Icelandair Mechanics Strike Threatens Iceland's Fresh Seafood Export Pipeline

A last-ditch mediation session between Icelandair and its aircraft mechanics collapsed Sept. 19, leaving an indefinite strike set to begin at 12:01 a.m. on Sept. 23 — a disruption that could ripple into Iceland's fresh seafood export chain just as flight cancellations begin piling up.

The Icelandic Aircraft Mechanics Association (FVFI) has called the strike after months of failed contract talks. According to Iceland Monitor, the formal mediation meeting lasted only around 90 minutes before negotiations were formally broken off...

ASC, MSC Team With Erewhon on Certified Seafood Push Ahead of National Seafood Month

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) partnered with Los Angeles-based retailer Erewhon this August on a month-long in-store and digital campaign aimed at helping shoppers identify and trust certified seafood, as new consumer research from both organizations points to a persistent gap between shopper interest in sustainability and actual label recognition.

The "Seafood to Enjoy. Labels to Trust." campaign brought ASC- and MSC-certified products to Erewhon's now 15 Southern California locations through in-store education...

Sernapesca Ramps Up Public-Private Coordination in Chile as Strong El Niño Threatens Salmon Farming

Chile's national fisheries service, Sernapesca, is intensifying coordination with industry and other government agencies ahead of an El Niño event that NOAA now projects has better than a 90% chance of reaching very strong intensity in the southern hemisphere spring-summer of 2026-2027, with a 69% probability the October-December quarter registers an intensity exceeding any event recorded since 1950.

According to Chile's Instituto de Fomento Pesquero (IFOP), rising sea surface temperatures and weakened coastal upwelling associated with El Niño can alter nutrient availability...

Russia Aims to Boost Value of Fish Exports in Coming Years

Russia plans to increase the value of its fish exports over the next several years, aiming to improve profitability across its fisheries sector and generate additional revenue for domestic fishermen.

Speaking at the International Fisheries Forum, Alexander Panin, chairman of the Russian Fisheries Union, said Russia currently ranks fourth in the world by volume of fish exports but only 14th by value. Closing that gap is now a stated goal for both Russian fishermen and the state in the coming years.

"And this is a real reserve for growth...

Long John Silver's Brings Shrimp and Wings Together on New Game Day Platter

Long John Silver's is staking a claim on football season with a new menu built around its first bone-in wing, and a platter that puts fried shrimp on the same tray as chicken.

Beginning Sept. 21, the chain is rolling out Crispy Battered Wings, priced at $1.99 for three, alongside a new Game Day Platter that combines the wings with the brand's core seafood offerings.

The Game Day Platter puts six Crispy Battered Wings alongside six golden-fried shrimp and freshly battered Fried Pickles, plus...

Seafood Nutrition Partnership Marks 10th 'Fall in Love with Seafood' Campaign, Eyes National Push

Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) is preparing to launch its 10th "Fall in Love with Seafood" campaign this October, a milestone for the retailer-focused promotion that began as a pilot in 2024 and has since grown into one of the seafood category's most consistent consumer marketing efforts.

Across the nine campaigns completed to date, SNP said the program has generated an average $4.50 return for every $1 invested in promotion, translating into $4.50 of incremental seafood sales per promotional dollar spent...

Report: Salmon Farming Could Lift Atlantic Canada's GDP by 1% by 2035

A new report from the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association (ACFFA) says the region's salmon farming industry could grow Atlantic Canada's GDP by 1% by 2035, while creating jobs, attracting investment and producing more food domestically.

The report, Farming our Future: A Roadmap for Responsible Growth in Atlantic Canada's Finfish Sector, argues the region has the coastline, expertise, infrastructure and workforce needed to responsibly expand the sector — but regulatory delays, uncertainty and investment barriers are holding it back. The report calls specifically for policy changes to...

Seafood Industry Faces New Tariff Risk as Graham Russia Bill Nears Trump's Signature

The US House of Representatives passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 on September 16. The bill now heads to President Trump's desk after clearing the Senate in early August.

Named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who negotiated the legislation before his death in July, the bill is aimed at cutting off Russia's oil and gas revenue over its war in Ukraine.

The legislation directs the president to raise the duty rate on all goods...

Senators Collins, King Push Senate Commerce Committee to Fast-Track Right Whale Regulation Pause

US Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) are urging the Senate Commerce Committee to move quickly on legislation extending the current pause on new North Atlantic right whale fishing regulations through 2035, following the House's passage of the bill earlier this month.

In a letter to Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Collins and King pressed the committee to advance the Northeast Lobstermen Protection Act (H.R. 9436) as soon as possible...

Circana Tells Advertisers to Start Holiday 2026 Planning Earlier

Advertisers should start planning for the 2026 holidays earlier as shoppers increasingly discover products through social platforms, creators and AI tools, according to new guidance from Circana.

In its report, How Advertisers Should Prepare for Holiday 2026, the market research firm recommends that brands and media teams begin holiday activity ahead of traditional peak periods, build social and creator discovery into media plans, optimize product data for AI-assisted shopping and measure results across channels.

The case for an earlier start is reflected in Circana’s 2025...

Dock Fire at Whittier's $80M Cruise Ship Dock Declared by Alaska Fire Marshal a 'Total Loss'

A fire that started Monday on the $80 million cruise ship terminal in Whittier and burned for 12 hours has been declared “a total loss,” according to Austin McDaniel, spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety, which includes the fire marshal’s office.

No injuries have been reported in the blaze, but a high-speed catamaran operated by Phillips Cruises Tours that was tied to the dock with no one on board was damaged before it could be moved away...

Acme Smoked Fish Launches Sauced Smoked Salmon Filets, Targeting Ready-to-Eat Protein Demand

Acme Smoked Fish, the Brooklyn-based smoked seafood producer with more than 120 years in the category, has introduced a new line of Sauced Smoked Salmon Filets aimed at consumers looking for convenient, protein-rich meal solutions that require no additional preparation.

The 4.5-ounce filets use premium Atlantic salmon, hot smoked and finished with chef-inspired sauces, and deliver 12g of protein per serving. The product is positioned as a ready-to-eat option that can be served hot or cold with no cooking, marinating...

Japan: Alaskan Atka Mackerel Price on the Rise

As of early September, the domestic market price per kilo for Alaskan Atka mackerel—specifically the 48-count size (frozen, dressed, variable-weight 19kg packs)—is hovering around 530 yen/kg ($3.41/kg). Driven by a global rise in fish prices, the market is trending upward across the board, including for smaller sizes like the "70-count" pack; trading sources suggest that prices for the summer catch are likely to rise a bit further in the near future, according to Minato Shimbun...

Heartland Catfish Company Launches New Website to Honor 30th Anniversary

Heartland Catfish Company recently launched a new website in celebration of its 30th anniversary. The site has been refreshed to focus on retail and food service partnerships, give a detailed look at the company’s products and processes and emphasize consumer education about the benefits of U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish as a versatile and healthy protein source.

As the largest vertically integrated catfish processor in the industry, Heartland Catfish Company manages its catfish supply from egg to product...

US Seafood Industry Calls for Reform of EU CATCH System

After months of collaborative meetings with EU and US authorities trying to sort out the requirements of the EU's new CATCH system with the way the US — and Alaska in particular — accounts for its harvest, a coalition of US seafood groups is now urging practical changes to accomplish the new system's goals: eliminating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in EU trade.

The Pacific Seafood Processors Association (PSPA), Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), and At-sea Processors Association (APA) released a new whitepaper, Advancing EU Efforts to Combat IUU...

One-Third of Shoppers Now Use AI to Shop, New Acosta Group Study Finds

Generative AI is rapidly becoming a fixture of the shopper journey across the food and consumer goods landscape, according to a new study from Acosta Group, with 34% of shoppers now using AI tools to shop and nearly half of Gen Z shoppers saying AI has influenced a recent purchase decision.

The findings, released ahead of Groceryshop 2026, arrive as food brands, CPG manufacturers, retailers, and foodservice operators reassess how their commerce strategies must adapt to a shopping landscape increasingly shaped by AI-driven product discovery...

USDA Report Shows US Agriculture Faces Higher Tariff Barriers Abroad

As of September 16, persistent challenges for US agriculture were said to be foreign markets which remain more protected than the US market, according to the USDA Economic Research Service report.

The USDA report does not call for specific tariff increases or cuts but lays out how US agriculture compares with foreign competitors under current most favored nation (MFN) tariff structures. The report may be used as a benchmark to show where tariff imbalances may influence export access...

EU Proposes Changes to Fisheries Fund to Boost Fleet Investment, Small-Scale Fisheries

The European Commission is proposing changes to the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) aimed at making funding more accessible to fishers and aquaculture producers while supporting fleet modernization, generational renewal and the sector’s energy transition.

The targeted amendment would provide greater flexibility around engine replacement and modernization, while creating clearer definitions for “energy transition” and “pilot projects” to facilitate testing of new technologies. It would also allow support for pilot and research projects, as well as port and infrastructure investments tied...

Bioguto Becomes Lithuania’s First Friend of the Sea® Certified Omega-3 Brand

MB Pilnas šaukštas becomes the first Lithuanian company to achieve Friend of the Sea certification for an omega-3 product, reinforcing its commitment to responsible sourcing and traceability

Friend of the Sea®, the international certification programme of the World Sustainability Organization (WSO), is pleased to announce that Lithuanian company MB Pilnas šaukštas has obtained certification for its Bioguto Omega-3 Premium product line. The certification covers Bioguto Omega-3 Premium Natural and Bioguto Omega-3 Premium Lemon, two liquid food supplements made with...

Cermaq Reshapes Global Management as Grieg Integration Continues

Cermaq has appointed a new CFO and created a new COO role as it restructures its global management team following the integration of Grieg Seafood's operations in Finnmark, Norway, and Canada — a deal reported at roughly £738 million that reshaped Cermaq's footprint across both regions.

Silvia Segnini has been named Chief Financial Officer. She joined Cermaq in 2007 and has worked across treasury, tax, accounting, insurance, M&A and post-merger integration over nearly two decades with the company...

ANALYSIS: EU-UK Shrimp Imports Rebound Seasonally in July, But Remain Below Last Year

According to Eurostat, EU-UK shrimp imports reached 64,186 MT worth USD 472.0 million in July, across all shrimp categories. Volumes rose 9.7% month-on-month, consistent with the usual seasonal pattern: Asian and Latin American producers ramp up to full capacity as raw material availability improves, while European importers stock up to meet summer holiday demand, which reliably lifts seafood consumption each year...

Sullivan's Bycatch Bill Passes Out of Committee and Trawl Groups Take Issue With Section 2

Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan’s S.4938, the Bycatch Reduction Act, had just passed out of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation after markup when a statement of concern was released by a coalition of three trawl associations — At-Sea Processors Association (APA), Midwater Trawlers Cooperative (MTC) and United Catcher Boats (UCB). 

“We are not asking anyone to accept the status quo: we are always looking to raise the bar even further,” the group said in its September 16 statement...

Emma Hernan's Coast to Coast Kitchen Expands Target Lineup With Lobster Empanadas, Crab Rangoon

Coast to Coast Kitchen, the seafood brand founded by third-generation food entrepreneur and Selling Sunset cast member Emma Hernan, has launched new empanadas and a Crab Rangoon at Target, expanding a partnership that began with the brand's seafood appetizer debut at the retailer in February 2026.

The new lineup includes two flavors developed exclusively for Target — Lobster Empanada and Sweet Chili Shrimp Empanada — alongside a new Crab Rangoon. All three products are rolling out nationwide, including Alaska and Hawaii...

ASC, SFP Take Over as Interim Secretariat for Aquaculture Action Alliance

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) are jointly stepping in as interim secretariat for the Aquaculture Action Alliance, marking a new phase for the industry coalition focused on cutting the sector's carbon footprint.

The Alliance was previously hosted by IDH – the Sustainable Trade Initiative under the name Aquaculture Working Group. The transition to ASC and SFP leadership comes with a shift toward coordinated action, broader industry participation and measurable emissions reductions.

Members met ahead of the recent Global Shrimp Forum in Utrecht...

AquaBounty Engages Colliers to Market Ohio Property as Strategic Review Continues

AquaBounty Technologies (NASDAQ: AQB) has engaged commercial real estate firm Colliers as its exclusive agent to market the company's Pioneer, Ohio property, as part of its ongoing review of strategic alternatives.

AquaBounty said the Pioneer campus carries infrastructure that could appeal to buyers outside aquaculture — including access to an existing electrical substation with roughly 50 megawatts of available capacity, competitively priced electricity, and a permit to withdraw 5.25 million gallons per day of groundwater from a high-capacity underground aquifer. Management said those attributes could attract power...

Ace Aquatec Chile Appoints Sebastián Uribe as Digital Operations Lead

Ace Aquatec has appointed Sebastián Uribe as Digital Operations Lead, strengthening its team in Puerto Varas, Chile, as the company scales its digital operations and responds to growing demand for its technology across the Latin American aquaculture sector.

Uribe brings more than a decade of aquaculture experience, starting his career as a Technician in Aquaculture Production and later becoming an Industrial Engineer. His experience spans operations in production centres, production management, feeding and nutrition, and applied technologies...

ANALYSIS: US Peeled Shrimp Wholesale Prices Fail to Keep Pace With Falling Replacement Costs

Shrimp prices have declined across the market, but the more relevant question is whether wholesale values are falling faster or slower than the current replacement cost.

The ratio addressed here compares each form's wholesale index to its replacement cost, tariff included. It is not a measure of margin, since product moving through the market today was typically purchased weeks or months earlier at a different cost basis. Rather, the ratio indicates whether wholesale is trading ahead of or behind current replacement cost, relative to its own...

House Passes Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act

The House of Representatives has passed S. 283, the Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act, incorporating provisions aimed at giving federal enforcement agencies a chemical-testing methodology to verify the country of origin of seafood and crack down on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and seafood fraud.

House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Brian Babin (R-TX) announced the bill's passage on September 15, noting that the House-passed version folds in provisions from his own bill, H.R. 3706, the Standards for Understanding Source and Habitat Identification Act...

Florida Vibrio Vulnificus Death Toll Hits Four for 2026 as Health Officials Track Rising Case Count

Florida has confirmed its fourth Vibrio vulnificus death of 2026, with the state's health department reporting 20 cases of the bacterium so far this year, according to Florida Department of Health data cited by multiple outlets this week.

The most recent fatality involved a Broward County resident between 75 and 79 years old, according to the Florida Department of Health. Previous 2026 deaths were reported in Bay, Palm Beach, and Broward counties, with the year's first fatality — a Palm Beach County patient — confirmed in...

BBRSDA Awarded S-K Grant for New Wild Alaska Sockeye Salmon in Foodservice Campaign

With an eye to increasing demand for wild Alaska sockeye salmon in the domestic foodservice industry, the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association (BBRSDA) sought and received its first-ever Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) grant, worth $499,400 over two years.

"This grant comes at an especially important time for Bristol Bay's fishermen, as the seafood industry continues to navigate a challenging and highly competitive market," said Lilani Dunn, executive director of BBRSDA. "Foodservice represents significant untapped potential for Bristol Bay sockeye salmon, and...