ANALYSIS: A North–South Comparison of Shrimp Import Patterns in the EU-UK

Shrimp consumption and sourcing patterns in the EU‑UK region differ noticeably between Southern and Northern Europe. These differences largely reflect historical sourcing and cultural cooking habits, which in turn shape species preferences, product forms, and supplier choices. When focusing on the major importing countries (each exceeding 10,000 MT in 2025), clear contrasts emerge between the two regions...

Norway H1 Seafood Exports Decline 1% as China Surpasses US in Market Rankings

Norwegian seafood exports fell 1% by value to NOK 84.5 billion ($8.6 billion) in the first half of 2026, with CEO Christian Chramer of the Norwegian Seafood Council citing a combination of domestic quota cuts and international market disruption.

"Here at home, low quotas for several wild-caught species have resulted in record-low export volumes and record-high export prices, whilst geopolitical unrest in the markets has made global trade even more challenging," Chramer said...

Thai Union Launches Industry-First Recyclable Shelf-Stable Tuna Pouch Under John West Brand

Thai Union Group has launched what it claims is the seafood industry's first shelf-stable tuna product in a recyclable mono-material pouch, rolling it out under its John West brand in the UK and Ireland as a product line called Stir & Serve. The launch, developed in collaboration with packaging supplier Mondi, is now available at Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Asda, and Ocado, with further retailer expansion planned through 2026.

The innovation addresses a longstanding technical barrier in flexible seafood packaging. Conventional retort pouches...

NOAA Lifts Suriname Seafood Import Ban After Drift Gillnet Fishery Reforms

NOAA Fisheries has reinstated a comparability finding for Suriname's drift gillnet fishery under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), removing an import prohibition that had been in effect since January 1, 2026 and restoring US market access for products harvested from the fishery. The finding, published in the Federal Register on June 22 (91 FR 37086), is valid through December 31, 2029.

The restoration of access matters commercially: Suriname shipped 11.6 million pounds of seafood to the US in 2025, valued at $40.2 million across 569 shipments, according...

Sustainable Scalloping Fund Applauds Trump's National Scallops Day, Northern Edge Opening

The Sustainable Scalloping Fund (SSF) applauded President Trump's declaration of National Scallops Day, marking NOAA Fisheries' move to open the Northern Edge of Georges Bank to the scallop fleet.

According to the SSF, the decision now allows for Scallop Permit Stacking, a move the group has pushed for since its inception. This will allow scallop permit holders to see several benefits, including operational consolidation, cost-cutting, and safer fishing, per the SSF.

"We are grateful to President Trump and his team...

Vietnam Seafood Giant Godaco Suffers $6 Million Fire Loss at Value-Added Plant

A fire that broke out in the early hours of June 29 at Go Dang Joint Stock Company's (Godaco) value-added processing facility in Vinh Long province has caused damage exceeding VND 162 billion (USD 6.2 million), according to Vietnam's state broadcaster Voice of Vietnam (VOV).

The blaze ignited around 1 a.m. and quickly spread across the facility's main workshop — a nearly 9,000-square-meter plant commissioned in 2016 at a cost of over USD 30 million. Fire crews from the Vinh Long Provincial Police Department...

CFIA recalls Five Star Shellfish Oysters Over Salmonella Risk

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has recalled several Five Star Shellfish Inc. oyster products sold in Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec over possible Salmonella contamination.

The recall, issued by the Poplar Grove based company in Prince Edward Island, includes Malpeque, Conway Pearls, Blackberry and Gooseberry oysters harvested on June 22, 2026, from harvest location PEI 1Q. Affected products include select 25-count, 100-count and 2.5-pound packages shipped on June 22 or 23, 2026.

Consumers, retailers and food service operators are advised not to consume...

Canada Raises Mackerel, Southern Gulf Fall Herring Catch Limits

Canada is increasing catch limits for Atlantic mackerel and Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence fall herring after updated stock assessments showed improved conditions, a move officials said will support harvesters and strengthen fisheries in Atlantic Canada and Quebec.

The Honourable Joanne Thompson, minister of fisheries, announced the new total allowable catch, or TAC, levels, citing peer-reviewed science, industry input and socioeconomic factors.

For Atlantic mackerel, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans said its 2026 stock assessment, completed ahead of the usual two-year cycle, found...

Bakkafrost Q2 Trading Update: Faroe Islands Clean on Mortality, Scotland Chalks Up 32 mDKK in Losses

Bakkafrost harvested a combined 29.9 thousand tonnes head-on gutted (HOG) in Q2 2026 across its Faroe Islands and Scotland operations, bringing year-to-date volumes to 61.3 thousand tonnes HOG, according to the company's Q2 trading update published on Oslo Børs.

The Faroe Islands operation drove the bulk of output, delivering 26.7 thousand tonnes in Q2 at an average harvest weight of 5.6 kg, with volumes building steadily through the quarter from 7.7 thousand...

White House Issues Sweeping Deregulatory Changes in Domestic Fisheries Management

At a hastily called press conference this morning, Peter Navarro, Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, announced which deregulatory projects the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has prioritized and will collaborate with regional councils to implement immediately.

"Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA have rolled out a bold step of regional priorities by partnering directly with regional councils," Navarro said. "These cost-cutting actions will reduce regulatory burdens, stabilize markets, improve access, enhance economic profitability, and make the American seafood industry a world leader...

Southern Senators Press USDA for Emergency Catfish Purchase as Industry Marks Third Year of Losses

A coalition of five Southern US senators is pressing the US Department of Agriculture to deploy emergency purchasing authority on behalf of the country's farm-raised catfish industry, which has reported negative financial returns for three consecutive years amid persistent cost inflation.

Led by Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), the group sent a letter on June 30 to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, urging approval of a Section 32 surplus commodity purchase for US farm-raised catfish. Joining Hyde-Smith were...

Norwegian Seafood Council Pushes Provenance as Key Differentiator for UK Fish and Chip Operators

The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) is positioning verified origin and supply chain transparency as critical competitive tools for UK fish and chip shops, citing research showing 76% of UK consumers find dishes with clear provenance appealing.

The initiative comes as operators face increasing cost pressures and value-conscious customers, with NSC arguing that clear sourcing stories can help justify quality positioning and differentiate from competitors.

"Fish and chip shops have always been built on trust," said Bjørn-Erik Stabell, UK Director at NSC...

ASC Adds Stefanie Rog, Steve Philips to Board of Trustees

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has appointed Stefanie Rog and Steve Philips to its Board of Trustees, adding conservation and seafood supply chain expertise as it advances its responsible aquaculture mission.

Rog joined the board on July 1, 2026, while Philips joined on Jan. 1, 2026.

Rog brings more than 15 years of international conservation experience and a PhD in Conservation Biology. Her work has spanned ecosystems from Cambodia’s coral reefs and Ethiopia’s lakes to Australia’s mangrove forests. She is now based in Saudi Arabia...

Russia Imposes Two-Year Greenland Halibut Restrictions in Far East

Russia is introducing a near-total ban on Greenland halibut fishing in its Far Eastern basin, effective July 7, 2026, through the end of 2027, in response to a steep decline in the stock that authorities say has worsened significantly in recent years. 

Stocks off Kamchatka and in the northern Sea of Okhotsk have been among the hardest hit, with various estimates pointing to a three-to-fourfold decline compared to levels seen in the second half of the 2010s — a drop that had already prompted calls from... 

Salmon Scotland Comment on Shetland Tunnel Plans

US Declines to Extend USMCA, Putting $149 Billion in Agri-Food Trade on an Uncertain Path

The United States will not renew the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, according to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, amid Wednesday's July 1 joint review deadline. Fox Business subsequently reported that President Trump will instead pursue separate bilateral trade deals with Canada and Mexico lasting up to 10 years. Both Canada and Mexico had pressed for a full 16-year extension. They did not get it.

The outcome was widely expected. Trump has floated withdrawing from the deal entirely, and US officials gave no...

Two Buyers Seek Court Sign-Off on $2.25M Dungeness Crab Price-Fixing Settlements

Two seafood buyers named in a West Coast Dungeness crab price-fixing class action have filed separate motions to formalize exits from the litigation, with a combined $2.25 million in settlements and a July 31 hearing date set before US Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse in San Francisco.

Caito Fisheries, Inc. and its owners filed papers on June 24 seeking court recognition of a $1.25 million deal. Pacific Dream Seafoods, Inc. of Anacortes, Washington, followed the next day with a parallel motion covering...

DNR's Proposed Water Rules Sharply Criticized, Constitutional Protection of Salmon at Risk

Alaska's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wants to change regulations that guide the state's water reservation process, an arcane but critically important procedure that guarantees enough water in salmon streams and rivers to support wild salmon populations.

Last August, DNR's Division of Mining, Land, and Water announced its intent in an online public notice and a legal ad in the Anchorage Daily News. The agency identified four regulations for potential changes and opened a scoping period that ran from August 1 to November 29, 2024...

Eunha Fisheries Recalls Korean Sashimi Products Over Undeclared Allergens

South Korea-based Eunha Fisheries Co. has recalled certain Sliced Korean Halibut and Flounder Sashimi products due to undeclared allergens, according to a July 1 notice published on the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website.

The products included accompanying soy sauce and vinegar red pepper paste packets containing wheat, soy, and sesame that were not declared in English on the individual condiment packets, the FDA said.

The affected products were distributed in the US through WOOLTARI USA Inc. and JAYONE FOODS, Inc., reaching consumers through retail stores, direct delivery, and...

Russian Pacific Salmon Catch Lags Behind 2025 Amid Declining Stocks

Russia may face one of the worst red caviar production and salmon catch figures this year in the last two decades due to weak results from the ongoing salmon fishing season.

Regarding red caviar, according to recent Rosrybolovstvo forecasts, the catch will not exceed 227,000 tons, which would be among the lowest figures for the country and its salmon sector.

According to fishermen, the Russian salmon sector is already lagging compared to last year's results, which may lead to price growth for both salmon and red caviar...

Ecuador Launches Executive Board to Boost Tuna Sector Competitiveness

President Daniel Noboa's administration has launched Ecuador's first Productive Executive Board for the tuna sector, a move aimed at strengthening one of the country's most important seafood industries through closer public-private collaboration.

The initiative forms part of Ecuador's Productive Development Strategy and Competitiveness Policy, led by the Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade and Investment. The permanent forum will bring together industry, government and international partners to identify bottlenecks and implement practical solutions to improve productivity and competitiveness.

The inaugural meeting brought together representatives from across...

Mowi to Brand Feedpipes in Scottish First to Trace Marine Debris

Mowi Scotland will begin branding its feedpipes, becoming the first company in Scotland to do so as the salmon farmer looks to improve traceability of marine debris.

The move is designed to make feedpipes easier to identify if they end up in the marine environment, where waste tied to aquaculture can be hard to distinguish from debris generated by other industries or carried into Scottish waters by tides and wind.

Under current practice, members of the public who find suspected aquaculture waste report it...

SalmonChile Joins Chilean Trade Delegation Heading to Washington to Fight Proposed 12.5% Tariff

Chile's salmon farming industry will send representatives to Washington next month to argue that farmed salmon should be exempt from a proposed 12.5% tariff recommended by the Office of the US Trade Representative, joining a broader public-private coalition mobilizing ahead of USTR hearings scheduled to begin July 7.

The delegation took shape following a June 30 meeting at Chile's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where the Chilean Industrial Development Association (SOFOFA), trade association Subsecretary Paula Estévez, and export groups including SalmonChile...

Expana's Weekly Top 10

Last week's top headlines produced by in-house journalists highlighted the policy shifts, supply chain disruptions and demand signals shaping global commodity and food markets. From the US decision not to renew the USMCA and the collapse of a major low-carbon ammonia project in Louisiana, to Ecuador’s rapid rise in cocoa production and a significant cold storage fire in Los Angeles, the latest developments point to continued volatility across trade, agriculture, energy and food supply chains. We also track key weekly themes in retail and foodservice, where summer pricing...

Sardine Fleet Experiencing No Landings in Eastern Hokkaido Despite Season Opening in mid-June

Although the Japanese sardine purse-seine fishing season off eastern Hokkaido began in mid-June, no landings have been recorded so far. This marks the first time since 2018, a span of eight years, that the initial landing has been delayed until July or later, raising concerns about the season's outlook, according to a report by Minato Shimbun.

The current fishing season runs from June 16 to the end of October, as is customary. In recent years, shortly after the season opened...

Mowi Reports 14,500 Salmon Escape at Nordland Site

Mowi Seawater Norway AS has reported an escape of approximately 14,500 farmed salmon from its Brattholmen facility in Herøy municipality, Nordland, following the discovery of damage to a seine on May 7. The fish averaged over 4 kg each. The company has deployed a recapture net and recovered three fish so far.

Norway's Directorate of Fisheries has ordered Mowi to conduct a full count — which produced the 14,500 figure, though the company notes uncertainty around that estimate — and to carry out environmental monitoring and removal of escaped fish across 10 waterways spanning...

Finnforel Appoints Mikko Karell as CEO

Finnish seafood compnay Finnforel Ltd has named Mikko Karell as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately, as the company looks to accelerate growth and expand internationally.

Karell joins Finnforel with more than 25 years of experience in international food and consumer business, including leading growth companies, driving business transformations, building international brands and launching new food concepts.

The company said the appointment comes at a key stage in its development, following improvements in production quality, biological performance and operational reliability across its integrated value chain...

ANALYSIS: Revised May and June Import Data Put US Shrimp Inventory Above Pre-Pandemic Trend

US May shrimp imports are tracking 9 to 10 million lbs. above the previous central estimate of approximately 150.5 million lbs. June is still being assembled, but early indications point in the same direction.

The model framework that informs these Expana estimates reads price movements in log terms as a forward signal for inventory accumulation. Prices began declining in April, ahead of the bulk of this volume being recorded, consistent with market participants pricing in expected supply before physical arrivals...

Sen. Sullivan Introduces Updated Bycatch Bill with Alaska Stakeholder Backing

US Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) has introduced an updated version of his bycatch legislation, aiming to strengthen oversight of trawl fisheries, reduce seafloor impacts and improve transparency in federal fishery management.

The Bycatch Reduction Act, introduced this week, builds on Sullivan's earlier proposal and incorporates feedback from Alaska fishing and conservation groups. It also advances recommendations from the Alaska Salmon Task Force, established under legislation Sullivan sponsored that was signed into law in December 2022.

According to Sullivan's office, the bill would...

Japan's Surimi Products Exports Increase 5% YOY with Growing Global Demand

According to reports from the Minato Shimbun, consumption of Japanese surimi products is rising worldwide, including in North and Central America, Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

The Ministry of Finance trade statistics show that the cumulative export volume of surimi products—such as kamaboko (steamed surimi), but excluding fish sausage—reached 4,186 tons between January and May, a 5% year-on-year increase.

Exports to the United States, the largest overseas market, performed well, rising 13% compared to the same...