Norwegian Seafood Exports Slip in February; Salmon Rises but US Demand Falls Sharply

Norway exported seafood worth NOK 13.8 billion ($1.4 billion) in February, a 2% decline from the same month a year earlier, the Norwegian Seafood Council reported on March 4. Exports for January–February totaled NOK 28.5 billion, down NOK 777 million (2.7%) versus the same period in 2025.

“Lower supplies of shellfish and wild-caught fish due to quota reductions, combined with a still troubled world and trade barriers, are affecting the market, product flows and prices even more strongly than we have experienced before...

China Confirms 25% Tariff Removal on Canadian Lobster, Crab Effective March 1

China’s Finance Ministry confirmed on Friday that its 25% tariff on lobster and crab imports from Canada will be lifted on March 1 through the end of 2026.

The initial trade agreement between China and Canada was announced in mid-January, with an implementation target of March 1. The deal included the elimination of tariffs on snow crab and lobster, as well as on other agricultural products such as Canadian canola meal and peas.

After the deal was first announced, Geoff Irvine, the Executive Director...

Keyport Hires GAPP CEO Craig Morris as President, Bolsters Leadership to Boost Brand Expansion

Craig Morris, CEO of Seattle-based Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP), has been recruited by Edmonds, WA-based Keyport LLC, a processor and supplier of wholesale wild-caught crab and frozen seafood, according to announcements from both groups yesterday. 

Morris's hiring strengthens Keyport's leadership team during an era of accelerated growth.  

CEO Mark Pedersen and COO Kurt Pedersen will focus on partnerships, supply and harvest relationships, and building the next chapter of Keyport as the company approaches its 30-year milestone in 2027...

Sea Port Products Marks 45 Years, Prepares Return to Seafood Expo North America 2026

Sea Port Products Corp will return to Seafood Expo North America (SENA) in Boston this March, using the show as an opportunity to mark its 45th year in the seafood business.

The Kirkland, WA-based importer and distributor was founded in 1981 by James Dresser and his sons Bill and Don, evolving from a small brokerage into one of the country’s notable suppliers of shrimp and a variety of other seafood species. Sea Port now offers shrimp, lobster, crab, scallops, finfish and other products sourced from...

Arbitrator Upholds ASP on 2025 Snow Crab Settlement Price; FFAW Grievance Denied

An arbitrator has rejected a grievance from FFAW‑Unifor and upheld the Association of Seafood Producers’ (ASP) handling of the 2025 snow crab settlement price, affirming the province’s Standing Fish Price‑Setting Panel outcome and the minimum price paid to harvesters of $5.25/lb, ASP said Friday.

The ruling supports ASP’s position that the settlement should be based on sales of 5–8oz sections in 30‑lb wholesale boxes and that processors follow the FFAW‑agreed formula used by independent auditor Deloitte...

Access, Concentration, and Risk: The New Structure of Global Crab Trade

The 2026 global crab market is increasingly defined by concentration and control. Two dominant poles now shape global trade flows: the United States, which has consolidated its position as the world’s premier destination for king and snow crab, and China, which continues to absorb the majority of Russian live production at record levels. In this environment, competitive advantage is no longer driven by tonnage alone, but by secure access, disciplined inventory management, and credible supply chains.

This concentration has left secondary markets—particularly in Asia—more exposed to currency...

New York Man Charged in Snow Crab, Blueberries Heist After Allegedly Hacking Trucking Company Emails

A New York man was arrested and charged with allegedly hacking into the email accounts of trucking companies and using them to book cargo shipments containing snow crab, blueberries, and designer cologne and selling them for profit

Romoy Forbes, a Jamaican National residing in Deer Park, NY, was charged with interstate transportation of stolen goods and conspiracy to commit that offense, according to the US Attorney's Office of the District of Massachusetts. He was arrested in Long Island, NY and...

Larry's Catch Secures Investment on Canadian Show Dragons' Den

"Dragons' Den" is a television program in which aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas and models to a panel of Canadian business moguls, similar to the US hit show "Shark Tank."

On January 22, 2026, Larry's Catch debuted on the show, presenting its vision to make premium, wild-caught, and sustainable Canadian seafood accessible to households nationwide. After sharing their compelling mission and support for Canadian fishing families, co-founders Glen Creaser, James Quinn, and Javier Mejorada received offers from three Dragons.

"Pitching on Dragons'...

2025 Survey: Pollock Biomass Down by 30%, Snow Crab Up by 51% in Eastern Bering Sea

The walleye pollock biomass dropped by 30% from 2024, according to results of the annual eastern Bering Sea trawl survey, but a much smaller portion found in the northern Bering Sea rose by 50.6% YOY. 

Pollock is the largest contributor of biomass in both the eastern and northern Bering Sea. It accounts for 28% of the EBS and 23% of the NBS, making it the largest US commercial fishery.  

Even with a 30% drop in biomass, there is enough for the conservation-led...

Exports of Crabs and Shellfish Hit Record High in 2025

Total export revenue reaching $384.9 million.

Vietnam’s export revenue from crabs and shellfish reached a recordhigh of $384.9 million in 2025, up 18.7% year on year, according to the VietnamAssociation of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

These products were exported to 25 countries and territories,with China and Japan among the major markets.

Vietnamese crab and shellfish are highly regarded for theirstable quality and suitability for the mid-range and high-end segments. Meetingstrict food safety standards and being free from antibiotics...

Cape Breton Seafood Company Calls China Trade Deal 'Major Step Forward'

The owner of a Cape Breton seafood harvesting and processing company says Canada's tentative new trade agreement with China will provide immediate stability and long-term growth potential for the industry.

Louisbourg Seafoods Ltd. owner James Kennedy said the Canada-China partnership reached by Prime Minister Mark Carney during a trade mission to Beijing signals renewed momentum for seafood producers after several years of trade friction and uncertainty...

UK Crab Company Demands Compensation from Wind Farm Operators for Decline in Catch 

Cromer's largest producer of dressed crab wants compensation from wind farm operators for a downturn in supply which it blames on offshore turbines.

Jonas Seafood saw its seasonal catch fall by almost a quarter last year, putting the future of the factory at risk.

Kevin Jonas, managing director, is now calling for the same compensation that fishermen affected by wind farms have received...

Canada and China Reach Deal to Remove Tariffs on Lobster, Snow Crab by March 1, 2026

Canada and China have reached an initial trade agreement that will eliminate tariffs on Canadian lobster, snow crab, and select agri-food products. The agreement, announced January 16, sets a target of March 1 for China to remove retaliatory duties, reinstating market access after a steep 25% tariff hindered Canadian seafood exports.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the deal would remove trade barriers and “unlock billions of dollars in business for Canadian farmers, fish harvesters, and workers across agri-food sectors...

Keeping Promises: NL Harvesters Hoping Premier Can Help With Snow Crab Settlement

Newfoundland and Labrador's fish harvesters are somewhat buoyed after getting support from the premier, but are still preparing to mobilize if changes aren't made to how the fishery is being managed.

Tension between harvesters and buyers is an age-old issue, but accusations from FFAW-Unifor that processors have been acting in bad faith reached another boiling point after harvesters were left with an end-of-season snow crab settlement payment that was much less than they had hoped for.

The settlement, which the union estimated should...

NPFMC Looks at Harvest Control Rules

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is considering the adoption of new Harvest Control Rules, or HCRs. Harvest Control Rules are just what they sound like. They are the rules they follow when they set yearly limits on the harvest of commercially exploited species. The new rules would be "climate-resilient." The idea is "that alternative HCRs for some or all stocks may be more responsive over a longer time frame to changing environmental conditions … to protect spawning biomass for some species and stocks during climate shocks and under rapidly changing...

Indonesia Issues 292 Permits for Swimming Crab Shipments to the US

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has issued 292 export permit documents, known as Certificates of Admissibility (CoA), to facilitate business actors exporting swimming crab products to the United States (US).

Director General of Capture Fisheries Lotharia Latif stated on Thursday that the CoA document is essential. Without this certificate, Indonesian swimming crabproducts --locally known as rajungan--cannot be accepted in export destination countries that apply the provisions of the US Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)...

DFO Warns Newfoundland & Labrador Snow Crab Biomass Could Hit Historic Lows by 2028

A Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) stock assessment released Feb. 24 warned that exploitable biomass for snow crab in Newfoundland and Labrador could fall to historic lows by 2028, driven by warming ocean temperatures and low numbers of mature females and non-commercial‑size crab. 

“Continued warming of ocean temperatures, low numbers of mature female and non‑commercial‑size crab indicate that the exploitable biomass in all assessment divisions is expected to be at or near historic lows by 2028,” DFO stock assessment biologist Julia Pantin said...

Weather-Related Delays Impact Opening and Closing of Southeast Alaska’s Tanner Crab Fishery

A severe winter storm delayed the opening of the 2025/2026 Southeast Alaska commercial Tanner and golden king crab fishery for 24 hours last week, and yesterday, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) delayed the closure in certain areas for tanner crab for a further twelve hours due to weather.

FFAW-Unifor Seeks Dismissal of Price Panel Chair, ASP Backs Murphy Amid Snow Crab Settlement Feud

The union representing snow crab harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), FFAW-Unifor, has called for the removal of Standing Fish Price Setting Panel Chair Sheilagh Murphy in a letter to NL Minister Mike Goosney.

FFAW criticized Murphy's public comments, which they say effectively rewrote the Panel’s decision by stating that only 30-lb bulk boxes should be used in calculating the end-of-season settlement payment. The union described this as an “unauthorized intervention” occurring after the decision-making process was complete...

Russia Maintains Crab Exports to China as US Market Remains Closed

Russia continues to supply crab to China from its Northern Basin amid limited export options, particularly to the US and the EU.

According to the Russian agricultural regulator Rosselkhoznadzor, in January 2026, about 27 tonnes of live crab from the Murmansk region were shipped to China. For the entirety of 2025, approximately 530 tonnes of live crab were exported to China from the Russian North, with a significant portion transported by air due to the long distance.

These volumes are significantly lower...

Japan: 2025 Fishery Product Imports Fell by 3% in Volume; Pollock Surimi up 36% from Russia, Down 11% from the US 

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on January 29th, the volume of marine product imports in 2025 (preliminary figures, including seafood and seafood preparations, fishmeal, and seaweed) decreased 3% from the previous year to 2,024,014 tons, while import value increased 4% to 2,381,400,000 yen ($15,175,740.60). Fresh and frozen tuna increased 6% to 186,362 tons, fresh and frozen salmon and trout remained the same as the previous year at 219,397 tons, and sea urchin...

US Market Challenges Push Norwegian Salmon Fillet Exports Down 37%, Poland and China Surge

Norwegian seafood exports fell 3% in value at the start of 2026 compared to January last year, as the US market faced “unpredictable tariffs,” a weaker dollar, and rising competition, the Norwegian Seafood Council reports. CEO Christian Chramer pointed to lower salmon prices, reduced quotas for several wild species, and challenging market access as key factors behind the decline.

At this point last year, the US was the largest single market for Norwegian seafood. Today, the value of exports destined for the US has declined...

Stone Crab and Lobster Price-Fixing Case: Florida Exec Avoids Prison

Dennis Dopico, the Florida seafood executive who pleaded guilty to price‑fixing stone crab claws and spiny lobster, avoided jail and was sentenced to five years of probation for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act. Dopico also has a restitution hearing scheduled for April 3, 2026.

Dopico was first indicted by the US Department of Justice in September 2025 for conspiring with competitors to fix seafood prices, as Expana previously reported.

The DOJ alleged that Dopico “knowingly joined and participated in a conspiracy with other persons and entities...

GSMC 2026: Seafood Volumes Slip in Foodservice, But Sushi, Shrimp, and Deli Items Show Promise

Seafood volumes in US foodservice fell in 2025, with shellfish driving most of the decline, Melissa Rodriguez, VP Perimeter at Circana, told attendees at the Global Seafood Market Conference. Total seafood servings were down year‑over‑year, as a 5.9% drop in shellfish outpaced a 2.1% gain in fish. Restaurants, which account for nearly three‑quarters of total seafood pound volume, saw their volumes decline even as dollar sales increased, a sign that menu price inflation is masking the pullback in consumption...

GSMC 2026: Shellfish at the Forefront as Tariffs, MMPA and Trade Shifts Reorder Markets

Shellfish suppliers and buyers at GSMC 2026 heard a consistent message from the members of the shellfish panel that was hosted by Annie Tselikis and Expana’s own Janice Schreiber: 2025 was a roller‑coaster year, and 2026 will be about managing volatility, from tariffs and regulatory holds to changing trade flows and pockets of outsized consumer demand. Panelists walked the room through species‑by‑species dynamics, urging versatility on menuing and merchandising as supply and prices keep swinging.

Here's a look at the main takeaways...

Russia Plans to Turn South Korea into One of its Major Destinations for Seafood Supplies

Russia plans to turn South Korea into one of major trade destinations for the supplies of its fish and seafood in years to come.

That will be achieved by the increase of supplies in both volume and value terms.

In recent years, imports of Russian fish to the South Korean market have already exceeded some historic highs, while the growth is currently ongoing. This is also confirmed by some latest official statistics of the Korean Statistical Service, according...

Russia Eyes Further Live Crab Export Growth to China in 2026

Russia plans to further increase crab exports to China in 2026, with particular focus on live crab supplies, which remain in strong demand among Chinese consumers.

Last year, Russia exported up to 38,500 tons of live crab to China, marking a 10% increase over 2024 and a 20% rise compared to 2023. In value terms, these exports amounted to approximately US$1.1 billion.

These figures are expected to grow further in 2026, as Russian fishermen place high hopes on continued strong demand from China...

Shadow Crab Market Persists in Russia Despite Crackdown and Legal Reforms

A recent case in the Murmansk region saw local police disrupt an organized group involved in the illegal sale of Kamchatka crabs. According to Irina Volk, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, up to 77 live crabs weighing approximately 300 kg were illegally caught in coastal waters of the Barents Sea and intended for unlawful delivery and sale in other parts of Russia.

This incident is one of many involving illegal catches of Kamchatka and other crabs investigated by Russian law enforcement. While past annual volumes of...

Richmond Seafood Company Acquitted After Allegations of Under-Sized Crabs

A Richmond company and two of its owners were acquitted of all charges after the Department of Fisheries and Oceans alleged they had 78 under-sized Dungeness crabs in their possession.

Richmond Provincial Court Justice Diana Vandor acquitted Million Ocean Seafood as well as owners Tsz Wah Fok and Tak Yi Tong after a November trial that heard testimony from fisheries officers who had done the inspection at the No. 5 Road marine processing plant...

Snow Crab Price Dispute Continues As Rebate Calculation Divides Newfoundland Industry

The end‑of‑season settlement payment for the Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab season was announced yesterday, and harvesters reacted with disappointment.

FFAW‑Unifor, the union representing the province's harvesters, said auditors from Deloitte completed their analysis and set a final rebate of $0.28, yielding a total price of $5.25/lb.

“Based on the available market information, the calculated rebate amount is far below what the Negotiating Committee expected,” FFAW said in a news release. “Today's rebate results are the final straw for fish harvesters who are...