May 06, 2026
Alaska Rep. Begich Offers Bill to Add Four Seats to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council
Alaska’s sole representative in the U.S. House introduced a bill last Thursday to expand the number of voting seats on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) from 11 to potentially 15. The bill, titled the North Pacific Fishery Management Council Representation Enhancement Act of 2026, calls for “balanced representation” that includes “at least one representative each from recreational, small-scale commercial, rural subsistence, and urban subsistence user groups.”
The bill was immediately referred to the House Natural Resources Committee, with the full text...
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Alaska Rep. Begich Offers Bill to Add Four Seats to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council
Alaska’s sole representative in the U.S. House introduced a bill last Thursday to expand the number of voting seats on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) from 11 to potentially 15. The bill, titled the North Pacific Fishery Management Council Representation Enhancement Act of 2026, calls for “balanced representation” that includes “at least one representative each from recreational, small-scale commercial, rural subsistence, and urban subsistence user groups.”
The bill was immediately referred to the House Natural Resources Committee, with the full text...
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ANALYSIS: Supply Pressures Intensify as NOAA's MMPA Decision Impacts Crab Meat Market
The US crab meat market faces its most severe supply adjustment in years following NOAA Fisheries' May 11, 2026 announcement on Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) comparability findings. Over the past two weeks, regulatory certainty has transformed into near-term supply constraints, prompting the industry to recalibrate sourcing strategies as summer demand season approaches.
The situation began with NOAA's September 2, 2025 determination that swimming crab fisheries in Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines were non-compliant with US marine mammal...
Full Story »Whale Entanglement Highlights Pressure on Oregon Dungeness Fishery
A whale entanglement off the Oregon coast is raising renewed concerns about marine habitat and commercial fishing after local outlets reported a humpback whale dragging tagged Dungeness crab gear. The Oregonian reported that officials have not identified the gear’s owner because the vessel name and permit number on the tag could not be clearly read.
NBC5 News interviewed Ben Grundy of the Center for Biological Diversity, who said rising ocean temperatures and marine heatwaves are causing “habitat compression,” increasing interactions between whales and human activity.
The sighting...
Full Story »ANALYSIS: Domestic Scallop Supply Influx Dominated by Smaller Counts Amid Global Shortfalls
The 2026-27 scallop season has commenced with 2.04 million lbs through April, representing a significant improvement from last season's exceptionally weak 1.42 million lb start. However, the landing data reveals the broader context of this recovery - current volumes, while encouraging, remain well below the historical framework that supported the industry through stronger cycles. Recent data demonstrates how domestic production has contracted dramatically from the robust 56-57...
Full Story »Seafood Industry Pushes Congress to Advance Open Ocean Aquaculture Legislation
Seafood industry leaders and aquaculture advocates gathered in Washington, DC, this month to press lawmakers for federal legislation that would create a clearer pathway for commercial open ocean aquaculture in US waters.
The lobbying effort, organized by Stronger America Through Seafood, included meetings with members of Congress and a Capitol Hill seafood reception on May 13 focused on expanding domestic seafood production as demand for sustainable protein continues to rise.
Participants in the event included Cargill, Innovasea, Sysco and Zeigler...
Full Story »2026 Economic Value of Alaska’s Seafood Shows Strength of Industry Amid Turbulent Times
The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute has released it’s 7th update of Economic Value of Alaska’s Seafood, covering the turbulent years of 2023 and 2024, a period that saw the lowest ex-vessel value for Alaska seafood since 2000, amid global market pressures and changing supply conditions.That said, the industry employed nearly 42,000 workers resulting in $1.9 billion in labor income and $5.3 billion in economic impact, representing a full 7 percent of Alaska’s GDP.
“While the past few years...
Full Story »ArcelorMittal Fined Record $100M for Fisheries Act Violations in Quebec
A Quebec court has ordered ArcelorMittal Exploitation Minière Canada s.e.n.c. (AMEM) to pay a record-setting $100 million fine after the mining company pleaded guilty to 100 counts of violating Canada’s Fisheries Act.
The sentence, handed down May 15 by the Court of Québec, marks the largest fine ever imposed in Canada under the Fisheries Act. AMEM was fined $1 million for each count tied to the unlawful deposit of harmful substances into waterways in the Fermont region between...
Full Story »All-out Effort for 2026 Yukon Chinook and Chum Salmon Reach Spawning Grounds in US and Canada
For the third consecutive year, catastrophic returns will keep one of the world’s largest salmon fisheries closed to most fishing. But efforts in both the US and Canada are laser-focused on maximizing the number of Chinook and chum salmon that reach their spawning grounds. Yukon Chinooks migrate the longest, and the farthest north of any other salmon in the world. They begin and end their lives in the rivers of the Big Salmon Mountain Range in the Yukon Territory’s...
Full Story »United Fishermen of Alaska Begins Search for New Executive Director, Welch Named to CFEC
Alaska’s largest fishing organization is recruiting a new executive director, following recent legislative confirmation of former ED Tracy Welch to be one of two commissioners at the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission.
UFA’s executive director position carries a starting salary of $90,000-$100,000 according to the job description.
Welch joins Rick Green, who was appointed March 1, 2025. Welch was appointed by Governor Mike Dunleavy April 21, 2026 and was confirmed by the state Legislature in recent...
Full Story »Alaska Legislature Passes Bill Requiring Electronic Monitoring for Trawl Vessels in State Waters
Editor’s note: After publication of this story on May 18, the Alaska House passed the Senate version of HB 117. The bill now heads to Governor Mike Dunleavy for signature.
In the final days of the Alaska State Legislature’s regular session, an amendment introduced by Anchorage state Senator Bill Wielechowski that requires trawl vessels to turn on their electronic monitoring systems while operating in state waters, passed the Senate. It had already passed the House and is now on its way to Governor...
Full Story »SADC Ministers to Focus on Food Security, Livestock Disease and Blue Economy at Zimbabwe Summit
Southern African ministers overseeing agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture and food security will gather in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, on May 29 for regional talks expected to center on climate resilience, food production challenges and efforts to strengthen the blue economy.
The high-level gathering comes as several countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) continue to face pressure from climate variability, livestock disease outbreaks and ongoing concerns over regional food security.
Among the key issues expected to receive attention are recent...
Full Story »Silver Bay Raises Opening Price for Bristol Bay Sockeye Up 23 Percent From 2025
Yesterday, Silver Bay Seafood sent out a letter to their Bristol Bay fleet posting their pre-season price of $1.60/lb for chilled, floated, and bled sockeye. “This is $.30/lb more than last year’s pre-season price and is considered a conservative starting price for the 2026 season,” the letter said.
The Bristol Bay salmon season officially opens June 1, but catches peak around the Fourth of July. Landings drop off significantly by the third week...
Full Story »China’s First Mobile Salmon Farm Delivers Commercial Harvest
China’s effort to build a domestic salmon industry hit a milestone this week as the country’s first large-scale “smart” aquaculture vessel harvested thousands of Atlantic salmon raised entirely at sea.
The 150,000-tonne vessel, Guoxin No. 1 2-2, delivered its first commercial batch of roughly 3,000 salmon on Monday, according to Chinese state media. Operated by Qingdao Conson Development Group, the ship is being promoted as the world’s first mobile offshore fish farm capable of producing salmonids on a commercial...
Full Story »Russia Forecasts Record Herring Catch off Sakhalin on Rising Stock Levels
Russia expects a significant increase in herring catches off Sakhalin this year, driven primarily by strong growth in fish stocks.
Much of the optimism is focused on the East Sakhalin subzone, where scientists report a notable recovery of Pacific herring from the Sakhalin–Hokkaido population. In recent years, expanding stocks have created favorable conditions for higher catches along the southern coast of Sakhalin and the southern Kuril Islands.
Most herring are harvested between April and June along Sakhalin’s east coast, including Aniva Bay...
Full Story »PEI Targets Oyster Industry Stability with Wage and Debt Relief
Prince Edward Island is rolling out a new package of financial supports for oyster fishers, growers, and processors as the sector confronts mounting losses linked to MSX and Dermo, with a focus on job retention and short‑term stability.
At the center of the measures is a new Oyster Relief Wage Assistance Program, designed to help businesses absorb higher labor costs tied to increased sorting and handling. The program is intended to keep experienced workers on payroll and provide greater certainty heading into th...
Full Story »Russia Expands Inspector Mobile App for Fisheries Enforcement
The Russian Government has expanded the functionality of its “Inspector” mobile application, a tool used for field control in fisheries and oversight of aquatic biological resources. The update is part of a broader push toward digitalizing inspection and supervisory work, allowing more interactions between inspectors and regulated parties to take place remotely, with official recording of all actions through the app.
A key change is the formal consolidation of the platform under a single name: the “Inspector” mobile application.
The app now supports several new capabilities, including...
Full Story »ANALYSIS: US Retail Shrimp Prices Hit Decade Highs Amid Consumer Pullback
Retail shrimp market data reveals significant shifts in consumer purchasing patterns, with prices reaching levels unseen since 2015 while promotional activity has fallen to decade lows. The current market environment shows parallels to historical periods that required extended timeframes for demand recovery, though multiple factors continue influencing consumer behavior and market dynamics.
Consumer prices have reached levels not observed since 2015, occurring during a period where affordability has been a central economic focus for American households. This pricing environment has produced measurable demand responses...
Full Story »Alaska Seafood Gains Expanded QSR Visibility During Lent 2026 Promotions
Alaska seafood saw expanded menu penetration and brand visibility during Lent 2026 promotions, with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) reporting strong participation from national and regional quick-service and fast-casual chains across the US.
The Alaska seafood logo was featured prominently throughout seasonal promotions, reflecting continued operator interest in seafood-driven limited-time offers and value positioning during the Lenten period.
New partner Burger King drove broad consumer reach through a direct mail coupon campaign distributed across its 6,400...
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Princes Shifts Sardine Sourcing to MSC-Certified Iberian Fishery
UK food and drink group Princes Group has begun sourcing sardines from the Marine Stewardship Council( MSC)-certified Iberian purse seine fishery, marking the company’s latest move to expand its range of sustainably certified seafood products.
The transition follows the Iberian sardine fishery receiving MSC certification in July 2025, confirming the fishery meets standards tied to stock health, ecosystem impacts and fisheries management.
Princes said some products entered stores in March, with a broader rollout expected in the coming months. Packaging carrying the MSC ecolabel is...
Full Story »SalmonChile Calls for Cross-Sector Unity at Blue Week 2026 as Chile Advances Blue Economy Agenda
SalmonChile played an active role at Blue Week 2026, the ocean innovation summit organized by the Climate Cluster for Ocean Innovation (CINCO) in Puerto Montt and Santiago from May 11–14. The event brought together authorities, scientists, investors, entrepreneurs and industry leaders to develop collaborative solutions that harness the ocean’s potential to address the climate crisis.
"Blue Week 2026 is being held in a context where the blue economy is gaining more and more prominence worldwide and...
Full Story »Russia’s Salmon Catch Could Fall Up to 30% in 2026, Fisheries Head Says
Russia may face a steep decline in salmon catches this year, with volumes potentially falling by as much as 30% compared with 2025.
This was previously confirmed by Ilya Shestakov, head of the Federal Agency for Fisheries, who said that Russia’s Pacific salmon catch could decline this year to around 230,000 tons, down from last year’s level.
“So far, our forecasts for salmon catches in 2026 have been not very good, being lower than 2025 levels. We forecast between 200,000 and...
Full Story »Sweden Invests SEK 30 Million to Build Domestic Oyster Industry
Sweden is looking to reduce its heavy reliance on imported oysters after a new research program secured nearly SEK 30 million in funding to help build a domestic, sustainable oyster industry.
Today, Sweden produces only about nine tons of oysters per year, while imports exceed 300 tons. The five‑year project, running from 2026 to 2031, is led by Alyssa Joyce at the University of Gothenburg and is designed to strengthen hatchery capacity, test cultivation systems, and create a fully functioning value...
Full Story »Pacific Dream Seafoods Plans Major Processing, Cold Storage Expansion in Washington
A major seafood processing and cold storage project is set to move forward in Burlington, Washington, as Pacific Dream Seafoods expands operations to meet growing regional demand.
The planned development will add a 61,000-square-foot facility in Skagit County featuring upgraded processing areas, expanded cold storage capacity, blast freezers, an ice room, office space and a covered shipping and receiving dock.
The project, expected to be completed in mid-2027, will be constructed on a six-acre site with Chad Fisher Construction...
Full Story »Global Coalition Urges Japan to Halt Public Funding for Octopus Farming Research
A global coalition of animal-welfare groups and scientists is urging Japan to stop funding research aimed at industrial octopus farming, citing serious animal welfare, environmental and public health risks.
The Aquatic Animal Alliance (AAA) ,joined by 182 organizations in 75 countries, and supported in Japan by Animal Rights Center Japan and the Aquatic Life Institute, sent formal correspondence to the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) on May 9 asking for a review of public research allocations tied to octopus...
Full Story »Distinguished Programs Opens Marine Cargo Program for Business With Allianz Capacity
Distinguished Programs (“Distinguished”), a national MGA and insurance program manager, today announced that its Marine Cargo program is officially open for business.
The program provides coverage for physical loss or damage to goods in transit and storage. Coverages include Stock Throughput, Ocean/International Transit, Domestic Inland Transit, Foreign Inland Transit, and Contingent Cargo, addressing complex global supply chains and specialized logistics exposures across a range of industries.
The program is led by Ralph Salce, who brings more than 30 years of...
Full Story »Future Market Insights Projects Plant-Based Fish Market to Reach $3.6 Billion by 2036
Future Market Insights projects the global plant-based fish market to grow from $0.8 billion in 2025 to $3.6 billion by 2036, representing a 14.9% CAGR as sustainable seafood alternatives gain traction across retail and foodservice channels.
Growth is being driven by rising demand for sustainable proteins, expanding plant-based adoption among Gen Z and Millennials, and broader commercialization across supermarkets, frozen foods, and restaurants. Manufacturers are investing in texture innovation, algae- and seaweed-based ingredients, and advanced extrusion technologies...
Full Story »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...
Full Story »ASMFC Defends Menhaden Delay as Debate Over Chesapeake Science Intensifies
A debate over Atlantic menhaden management in the Chesapeake Bay intensified this week after critics pushed back against a recent statement from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation accusing regulators of delaying protections for the species.
The dispute centers on a May 5 decision by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to postpone public comment on Draft Addendum II, a technically complex proposal involving potential changes to menhaden management measures.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation described the move as a failure to address “dire warning signs” in the Bay, including...
Full Story »Expana's Weekly Top 10
This week’s Top 10 highlights how geopolitical tensions, inflation, and industry disruption are reshaping food and commodity markets. Conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran is raising risks to Gulf shipping, oil, and fertilizer supplies, while renewed US inflation pressures and weaker JBS margins point to growing strain across supply chains. Meanwhile, companies are accelerating long-term shifts through AI, automation, and trade realignment. Driverless trucking expansion, Walmart’s tech consolidation, growing plant-based seafood demand, and increased seafood trade scrutiny all signal how rapidly the industry is evolving. This list is in no...
Full Story »ANALYSIS: Atlantic Cod Prices Surge 26% Year Over Year as Catch Limits Tighten Supply
The price for head and gutted (H&G) Norwegian cod reached a historic high in December 2025 at NOK 103.2 per kg, but has declined since then to NOK 89.2 per kg in March 2026. In April, the price recovered to NOK 92.9 per kg, representing a 4.2% month-over-month (MOM) increase and 26.1% year-over-year (YOY) gain. The firm market sentiment for H&G cod has extended to the fillets market, where...
Full Story »NOAA Fisheries Finds Gulf of Alaska Chinook Salmon “Not Warranted” for ESA Listing
In a final decision announced yesterday, NOAA Fisheries found that Gulf of Alaska Chinook salmon are “not warranted” for listing under the Endangered Species Act. The announcement and a more detailed Federal Register notice were the result of a January 11, 2024 petition from The Wild Fish Conservancy to list one or more evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) of Gulf of Alaska Chinook salmon as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
On May 24, 2024, NMFS published an initial...
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