February 10, 2026
MSC: 90 Percent of US Fisheries Meet Sustainable Standards; Highlights MSC-Certified SCEMFIS Members
Last week, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) highlighted the sustainability of U.S. fisheries with new data from 2025 showing that, by volume, 90 percent of the U.S. catch is MSC-certified and meets the organization’s sustainability guidelines. Among the organizations highlighted are industry members of the Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCEMFIS).
SCEMFIS, a member of the National Science Foundation's Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers program, brings together marine scientists and members of the commercial fishing and wind energy...
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MSC: 90 Percent of US Fisheries Meet Sustainable Standards; Highlights MSC-Certified SCEMFIS Members
Last week, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) highlighted the sustainability of U.S. fisheries with new data from 2025 showing that, by volume, 90 percent of the U.S. catch is MSC-certified and meets the organization’s sustainability guidelines. Among the organizations highlighted are industry members of the Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCEMFIS).
SCEMFIS, a member of the National Science Foundation's Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers program, brings together marine scientists and members of the commercial fishing and wind energy...
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ANALYSIS: Frozen Whiting Fillet Prices Hit Multi-Year Highs as Argentine Imports Slump
The US frozen whiting fillet market continues to strengthen as reduced imports, limited production, and logistical disruptions restrict available supply. Imports from Argentina totaled 2.48 million pounds through June 2026, down 36.6% from 3.92 million pounds during the same period last year and approximately 37% below the five-year average. This was the lowest first-half volume recorded over the period shown, underscoring the depth of the current supply shortfall and the limited availability of replacement product...
Full Story »Court Closes NRDC Lawsuit That Forced MMPA Seafood Import Rules Into Effect
The federal lawsuit that compelled the US government to implement long-dormant Marine Mammal Protection Act import restrictions on seafood has been formally closed, with a judge ruling that nothing remains to adjudicate.
Judge Gary S. Katzmann of the US Court of International Trade dismissed the case on August 19, denying as moot a motion by the Natural Resources Defense Council, Center for Biological Diversity, and Animal Welfare Institute to enforce an earlier settlement agreement. All parties — including the government and the seafood industry intervenors led by the...
Full Story »Norway's Polar Quality and Fram Seafood to Merge, Creating $800M Northern Norwegian Export Player
Norwegian seafood exporters Polar Quality AS and Fram Seafood have announced plans to merge, creating a Bodø-based export company with combined annual revenues of approximately NOK 7.7 billion — roughly $800 million — and a strengthened position in international salmon markets.
"Our goal has always been to build a solid and future-oriented export company with a long-term perspective and a clear position in the world market," said Jarle Solemdal, Chairman of the Board of Polar Quality AS...
Full Story »China Southern Launches Direct Oslo-Shanghai Cargo Route for Norwegian Salmon
China Southern Airlines has launched a new direct cargo route between Oslo Airport and Shanghai, adding approximately 200 tonnes of weekly Norwegian salmon capacity to a trade lane that has become increasingly central to Norway's export strategy as US tariffs bite.
The route began operations on August 19, running twice weekly with Boeing 777F freighters carrying roughly 100 tonnes per flight. It is China Southern's first cargo route to Norway.
"China is one of the most important growth markets for Norwegian seafood, and we see significant potential for further...
Full Story »USDA Announces Harvest to Hallways Initiative to Invest in Child Nutrition Programs
Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced sweeping new efforts to strengthen school meals by connecting more American farmers with local schools, investing in school kitchen infrastructure, and giving states and school districts new tools to serve healthier, more nutrient-dense meals to America’s children.
Secretary Kennedy joined Secretary Rollins at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), alongside farmers, students, school nutrition leaders, athletes, chefs, and parents, to announce the next phase of the Trump Administration’s...
Full Story »Maine DMR Launches Electronic Application System for Aquaculture Leases
The Maine Department of Marine Resources has launched an electronic application system for aquaculture leases, modernizing a process that had long relied on paper submissions and is described by state officials as a significant step forward for the industry.
The new system, which went live on August 18, is available through DMR's online licensing portal, LEEDS — the Licensing Enforcement and Environmental Data System — and is open to both experimental and standard lease applicants. DMR said the platform will "significantly streamline" the lease application process for Maine's aquaculture industry...
Full Story »Oregon's Commodity Commissions Meet With Gov. Kotek on Chronic Processing Wastewater Issue
Wastewater treatment remains a persistent challenge for seafood processors, as state water quality agencies issue notices—and eventually fines—when new regulations are not met. In earlier eras, hoses cleaned off floors and decks and the tide took care of the rest. Today, wastewater must be treated to remove a long list of pollutants, some of which are already present in the municipal water supplied to the plant. Requiring processors to output water cleaner than the drinking water they receive creates serious problems...
Full Story »US Sanctions 10 Ecuadorian Fishing Vessels for Alleged Role in Maritime Drug Network
The US Treasury Department has sanctioned 10 Ecuador-based fishing vessels and 15 individuals and entities as part of a crackdown on a maritime cocaine trafficking network operating out of Ecuador — a move with direct implications for the country's commercial fishing industry.
Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced the designations on August 20, identifying the vessels as blocked property for their alleged roles in covertly shipping thousands of kilograms of cocaine each month toward Mexico and ultimately...
Full Story »BioMar Norway Orders New Hybrid Feed Vessel, Boosting Logistics Along Norwegian Coast
BioMar Norway has signed a long-term agreement with Norwegian shipping company Egil Ulvan Rederi for the construction and operation of a new fish feed carrier set to enter service in the second quarter of 2029, the company announced this week.
The vessel, designated the NSD 75CC and designed by the Norwegian Ship Design Company (NSD), is approximately 70 meters in length with a deadweight capacity of around 4,000 tonnes. It will be built at Jiangsu Soho Marine Heavy Industry in China and owned and operated...
Full Story »Global Shrimp Council's First Consumer Pop-Up Draws 4,000+ at Venice Beach
The Global Shrimp Council wrapped up its first-ever direct-to-consumer event earlier this month, welcoming more than 4,000 guests to a four-day activation at Venice Beach, California, as the industry organization works to translate its "Shrimp More Often" campaign from digital messaging into real-world behavior change.
Held August 6–9, the pop-up centered on a branded food truck offering free shrimp dishes to beachgoers, with no purchase required. On-site chefs prepared a range of dishes including tacos, grilled skewers, power...
Full Story »Russia Eyes Record Bluefin Tuna Catch Off Kamchatka as Species Pushes North
Russia is anticipating a significant bluefin tuna harvest in Kamchatka waters this year, following an unprecedented influx of the species into the region driven by warming sea temperatures.
According to researchers at KamchatNIRO, the Russian fisheries science institute based in Kamchatka, Pacific bluefin tuna have appeared in large numbers in the coastal waters of Kronotsky and Kamchatka Bays. More strikingly, the species has been recorded in the waters around the Commander Islands for the first time in recorded history...
Full Story »EU Clears German State Aid for Fishing and Aquaculture Companies Facing Increased Fuel Prices
The European Commission has approved a €4.5 million German State aid scheme for fishing and aquaculture companies facing increased fuel prices due to the Middle East crisis.
The scheme was approved under the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF) adopted by the Commission on 29 April 2026.
The German scheme
Germany notified to the Commission a €4.5 million scheme to support companies active in the primary production of fishery and aquaculture products. The scheme, which will run...
Full Story »Lee Fish USA Acquires Seattle's Dawsco Meat & Seafood in Pacific Northwest Expansion
Lee Fish USA has acquired Dawsco Meat & Seafood, a Seattle-based wholesale protein distributor with approximately 25 years of experience serving foodservice operators from Oregon to Canada, the companies announced this week.
The deal marks Lee Fish's first significant foothold in the Pacific Northwest and adds a multi-protein distribution platform to the company's largely seafood-focused operation. Dawsco, a family-owned business headquartered on South Hanford Street in Seattle's Industrial District, supplies pork, beef, poultry, and seafood to restaurants, hotels, and foodservice buyers throughout the region...
Full Story »New Civil Liberties Alliance Wants WA State to End Electronic Monitoring of Crab Fleet
Last week, the New Civil Liberties Alliance sued the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for its Electronic Monitoring Program, claiming it “violates the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and its counterpart in the Washington Constitution, which prohibit unreasonable and warrantless searches,” according to a statement released by the NCLA on August 14, 2026.
NCLA’s clients are three crab vessel captains, Sarah Franey, Brent Young and Mark Young, who claim the program does not protect wildlife and costs the fishermen too much...
Full Story »El Niño Puts Pressure on Global Marine Ingredient Supply
El Niño is putting pressure on global marine ingredient production, with reduced raw material availability in Peru and Chile expected to drive much of the decline in 2026, according to IFFO.
Peru has been hit particularly hard. The country typically accounts for about 20% of global fishmeal production, but only around 25% of the 1.91 million-metric-ton quota for the first 2026 North-Central anchovy season was caught before fishing was suspended June 10. Production has remained well below historical levels, with...
Full Story »Topsail Steamer Reports 12% Sales Growth in 2026, Driven by New Customers Not Price Hikes
Topsail Steamer, the North Carolina-based brand behind the ready-to-cook seafood "Bay Bucket," says sales are up 12% so far in 2026 — and the company is quick to point out the growth is coming from more families ordering, not higher prices.
The timing is telling. As restaurant costs continue to bite, Topsail Steamer is positioning its at-home seafood boil concept as an accessible alternative. Each Bay Bucket ships packed with fresh shrimp, crab, smoked sausage, corn, potatoes and house seasoning — steam...
Full Story »40,000 Pounds of Squid Spill Onto Rhode Island Roadway After Tractor-Trailer Rollover
A tractor-trailer hauling approximately 40,000 pounds (roughly 18 metric tonnes) of squid overturned at the intersection of Point Judith Road and Galilee Escape Road in Narragansett, Rhode Island, on Sunday, August 17, spilling its entire load onto the roadway and triggering an hours-long cleanup operation.
Narragansett police said the fully loaded trailer was en route to a processing plant when the truck failed to negotiate a turn onto Point Judith Road. The trailer tipped onto its side, blocking all lanes of travel...
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Price of Frozen Pacific Ocean Perch from Alaska Soared 60％ Amid China's Strong Imports from the US
The domestic wholesale price for dressed Alaska-origin Pacific Ocean Perch (400–500g size) has reached approximately 700 yen/kg ($4.40/kg) this summer.
After remaining flat at around 430 yen/kg ($2.70/kg) for about three years leading up to last spring, the price surged by 60%, driven mainly by increased demand from Chinese processors. Direct imports into Japan for re-processing dropped sharply last year, and trading sources suggest that "volumes could decline further this year." Although Japan...
Full Story »Long John Silver’s Adds Fried Pickles, OLD BAY Ranch Starting Aug. 24
Long John Silver’s is tapping into the pickle craze with a new limited-time menu item. Starting today, the chain is adding fried pickles coated in its signature batter to its offerings.
"Pickles are having a moment, but we weren't interested in making just another Fried Pickle," said Meredith Smith, director of brand marketing at Long John Silver's®. "We batter fish for a living, so putting it on pickles felt like the obvious place to start. Then we paired them...
Full Story »ANALYSIS: Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Landings Up 30% Through April, but Monthly Momentum Is Fading
Gulf of Mexico shrimp landings through April 2026 totaled 15.48 million pounds — 30% above the 11.91 million pounds recorded in the same period of 2025 and 9% ahead of the prior five-year average. The four-month cumulative figure is notable in context: 2025 was the weakest full year in the 10-year NMFS dataset, at 80.3 million pounds. The 2026 start suggested a recovery from that baseline. The monthly trajectory since January complicates that read...
Full Story »Peru Declares 120-Day Fishing and Aquaculture Emergency as Coastal El Niño Intensifies
Peru's Ministry of Production (PRODUCE) has declared a state of emergency across its fishing and aquaculture subsectors for 120 calendar days, activating a framework of exceptional measures to protect the livelihoods of fishers, aquaculturists, and workers across the sector's supply chain as Coastal El Niño conditions worsen.
The declaration, announced August 23, comes as Peru's El Niño monitoring body ENFEN maintains its Coastal El Niño Alert and warns that the event is expected to continue through the 2026–2027 period at a magnitude ranging from strong...
Full Story »Japan's Salmon Imports Soared 40% for Frozen Chilean Coho, Sockeye Plummeted 80% in June
According to Ministry of Finance trade statistics, June imports of salmon and trout (frozen and fresh) totaled 9,811 metric tons, down 7% year-on-year (YOY), while the value rose 4% to 16.611 billion yen ($104.5 million). Imports of the key product—frozen Chilean coho salmon—increased, according to a report by Minato Shimbun.
Imports of frozen Chilean coho salmon (dressed) rose 42% to 2,596 tons. Prices for the new season's catch hovered just under $7.00/kg during...
Full Story »BC Fisheries Fund Puts $106.5M Behind Innovation, Market Growth
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Canada and BC are investing $106.5 million over five years in the province’s fish and seafood sector through a renewed British Columbia Fisheries Fund (BCFF). Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson, BC Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship and Minister Responsible for Fisheries Randene Neill, and BC Minister of Agriculture and Food Lana Popham announced the news Aug. 20.
According to the announcement, Canadian fish and seafood industry contribute more than $8 billion to its economy, supporting over 63,000 jobs and exporting...
Full Story »Seafarms Group Fires CEO Peter Fraser, Rod Dyer Returns to Lead Company
Australian prawn aquaculture company Seafarms Group (ASX: SFG) has terminated Chief Executive Officer Peter Fraser for cause, effective immediately, the company disclosed in an ASX announcement on August 20, 2026.
Rod Dyer, who had been serving in a limited Managing Director capacity, has been elevated to the combined Managing Director and CEO role, effective the same date. His remuneration has been set at $440 per hour in the new expanded position.
Seafarms did not disclose the specific grounds for the termination...
Full Story »NOAA Launches Fall Expeditions to Explore Deep Waters Around American Samoa
NOAA Ocean Exploration and its partners will embark on two expeditions this fall aboard the Okeanos Explorer. The missions will focus on the waters around American Samoa, mapping and characterizing the deep seafloor in a top-priority offshore critical-minerals region.
“The deep waters around American Samoa hold unknown secrets about our ocean, including unmapped habitats and potential mineral resources critical to our national prosperity and security,” said Captain William Mowitt, acting director of NOAA Ocean Exploration. “By exploring these areas in an open...
Full Story »ANALYSIS: June EU‑UK Shrimp Import Volumes Dip but Value Holds Steady
According to Eurostat, the EU and the UK together imported 58,378 MT of shrimp in June (wild and farmed, cold‑ and warm‑water species). That volume is 4.6% below last year but 5.7% above the five‑year average. Just under half (47%) of June shipments came from Ecuador, with India supplying 13% and Vietnam 10%.
Cold‑water shrimp from Greenland, Norway, Iceland and Canada made up 9% of June volumes, and 3% for Argentina’s wild red shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri)...
Full Story »Scott & Jon’s Goes Chainwide at Food Lion With Four Single-Serve Seafood Meals
Frozen seafood brand Scott & Jon’s has expanded its partnership with Food Lion chainwide, making four of its single-serve meals available in more than 1,000 stores across the grocer’s footprint.
The move comes as Scott & Jon’s continues to outpace the broader frozen meal category. The company cited SPINS data showing its dollar sales grew 15% in Total US MULO for the 52 weeks ending July 12, 2026, while single-serve frozen meal sales fell 1% over the same period...
Full Story »Expana's Weekly Top 10
This week’s Top 10 spotlights how supply constraints and regulatory decisions, not so much demand, are steering markets. Tyson is overhauling its beef footprint as cattle supplies tighten, ICCAT-driven rule changes have pushed up Atlantic bluefin quotas, and sugar and dairy moves are being driven more by policy, logistics and weather risk than by volume. Price actions experience volatility as capacity and trade rules set the tone. Read more about these hot topics this week and more, below. This list is in no particular order.
Find archived recaps here.
10. Tyson Foods...
Full Story »Suempol Breaks Ground on 50,000-Tonne Salmon Plant That Would More Than Double Capacity
Suempol, Poland's oldest and one of the world's largest producers of smoked salmon, has announced plans to build a new fish processing center in the Pełczyce municipality of West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The facility is expected to become operational in Q4 2027 and will employ approximately 300 people.
The company said the investment is part of its long-term growth strategy, with the new center set to significantly expand Suempol's production capacity. Trade reports indicate the plant could handle up to 50,000 tonnes of salmon annually, more...
Full Story »ANALYSIS: The Expana Shrimp Demand Index Returns to Steady Territory — What the Data Shows
When prices fall and more shrimp moves through the market, it can appear that demand is strengthening. The distinction matters: more consumption at a lower price is a price effect. Genuine demand growth requires either more consumption at the same price, or higher prices holding alongside higher volumes. Those are different mechanisms, and they resolve differently. The current environment reflects the former.
The Expana Shrimp Demand Index reached 95.95 in June–July, returning to the Steady band after an extended period in contraction territory...
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