FDA Seeks Comment on Draft US-Origin Seafood Labeling Guidance

The US Food and Drug Administration has published draft guidance on US-origin statements for seafood labels. When finalized, the guidance will give examples of US-origin claims that FDA would consider truthful and not misleading. It covers single-ingredient seafood and the seafood components of multi-ingredient foods. Companies that use these statements must be able to substantiate them. The guidance is non-binding, and FDA says it represents its current thinking...

Umios Raises Stake in New Zealand's Sanford to 15.5%

Umios Inc. will acquire an additional 10.31% stake in Sanford Limited, a major New Zealand fisheries company, lifting its ownership from 5.22% to 15.53%. The acquisition date is November 2, 2026, and the price is NZ$71,996,607 ($40.4 million).

Umios and its wholly owned subsidiary, Maruha (NZ) Corporation, already hold 5.22% of Sanford. Sanford holds fishing quotas within New Zealand's exclusive economic zone and fishes for hoki, silverfish and scampi. It also farms king salmon and green mussels. Its products are sold in the US, Europe and China...

SalmonChile Warns 26.5% Brazilian VAT Would Make Chilean Salmon Less Affordable

Chile's salmon industry is pressing Brazil to keep salmon off the standard tax rate. During a trip to São Paulo, SalmonChile president Patricio Melero warned that applying a 26.5% VAT would significantly raise the cost of the food basket. He said salmon needs competitive access terms in a market that is Chile's second most important.

The delegation met the Brazilian Supermarket Association (ABRAS) and the São Paulo Supermarket Association (APAS)...

Salmon Evolution Keeps 2027 Output Guidance as Phase 2 Ramps, Adds $21.6 Million Credit Line

Salmon Evolution is holding to its near-term targets as it brings its Phase 2 facility online. The company guides for 11,000 to 12,000 tonnes HOG harvested in 2027 and targets farming EBITDA costs of NOK 60 to 65 per kg by mid-2027. CEO Trond Håkon Schaug-Pettersen said the company remains "fully focused on unlocking the Phase 1 biomass growth potential" through water quality improvements...

UK Seafood Market Reaches £4.96 Billion as Purchase Frequency Rises

The UK seafood market grew 4.7% in value to approximately £4.96 billion as consumers increased the frequency of seafood purchases, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council's (NSC) Mid-Year Market & Retail Report 2026.

Chilled seafood led the gains, with value up 6.2% and volume rising 1.8%. Seafood shopping frequency increased 1.5% year over year, while average spending per trip climbed 2.9%, the report said. The figures indicate the category is retaining consumer engagement despite household budget pressures, and that higher prices are not the only factor...

Russia's 2027 Pollock Catch Set to Fall 3% on Lower Sea of Okhotsk and Western Bering Sea Stocks

Russia's pollock catch could fall by at least 3% in 2027 as stocks decline in some key fishing areas, according to analysts at the Russian Pollock Association (ADM). The total allowable catch for 2027 is 2.355 million tonnes, 3% below this year. The decline reflects an expected drop in catch in the Sea of Okhotsk and the western Bering Sea zone. Even so, quota utilization is expected to stay at the current 90–91%...

Eastern Fish CEO Eric Bloom Steps Back to Advisory Role as Mazzetta Takes Interim Lead

Eric Bloom is stepping down as CEO of Eastern Fish and will remain with the company through the end of the year in an advisory role. Jordan Mazzetta, who runs Highwood Harbor, will serve as interim CEO. Bloom was promoted to CEO when Highwood Harbor acquired the Teaneck, N.J., importer in February. Mazzetta said: "For 40 years, Eric has poured himself into Eastern Fish. He (and the Bloom Family) built a great company and a great team, and that team is ready...

Shoppers Turn to Deals and Store Brands as Grocery Affordability Worsens

Shoppers are increasingly relying on deals, store brands and lower-priced retailers to manage grocery costs, even as wage growth slightly improves their purchasing power, according to the latest Acosta Group Affordability Tracker.

In August, just 53% of shoppers said they felt comfortable affording groceries and household essentials, down from 68% in January. Meanwhile, 26% said they felt uncomfortable with their ability to afford those necessities, up from 17% at the start of the year. The shift comes as consumers continue to contend with elevated...

TACs for 2027 Agreed to at EU Council Meeting, Some Significantly Different From Scientific Advice

The Council of the European Union has reached a political agreement on changes to the European Commission's 2027 total allowable catch (TAC) recommendations for the Baltic Sea. The Commission released its recommendations in August. The Council will formally adopt the TACs in November, and they take effect January 1, 2027.

The agreement raises catches for sprat (+44%), central Baltic herring (+71%), Bothnian herring (+12%), Riga herring (+11%) and plaice (+2%), in line with scientific advice...

Proximar Seafood Warns Cash Runs Out in October as Lenders Weigh Loan Extension

Proximar Seafood says its available liquidity will be exhausted by the end of October 2026. Lower-than-expected revenues and changes in sales payment terms have cut operating cash flow well below plan. The Bergen-based company, which farms salmon at the foot of Mount Fuji, says it is in discussions with its main stakeholders to find a solution, and that there is no certainty one will be reached...

The Retail Rundown: Beef Holds Strong as Fall Meat Promotions Shift

The seasonal shift in retail protein advertising is becoming more apparent as cooler weather settles across parts of the country and consumers turn to heartier meals.

While falling temperatures typically reduce grilling occasions, promotions on cuts like chops, ribs, and steaks continue to offer retailers opportunities to attract shoppers looking to extend the outdoor cooking season or stock up ahead of winter.

USDA retail feature data show continued promotional activity across the major protein categories, although advertising patterns and feature rates varied across the meat case.

Beef promotions held...

The Winding Glass: Cod Prices Top Out Ahead of Lent 2027, but Retail Customers Are Still Missing

Thirty-five years after the Northern cod collapse in Canada, the stock has rebounded to become the largest Atlantic cod spawning stock in the world, now larger than the Barents Sea stock, according to Norwegian scientists at the Groundfish Forum. The Northern cod quota has risen from 18,000 tonnes to 59,000 tonnes in two years. The Forum projects Canadian and US cod landings of 65,000 tonnes in 2027, up from 30,000 tonnes in 2025. MSC certification of Northern cod is now...

Three Groups Join Forces to Protect Whales and Support California’s Dungeness Crab Fishery

Last week, three influential groups announced a new collaboration to protect whales and Dungeness crab gear while supporting California's Dungeness crab fishing fleet.

The partnership between the Marine Mammal Center, the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA), and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) inked on October 22 is called the Dungeness Crab and Whale Conservation Collaborative. Supported by a three-year grant from the Clean Break Fund, the trio will bring together scientists, commercial fishing, and conservationists to protect whales and support a sustainable...

Japan's August Surimi Product Output Rose 6.7% to 27,695 Tons

According to a report by the Minato Shimbun, the Food Marketing Research & Information Center, a Japanese research organization, recently released preliminary August production estimates for surimi products, showing a 6.7% increase from the same month last year to 27,695 tons. All product categories rose, led by the "other kamaboko" category—which includes crab-flavored kamaboko—up 8.6% to 7,909 tons.

Although "other kamaboko" recorded the second-highest growth rate among all categories, its production volume fell below the 8,000-ton mark, a level...

Hilton Seachill Proposes Up to 90 Job Cuts in Grimsby

Hilton Food Group has proposed changes to the organizational structure of its Seachill site in Grimsby and has begun a consultation, per The Grocer. The proposal could cut up to 90 roles across frontline and office positions, or 9% of the site's workforce of around 1,000. All affected employees have been informed. The company said it will explore suitable alternative roles where available and will consider all feedback before making final decisions. The consultation is expected to conclude by the end of December...

Uber Eats Partners with Key Food to Expand Grocery Delivery

Uber Technologies has partnered with Key Food Stores Co-Operative to offer grocery delivery from more than 300 member stores across the Northeast and Florida through the Uber Eats platform.

The partnership expands access to Key Food’s Family of Supermarkets, including Key Food, Food Universe, SuperFresh, The Food Emporium and Food Dynasty. Customers can order fresh produce, meat, seafood, pantry staples and household essentials through the Uber Eats app, with on-demand and scheduled delivery options.

“Key Food’s stores understand the neighborhoods they serve, and...

Mowi: Chefs Get First-Hand View of Scottish Salmon Farming

Six chefs from Master Chefs of Great Britain joined the Mowi Scotland team in September for the second Mowi Salmon Experience tour, following the first in 2025. The group toured the Inchmore Hatchery, the Scalpay farm, the Isle of Skye Smokehouse, the Mowi farms office in Fort William, and the Remote Operations Centre, where fish across the west coast are monitored remotely. The tour ended with a product demonstration by Mowi Consumer Products UK...

Haifa Smoked Fish Recalls Cold-Smoked Sprats Over Botulism Risk

Haifa Smoked Fish is recalling about 560 pounds of cold-smoked sprats because of possible contamination with Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that causes botulism. The recall covers all lots. The company, which operates as D&M Smoked Fish Inc., said the product was distributed in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania through retail stores. No illnesses have been reported.

The FDA said its inspection of the firm's Jamaica, NY, facility found cold-smoked sprats were being produced without the controls required to prevent C. botulinum growth and toxin formation...

ANALYSIS: Pacific Halibut Landings Gain Ground as Tight Supply Keeps Prices Elevated

Pacific halibut landings have continued to gain ground this fall, erasing the year-over-year deficit seen earlier in the season. According to the International Pacific Halibut Commission, coastwide landings through Week 41, ending Oct. 4, totaled 15.79 million pounds, up about 6% from 14.85 million pounds during the same period in 2025. Even with that improvement, current landings remain approximately 15% below the 2021–2025 five-year average, underscoring that the broader supply picture remains historically constrained...

Thieves Steal 3,000 Pounds of Snow Crab From Truck in Philadelphia

Reports of a snow crab heist have made headlines in Philadelphia, where thieves are estimated to have taken off with approximately 3,000 pounds of frozen snow crab from a parked truck in Southwest Philadelphia.

According to NBC Philadelphia, the truck driver was asleep inside the vehicle, parked along Island Avenue, when he was awoken early Tuesday morning by six individuals taking boxes of frozen snow crab. The driver had been resting before his scheduled delivery to Ocean Kingdom.

"As I was dreaming...

High Prices Are Curbing Fish Consumption Despite Growing Interest in Japan, MAFF Survey Says

More than 40% of consumers want to eat more seafood, but high prices remain a major obstacle. This finding comes from a survey on consumer and producer perceptions, recently released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), as reported by the Minato Shimbun.

The survey was conducted between November and December last year and gathered responses from 1,161 producer entities, 911 distribution and processing businesses, 807 retail businesses, and 1,000 consumers.

When asked what they prioritize when purchasing seafood (multiple...

IFF Identifies 10 Consumer Opportunities Tied to GLP-1 Use

IFF has identified 10 emerging consumer occasions that could help food and beverage manufacturers develop products for people using GLP-1 medications, as users rethink their eating habits and nutritional needs.

The company’s new report, GLP-1 Consumer Moments of Opportunity, examines how consumers are adapting food and beverage choices to different needs throughout the day, moving beyond reduced food intake to consider nutrition, convenience, flavor and enjoyment.

“What GLP-1 users need from food and beverage products depends on the moment, and those needs...

Thai Union Buys US Pet Treat Maker

Thai Union has acquired US pet food and treat maker Pet Treat Holdings through its i-Tail subsidiary. The deal closed on October 22. Pet Treat Holdings owns Phelps Industries, so both companies now sit under Thai Union. The move is meant to expand the group's business in the United States.

PTH is a pet food maker. Its nature of business is manufacturing and distribution of pet food products and pet treats. PTH wholly owns Phelps Industries, LLC ("Phelps"), and both PTH and Phelps have consequently become indirect...

Pokeworks Franchisees to Open Seventh Austin-Area Location

Pokeworks franchisees Carol and Marcos Blanco plan to open their seventh restaurant in the Austin area by the end of 2026, extending an expansion strategy built on flexible real estate and hands-on operations.

After relocating to the United States, the couple opened their first Austin Pokeworks location in June 2020. Given a choice between developing three or five restaurants in the territory, they committed to five. They now operate six locations, with a seventh planned in Round Rock at 2601 Sundance...

Honduras Shrimp Output Falls Short as Drought Shuts 214 Farms

Drought in southern Honduras has pushed the country's shrimp sector below its 2026 targets, with 214 farms unable to finish their harvests, according to the National Association of Aquaculture Producers of Honduras (ANDAH).

ANDAH President Juan Carlos Javier told La Prensa that the dry season ran about two months longer than the sector had planned for, cutting harvests in the south. He said the 214 closed farms could not harvest because of the drought. HCH and Infobae report the same figure...

No Injuries In Sunday’s Catastrophic Fire at Newport, OR Processing Facility

A massive fire consumed much of the Pacific Seafood Group’s processing plant in Newport’s historic Bayfront district on Sunday, evacuating residents and shopkeepers in an area larger than a square mile from the plant. The threat of leaks from two tanks of ammonia inside the freezer building prompted the “Go now” order. Residents went to a nearby school to shelter and many of the towns business and tourist attractions along the Bayfront closed down. By mid-afternoon, the risk posed by the tanks had...

Affordability and Processing Concerns Reshape Grocery Carts, Report Finds

Perceptions of food processing, ingredient preferences and affordability are shaping US grocery buying decisions, according to FoodMinds’ 2026 Conscious Consumption Index.

The survey of 1,000 US adults responsible for household grocery shopping found that 54% said they started buying or increased purchases of a food or beverage over the past year because it appeared less processed, contained fewer additives or included preferred ingredients. Meanwhile, 46% said they stopped buying or reduced purchases for reasons tied to processing, additives or ingredients they wanted...

Channel Fish to Debut Three Value-Added Seafood Products at PLMA 2026

Channel Fish will debut three value-added seafood products at the Private Label Manufacturers Association’s (PLMA) 2026 Store Brands Marketplace, taking place Nov. 15-17 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.

The launch coincides with the family-owned seafood manufacturer’s 80th anniversary and highlights its continued focus on product development for retail and club store customers.

The new products are Mini Salmon Arepas, Chicken Fried Wild Alaska Sole Tenders and Jalapeño Popper Shrimp. All three will be featured in the...

Prince Rupert Man Fined $7,500 for Illegal Possession of 10 Endangered Northern Abalone

A Prince Rupert, B.C., man has been fined $7,500 after being convicted of illegally possessing 10 Northern Abalone, an endangered marine species protected under Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA).

Caylin James Holland was convicted on Aug. 5, 2026, following an investigation launched after Metlakatla Fishery Guardians alerted Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to suspected illegal harvesting in nearby waters on Sept. 8, 2025.

The Guardians, who work closely with DFO Conservation and Protection fishery officers, suspected Northern Abalone were...