Seafoodnews.com Summary Thursday, June 25

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News Summary June 25, 2026

Today's Top Story: Ecuador's Shrimp Export Declarations and US Arrivals Are Diverging

Front and center today: Ecuador's shrimp export declarations and US arrivals have begun diverging significantly since early 2024, with the average monthly gap widening from 100,000 pounds to 7.5 million pounds, creating modeling uncertainty for import estimates. The persistent divergence reflected potential destination diversification, re-export routing, or classification differences between customs systems as Ecuador's rapid volume growth introduced timing friction into traditional tracking relationships...

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ANALYSIS: Ecuador's Shrimp Export Declarations and US Arrivals Are Diverging

One of the inputs underpinning Expana's US shrimp import estimates is the relationship between Ecuador's declared exports to the US — as reported by Ecuadorian customs — and volumes recorded as arrivals by US customs. Historically, these two series have tracked closely, with an approximate one-month lag. That relationship forms a core component of the export-led seasonal...

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Aleutian Islands Golden King Crab Catch for 2026-2027 Season Up 13% From Last Year

Yesterday, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced the season dates and catch limits for Aleutian Islands golden king crab. The season opens August 1, 2026 and closes April 30, 2027. This year, the fleet is allowed to catch 4.742 million pounds of the delicacy, slightly more than 13 percent above the 2025/26 season.

Alaska’s Aleutian Golden King crab is harvested and managed differently from all other types of crab landed in Alaska. The total allowable catch (TAC) is divided...

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Trump Decision to Reverse OOI Dismantling Came as Oregon Lifted the First Buoy Arrays

A bipartisan effort in the U.S. Senate last week led by Alaska’s Senator Lisa Murkowski and Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley proved sufficient to force the Trump administration to end its effort to scrap the Ocean Observation Initiative (OOI).

Word that the National Science Foundation was suspending efforts to dismantle the system, as well as planning steps to replace several huge, expensive research buoys that have already been removed from the water, spread quickly through the seafood industry, lawmakers, and academics. Most applauded the announcement, but...

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Darden Sees Same-Store Sales Growth Across All Segments in Fiscal 2026

Darden Restaurants closed fiscal 2026 with sales and earnings growth that, according to President & CEO Rick Cardenas, outpaced the broader restaurant industry. Results were driven by positive same-restaurant sales across all segments, continued unit expansion and the benefit of a 53rd week of operations.

The company reported fiscal 2026 sales of $13.21 billion, up 9.4%, while blended same-restaurant sales increased 4.5%.

"Our performance throughout the fiscal year reflects the strength of our brands, the discipline of our strategy, and the quality of our...

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Bairdi Snow Crab Landing Keeps Increasing, Exceeding 1800 MT in Hidaka, Hokkaido

The Hokkaido Research Organization's Mariculture Fisheries Research Institute recently compiled landing data for Bairdi snow crab in the Hidaka region—the primary production area—where catches have surged in recent years. Landings rose from 1 ton in 2022 to 817 tons in 2023, then more than doubled to 1,823 tons in 2024. The institute estimates that the figure increased further in 2025.

According to reports from Minato Shimbun, one factor behind the surge is the higher market value resulting from larger catch sizes...

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Death of Pregnant Fin Whale Caused by Cruise Ship Strike Before Docking in Seward

Federal and local scientists who conducted a necropsy on Saturday of an endangered and pregnant fin whale that arrived in port still draped over the bulbous bow of the Royal Caribbean Ovation of The Seas, said their preliminary findings are that the whale died of injuries consistent with a ship strike.

NOAA Fisheries collaborated with the Alaska SeaLife Center and Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services to perform a necropsy on the whale over the weekend to determine the cause of death...

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Iceland Land-Based Salmon Producer LAXEY Closes Oversubscribed EUR 47M Equity Raise

Icelandic land-based salmon producer LAXEY has completed a EUR 47 million equity raise — above its initial EUR 40 million target — after the offering was significantly oversubscribed, driven largely by existing shareholders increasing their positions. The raise brings the total equity secured by the company since inception to approximately EUR 200 million.

Alongside the equity close, LAXEY has signed a committed term sheet for an international syndicated loan coordinated by DNB Carnegie, with DNB, Rabobank, and Arion Bank as mandated lead arrangers...

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Sandals Puts Culinary Storytelling at the Center of Jamaica Resort Transformation

Sandals Resorts is using food and beverage as a key pillar of its US$200 million transformation of three Jamaica properties, introducing a series of new dining concepts designed to deepen guests' connection to the destination through local ingredients, cultural storytelling and immersive experiences.

The culinary additions will roll out across Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Caribbean Cay and Sandals South Coast as part of the extensive redevelopment project. The resorts are scheduled to reopen beginning in November and December 2026.

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The Retail Rundown: Independence Day Demand Meets Rising Cookout Costs

After weeks of demand shaped by Memorial Day and Father’s Day, retailers are now preparing for the final major grilling holiday of the summer: Independence Day. For meat departments, the Fourth of July represents the last significant opportunity to capture peak grilling demand before the slower midsummer period begins.

This year’s holiday arrives with favorable calendar dynamics. Falling on a Saturday, July 4th creates a full holiday weekend expected to encourage extended celebrations and larger gatherings. For grocers, that translates into a critical window to drive volume and strengthen...

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Ammonia Leak at Tamil Nadu Shrimp Processing Plant Kills at Least Nine, Injures Dozens

At least nine workers are dead, and more than 60 others were hospitalized after a large ammonia gas leak at a shrimp processing facility in Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu, India, on June 21, 2026. The death toll has continued to climb in the days since the incident.

The leak occurred at M/s Peter & Paul Seafood Exports — also identified in local media as St Peter's Paul Seafoods Exports Pvt Ltd — located in Kannigaipair, near Periyapalayam. The gas escaped from refrigeration equipment and spread rapidly across the...

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NOAA Allocates $21.3 Million for California Salmon Fishery Disaster Relief

NOAA has allocated $21.3 million in fishery disaster assistance for California's Sacramento River Fall Chinook and Klamath River Fall Chinook salmon fisheries as part of a broader $123.6 million relief package announced nationwide, according to Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael).

The funding is intended to support fishermen, Tribes, seafood processors, small businesses and coastal communities impacted by California's 2023 and 2024 salmon fishery disasters.

"This is welcome news,” said Rep. Huffman. "Finally, we are seeing movement from the administration and...

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Ocean Harvesters, Omega Protein Push Back on Chesapeake Bay Menhaden Research Claims

Virginia's commercial menhaden industry is pushing back against the Chesapeake Bay Foundation over statements the environmental group made after the Virginia General Assembly excluded menhaden research funding from its two-year state budget.

In a statement released June 23, Ocean Harvesters and Omega Protein flatly denied playing any role in the budget outcome, calling CBF's characterization "purposely misleading" and accusing the organization of a "decades-long misinformation campaign" against the Reedville, Virginia-based fishery. The companies specifically disputed a claim by CBF Forage Campaign Manager...

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NOAA Launches $13.5M Aquaculture Cooperative Institute to Boost Domestic Seafood Production

The University of Southern Mississippi has joined a new national aquaculture research initiative funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration aimed at expanding domestic seafood production and reducing the United States' reliance on imported farmed seafood.

The effort, known as the Cooperative Institute Fostering Aquaculture Research and Markets (CIFARM), is led by the University of New Hampshire and backed by approximately $13.5 million in initial funding over five years. The program will bring together researchers, industry partners, and coastal communities to tackle barriers to domestic...

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Phillips Foods Names Brice Phillips CEO in Multigenerational Leadership Transition

Baltimore-based Phillips Foods has announced a planned leadership transition that will see the family-owned seafood company pass the chief executive role to the next generation while elevating a longtime operational leader to a newly created president and COO position.

Steve Phillips, who has served as CEO for many years, will move to Chairman of the Board, remaining involved in long-term strategy while stepping back from daily operations. Taking over as CEO is Brice Phillips, his successor and the latest in the company's multigenerational family leadership...

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Monarch, Sovereign Seas Partner With Macduff Shellfish to Launch Norway Lobster Line in US

Monarch and its seafood brand, Sovereign Seas, are expanding their premium shellfish portfolio through a new exclusive distribution agreement with Macduff Shellfish, bringing a full range of Norway lobster products to the US market.

According to the LinkedIn post, under the partnership, Sovereign Seas will serve as the exclusive US channel for Macduff Shellfish’s Norway lobster, also known as langoustine or scampi, positioning the brand as a single-source supplier for the category in North America. The lineup includes...

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Global Squid Buyers Strongly Oppose Management Changes Being Considered in Chile and Peru

Potential amendments to recent laws in Chile and Peru that would increase fishing effort in the jumbo flying squid (JFS) fishery triggered strong opposition among conservation groups and buyers of the product.

The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) Global Squid Supply Chain Roundtable (SR) expressed their concern publicly last week.

“As buyers committed to responsible sourcing and the sustainability of marine resources, we recognize the significant progress achieved in recent years thanks to the joint efforts of fisheries managers, research institutes, nongovernmental organizations...

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Long John Silver’s Leverages Seasonal Flavors and Value in Summer Menu Launch

Long John Silver’s is combining limited‑time menu additions with value-driven offerings to drive summer traffic, rolling out a seasonal lineup that mixes returning seafood favorites, new sauces and expanded beverage options.

The quick‑service seafood chain has introduced a Summer Special Platter featuring coconut shrimp and a new Citrus Honey Mustard dipping sauce, while continuing its year‑round $6 Basket program, a core part of its value strategy amid intense industry competition.

"To us, summer is all about providing great flavors and...

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