Winding Glass: Section 301 Tariffs Set to Permanently Twist Seafood Trade

The recent headline that section 301 seafood tariffs will reach $2.9 billion does not tell the industry story. The headline number is the result of an 11.4% blended tariff calculation applied to the value of goods shipped by 60 targeted countries to the US in 2025. That is one result of the Section 301 forced-labor duties proposed by the US Trade Representative on June 2. It is more than the roughly $2.2 billion importers paid last year, most of it under the IEEPA tariffs the Supreme...

Korean Tuna Giant Sajo Expands Sustainability Push Beyond MSC Certification

South Korea's Sajo Industries is leveraging its Marine Stewardship Council certification achievement to advance broader sustainability initiatives across its global tuna operations, including pioneering electronic monitoring and human rights due diligence programs.

The company secured MSC certification for 28 longline vessels operating in Eastern and Western Pacific waters last year, marking the first Korean tuna operation to achieve the standard. CEO Chi-Gon Kim called the certification "a starting point for our work, not an end destination," emphasizing that environmental and social accountability form the foundation of the business...

Japan's April Marine Products Import Fell 6% in Volume, but Increased 3% in Value

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on May 28th, April imports of marine products (preliminary figures, including fish and shellfish and their preparations, fishmeal, and seaweed) were down 6% year-on-year to 181,057 tons. While imports of fresh and frozen tuna increased, imports of salmon, trout, and shrimp decreased. The value of imports increased 3% to 184.977 billion yen ($1.16 billion).

According to a report by the Minato Shimbun, imports of fresh and frozen tuna increased...

Moxies Rolls Out Limited‑Time Sushi Menu for Summer

Canadian premium‑casual restaurant brand Moxies is welcoming the warmer months with a slate of fresh, limited‑time menu innovations designed for summer dining. Leading the seasonal rollout is Sushi by Moxies, now available at locations across Canada through September 6.

Created in collaboration with Chef Tom Jeon, the new sushi offerings blend classic Japanese inspiration with Moxies’ signature modern twist. The lineup includes:

• Miso Tuna Crispy Rice
• Salmon & Prawn Aburi Oshi
• Spicy Tuna Dynamite Roll

“Moxies is all about creating memorable dining experiences...

Sustainable Tuna Becomes Mainstream on UK Supermarket Shelves, MSC Report Finds

Sustainable tuna is rapidly becoming the standard choice for UK shoppers, with nearly half of all supermarket tuna products now carrying the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) ecolabel, according to new industry figures.

The MSC UK Tuna Shopper Report 2026 found that 49% of tuna products sold in UK supermarkets are MSC certified, a sharp rise from 18% in 2021. In volume terms, the shift is even larger, with 65% of all supermarket tuna sales now coming from MSC labelled products.

The report, released ahead...

Chicken of the Sea Achieves Full MSC Certification Across Retail Tuna Portfolio

Chicken of the Sea will complete Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification across its entire retail tuna product line by year's end, making it the first of the three major US tuna brands to achieve 100% MSC certification, the company announced May 4.

The milestone positions Chicken of the Sea ahead of competitors StarKist and Bumble Bee in sustainable sourcing commitments. MSC certification ensures that tuna comes from fisheries that demonstrate environmentally sustainable practices, minimal ecosystem impacts, and effective management...

Blueyou Launches Fair Trade Tuna Program in Maldives 

Ahead of World Tuna Day on May 2, Swiss seafood company Blueyou is expanding its work in the Maldives with the launch of a Fair Trade Certified™ tuna program in partnership with Fair Trade USA. The initiative aims to link sustainable fishing, marine restoration, and community development within a broader seafood supply chain effort.

The program will span 25 island communities across eight atolls and is expected to benefit about 30,000 people, including 2,500 tuna fishers and 500 women involved in sea cucumber farming tied...

FDA Issues Warning Letter to Ocean Group Over Multi-Facility Listeria Contamination

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning letter on March 3 to Los Angeles-based Ocean Group Inc. following inspections at four seafood processing facilities that revealed widespread Listeria monocytogenes contamination and serious sanitation violations.

The agency found the same strain of L. monocytogenes across Ocean Group's Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Dallas facilities between May and September 2025, with whole genome sequencing linking the pathogen to clinical isolates from ill people dating back to 2017. The contamination represents a "resident pathogen...

NOAA Rescinds Fishing Ban in Northeast Marine Monument, Restoring Commercial Access

On April 3, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) rescinded a regulation prohibiting commercial fishing within the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument boundaries under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

This action is intended to align fishing regulations with the proclamation President Trump signed on Feb. 6, which restored commercial fishing access to all 4,913 square miles of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, located off the New England coast, according to Expana's report...

Fishery Product Imports Surged 20% in Japan to 156,000 MT in February, 31% to JPY 169.1 Billion

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on March 27, imports of marine products in February (preliminary figures, including fish and shellfish, fishmeal, and seaweed) increased by 20% year-on-year to 156,079 tons, and their value increased by 31% to 169.136 billion yen ($1.06 billion). Imports increased for most fish species, with fresh and frozen salmon and trout increasing by 18% to 24,987 tons, frozen tuna by 25% to 18,262 tons...

NOAA Fisheries Hits Two Importers with $223K in Penalties Over Mislabeled 'Dolphin Safe' Tuna

Two seafood companies have agreed to pay $222,902 in civil penalties after NOAA Fisheries investigations found they imported 3.4 million pounds of tuna products from Mexico that were improperly labeled as "dolphin safe," the agency announced this week. NOAA did not identify the companies in its enforcement announcement.

The enforcement actions, stemming from multi-year investigations by NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement, targeted a distribution company that imported 74 shipments totaling 2.2 million pounds over 11 months...

Target's Good & Gather Tuna Hit with Lawsuit Over 'Sustainably Caught' Marketing Claims

California resident Sue Kim filed a class-action lawsuit against retail giant Target Corporation on March 18, 2026, challenging the company's sustainability claims regarding its private-label Good & Gather tuna products.

Kim's attorneys argue in the Central District of California complaint that Target's tuna products are not sustainably caught despite prominent "Sustainably Caught" labeling and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, citing fishing methods and impacts on marine ecosystems.

The lawsuit focuses specifically on Good & Gather canned and pouch tuna products...

ANALYSIS: Salmon and Pollock Dominate EU‑US Seafood Flows as Trade Balance Shifts

At a time when US tariff policy reflects both commercial and geopolitical considerations of its partners, and given the temporary halt to the US‑EU trade agreement reached last summer, it is especially relevant to review the seafood trade relationship between the United States and the European Union...

Salmon Surges While Shrimp Slips in NFI's Top 10 US Consumption Rankings

Salmon emerged as the standout winner in US seafood consumption patterns for 2023, while the traditionally dominant shrimp category showed signs of vulnerability, according to the National Fisheries Institute's annual top 10 species list.

Salmon consumption surged 0.29 pounds to 3.51 pounds per capita, reinforcing its position as America's second-most consumed seafood. The growth contrasts sharply with shrimp's performance, despite maintaining its No. 1 ranking at 5.10 pounds per capita; shrimp consumption declined by a notable 0.40 pounds from 2022 levels...

Princes Hits 100% MSC-Certified Tuna Sourcing Milestone

Princes Group says it has met its 2025 goal to source 100% of its branded tuna from Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified fisheries, representing around 70 million cans a year, marking what it calls a major step forward for sustainable seafood supply in the UK.

The achievement comes after several years of investment in traceability, collaboration with fishing partners and what the company describes as a large-scale supply chain transformation. Princes set the ambition in 2022 and says it has helped drive a 15‑fold increase in MSC‑certified...

Captain Fresh Acquires Frime, Bolstering European Tuna Production and Sourcing

Captain Fresh, the India-based global seafood company, has completed its acquisition of FRIME S.A.U. (Frime), a leading tuna processor and distributor in Spain. The deal broadens Captain Fresh’s portfolio and strengthens its presence in Europe, described by the company as a “processing stronghold.”

Frime operates four production sites across seven factories with an annual capacity of 5,000 tons of frozen, 9,000 tons of fresh, and 3,800 tons of semi-preserved products. The acquisition also adds €50 million invested into state-of-the-art facilities in Barcelona, which...

ANFACO-CYTMA Raises Concerns Over Canned Tuna Liberalization in EU-Mexico Trade Deal

ANFACO-CYTMA is seeking clarification from European policymakers after canned tuna was included in the scope of full tariff liberalization under the newly modernized EU-Mexico trade agreement.

The agreement, signed on May 22, would remove tariffs on canned tuna after a seven-year transition period, subject to approval by the European Parliament and ratification by EU member states. The move has drawn concern from the seafood industry association, which argues that canned tuna has traditionally been considered a sensitive product within...

Bumble Bee Forced Labor Case Advances Despite Legal Setback for Indonesian Fishermen

A California federal court delivered a mixed ruling on May 27 in the human trafficking lawsuit against Bumble Bee Foods, granting part of the tuna company's request to reconsider an earlier decision while allowing the Indonesian fishermen's core claims to proceed.

Chief Judge Cynthia Bashant acknowledged that the court had mischaracterized a key Ninth Circuit precedent in her November 2025 ruling denying Bumble Bee's motion to dismiss. The court had incorrectly stated that the Ratha v. Phatthana Seafood case definitively "held" that trafficking...

European Tuna Industry Warns Against Indonesian Free Trade Deal Tariff Cuts

European fishing representatives are raising alarms over proposed tariff eliminations in the EU-Indonesia Free Trade Agreement, arguing that duty-free access for Indonesian tuna fillets could flood European markets with products from poorly regulated fisheries.

Europêche officials met with European Commission representatives for trade and maritime affairs on May 7 to voice concerns about the agreement's current draft, which would eliminate the existing 18% tariff on tuna fillets from Indonesia, the world's leading tuna producer.

The tariff removal targets what Europêche calls the "most strategic future-oriented segment...

Genova Premium Tuna Launches Mediterranean Tuna Bowls

Genova Premium Tuna is expanding its convenient seafood portfolio with the launch of Mediterranean Tuna Bowls, a new high-protein, grab-and-go offering aimed at consumers looking for quick meal and snack options.

The new line includes two varieties — Lentil & Grain and Bean Salad — each made with wild-caught, MSC-certified tuna and Mediterranean-inspired ingredients. The bowls contain 25 grams and 24 grams of protein, respectively, and are positioned around whole grains, beans, legumes, vegetables, healthy fats and fiber.

The launch is timed to...

Japan's Tuna and Skipjack Fishery Organizations Request Measures to Address Rising Fuel Prices

According to a report by the Minato Shimbun, the Skipjack and Tuna Fisheries Promotion Measures Council, comprised of three skipjack and tuna fisheries organizations, requested measures to address soaring fuel prices at a general meeting of the Liberal Democratic Party's Skipjack and Tuna Fisheries Promotion Parliamentary League (chaired by Shunichi Suzuki) held at the LDP headquarters on April 28th. The council explained that the worsening international situation has caused crude oil prices to soar, and that fuel prices for overseas and offshore refueling have risen...

Pokeworks Launches Poke Bombs as Growth Momentum Continues

Pokeworks, a fast-casual poke brand, is launching Poke Bombs, a new menu item featuring sweet inari tofu pockets filled with white rice, topped with fresh poke and finished with a soy glaze. The lineup spotlights the flavors of ahi tuna, salmon, surimi and lobster.

"We're seeing more guests looking for food that keeps up with their day," said Mike Wu, Co-Founder and Head of Concept at Pokeworks. "Poke Bombs make it easy to grab something fresh and satisfying, whether you're on your...

Politis Steak & Seafood Partners with Q Plus Foods to Expand Specialty Seafood Reach

Politis Steak & Seafood and Q Plus Foods have announced a strategic partnership that brings together two South Florida foodservice specialists. The deal pairs Politis’ operational scale and customer-service capabilities with Q Plus Foods’ specialty seafood sourcing program and global supplier relationships, expanding access to high-end seafood for chefs and operators across the region.

Q Plus Foods has built a reputation as one of South Florida’s premier specialty seafood purveyors, renowned for curating an exceptional selection of seafood from around the world. The company is...

Princes Group Warns of Price Pressures From Middle East Tensions

UK food giant Princes Group is bracing for potential cost increases linked to Middle East geopolitical tensions, particularly around Iran, as the company monitors impacts on energy and raw material markets following its strong 2025 performance.

The Liverpool-based company, which owns brands including Princes, Napolina, and Branston, highlighted ongoing uncertainty in international markets stemming from Middle East conflicts in its preliminary results released Monday. Management specifically cited "the situation in Iran" as a key concern for commodity price volatility...

Kura Sushi Builds Momentum with Bluefin Tuna Promotions

Kura Sushi USA is doubling down on premium offerings with a new push around bluefin tuna amid continued demand for luxury seafood.

The revolving sushi chain is highlighting its bluefin program with everyday offerings such as Bluefin Chutoro and Seared Bluefin Chutoro priced under $5 per plate, alongside limited-time items under $10. The move underscores a broader effort to balance premium sourcing with value, as operators look to keep high-end species on menus despite pricing pressures.

From March 27–31, Kura Sushi will...

Umios, Fujitsu Launch Consumer-Facing Seafood Traceability System to Combat IUU Fishing

Japanese seafood company Umios has completed an electronic traceability pilot program designed to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing within its supply chain.

Umios partnered with Fujitsu on a pilot program that began on February 1, 2026, and focused on bluefin tuna farmed by the Umios Group in Wakayama Prefecture. The system established a mechanism for consumers to check distribution information from farm to retail stores via smartphone, according to a March 24 Fujitsu announcement.

The pilot was deemed successful, and both companies plan to expand the...

McIlroy's Masters Champion’s Dinner Menu Highlights Premium Seafood Selections

Golf superstar Rory McIlroy's highly anticipated 2026 Masters Champions Dinner menu features multiple premium seafood courses, underscoring the continued prominence of high-end seafood species in one of golf's most prestigious culinary traditions.

The 2026 Champions Dinner takes place during Masters week at Augusta National Golf Club, where only past Masters winners are invited to attend this tradition that has evolved into one of golf's most closely watched culinary events.

The Northern Irishman's menu centers around a first course of yellowfin tuna carpaccio, an homage to a signature dish from...

Deep Dive into Seven Decades of Data Reveals Broader Spawning Distribution of Bluefin Tuna

A group of 16 scientists led by NOAA Fisheries but including partners from as far away as Poland and Mexico took a deep dive into scientific data collected decades ago and struck gold. Led by David Richardson of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Narragansett, RI, the group found that spawning grounds for the iconic bluefin tuna are more broadly distributed than previously thought.  

Historically, bluefin tuna have been managed as two stocks—one that spawns in the Mediterranean Sea (the eastern) and the other that...

Japan-UAE Trade Pact to Eliminate Japanese Seafood Tariffs

On March 5, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced the conclusion of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Within 10 years of the agreement's entry into force, Japan will raise its duty-free import rate from 98.7% to 99.9%, while the UAE will raise it from 11.5% to 96.4%. In addition to eliminating tariffs on seafood exports from Japan, Japan will also eliminate tariffs on shrimp imports from the UAE, reported Minato Shimbun...

US-Spain Seafood Trade Faces Uncertainty as Trump Threatens Sanctions Over Military Base Dispute

The key seafood trade between Spain and the United States is under potential threat as US President Donald Trump has threatened to cut off all trade with Spain over the country's refusal to allow US military use of its bases for strikes on Iran.

For the seafood sector, such a move would have significant consequences. According to US Customs data compiled on Expana's Foreign Trade Data platform, Spain exported roughly 65.6 million pounds of seafood to the US in 2025, valued at over $300 million...