share of advertised items at nearly 28%. Raw shrimp...

European Union Imposes Sanctions on Russian Fish Sector for the First Time

The European Union has imposed sanctions on the Russian fish sector as part of its 17th package of sanctions, which was officially approved two days ago. This marks the first time that Russian fish producers and processors have been included in any sanction lists.

The motive for introducing the restrictions, which were imposed on two fishing companies—Norebo Holding, one of Russia’s leading fish producers and processors, and Murman SeaFood—was their unusual trawler movement, which the European regulator considered atypical for fishing activities...

Japan’s March Imports of Fresh Trout Increased 2.5 Times, All from Norway

According to trade statistics from the Ministry of Finance, Japan’s total salmon and trout imports for March (including salted, smoked, and prepared products) were 21,029 tons, down 14% from the same month last year. In addition, the CIF import value was 28,306 million yen ($197.07 million), down 2% year-on-year. Non-fillet products were 15,137 tons, down 11%, and fillets were down 21% to 5,892 tons.

Minato Shimbun reported that many items were lower than March of last year. As for raw materials other than fillets...

ANALYSIS: Tracking the Widening Cod Price Divide - Atlantic vs. Pacific Trends (2023–2025) 

Atlantic cod has traditionally commanded a price premium over Pacific cod, a distinction attributed to its lower moisture content, firmer texture, and subtle, sweeter flavor. This analysis explores the evolution of the price differential between Atlantic and Pacific cod from 2023 to date, identifying three distinct stages...

Federal Purchases of US Seafood Products Have Increased More Than Five-Fold Over Past Decade

U.S. government purchases of seafood products have risen significantly since 2016, when about $70 million worth of salmon, catfish, and shrimp was purchased by the government for various federal food programs. In 2023, that total was $345 million, just under a five-fold increase in seven years. Estimates for 2024 show even more increases, currently predicted to be just over $360 million.

Purchases of fish and seafood also comprise a growing share of USDA purchases, up from 2% of procured foods...

Marine Patrol to Resume Search for Missing Milbridge Man Tuesday Morning

Milbridge, Maine - The Maine Marine Patrol will temporarily suspend the search this evening for Alton Wallace, 51 of Milbridge, who was reported missing yesterday afternoon by a family member after failing to return from harvesting clams. Marine Patrol along with the State Police/Marine Patrol Underwater Recovery Dive Team will resume the search tomorrow in Narraguagus Bay. Depending on weather, Marine Patrol Pilot Steve Ingram will also participate in the search...

Wild Bluefin Sales at Toyosu Market Surged by 70% in April

According to a Jiji Press survey, the number of domestic tunas arriving at the fresh tuna section of Toyosu Market in April was 2,407 fish, up 40.8% from the same month last year. Wild and farmed bluefin tuna increased, but the number of bigeye and yellowfin tuna was lower than the previous year.

Minato Shimbun reported that the total number of bluefin tuna that arrived was 2,228 fish, up 67.3% from the same month last year, of which 2,021 were wild, up 69.3%. The majority of tuna was...

Feeder Vessel Transfers Disqualify Cargo from In-Transit Tariff Exemption Under IEEPA

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has provided clarification regarding the application of the in-transit tariff exemption under the Reciprocal Tariff Executive Order, with specific implications for feeder vessel operations. In guidance released on May 15, CBP confirmed that cargo transferred from a feeder vessel to a US-bound vessel after April 5, 2025, will not qualify for the in-transit exemption.

Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), cargo that was loaded before April 5 and remains...

ANALYSIS: Norwegian Haddock, Export Patterns and Price Adjustments

Haddock prices in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom and Norway,  increased toward the end of 2024. However, in March, the price of Norwegian haddock fell by 7.2% compared to the previous month. In the United Kingdom, the price for gutted haddock measuring 41.5–49.5 cm decreased by 16.15%.  This drop may be linked to a decline in demand from China...

Wild Fish Conservancy Sues NMFS for Missing Deadline on Alaska Chinook ESA Decision

The Wild Fish Conservancy, an organization based in Duvall, Washington, filed a lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS, or NOAA Fisheries) on May 8, 2025, for missing a deadline under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to submit a full review on the status of Chinook salmon in the Gulf of Alaska.

The review, a massive endeavor, as the Gulf covers 600,000 square miles and includes Chinook salmon rivers from Southeast Alaska across to the Aleutian Chain, is ongoing.

National Marine Fisheries Service Assistant Administrator for...

Russia to Increase Fish Exports to Vietnam

Russia plans to increase its fish exports to Vietnam this year thanks to the ever-growing demand from local processors.

According to German Zverev, President of the All-Russian Association of Fish Producers, Vietnam is actively expanding its processing capacities and becoming a key player in the global market. In 2024, the country almost liquidated its gap with China in terms of fish exports.

At present, Vietnamese processors mainly work with local raw materials, such as pangasius and tilapia, but its taste is inferior to wild fish. Thus, Russia can become an important...