ANALYSIS: Solid EU-UK Shrimp Imports Recorded in April

According to European Commission data, shrimp imports into the EU‑UK region remained relatively solid in April, standing 7.5% above the five‑year average in volume. However, April volumes were 2.9% lower year‑on‑year, following exceptionally strong import activity between April and July 2025.

Cumulatively, imports between January and April remained broadly unchanged compared with the same period last year. Volumes increased slightly by 0.5%, while import value rose by 5.7% to USD 1,668.4 million. Cold-water shrimp volume surged 38.8% at 17,549 MT YTD (HS codes 030616/35 only)...

Phillips Foods Names Brice Phillips CEO in Multigenerational Leadership Transition

Baltimore-based Phillips Foods has announced a planned leadership transition that will see the family-owned seafood company pass the chief executive role to the next generation while elevating a longtime operational leader to a newly created president and COO position.

Steve Phillips, who has served as CEO for many years, will move to Chairman of the Board, remaining involved in long-term strategy while stepping back from daily operations. Taking over as CEO is Brice Phillips, his successor and the latest in the company's multigenerational family leadership...

Global Trade in Aquatic Products Reaches Record $184 Billion, FAO Reports

Global trade in aquatic animal products has climbed to a record $184 billion, underscoring the growing importance of fisheries and aquaculture in the world economy, according to a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The findings were released Tuesday during the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya, as part of FAO's latest State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA 2026) report.

The report shows that global fisheries and aquaculture production reached...

Power Outages Disrupt Tuna Cutting Operations in the Philippines and Indonesia

Rolling power outages triggered by a broader regional energy crisis are creating headaches for tuna processors in two of the world's most important loining and cutting hubs, the Philippines and Indonesia.

In the Philippines, the government declared a state of national energy emergency earlier this year after the Strait of Hormuz disruption cut deeply into fuel supplies. The country imports roughly 98% of its oil from the Middle East, leaving it acutely exposed to the fallout from the Iran war...

San Diego County Sues Grocery Sushi Franchise Companies Over Worker Misclassification

The County of San Diego has filed suit against five sushi franchise businesses that operate counters inside grocery stores across California, alleging they systematically misclassified sushi chefs as independent contractor "franchisees" to avoid paying minimum wages, overtime, and other legally required benefits.

The complaint, filed June 17, 2026, in San Diego Superior Court by County Counsel Damon M. Brown on behalf of the People of the State of California, names Ace Sushi Franchise Corp., Asiana Management Group, Inc., Advanced Fresh Concepts Franchise Corp., Advanced Fresh Concepts Corp., Fujisan Franchising...

Dead Endangered and Pregnant Fin Whale Carried into Port by Cruise Ship, Investigation Underway

An endangered fin whale, struck by a Royal Caribbean Cruise Line ship, was carried into the Alaska port of Seward last Friday. According to a report from the Alaska office of NOAA Fisheries, early findings are that the 61-foot female was pregnant.  

The ship had departed Vancouver, British Columbia, for the one-way Alaskan cruise on Friday, June 12, according to a report by Cruise Hive. On her way to Seward, the ship visited Sitka, Juneau, and Skagway...

USCG Helicopter Crashes Near Sitka, Crew Survived With Minor Injuries 

Four US Coast Guard crew members involved in a helicopter crash in Sitka Monday morning have been reported safe with “non-serious injuries.” The first reports from the Coast Guard came through on social media, mentioning that the aircraft was an MH-60 Jayhawk.  

Watchstanders at the Arctic District command center in Juneau received the initial report of the crash on Harbor Mountain through the activation of the aircrew’s personal locator beacon just after 10 a.m., according to a Coast Guard press release. The MH-60 Jayhawk went down..

Russia Eyes Expansion of Tuna Fishery as Stocks Move Into Far Eastern Waters

Russia is placing growing emphasis on tuna fishing as it seeks to expand seafood supplies for both domestic consumers and export markets.

In a move that industry officials describe as a milestone, Russian fisheries authorities have approved commercial tuna fishing in waters off Sakhalin Island for the first time in the country's modern history.

The decision follows support from the Bureau of the Industry Council for Fisheries Forecasting under the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo), which approved a recommended tuna...

Captain D’s Uses Alaska Cruise Promotion to Spotlight US Seafood Sourcing

Captain D’s is kicking off a summer promotion that ties its latest Alaska‑sourced fish launch to a national sweepstakes designed to drive in‑restaurant traffic. Partnering with PepsiCo, the brand has launched the Alaska Family Cruise Sweepstakes, running June 22 through July 27, with a grand prize Alaska cruise package for one winner and five guests including three ocean view cruise rooms, roundtrip airfare to Seattle with hotel accomodatioons for two nights and a $3,000 travel stipend.

For operators and suppliers...

USMCA Is in Limbo. Here's What That Means for North American Seafood.

With a July 1 deadline looming, President Trump recently announced that the US will likely not reauthorize the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) for a full 16-year extension, opting instead for a rolling annual review process that trade analysts say could drag well into 2027.

"I would rather not have the agreement, but I may sign it," Trump said in France on June 17. "We do better as a country if we don't have ​an agreement...

CDC Report: Tuna and Reef Fish Behind Most US Seafood Toxin Outbreaks Over 13-Year Span

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that marine toxins were responsible for 402 foodborne disease outbreaks in the United States between 2011 and 2023, resulting in 1,280 illnesses, 96 hospitalizations, and one death, with tuna and tropical reef fish at the center of most cases.

Published in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the analysis represents the first national summary of all foodborne outbreaks caused by marine toxins across that period. Scombroid toxin poisoning and ciguatoxin together accounted...

Japan's Frozen Yellowtail Fillet Exports Rose 67% in April; up 73% to the US

According to trade statistics from the Ministry of Finance, exports of yellowtail fillets, both frozen and fresh (essentially farmed), increased significantly in April. Frozen exports rose 67% year-on-year (YOY) to 2,544 tons, with a value of 8.46 billion yen ($52.68 million), up 33%.

Fresh exports increased by 8% to 175 tons, totaling 558.79 million yen ($3.47 million). Exports to the US, the main destination, saw a 73% increase in frozen exports to 2,202 tons at 7.36 billion yen...

Tetra Pak Introduces Industry‑First Carton Packaging for Shelf‑Stable Tuna

Tetra Pak is aiming to modernize the shelf‑stable tuna aisle with what it calls the industry’s first carton packaging for shelf‑stable tuna.

Developed in collaboration with Spanish seafood producer Jealsa, the tuna is packaged in Tetra Recart®, a paper‑based alternative to traditional metal cans. The format launched in Sweden last month with retailer Axfood and is now being made available to food producers and brands globally.

The move targets a category that has seen little packaging change despite steady...

ASC Defends Certification System in Response to US Senate Committee

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has responded to the US Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, outlining the structure and oversight behind its aquaculture certification program as scrutiny of imported seafood and supply chain accountability remains high.

In its response, ASC emphasized that its certification system is built on stringent standards, independent third-party audits, full supply chain traceability, public transparency, and continuous improvement measures designed to provide assurance for certified seafood products.

ASC-certified seafood is sold globally, including in the United...

Port of Tacoma Approves Ground Lease for $250M Cold Storage Facility Expected to Create 400 Jobs

The Port of Tacoma Commission on June 16 approved a 50-year ground lease with Saxum Investment Company, LLC for a cold storage and food processing facility on a 30-acre site on the Blair-Hylebos Peninsula.

Saxum anticipates investing up to $250 million in the project, which is expected to generate up to 400 jobs and $43 million in annual wages upon completion. The facility will feature high-efficiency cold storage and purpose-built food processing space, with direct access...

ANALYSIS: US April Shrimp Imports Down 16% as India Volumes Retreat Sharply

April's official US shrimp imports totaled 129.0 million lbs on an adjusted basis, landing within the product-type Expana model range of 124.8–144.4M lbs.

The headline figure held, but the composition across product types offers additional context. Peeled came in at 68.7M lbs, fractionally above the upper model estimate of 68.0M lbs. Shell-on landed at 34.0M lbs, at the lower bound of the projected range. Breaded at 11.4M lbs fell within range. Cooked was the notable deviation at 12.8M lbs, below the lower model estimate...

NOAA Directs $123.6M in Fishery Disaster Funds to Alaska, West Coast, and Squaxin Island Tribe

The US Department of Commerce announced Tuesday the allocation of $123.6 million in fishery resource disaster funding, drawn from money appropriated by Congress in the American Relief Act of 2025. The funds are directed at fishery disasters that struck Oregon, California, Alaska, and the Squaxin Island Tribe in Washington between 2019 and 2023.

NOAA Fisheries used commercial revenue loss data to determine how funding will be distributed across the eligible disasters. Funds can be deployed for a range of recovery activities, including fishery infrastructure...

Monarch, Sovereign Seas Partner With Macduff Shellfish to Launch Norway Lobster Line in US

Monarch and its seafood brand, Sovereign Seas, are expanding their premium shellfish portfolio through a new exclusive distribution agreement with Macduff Shellfish, bringing a full range of Norway lobster products to the US market.

According to the LinkedIn post, under the partnership, Sovereign Seas will serve as the exclusive US channel for Macduff Shellfish’s Norway lobster, also known as langoustine or scampi, positioning the brand as a single-source supplier for the category in North America. The lineup includes...

Global Squid Buyers Strongly Oppose Management Changes Being Considered in Chile and Peru

Potential amendments to recent laws in Chile and Peru that would increase fishing effort in the jumbo flying squid (JFS) fishery triggered strong opposition among conservation groups and buyers of the product.

The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) Global Squid Supply Chain Roundtable (SR) expressed their concern publicly last week.

“As buyers committed to responsible sourcing and the sustainability of marine resources, we recognize the significant progress achieved in recent years thanks to the joint efforts of fisheries managers, research institutes, nongovernmental organizations...

Long John Silver’s Leverages Seasonal Flavors and Value in Summer Menu Launch

Long John Silver’s is combining limited‑time menu additions with value-driven offerings to drive summer traffic, rolling out a seasonal lineup that mixes returning seafood favorites, new sauces and expanded beverage options.

The quick‑service seafood chain has introduced a Summer Special Platter featuring coconut shrimp and a new Citrus Honey Mustard dipping sauce, while continuing its year‑round $6 Basket program, a core part of its value strategy amid intense industry competition.

"To us, summer is all about providing great flavors and...

NOAA Launches $13.5M Aquaculture Cooperative Institute to Boost Domestic Seafood Production

The University of Southern Mississippi has joined a new national aquaculture research initiative funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration aimed at expanding domestic seafood production and reducing the United States' reliance on imported farmed seafood.

The effort, known as the Cooperative Institute Fostering Aquaculture Research and Markets (CIFARM), is led by the University of New Hampshire and backed by approximately $13.5 million in initial funding over five years. The program will bring together researchers, industry partners, and coastal communities to tackle barriers to domestic...

OTB Hospitality Files Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Following On The Border Closures

Pappas Restaurants, Inc. expanded its portfolio in May 2025 with the acquisition of On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, adding another well‑known Texas brand to its family of restaurant concepts, according to an Expana report.

The deal brought On The Border under the same umbrella as Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, Pappasito’s Cantina and Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, among other concepts. Following the acquisition, Pappas began refreshing On The Border’s menu and operations, with an emphasis on improving food quality, strengthening execution and enhancing the overall guest experience...

Wicker, Hyde-Smith, Britt Urge USDA Action on Catfish Virus Threats

US Senators Roger Wicker, Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) are calling on the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to act before two highly contagious viruses can reach farm-raised catfish operations in Mississippi and other states.

In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, the senators urged prompt action to assess and mitigate the impacts of Yellow Catfish Virus (YcCV) and Channel Catfish Virus (CCV), warning that an unchecked outbreak could severely damage the domestic industry...

The First California Salmon Season in Years Opens with Hope and Adaptation

Recreational and commercial salmon fisheries are open off California this year after two years of full closures and another year that had only limited recreational openers. The openers, which are still restrictive, have created a spark of life in the fishery. However, the statewide harvest is small compared to the past. 

The improved salmon returns are due to several factors, including better ocean conditions for salmon, increased hatchery production, habitat improvements, and dam removals, although the impact of the Klamath dam removals has not yet been felt...

Dongwon F&B Completes Global Advanced Base 'Protein Nexus' in Jincheon

Kim Sung-yong, Dongwon F&B’s CEO, announced earlier this week that the Korean seafood giant has completed its second Jincheon business site in Gwanghyewon-myeon, Jincheon-gun, and has begun full-scale operations there. Jincheon-gun is part of the North Chungcheong Province, or Chungcheongbuk-do, in South Korea. 

The Jincheon Second Site is a state-of-the-art production facility with an investment of 140 billion won (US$105 million) and floor space of 142,000 square feet (4,400 pyeong) per floor with two above-ground floors...

Spain Issues First Round of Fishing Diesel Aid, Covering 4,650 Vessels with EUR 6.8 Million

Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has published its first list of provisional beneficiaries for aid intended to offset higher fishing diesel costs linked to the Middle East crisis.

The initial round covers 4,308 vessel owners and 4,650 fishing vessels, with total support amounting to EUR 6.8 million.

This first resolution applies to the initial aid period from March 22 through April 30, 2026. While the full eligibility window currently runs through June 30...

UK-India Trade Deal Opens Door for Scottish Salmon Exports

The UK government and India have reached a trade agreement that will help reduce trade barriers between the two countries.

"The deal gives British exporters an edge over international competitors, and I would encourage all businesses to ensure they are properly prepared," British Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said in a statement, according to a Reuters article.

The agreement is particularly significant for Scottish salmon, which faces a 33% tariff when exported to India. Under the deal, that tariff will be removed, opening up new opportunities in...

Scott & Jon’s Launches Honey Sesame Salmon Superfood Bowl at Costco

Scott & Jon’s is expanding its retail reach with the launch of its new Honey Sesame Salmon Superfood Bowl at Costco locations across the Southeast and Texas, adding another club-store channel for the frozen seafood meal brand.

The new product is being offered in an exclusive four-pack of 10-ounce ready-to-heat meals at a price point of $15.99. Designed for convenience-driven shoppers, the meal goes from freezer to table in about four minutes.

Each bowl includes Omega...

Wild Alaskan Company to Directly Operate Kasilof Buying Station for 2026 Salmon Season

Wild Alaskan Company will directly operate the Kasilof buying station for the upcoming salmon season, reversing its original plan to bring in an outside operator after acquiring the facility in February.

The company said it has committed the capital, personnel, and operational resources needed to prepare the facility for the 2026 season. The Kasilof station serves Alaska's second-largest sockeye salmon fishery and plays a key role in access, logistics, and value creation across the region.

"While it wasn't our original plan, we chose...

What a Super El Niño Could Mean for Alaska's Seabirds, Salmon, and Seas

With the declaration of an El Niño last week and forecasts that it will intensify into a "Super El Niño" this winter, US Geological Survey (USGS) researchers are tracking how warming waters threaten Alaska's ecosystems — from seabird die-offs and harmful algal blooms to heat-stressed salmon.

In the US, El Niño brings warmer conditions to northern states and wetter conditions to southern states, but the phenomenon's energy also affects seabed ecosystems and atmospheric conditions. Because peak El Niño is expected during winter 2026-2027, effects...