ANALYSIS: MMPA Enforcement and Section 301 Tariffs Are Rewriting the Rules for US Crab Meat Sourcing

The Marine Mammal Protection Act's import provision and a newly permanent Section 301 forced labor tariff regime have converged on the US crab meat supply chain. The result is a market operating under two independent and compounding enforcement frameworks, neither of which is going away, while prices for pasteurized crab meat have climbed to levels not seen in the modern history of the category, surpassing even the supply shock highs recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic...

Federal Government Signals Potential Changes to Seafood Import Monitoring Program

The US National Marine Fisheries Service has placed a new rulemaking on the federal government's Unified Agenda that could bring meaningful changes to the Seafood Import Monitoring Program, the documentation and traceability system that governs how imported seafood enters the US market. The listing, published July 5 under RIN 0648-BK85, represents the earliest official signal that the agency intends to develop new rules.

The Unified Agenda is the federal government's semiannual roadmap of planned regulatory actions. Its publication does not mean a rule is imminent — any substantive changes would...

ANALYSIS: Pacific Halibut Landings Gap Narrows, but Supply Remains Historically Constrained

Since the June analysis, Pacific halibut production has improved and the year-over-year landings gap has narrowed. According to the International Pacific Halibut Commission, coastwide landings through Week 28, ending July 5, totaled approximately 7.6 million pounds, down 3.8% from the same period in 2025. Fishing effort is expected to continue improving as vessels return from the Bristol Bay salmon season and redirect activity toward halibut...

Consumers Sue Amazon Over Seafood Sustainability Claims in Greenwashing Class Action

Amazon.com faces a class action lawsuit filed July 31 in federal court in Seattle alleging the company misled consumers through unsubstantiated sustainability claims on dozens of seafood products sold through its platform — including products under its own Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh brands.

The complaint, filed by Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro on behalf of two consumers, targets what it calls "Greenwashed Seafood Products" bearing claims such as "MSC Certified Sustainable Seafood," "wild caught," "responsibly sourced," "traceable," and "dolphin safe...

Norwegian Cod Farmer Ode Becomes First in History to Deliver a Profitable Full Year

Ode, Norway's largest farmed cod producer, has achieved what no cod farming company has managed since the industry's early attempts in the 2000s — a full year of profitability. The company reported a net profit of NOK 66 million ($7 million) in 2025, a NOK 301 million improvement from the prior year.

Revenue more than doubled, growing 118.7% from NOK 401 million in 2024 to NOK 877 million ($91 million). EBITDA reached NOK 109 million ($11 million)...

Thai Union Posts Record Gross Profit Margin, Raises Guidance as PetCare Subsidiary Delivers Growth

Thai Union Group reported a record-high gross profit margin of 21.4% in the second quarter of 2026 — already in line with the company's 2030 target — while its pet food subsidiary i-Tail Corporation posted its strongest first-half performance to date, raising full-year guidance sharply across both businesses.

Thai Union: Record Margins and Rising Dividends

Second-quarter sales at the Thai seafood giant rose 1.4% year-on-year to THB 33.8 billion, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of organic growth. Sales volume increased...

Japan's H1 Seafood Export Value Rose 24% Driven by a 69% Increase in Yellowtail

According to trade statistics released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance on July 30 and published by Minato Shimbun, seafood exports, including finfish, shellfish, processed products, and fishmeal, for the first half of the year (January–June) totaled 256,494 tons in volume, down 9% year-on-year (YOY), and 203.114 billion yen ($1.29 billion)) in value, up 24%. Scallop exports saw a 3% drop in volume to 21,063 tons but a 6% rise in value to 41.841 billion yen...

Coalition Celebrates First Chinook Salmon to Mount St. Helens Watershed Since 1980 Eruption

The plan began shortly after the cataclysmic eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980. The upper Toutle River watershed, source of abundant populations of spring and fall Chinook, coho salmon, and winter steelhead, took the hardest hit, buried under hundreds of feet of ash, volcanic debris, and sediment. Work began almost immediately by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to build a Sediment Retention Structure (SRS), a large earthen dam, to stop downstream sediment flow, and a Fish Collection Facility (FCF)...

US Shrimp Coalition Launches to Fight Import Curbs, Defend Affordable Shrimp

The US Shrimp Coalition today launched as the unified national voice for businesses, workers, retailers, restaurants and supply‑chain partners committed to preserving access to affordable shrimp for American consumers.

Created in response to efforts to tighten import rules that would raise consumer costs and disrupt seafood supply chains, the Coalition said it will press policymakers to protect year‑round availability, support US seafood businesses and safeguard the hundreds of thousands of jobs that rely on imported shrimp.

“Shrimp is a staple on dinner tables across...

Nueva Pescanova Scraps World's First Commercial Octopus Farm Plan

Nueva Pescanova has formally withdrawn its bid to build what would have been the world's first commercial octopus farm, filing an official request with the Port Authority of Las Palmas in the Canary Islands to abandon its application for the facility's concession, according to reporting by Europa Press and WeAreAquaculture.

The Spanish seafood company said the decision was driven solely by "business and regulatory considerations" stemming from the evolution of the administrative process — not an acknowledgment that octopus farming is unfeasible...

Spanish Government Approves €23.1M Investment Package for Canary Islands' Primary Sector

The Spanish Government has approved a €23.1 million investment package designed to strengthen the competitiveness, sustainability and long-term resilience of the Canary Islands' primary sector, with funding targeting agriculture, fisheries, water infrastructure and workforce development.

Approved by the Council of Ministers following a proposal from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the package combines €17.9 million in direct financial support with €5.2 million for strategic investments in irrigation infrastructure and maritime training.

The funding will be distributed through...

Ocean Supercluster Backs $25M in Projects, Including First Seafood-Specific HPP System in Canada

Canada's Ocean Supercluster announced three new projects on July 28 totaling more than $25 million in combined value, spanning premium seafood processing technology, zero-emission marine transportation, and smart marine glazing.

The most directly relevant for the seafood industry is the $6.2 million Advancing Technology for Premium Seafood Exports Project, led by Richmond, B.C.-based Ocean Master Foods International in partnership with HPP Tolling Facility Canada. The Ocean Supercluster is investing $2.4 million, with the remainder coming from project partners. The project...

RFK Cooking Show? HHS Launches Cooking Series Centered on “Real Food” Message, and More

On July 30, US Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Jr. launched “The Real Food Show,” according to a press release. The new cooking series will be aimed at helping Americans prepare healthy, affordable meals at home using whole-food ingredients. 

Kennedy announced the initiative at Fort Drum during the opening of the Belvedere Bistro, a military dining facility operated by Compass Group as part of Chef Robert Irvine’s food modernization effort for US bases. 

Episode 43: What's the Catch? Tariff Impact on Global Seafood 

The global seafood trade is a complex web of species, product forms, production regions, and seasonality. Highly susceptible to geopolitical shifts among global trade partners, action in the seafood market impacts producers, importers, exporters, retailers, foodservice and, ultimately, consumers.

In this episode, Jamie and special guest, Ryan Doyle, dive into the deep waters of trade policy and the latest round of tariff news--and what it all could mean.  

Listen now.

Tuna Price-Fixing Saga Reaches Its Final Chapter as $152M in Consumer Funds Cleared for Distribution

More than a decade after a price-fixing conspiracy rocked the US canned tuna industry, the last major legal milestone has been reached. On July 27, US District Judge Dana M. Sabraw signed an order authorizing the final disbursement of $152.2 million in settlement funds to consumers who purchased packaged tuna at retail during the class period — bringing the In re Packaged Seafood Products Antitrust Litigation to a close.

The fund pools settlements from three defendant groups: StarKist and its parent...

Study Finds Low or Non-Detectable PFAS Levels in Wild Alaska Seafood

A peer-reviewed toxicology study, Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Commercially Important Marine Species of Fish and Shellfish from Alaska and Implications for Human Exposure, found that many of Alaska's most widely consumed wild seafood species contain low or non-detectable levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals." Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) highlighted the findings in a recent post. 

In the study, samples of commercially harvested Alaska seafood collected between 2022 and 2024 from the Bering Sea...

FAO Globefish Reports Firm European Seabass and Seabream Market Through 2025 as Trade Flows Shift

FAO Globefish’s latest report on trade flows in the European seabass and seabream markets indicates that the sector remained firm through 2025, supported by steady demand in the EU, constrained supply and higher production costs.

According to the report, stable demand across EU markets and shifting trade flows helped support higher export values, even as shipment volumes came under pressure. Supply constraints, along with higher feed and labor costs, kept prices elevated, lifting revenues for several exporting countries despite...

Fishermen Fight to Keep Atlantic Monument Waters Open in Federal Court

Two New England commercial fishermen have asked a federal court to let them join the defense of the Trump administration's decision to lift a fishing ban across 5,000 square miles of Atlantic Ocean, arguing the ban was illegal from the start and should never be reinstated.

Frank Green, a Long Island tilefish fisherman, and Robert Conrad of Vermont, who trawls for whiting, squid, butterfish, and mackerel, filed a motion to intervene as defendants on July 31 in Conservation Law Foundation v. Trump in the US District Court for the...

ASC Study Finds 52% of US Consumers Recognize Seafood Certification Labels as North America Campaign

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council says its largest-ever consumer study has found that independent certification programs are the most trusted source of seafood sustainability information globally — but significant awareness gaps remain among US shoppers, with barely half able to recognize seafood certification labels at point of sale.

The survey, conducted by The Conversation Studio on behalf of ASC, polled nearly 15,000 consumers across 14 countries. While ASC ranked as the most recognized and trusted farmed seafood certification globally, only 52% of US seafood consumers said...

Mexico Seizes More than 462 Metric Tons of Illegal Fish Products in June Enforcement Push

Mexico's National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (Conapesca) seized 462,550 kilograms (462.6 metric tons) of illegally harvested or traded fish products during enforcement operations conducted in June across 11 states and Mexico City, highlighting the country's ongoing efforts to combat illegal fishing.

According to Conapesca, the seizures resulted from inspections carried out in Baja California, Baja California Sur, Colima, Mexico City, Guerrero, Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa, Sonora, Veracruz and Yucatán.

The agency, a decentralized body within Mexico's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Agricultura), reported...

RealCold opens Colton Facility, Expanding Cold-Storage Footprint in California

RealCold has opened a new cold-storage facility in Colton, Calif., expanding its presence in the western US and adding capacity in one of the country’s most important food distribution markets.

The company said the San Bernardino County site is designed to provide an affordable temperature-controlled storage option for food brands in California as part of its broader national growth strategy. Located less than 60 miles from downtown Los Angeles, the facility is positioned to serve customers across the state with warehousing and e-commerce fulfillment services.

Whole Foods, Fishwife Launch Grocery Tote Tie-Up

Whole Foods Market and Fishwife Tinned Seafood Co. have unveiled a new retail merchandise collaboration, marking what is described as the grocery chains’ first-ever partnership of its kind.

“Fishwife was a natural first choice because of our shared commitment to sustainable sourcing and high-quality products,” Megan Causgrove, Lifestyle and Whole Body Merchandising Manager at Whole Foods Market, told Good Housekeeping.

The launch features a limited-edition summer collection of reusable grocery totes made from 100% regenerative cotton. The bags are available in three sizes: micro ($4.99)...

ODFW Marine Researchers Head Offshore to Cobb Seamount Searching for Old Female Rockfish

A team of researchers from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) in collaboration with two members of Oregon State University’s (OSU) College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences will leave Newport, OR tomorrow headed west to an underwater volcano to look for old female rockfish, specifically black, canary and yellowtail rockfish.

These three fish species are unique because, as they get older, most of the population are males. The scientists also know that older fish are rarely caught in...

Golden Corral Rolls Out $2.50 Kids’ Buffet for Summer Weekends

Golden Corral is targeting family traffic, a reoccurring trend this summer in foodservice, with a limited-time kids’ buffet promotion that pairs an aggressive price point with nutrition-forward cues.

Beginning July 31 and running Fridays-Sundays, now through Aug. 30, the chain will offer an all-you-can-eat dine-in Kids Buffet plus a drink for $2.50 for children ages 4–12. The deal is valid at breakfast, lunch and dinner; kids 3 and under eat free. The offer is capped...

Russia Eyes Higher Flounder Catch as Domestic Prices Rise

Russia is targeting an increase in flounder production this year, with the aim of boosting supplies to both the domestic market and export channels.

Official data shows flounder catches in the Far East have declined roughly 20% in recent years, falling to approximately 60,000–65,000 tons annually, largely due to reductions in total allowable catch. Kamchatka accounts for the majority of Far East landings.

The Far East remains Russia's primary flounder fishing region, accounting for 60.3% of total national catch in 2024–2025. The Northern Basin contributes an additional 14,000–15,000...

ANALYSIS: How Ecuador's Volume Growth and Asian Tariffs Opened a $0.91 HLSO-EZ Peel Spread

One number in the current shrimp index data stands apart. White HLSO Latam sits at $3.80 per lb — down from $4.00 in March 2025, a decline of 5.0% over that period and 9.3% year over year versus $4.19 in July 2025. Every other segment in the index is up over both periods. White CTO Asia has gained 18.6% from its March 2025 level and 9.8% year over year. EZ Peel Asia is up 14.3% since March 2025...

Trump's Section 301 Tariffs Cast New Shadow Over Norway's Declining US Seafood Exports

Norway's seafood industry emerged from the Trump administration's Section 301 tariff announcement on July 24 facing fresh uncertainty in a US market that was already sliding — with a 12.5% rate now locked in while key competitors secured lower or zero-rate access.

The determination stems from the US Trade Representative's finding that Norway lacks legislation explicitly prohibiting imports of goods produced with forced labor in third countries. Seafood Norway CEO Geir Ove Ystmark called the assessment unreasonable, pointing to the Norwegian Transparency Act and the country's pending...

NOAA Opens Public Comment on Potential MMPA Import Rule Overhaul, Seafood Industry Gets a Say

NOAA Fisheries has published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking seeking public input on potential changes to the Marine Mammal Protection Act's import provisions, the regulatory framework that determines which countries can sell fish and seafood products in the US market. Comments are open through September 28, 2026.

The notice does not propose specific rule changes. It is the earliest stage of the regulatory process, an open invitation for the seafood industry, foreign governments, trade groups, and conservation organizations to weigh in on how the...

Japan’s Fishmeal Imports Soar 36% to 84,000 Tons in January-May with Price up 30%

According to the Ministry of Finance's trade statistics, fishmeal imports from January to May totaled 84,017 tons—a 36% year-on-year (YOY) increase—with the unit price rising 30% to 270 yen/kg ($1.65/kg).

A Minato Shimbun newsletter reported imports by source included 18,239 tons from Oman, the top supplier, up 3.1-fold; 17,429 tons from Peru, the second place, up 2%; 10,819 tons from India, up 50%; 10,169 tons from the US, up 48%; 6,575 tons...

EU, Seychelles Sign Four-Year Tuna Access Deal Worth $26 Million

The European Union and Seychelles have signed a new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement that will grant EU vessels access to Seychelles waters for four years to fish up to 55,000 metric tons of tuna and other migratory species annually.

The deal, signed July 27 in Brussels, authorizes up to 30 EU purse seiners and eight longliners to obtain licenses and resume operations in Seychellois waters. Fishing had been halted since a previous agreement expired on February 23...