Maine Lobster Harvest Drops 8M Pounds in 2025, Value Down More Than $75M

Maine’s lobster fishery softened in 2025, with preliminary state data showing landings down by roughly 8 million pounds and total value falling by more than $75 million year‑over‑year.

The Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) reported lobstermen landed 78.8 million pounds last year, generating just over $461 million at the dock. The average boat price was $5.85 per pound — the third‑highest on record — but higher per‑pound returns did not offset the volume decline...

Korea’s Japanese Seafood Imports Recover to Pre-nuclear Power Plant Accident Levels

According to import and export statistics from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of South Korea, imports of Japanese seafood reached $247 million in 2025, up 27% from the previous year. This increase was primarily driven by significant growth in live fish such as yellowtail and sea bream, which helped imports return to levels seen before the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in 2011. 

After the accident, South Korea continued to ban seafood from eight prefectures, including Fukushima. Imports stagnated at around $100 million from 2012...

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...

Iceland Foods Expands ASC-Certified Frozen Seafood Range to 15 SKUs with Salmon, Sea Bass and More

UK retailer Iceland Foods has expanded its Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)-labeled seafood range with new products launched earlier this month.

The expansion supports the company's goal to increase its ASC-certified products to 25 by the end of 2026, offering consumers a wider selection of sustainable seafood options.

Stuart Lendrum, Director of Product, Process & Sustainability at Iceland Foods, said: “Our customers want reassurance that the products they choose support a healthier planet, and by growing our responsibly sourced seafood range...

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'...

Scallop Fishing Ban Lifts in North Queensland, but Southern Waters Remain Off Limits

Bundaberg fishmonger Paul Grunske has been importing scallops from Japan for the past four years, despite the famed Hervey Bay scallop habitat being just down the road.

He is not happy about it, but fishing for the small, sweet saucer scallops prized by celebrity chefs like Matt Moran and "Fast" Ed Halmagyi is illegal.

Fearing overfishing had depleted 88 per cent of the stock, the state government took the local delicacy off the menu in 2021.

Now, numbers have recovered enough to...

SeaPak Rolls Out Trio of New Frozen Seafood Items Featuring Shrimp, Flounder and Scallops

SeaPak Shrimp & Seafood, a major frozen retail seafood brand, unveiled a trio of new products to kick off 2026.

The company debuted Chili Lime Shrimp, Breaded Flounder Tenders and Breaded Scallops, all expected to hit the shelves at select retailers, including Food Lion, Weis Markets, SpartanNash and BJ's Wholesale Club this month.

SeaPak said the new products meet the demands of shoppers seeking globally inspired tastes, greater variety, and high-quality seafood that is simple and quick to prepare at home...

Tasty Scallop From Japan Has Become Trade Pawn

In early November, a ship carrying six tons of Hokkaido scallops slipped out of a northern Japanese port, bound for China. The shipment was meant to be a milestone, a sign of warming ties between the countries after Beijing lifted a yearslong ban on Japanese seafood.

But midway through the vessel's journey, tensions flared again when Japan's prime minister signaled a willingness to defend Taiwan against China. Her comment drew a sharp rebuke from Beijing and an announcement that the seafood ban was back on...

US Gunning for Higher Share in Philippine Fish Import Market

The United States (US) is planning to leverage recent policy changes in the fish quota system to significantly increase its seafood exports to the Philippines, which currently account for less than one percent of the market.

In a Nov. 24 policy brief, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said the Philippines’ imported seafood market is valued at $1 billion, based on the average over the past five years.

The USDA expects the country’s demand for foreign goods to ramp up due to its growing...

This NH Researcher Found a New, More Sustainable Way to Grow Scallops.

While New England was once seen as the fishing capital of the world, it’s far from that today.

The industry has been on the decline for decades, and now the United States imports about 80 percent of its seafood, amounting to a seafood trade deficit of over $20 billion per year.

But researchers at the University of New Hampshire are looking for sustainable ways to grow local seafood and revitalize the region’s fisheries.

Michael Coogan is among them, and he’s...

Rapid Biomass Drop Triggers Interim TAC Cut for Georges Bank Scallops

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)’s stock assessment for sea scallops in Scallop Fishing Area 27A (Georges Bank) paints a cautious picture for one of the region’s higher‑value shellfish resources.

The species has shown signs of decline due to natural predators (sea stars and crabs), with the species' fully-recruited biomass at 13,570 metric tons (mt) in 2024, down by over half of 2023’s 31,095mt.

The assessment, therefore, places the stock in the “healthy” zone on the reference point scale; however, the rapid single-year decline...

Western Australian Scallop Industry Due for a Sea Change

Sea Change Australia, funded by the federal government's Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, is working to build climate resilient fisheries – currently focusing on Western Australian scallops.

The Western Australian scallop resource was valued at $20.2 million in 2023, and is particularly vulnerable to marine heatwave events. The project is bringing the fishing industry and science community together to develop climate-resilient options for strong and healthy fisheries in a series of workshops.

Japan: August Fishery Products Exports Surged 57%, Value Increasing 25%

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on September 26, August's fishery products exports (fish, shellfish, seafood preparations, and fish meal) increased 57% in volume to 50,267 tons compared to the same month last year. They increased 25% in value to 26.754 billion yen ($182.16 million). Scallop exports decreased by 18% to 5,982 tons, but increased by 28% to 8.673 billion yen ($59.04 million). Both shelled and unshelled exports experienced a decrease in volume but an increase in value, resulting in a rise in unit price. Yellowtail exports were down 16% in volume but increased 44% in value. Both volume and value of frozen yellowtail fillets increased, Minato Shimbun reported...

Hokkaido Scallop Landings in Okhotsk Down 10%, Pushing Prices to Unusual Highs

This season's scallop harvest off Hokkaido's Okhotsk coast has passed the halfway point. Preliminary figures for the end of July indicate a 9% year-on-year decrease of 145,300 tons, achieving 54% of the projected total. The initial projection was 267,900 tons, a 12% decrease from the previous season's actual results. Still, due to poor growth, rough seas, delays in landings caused by heat countermeasures, and mass mortality in some near-shore fishing grounds, some fishing cooperatives have revised their targets downward or are forecasting that...

Clearwater Vessel Accused of Fishing in Closed Zone

Fisheries officers arrested a person earlier this week in southwest Nova Scotia and seized more than $1 million worth of scallop meat after they say a surveillance operation found a Clearwater vessel fishing in a closed area.

According to a release from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the arrest happened Tuesday and followed unauthorized activity in Scallop Fishing Area 29 D by the vessel Atlantic Protector.

The area, which is off the coast of Shelburne County near Clark's Harbour, is known for its premium quality scallops.

Massachusetts Fishermen Look to Access Waters Booming with Scallops

Massachusetts fishermen are looking to cut red tape that has blocked them from accessing an area of ocean booming with scallops compared to surrounding waters grappling with a decline in catchable biomass.

The New England Fishery Management Council, a regional council established through federal legislation, has closed off access to 171 square miles in the northeast region of Georges Bank, bordering Canadian waters, since 1994.

Fishery regulators have labeled the Northern Edge as a “habitat area of particular concern," citing the importance to juvenile Atlantic cod and...

Japan: January Scallop Exports to the US Plummet by 86% to 63 Tons, 79% in Value

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance, January's seafood exports (fish and shellfish preparations, fish meal) increased 33% in quantity to 33,660 tons compared to the same month last year, and 34% in value to 27.373 billion yen ($175.37 million). Scallops increased 9% to 2,325 tons and 12% to 7.179 billion yen ($45.99 million). Frozen shelled scallops decreased in both quantity and value, while frozen whole scallops in shell increased. Yellowtail decreased 3% to 2,758 tons and 49%...

SeaPak Bets on Lent With Family-Friendly Campaign, Teams Up with Child Nutrition Expert Diana Rice

SeaPak is looking to become the answer for families with picky eaters during Lent this year.

The company wants to make Fridays during the season, which sees millions of Americans abstain from meat, into a discovery period for families that may turn to seafood more often as the work week winds down.

SeaPak will look to accomplish its goals through a partnership with child nutrition expert Diana Rice, who will provide families with tips and tricks to create seafood-focused meals during Lent...

Northern Wind to Roll Out Bon Cuisine Frozen Seafood Line at SENA

Northern Wind will introduce Bon Cuisine, a retail-focused frozen seafood line, at Seafood Expo North America in Boston next month, positioning the line as a ready option for retailers targeting protein-driven shoppers.

The Bon Cuisine range pairs premium shrimp and wild-caught scallops with chef-crafted butter sauces designed for consistent flavor and quick preparation. Northern Wind said the SKUs are built for freezer-case visibility and repeat purchase, delivering restaurant-style results from freezer to plate in about 10 minutes...

Japan: 2025 Fishery Product Exports Increased 41% in Volume, 22% in Value 

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance, seafood exports in 2025 (fish and shellfish preparations, fish meal) increased 41% year-on-year in volume to 586,308 tons, and increased 22% in value to 353.719 billion yen ($2.312 billion). This marks the first volume increase since 2021 and the first value increase since 2022. Strong demand, a continued weak yen, and rising prices for farmed fish such as yellowtail and scallops are likely to have driven the value to a record high, according to the Minato Shimbun...

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...

Winding Glass: Trump Policies of Tariff and Weak Dollar Damaged Seafood in 2025, Likely to Continue 

Tariffs and a weak dollar created artificial seafood supply shortages in the US in 2025. The result: higher prices for consumers, reduced consumption, and a reorientation of global trade flows away from America.

Supply is the ultimate driver of seafood pricing, as any boat captain landing in New Bedford, Gloucester or Maine will tell you. On days with more boats, prices are down.

The same dynamic holds at the stock level. When a population expands or contracts, it changes the...

Live Maine Lobster in New Smyrna Beach? Father-Son Duo Makes it Happen

At the New Smyrna Beach Farmers Market, the scent of melted butter and sight of banded-claw lobsters stand out for a reason; they’re the calling card of David and Brady Greenwood, a father-and-son team devoted to sharing Maine’s inimitable coastal flavors with their local Florida community.

It’s been just over six months since the market debut of Red Claw Maine Lobster, a brand whose tented setup can often be found Fridays at DeLand’s Artisan Alley Farmers Market, every...

Hokkaido Scallop Industry "Unperturbed" by the Chinese Import Ban

On November 19, it was revealed that the Chinese government had once again suspended import procedures for Japanese seafood. Still, there is no sign of any major unrest in Hokkaido's scallop industry. Since the full ban in August 2023, sales channels have been developed and expanded into other countries, including the United States and Southeast Asia, advancing the "distance from China" movement. In addition, even after the ban was lifted in June of this year, only one processing facility in Hokkaido capable of exporting to China was registered by China...

Japan: September Exports Surged 82% to 60,243 MT; Scallops Fall by 23%

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance, Japan's exports of fishery products (fish and shellfish and their preparations, fishmeal, and fish oil) in September totaled 60,243 tons, an 82% increase compared to the same month last year, and amounted to 31.91 billion yen ($207.21 million), a 22% increase. Scallop exports saw a 23% decrease in volume but a 10% increase in value. While shell-off scallops increased in both volume and value, scallops with shells decreased in volume but increased in value. Yellowtail exports...

Bay Scallops in Virginia Were Extinct. Now, They're 'Multiplying Exponentially.'

An "unprecedented resurgence" in bay scallops in Virginia could soon open the door for recreational fishing of the species, said scientists at William & Mary's Batten School and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

Until the 1930s, Virginia held a significant chunk of the scallop industry - even hosting the largest bay scallop fishery in the country. Then, within three years of the population's peak in Virginia's Chesapeake Bay waters in 1930, scallops were nearly extinct, according to a VIMS report from 2017...

Hokkaido Scallop Landings Anticipated to Decrease by 17% to 336,400 Tons Amid Slowing US Exports

According to the Hokkaido Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations, the planned scallop catch for the production year 2025 (April 2025 to March 2026) in Hokkaido is expected to fall below the 400,000 ton mark for the first time in six years, down 17% from the previous year to 336,400 tons, due to significant production declines in the Funka Bay region (Muroran and Hakodate) and the Okhotsk region (Wakkanai and Kitami), the Minato Shimbun reported.

New scallop adductor production falls; large sizes are scarce...

Concerns Loomed Over Slowing Sales Due to High Scallop Prices at Hokkaido Fishery Discussion

On August 26, the Hokkaido Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations (DOGYOREN) held a scallop product subcommittee meeting in Tokyo as part of the DOGYOREN Autumn Trade Conference, where they exchanged information with trading companies and wholesalers. According to a report in the Minato Shimbun, this year's frozen scallop adductor production is expected to decrease significantly due to reduced production in the Okhotsk Sea, small size, and declining yields. It is almost certain that production of large-sized adductors, which are in high demand overseas, will also...

JETRO Struggles to Expand Scallop Supply Chain in US

The Japan External Trade Organization, or JETRO, struggles to build a new supply chain for Japanese scallops in the United States that involves processing in Mexico, people familiar with the matter said Sunday.
Steep tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump left prospects for the project uncertain, apparently making businesses reluctant to invest in it.

The United States previously imported Japanese scallops after processing in China, which was their main export destination.

But Beijing imposed a ban on imports of Japanese fisheries products in August 2023, when Japan's crippled Fukushima...

Japan's H1 Fishery Products Exports Up 33% in Volume and 27% in Value

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance, seafood exports (fish and shellfish preparations and fishmeal) for the first half of 2025 (January to June) increased 33% in quantity to 281,443 tons compared to the same period last year. They increased 27% in value to 163.374 billion yen ($1.10 billion). Exports of scallops, the main product, decreased 35% to 21,817 tons, while the export value increased 32% to 39.511 billion yen ($266.78 million)...