Conservation Groups Sue after Trump Administration Rolls Back ESA “Harm” Definition

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The Departments of the Interior and Commerce have finalized a rule removing the regulatory definition of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), a change the administration says will reduce burdens on landowners, businesses and fishermen.

According to Expana's report, the deleted interpretation had long treated indirect impacts (like habitat modification that impairs breeding, feeding or shelter) as "harm." The administration ties the rollback to the Supreme Court’s 2024 Loper Bright decision, which narrowed deference to agency interpretations of ambiguous statutes. Officials note that direct killing or...

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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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Conservation Groups Sue after Trump Administration Rolls Back ESA “Harm” Definition

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Ecuador's CNA Pushes for Technical Dialogue with China as Shrimp Export Restrictions Mount

Ecuador's National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) says it is permanently monitoring Chinese restrictions on Ecuadorian shrimp exporting companies and is backing efforts to establish a formal technical working group with Chinese authorities to resolve the situation, according to a statement released July 9.

The CNA was careful to frame the situation in measured terms. "This does not constitute a closure of the Chinese market," the organization stated. "Exports to that destination continue. However, the problem is serious and requires urgent attention, given the operational and commercial impact...

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Federal Judge Rejects Arbitration Push in Marder Trawling Wage Theft Case

A federal judge has denied attempts by New Bedford seafood processor Marder Trawling and its staffing agency to force a wage theft lawsuit into private arbitration, keeping the case on track in court and leaving unresolved questions about how workers were signed up for arbitration agreements in the first place.

US District Judge Leo T. Sorokin issued the July 10 ruling in the case of Diaz Perez et al. v. Marder Trawling, Inc. et al. (Civil No. 25-13129-LTS), which was filed in October 2025...

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Japan's Farmed Yellowtail Exports up 50% for Frozen and 20% for Fresh in May

According to Ministry of Finance trade statistics, export volumes for yellowtail fillets—comprising both frozen and fresh products that are essentially all farmed—increased across all categories in May compared to the same month last year. Furthermore, the total export volume for the January–May period—the peak season for exports—was double that of the same period last year, with Minato Shimbun reporting that export volumes are tracking at record levels.

In May, frozen exports rose 46% year-on-year...

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FDA Issues Warning Letter to Houston Seafood Importer Over Repeated HACCP Violations

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning letter to the president of a Houston-based seafood importing company after inspectors found repeated violations of federal seafood safety requirements.

The warning letter, dated May 26, 2026, was issued to Andy Luu, president of AD Import & Whole Co., following an FDA inspection conducted April 29-30, 2026. The agency posted details of the enforcement action on its website Tuesday.

According to the letter, inspectors identified several significant violations of the Seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control...

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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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Captain Fresh Eyes Polish Seafood Processor Morex in Latest European Expansion

Global seafood firm Captain Fresh is seeking to acquire Morex, a major Polish seafood processor and distributor, in what would mark the company's latest move to deepen its European footprint.

Captain Fresh's Norwegian holding company, Infifresh Foodtech AS, filed an application with Poland's Office of Competition and Consumer Protection on July 2, with the filing published July 7. The case is currently pending.

Morex, headquartered in Gdynia, operates across both commercial distribution, selling products in the same form they were purchased, and finished goods...

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Sustainable Seafood Interest Grows as Trusted Certification Guides Shoppers

A new global study of nearly 15,000 consumers across 14 countries shows rising interest in sustainable seafood and finds trusted certification is increasingly what helps shoppers act on that intent.

The research shows the share of consumers who say they prefer environmentally friendly products and look for sustainability claims on food increased by more than 10 percentage points since 2024.

Still, when buying seafood, taste, health and quality remain the top priorities. Where sustainability breaks through is trust: independent certification schemes are now the most trusted...

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Fulton Fish Market Secures $25 Million for Infrastructure Upgrades and Workforce Development

New York City Council Member Justin Sanchez has announced a $25 million investment in the Fulton Fish Market Cooperative, the nation's largest wholesale seafood market, to fund infrastructure upgrades and a new community demonstration kitchen at the Hunts Point facility.

According to the cooperative, the funding will help modernize critical infrastructure at the Hunts Point facility while supporting the construction of a community demonstration kitchen for education, workforce development, and events.

The investment marks a significant milestone for the cooperative and the Hunts Point community, where...

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Mowi Posts Record Q2 Harvest of 150,000 MT, EBIT Jumps 23%

Mowi delivered a record second-quarter harvest of 150,000 tonnes gutted weight in Q2 2026, up 13% from 133,000 tonnes in Q2 2025 and ahead of the company's own guidance of 140,000 tonnes. Norway led output at 85,000 tonnes, followed by Scotland at 26,500 tonnes and Chile at 17,500 tonnes. Canada contributed 10,000 tonnes — a notable rebound given the pressures flagged in the 2025 annual report.

Group Operational EBIT came in at approximately EUR 231 million, a 23% year-on-year increase from...

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WEBINAR: El Niño 2026/27 Fundamentals in Focus — Coffee, Cocoa & Seafood

El Niño does not affect every origin at once or in the same way. The timing and location of these shifts matter for the coming agricultural crops and seafood catch.

With El Niño conditions possibly strengthening into the Northern Hemisphere winter, dryness and heat could reshape agricultural crop balances into the 2026/27 cycle, while warmer Pacific waters could reshape seafood stocks and aquaculture.

On July 23 at 11 AM ET | 4 PM BST, our market experts will take a deep, fundamentals-led look to uncover...

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Chile's Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector Tops $5 Billion in First Half of 2026, With Gains Spreading

Chile's fisheries and aquaculture sector generated $5.0 billion in export revenue in the first half of 2026, a 6.4% increase over the same period last year, according to ProChile's Non-Copper Non-Lithium Export Report for June 2026. The figures confirm the sector's continued strength — but the more notable story may be what's happening outside of salmon.

Salmon and trout, which account for the lion's share of Chile's seafood export value, grew 6.5% to $3.504 billion through June...

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Landing Prices of Hokkaido Okhotsk Scallop Soar Due to High Prices for Frozen Adductors

Driven by high market prices for the region's frozen scallop adductor muscles, the price of whole scallops along Hokkaido's Okhotsk coast has reached "unprecedented highs," according to fisheries cooperatives in the Southern district.

Meanwhile, according to a Minato Shimbun report, although scallop growth was better than the previous year during the early stages of the season, growth has slowed in some coastal areas ahead of the summer peak. There is also a noticeable lack of inquiries for the "5S" size category...

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WA Congresswoman Touts Bill Expanding Lethal Take of Sea Lions to Protect Columbia River Salmon

Last week, Washington Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez introduced a bill that would allow increased lethal removal of California and Steller sea lions by Southwest Washington's Indian Tribes and extend removal authority to nearly 292 miles from the mouth of the Columbia River.

Members of five tribal groups with ancestral history in the area, as well as state managers, have been taking California and Steller sea lions under a law passed in 2018 designed to protect endangered salmon...

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Captain D’s Expands Texas Footprint With New Corsicana Restaurant

Fast-casual seafood chain Captain D's is expanding its Texas footprint with the opening of its newest restaurant in Corsicana, the company announced Tuesday.

The new location opened July 13 at 3920 W. State Highway 31.

The store marks Captain D's 19th location in the state and is owned and operated by multi-unit franchisee Joseph Omobogie.

"Joseph is a highly accomplished, growth-minded operator who understands how to scale successful restaurant concepts," said Brad Reed, Chief Development Officer of Captain D's. "His expansion into Corsicana...

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Humane Stunning Gains Ground as Producers Target Welfare and Yield Improvements

Producers are increasingly looking for ways to improve harvest yields while meeting rising animal welfare standards. In a pair of announcements published by Ace Aquatec, the company highlighted producers that have invested in its technology as a humane way to streamline operations.

Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation (Vina Cleanfood), a leading Vietnamese shrimp producer and exporter, has invested in Ace Aquatec's Humane Stunner Universal (A-HSU®) technology. The system stuns shrimp unconscious in less than one second.

"Shrimp welfare is becoming an increasingly important topic across...

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