Senate Agriculture Committee Adds Seafood Labeling Overhaul to Farm Bill

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A Senate committee has advanced legislation that would require more prominent country-of-origin and harvest method disclosures on seafood sold in US grocery stores, folding the measure into the broader Farm Bill now moving through Congress.

The Senate Agriculture Committee adopted an amendment from Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) during an August 6 markup of the Agricultural Act of 2026 — commonly referred to as Farm Bill 2.0. The amendment is based on the bipartisan LABEL Act (S. 3065)...

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Les Hodges: The Market Has the Crab. Now It Needs the Buyers.

The global crab market has moved from concern over supply availability to the more difficult question of demand. Strong Canadian snow crab shipments have substantially improved U.S. availability, while recovering Alaska resources and increased availability of Santolla from Argentina and Chile have changed the supply outlook. Norway remains constrained by its sharply reduced red king crab quota, while sanctions continue to exclude Russian crab from the U.S. market. The question for the second half of 2026 is increasingly not whether crab is available, but whether demand is strong...

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ANALYSIS: Chilean Salmon Exports Climb 20.7% YTD Despite Harvest Slowdown in June

Chilean Atlantic salmon harvest trends indicate a strong overall performance. According to SUBPESCA, accumulated harvest volumes from January to June were 7.85% higher year-to-date *YTD) at 376,385 metric tons (mt) (Figure 1). However, a slowdown has more recently been observed, with June harvest levels reaching 57,017 mt — a decrease of 7.89% month-on-month (MOM) and 15.72% year-on-year (YOY). According to market participants, this positive harvest momentum may not be sustained, as current live biomass is unlikely to support harvest levels above those recorded...

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ANALYSIS: Tariff Relief Eases Prices, But Higher Input Costs Keep a Floor Under the Market

Arctic char has generally been regarded as one of the more stable categories within the imported finfish complex. Sourced from Icelandic farm-raised operations, whole fish and fillet quotations have tended to move within relatively narrow ranges, with values holding fairly steady across successive quotation periods. Char has often appeared as a comparatively calm line item within the broader seafood market.

The current downward adjustment traces back to trade policy rather than any shift in supply or demand fundamentals. Char pricing initially moved...

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CFS Sues Pacific Seafood Over Hood Canal Hatchery Pollution; Company Vows to Fight Back

The Center for Food Safety has filed a federal lawsuit against Pacific Seafood Group alleging more than 400 Clean Water Act permit violations at a shellfish hatchery on Hood Canal — and Pacific Seafood is pushing back, calling the litigation a cash-motivated attack that ignores its ongoing work with state regulators.

The suit, filed August 4 in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington (Case No. 3:26-cv-5877), names Dulcich, Incorporated and Pacific Shellfish – Quilcene, LLC as defendants. The complaint targets...

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Ecuador Pushes to Upgrade US Trade Deal to Full FTA With Shrimp, Tuna Access in the Crosshairs

Ecuador is pressing Washington to convert its existing trade arrangement into a full free trade agreement, just four months after signing the Reciprocal Trade Agreement (ART) with the US on March 13, 2026.

Minister of Production, Foreign Trade and Investments Luis Alberto Jaramillo told Primicias that the government will formally request the start of FTA negotiations, with a first round of talks expected as soon as August or September.

"This agreement can be negotiated quickly — there are only four products on each side...

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Hokkaido's Surimi Production Plummeted 66% in June.

According to member reports compiled by the National Surimi Manufacturers Association based in Abashiri City, Hokkaido, frozen surimi production in Hokkaido for June fell 66% year-on-year to 561 tons—marking the fourth consecutive month of decline—due to sluggish landings of the primary raw material, Alaska pollock.

According to Minato Shimbun, Alaska pollock surimi production dropped 66% to 561 tons, also marking a fourth straight month of decline. Industry sources report that total landings of the fish in Hokkaido fell 41% to approximately 8,500...

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Guangdong Haid Malaysian Subsidiary Breaks Ground on Aquaculture Feed Plant

Sheng Long Aqua Technology (M) Sdn. Bhd., a subsidiary of Guangdong Haid Group Co. of China, has held a ground-breaking ceremony for its first aquaculture feed manufacturing facility in Malaysia.

The facility, scheduled to commence operations in 2028, represents a first-phase investment of approximately RM140 million (approximately $34.2 million) and will feature two shrimp feed production lines and two fish feed production lines with annual production capacity of 150,000 MT, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority said.

Mr. Chuang Jie Cheng

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C.P. Vietnam Opens New Shrimp Feed Mill

C.P. Vietnam inaugurated its fourth aquafeed production facility in Ca Mau on August 7, 2026, expanding its total annual shrimp feed capacity to more than 650,000 tons, the company announced.

The Ca Mau factory represents a VND 1.725 trillion (approximately $68 million) investment and sits on an 18-hectare site in Khanh An Industrial Park, Khanh An Commune.

The facility produces 124,800 tons annually, specializing in premium shrimp feed lines including Blanca, CP, Hi-Po, Hi-Gro, Lotus, and Nasa.

The company noted that these

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ASMI Hosts Seattle–Sitka Tour to Immerse Foodservice Leaders in Alaska Seafood Supply Chain

Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) hosted culinary and marketing professionals on a familiarization trip through Seattle, WA, and Sitka, AK, July 12–17. The visit offered participants a first look at the full seafood value chain and aimed to deepen understanding of the industry and the Alaskan seafood market.

“The familiarity trip is the experience of a lifetime. I’ve always been a believer of ‘you have to see it to really understand it,’” one participant said. “The Alaska seafood story really...

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Norway Targets Lost Fishing Gear in Annual Ocean Cleanup

The Directorate of Fisheries in Norway has carried out annual ocean cleanups for more than 40 years, targeting lost or abandoned fishing gear — often called ghost gear.

The cleanup vessel "M/S Vikingbank" set out from Ålesund and will work its way along the fishing grounds to Kirkenes under the leadership of Gjermund Langedal, a project manager and expedition manager with the Directorate of Fisheries.

Marked ropes and other recovered gear will be returned where possible; other items will be handled through approved waste reception centers or...

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Four Convicted, Fined $18,000 in Deep Bay Illegal Shellfish Harvesting Case

Four individuals have been convicted and fined a combined $18,000 following a Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) enforcement investigation into illegal shellfish harvesting near Deep Bay, BC.

The case concluded July 7, 2026, in Courtenay provincial court, where Xiaohua (Jessica) Liu was convicted of making a false or misleading statement and unlawful possession of oysters. Liu was fined $4,500.

Three others had previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced May 23, 2024, in Vancouver provincial court. Ya Chung Lao was...

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Texas Gulf Seafood Warehouse Destroyed in Galveston Fire; Supply Chain Impact Unclear

A massive fire destroyed the Texas Gulf Seafood warehouse on the Galveston waterfront Wednesday night, leaving the future of the longtime seafood processor and distributor uncertain and raising questions about potential disruptions to Gulf seafood supply chains.

The Galveston Fire Department said the blaze broke out around 8:40 p.m. on Aug. 5 at the company's facility near 7th Street and Wharf Road on Pier 7. Firefighters arrived to find the warehouse engulfed in flames, prompting a large response from multiple local and regional agencies...

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Santa Monica Seafood Begins Expansion of California Distribution Hub

Santa Monica Seafood has begun an expansion project at its Rancho Dominguez, California, facility, adding new cold storage, packaging and warehouse capabilities at a key distribution hub that serves customers in more than 40 states.

The project will renovate approximately 13,000 square feet within the facility, including modernizing 9,000 square feet of warehouse space to support growth in packaging, box-making, storage and distribution operations.

A central component of the expansion is a new 4,000-square-foot temperature-controlled cooler designed to maintain temperatures at 35°F...

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Japanese Frozen Mackerel Exports Hit Four-Year High in June, Prices Surge on Tight Norwegian Supply

In June, the export volume of Japanese frozen mackerel rose 23% year-on-year (YOY) to 16,108 tons, marking a significant monthly total for the fourth consecutive month. This marked the first time the volume reached the 16,000-ton range in four years.

Driven by strong domestic and international demand following a sharp drop in Norwegian production, the average export price surged 50% to 258 yen/kg ($1.63/kg). This marked the third-highest price on...

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NOAA Concludes North Pacific IUU Fishing Enforcement Mission, Flags Multiple Violations

NOAA enforcement officers have wrapped up the agency's annual Operation North Pacific Guard, an international mission aimed at combating illegal, unreported and (IUU) fishing in the North Pacific.

During the operation, NOAA Fisheries enforcement officers traveled more than 8,000 nautical miles aboard the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Sir Wilfrid Laurier, conducting dozens of fishing vessel boardings and inspections under international law. The deployment supports Executive Order 14276, Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness, which calls for stronger enforcement against IUU fishing to protect US...

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Bipartisan Bill Would Tighten US Sourcing Rules for School Meal Programs

A bipartisan bill introduced in the US Senate would tighten domestic sourcing requirements for federally funded school meal programs, a move supporters say would expand market opportunities for US farmers, ranchers and food manufacturers while reducing schools' reliance on imported food.

Introduced July 31 by Sens. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the American Food for American Schools Act would require school food authorities to obtain a waiver from the US Department of Agriculture before purchasing most foreign food products. The legislation would also...

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Louisiana Sets Aug. 17 Opening for 2026 Fall Inshore Shrimp Season

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has announced that the 2026 fall inshore shrimp season will open at 6 a.m. on Monday, August 17, in all state inside waters from the Mississippi/Louisiana state line westward to the Louisiana/Texas state line.

The opening date was set by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission based on recommendations from LDWF biologists, who monitor hydrological conditions and conduct weekly trawl surveys to assess shrimp growth rates, distribution, and abundance ahead of the season...

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Senate Agriculture Committee Adds Seafood Labeling Overhaul to Farm Bill

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Climate Resilience Critical to US Seafood Growth, Study Finds

Expanding US seafood production will require greater resilience to climate-driven disruptions, according to a new University of Miami study.

Published July 6 in Fish and Fisheries, the study uses Gulf Coast fisheries to examine how hurricanes can disrupt seafood harvests, infrastructure and supply chains. The researchers say the same risks apply to other climate-related threats, including marine heatwaves and harmful algal blooms.

"For fisheries, competitiveness isn't just about producing more seafood—it's about producing it consistently," said Juan Carlos Villaseñor-Derbez...

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National Fisheries Institute Statement on the Passing of Lee Weddig

Reston, VA – August 10, 2026– The seafood community has lost a giant. Lee Weddig ran the National Fisheries Institute for three decades, retiring in 1997. Trade press referred to him as the “Godfather of NFI” and his tenure was marked by a steadfast focus on the future. During a fiftieth anniversary celebration, Weddig did not rest on the association’s accomplishments but rather insisted it was, “imperative that the NFI build on its technological and political capabilities because the questions [were] getting more complicated and more difficult with the passing years...

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ASMI, Alzheimer’s Resource Alaska Partner to Put Brain Health on the Seafood Menu

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) is partnering with Alzheimer’s Resource Alaska to bring science-based nutrition information about seafood and brain health to Alaskans. The collaboration connects Alaska’s wild seafood resource with trusted health and wellness organizations to reinforce a single, practical message for consumers: growing research shows that regularly eating wild Alaska seafood can support long-term brain health.

One of the first public examples of the partnership is an article by Alzheimer’s Resource Alaska CEO Lisa Sauder, “Caring for...

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Russia Plans to Expand its Fisheries Trade with Latin American States in Years to Come

Russia plans to expand its fisheries trade with Latin American states in years to come, paying a particular attention for the increase of fish exports to Brazil.

As a result of a recent visit of Ilya Shestakov, head of Rosrybolovstvo to Brazil, the latter has announced plans for a significant increase of exports of Russian pollock, cod, haddock, herring, surimi, and crab to Brazil, considering the market as one of the promising for Russian fisherman.

In addition to exports, during...

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Investor Group Launches Mandatory Takeover Offer for Atlantic Sapphire as Delisting Looms

A mandatory tender offer for Atlantic Sapphire ASA is now open, with an investor group operating through a vehicle called Coral HoldCo AS seeking to take the troubled land-based salmon farmer private as part of a broader restructuring.

The offer price is NOK 0.80 per share. The acceptance period runs from 9:00 a.m. CEST on July 31 through 4:30 p.m. CEST on August 28, 2026. DNB Carnegie, a part of DNB Bank ASA, is acting as receiving agent for the offer...

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NAVICO, Benchmark Genetics Embark on Long-term Strategic Partnership

Nam Viet Corporation (NAVICO) and Benchmark Genetics Norway AS (BGN) have announced a long-term strategic partnership aimig to develop a fully integrated tilapia value chain in Vietnam.

NAVICO, one of Vietnam’s largest aquaculture firms, is shifting its strategic focus from pangasius to tilapia to meet evolving market demand and unlock new export opportunities. Benchmark Genetics, a global leader in designing and running high-performance breeding programs for more than 30 aquaculture species, will supply genetic and program-design expertise.

“Our ambition is to position tilapia as a premium product and export from...

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ANALYSIS: June US Lobster Imports Fall 18% as Canadian Supply Tightens

US lobster imports totaled 58.5 million pounds in the first half of 2026, down 7.0% from 62.9 million pounds in the same period of 2025. June was the weakest month of the period, with overall volumes falling 18.3% year-over-year, driven primarily by compression in Canadian shipments and continued seasonal softness in warmwater tails...

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Chile Pushes Back on US Tariffs as Salmon Industry Maps Path to Relief

Chile is mounting a coordinated diplomatic and legal response to the 12.5% Section 301 tariff the Trump administration imposed on Chilean goods on July 24 — a rate that places Chile among the highest-penalized economies in the new forced-labor framework and hits salmon, wine, timber, and fruit exports simultaneously.

The justification has drawn sharp pushback from Santiago. Chilean government ministers publicly questioned the forced-labor basis for the tariff, calling it unjust and damaging to bilateral trust, according to local media reports...

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AquaBounty Eyes Data Center Future for Ohio Site

AquaBounty Technologies (NASDAQ: AQB) has expanded its strategic alternatives review for its dormant Pioneer, Ohio property to explicitly include data center and power infrastructure development opportunities — the latest twist for a company that has spent the better part of two years unwinding its salmon farming operations entirely.

The Pioneer site holds a 50 MW substation connection and a 5.25 million-gallon-per-day groundwater permit, making it a compelling candidate for data center use at a time when AI infrastructure buildout has made power-rich...

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NOAA and Louisiana Partners Hypoxic Zone in Gulf Has Decreased, Thanks to Tropical Storm Bertha

Good news from federal and state scientists who have been studying the “dead zone” in the Gulf of America (formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico) for four decades: it’s decreased in size.

Researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and scientists at Louisiana State University and the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium announced yesterday that this year’s hypoxic zone is approximately 1,332 square miles, about one-fifth of what was expected, making it the 2nd smallest zone on record in 40 years of measurement...

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Fishing Vessel Joins Trained Team to Free Injured Humpback Whale 20 Miles Off Oregon Coast

A researcher in a US Coast Guard helicopter first spotted the entangled humpback whale anchored to the bottom about 20 miles off the Oregon Coast on July 23. He could see the whale’s white pectoral flipper extended underwater and the outline of its white baleen showing a lower jaw stretched permanently open, making it unable to feed.

Hayslip reported the whale anchored by heavy fishing gear to NOAA’s West Coast Entanglement Hotline, which activates trained responders across the region...

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DFO Steps Up Elver Enforcement as Harvest Climbs Toward Allowable Catch

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) says its fishery officers maintained a strong on‑the‑water and shore presence across Southwest Nova Scotia, Eastern Nova Scotia and Southwest New Brunswick this season to protect the integrity of the highly valued, tightly regulated elver fishery.

Licensed harvesters landed 8,385 kg of the 12,180 kg total allowable catch (TAC) , an increase of nearly 17% from 7,170 kg in 2025, creating added economic opportunities for harvesters. A portion of this year’s quota also supported joint scientific research between DFO...

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