Seafoodnews.com Summary Thursday, July 16

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News Summary July 16, 2026

Today's Top Story: Seafood Industry Wins Key Exemptions as US Imposes 25% Tariff on Brazilian Goods

Kicking things off today, the Trump administration's 25% Section 301 tariff on Brazilian goods takes effect July 22, but the US seafood industry secured meaningful relief — fresh and chilled tilapia fillets, whole tilapia, yellowfin and bigeye tuna, swordfish, mackerel, and frozen rock lobster all landed on the exemption list after USTR expanded its original proposal following industry comment. One notable gap: frozen tilapia fillets remain subject to the full 25%, complicating Brazil's push to compete with Chinese and Vietnamese suppliers in that segment. Importers should verify their specific HTS classifications against the Annex I and II lists before assuming coverage, and monitor a separate Section 301 forced labor proceeding that could independently apply an additional 12.5% duty to Brazilian seafood...

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Seafood Industry Wins Key Exemptions as US Imposes 25% Tariff on Brazilian Goods

The Trump Administration's 25% Section 301 tariff on Brazilian goods takes effect July 22 — and the US seafood industry secured meaningful relief, with many of Brazil's most commercially significant seafood export categories landing on the exemption list.

USTR Ambassador Jamieson Greer announced the final action on July 15, following a yearlong investigation into Brazilian practices related to digital trade, anti-corruption enforcement, intellectual property, ethanol market access, and illegal deforestation. After receiving more than 360 written comments and holding two public hearings...

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US Seafood Sector Weighs in on China Tariff Framework

The US seafood industry is navigating a pivotal moment in its trade relationship with China, as the Trump Administration moves to formalize a new bilateral framework that could reshape tariff rates on a wide range of fish and shellfish products.

In June, USTR published a Federal Register notice seeking public comment on the scope of a proposed US-China Board of Trade, a managed trade mechanism announced during President Trump's May 2026 visit to Beijing. The Board is intended to identify "non-sensitive" goods on both sides eligible for reciprocal tariff...

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ANALYSIS: El Niño Threatens Fishmeal and Fish Oil Supply as Global Aquaculture Output Surges

Feed costs represent up to 55% of total production costs for white shrimp and Atlantic salmon. Diet formulation is species-specific; however, the same species may require different dietary compositions depending on the region. Ingredient selection is driven by cost considerations and the biological benefits for farmed aquatic animals. In recent years, consumer preferences regarding feed ingredients have also gained considerable importance in formulation decisions...

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House Committee Advances Bill to Delay Right Whale Gear Regulations for Lobster Fishery Until 2035

House Resolution 9436, the Northeast Lobstermen Protection Act, passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee on a 22-13 bipartisan vote, advancing legislation that would extend the current regulatory moratorium protecting Maine lobstermen from new gear entanglement rules for North Atlantic right whales through 2035.

The bill was led by Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME) and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY). It would extend a pause on new regulations first enacted in 2022 — originally under President Biden with bipartisan support from the Maine congressional...

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Chile Strengthens AgroSalmon Alliance to Boost Domestic Aquafeed Supply Chain

Chile’s AgroSalmon Alliance is a collaborative initiative that brings together leading organizations from the country’s agriculture and salmon farming sectors.

Minister Jaime Campos of the Ministry of Agriculture convened a meeting to strengthen the alliance with industry representatives. Attendees included Antonio Walker, president of the National Society of Agriculture (SNA); Juan Pablo Matte, secretary general of the SNA; Ricardo Montesinos, president of SAGO; Loreto Seguel, executive president of the Salmon Council; representatives from the Office of Agricultural Studies and Policies (ODEPA); and leaders...

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Trump Administration Rescinds ESA "Harm" Definition, Commerce Secretary Cites Relief for Fishermen

The Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce have finalized a rule rescinding the regulatory definition of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act, a move the Trump administration says will reduce burdens on landowners, businesses and fishermen.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick pointed directly to the fishing industry in his statement on the rollback. "President Trump is rescinding overly broad and burdensome regulations that have restrained our fishermen for too long," Lutnick said, framing the change as a return to the ESA's "foundational purpose" without sacrificing economic...

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Nichirei Hit by Cyberattack, Logistics and Frozen Food Shipments Disrupted

Japanese frozen food giant Nichirei Foods said it was the victim of a cyberattack on July 13 that disrupted inbound and outbound operations at refrigerated warehouses run by its logistics arm, as well as frozen food shipments.

The company launched an investigation immediately, and on July 15 confirmed its servers had been compromised. To prevent further damage, Nichirei said it would not disclose details of the attack.

Parent company Nichirei Corporation said some of the affected servers stored personal information and that the matter had been reported to Japan's Personal...

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Traceability Inspection Leads Sernapesca to Seize 2,756 kg of Northern Octopus in Santiago

Chile’s National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) in the Metropolitan Region seized 2,756 kilograms (about 2.76 metric tons) of frozen whole northern octopus after routine traceability inspections at a meatpacking facility in the commune of Independencia.

Inspectors determined the harvest lacked its required Accreditation of Legal Origin (AOL), a mandatory traceability document under Chilean seafood regulations. During the inspection of chamber No. 4, the team found the product stored without the requisite documentation. The items were being held by Comercial...

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EU Fish Sanctions Against Russia Stall as 21st Sanctions Package Hits Resistance

Proposed restrictions on Russian seafood imports — the first of their kind to be included in an EU sanctions package — appear set to be dropped or softened after EU foreign ministers failed to finalize the bloc's 21st sanctions package at their July 13 meeting in Brussels. The failure has added urgency to ongoing negotiations, with a Wednesday, July 15 deadline looming over the oil price cap on Russian crude, currently set at $44.10 per barrel. If no agreement is reached...

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The Retail Rundown: Grocers Push Promotions to Drive Summer and Back-to-School Baskets

As grilling season nears its peak, retailers are competing for consumer dollars with promotions aimed at increasingly value-conscious shoppers willing to switch proteins, or trade down within a protein category, to stretch grocery budgets.

Beef, along with several premium seafood products, command the highest retail prices, consistent with historical norms. However, price premiums have widened noticeably for several red meat and seafood categories, including steaks, shellfish, and finfish.

Retailers have limited flexibility to aggressively promote beef amid historically tight cattle supplies and elevated wholesale beef prices. While ground beef remains one of the strongest...

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Norway's World Cup Run Ends with a Seafood Feast Fit for the Occasion

Norway's remarkable run to the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals came to an end on July 11, when England edged past the team 2-1 in extra time in Miami, with Jude Bellingham scoring the decisive goal. But if the squad was going to bow out, they did so in style — with a farewell dinner loaded with Norwegian seafood.

The spread featured 15 kg of king crab, 20 kg of crayfish, 10 kg of snow crab, 3 kg of salmon fillet, and 3 kg of halibut fillet...

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DFO Enforcement Roundup: Snow Crab, Lobster, and Groundfish Violations Highlight Busy Start to July

Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has released a series of enforcement updates this month, covering incidents from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The actions span illegal snow crab offloading, lobster violations, groundfish monitoring failures, and an earlier elver smuggling conviction.

860 Pounds of Snow Crab Intercepted in Newfoundland

On July 1, fishery officers from the Springdale Detachment in Newfoundland and Labrador intercepted a fishing vessel returning to port in the Triton area carrying approximately 860 pounds...

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Study Backs Marine Conservation Farming as Tool for Atlantic Salmon Recovery

A newly published study on the Fundy Salmon Recovery (FSR) project is adding momentum to calls for Canada to adopt new tools to restore wild Atlantic salmon populations, arguing that habitat work alone will not be enough to reverse declines.

The research, published in Fisheries Research by scientists from the University of New Brunswick, Parks Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, found that salmon raised through the project’s marine conservation farming approach produced more than four times as many offspring as fish reared entirely in traditional...

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Piñeiro Soler Adds Clarity to Trump’s Sweeping Deregulation Efforts via Letters to Councils

Last week Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, NOAA’s Assistant Administrator for Fisheries sent letters to each of the nation’s eight regional fisheries management councils further clarifying and adding to Trump’s sweeping deregulation efforts.

Soler’s letters urged councils to deprioritize development of ropeless gear solutions for trap or pot gear to avoid whale entanglements; rescind industry-funded monitoring requirements with no mention of where funding would come for that critical need; revise accountability measurements “to stabilize local seafood markets and prevent...

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PanaPesca USA Partners with Cedar Key Aquaculture Farms for Florida-Grown Littleneck Clams

Frozen seafood supplier PanaPesca USA has announced a new sourcing partnership with Cedar Key Aquaculture Farms (CKAF), a fourth-generation family business farming clams in the Gulf of America off Florida's Nature Coast.

Under the agreement, PanaPesca will source hand-farmed littleneck clams from CKAF, adding a fully traceable, domestically farmed product to its supply chain. PanaPesca, which has supplied premium frozen seafood for over 30 years, said the partnership reflects its commitment to transparency and sustainable sourcing...

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Handy Seafood Promotes Doug Santschi to President

Maryland-based Handy Seafood has promoted Doug Santschi to President, effective July 13. In the new role, Santschi will assume broader responsibility for the company's day-to-day operations, working alongside Handy's leadership team to drive growth, operational excellence, customer service, and innovation.

Santschi previously served as the company's Chief Commercial Officer, where he strengthened customer relationships, expanded market opportunities, and aligned commercial strategies across the organization.

"Doug has demonstrated exceptional leadership, business judgment, and commitment to our customers and employees," said Todd Conway, Chief Executive Officer of Handy Seafood...

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Louisiana Harvesters Cited after Unrefrigerated Oyster Catch Seized

Two Louisiana oyster harvesters are facing alleged sanitation violations after enforcement agents found oysters intended for the raw market that had not been properly refrigerated during a patrol in Terrebonne Parish.

According to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), enforcement agents cited Houma residents Juan Raul Cardenas Calderon, 23, and Luis Angel Perez-Macedo, 29, on June 24 for allegedly violating the state's oyster sanitation code covering refrigeration requirements.

Agents encountered the pair harvesting oysters in Four League Bay before conducting a routine inspection...

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