ANALYSIS: Vietnam Gains Share in Chinese Lobster Imports Amid Shifting Tariff Dynamics

According to Chinese customs data, lobster imports in May were effectively unchanged year‑on‑year at 5,652 MT (vs 5,610 MT last year) and remained above the average levels recorded over the past five years. Vietnam was the largest supplier by volume in May with 2,239 MT (40% share), followed by Canada at 1,996 MT (35%). Vietnamese supply is largely farm‑raised, originates in coastal waters, and is substantially cheaper than Canadian product, which helps explain the steady rise in Vietnamese shipments to China, despite differences in quality...

Silver Bay Seafoods Wins $11.2 Million USDA Canned Salmon Contract; Frozen Fillet Lines Go Unawarded

Silver Bay Seafoods has been awarded an $11.2 million contract to supply canned pink salmon to the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) domestic food distribution programs, according to a purchase award document released June 18 by the Agricultural Marketing Service.

The Sitka, Alaska-based company will supply 118,560 cases of 24 14.75-oz cans of pink salmon under two product specifications. The larger lot, 94,240 cases, carried prices ranging from $85.95 to $107.20 per case, while a secondary Kosher-designated...

Trident Seafoods Sweeps USDA Alaska Pollock Award Worth $6.4 Million

Trident Seafoods has won the full Alaska pollock portion of a USDA commodity purchase, taking home nearly 1.95 million pounds of pollock products valued at $6.44 million, according to a purchase award document released June 24 by the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service.

The Seattle-based company, operating out of its Anacortes, Washington plant, was awarded contracts for frozen pollock fillets (380,000 lbs), frozen pollock sticks (342,000 lbs), breaded frozen pollock sticks (1,064,000 lbs), and bulk frozen pollock (158,400 lbs)...

Commerce Continues Antidumping Order on Vietnamese Pangasius Following Fourth Sunset Review

The US Department of Commerce has formally continued the antidumping duty order on certain frozen fish fillets from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, following a fourth five-year sunset review in which both Commerce and the US International Trade Commission determined that revoking the order would likely lead to a recurrence of dumping and material injury to the US catfish industry.

The notice, signed by Scot Fullerton, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations, was filed with the Federal Register on June 26...

Cassidy to Introduce Bill Targeting Shrimp, Crawfish and Catfish Import Surges

US Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) plans to introduce the Home Market Restoration Act of 2026, legislation that would establish tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) on a range of import-sensitive food and agricultural products, including shrimp, crawfish, and catfish, in an effort to curb what he calls unfair foreign competition against American producers.

The bill would set country-by-country quotas for shrimp and crawfish, and new quota structures for catfish, rice, honey, lamb, goat meat, live cattle, and beef. Imports above the quota thresholds would face higher duty...

Nordic Halibut Buys Pure Norwegian Seafood from Måsøval

Nordic Halibut has agreed to acquire 100% of Pure Norwegian Seafood (PNS) from salmon farmer Måsøval, securing full ownership of the Averøy processing facility it has relied on since 2025 and completing the final link in its vertically integrated supply chain.

The deal, first announced June 28, values PNS at approximately NOK 60 million (around $6 million), with the purchase price to be settled in cash at completion, expected on or around June 30. Nordic Halibut said it plans to finance the acquisition through a new bank loan...

Russian Fish Exports to China Surge 50% in Value Through May

Russian fish exports to China jumped sharply in the first five months of 2026, driven by growing Chinese market demand and an increase in Russian catch volumes across key species.

According to data from the Russian Fish Union, citing statistics from China's General Administration of Customs, Russia's fish export revenue to China reached $2.06 billion from January through May — up 1.5 times compared to the same period last year. In volume terms, exports rose 16% to 672,000 tons...

Global Seafood Alliance Releases Program for Responsible Seafood Summit 2026 in Bangkok

The Global Seafood Alliance has released the preliminary program for the 2026 Responsible Seafood Summit, scheduled for September 21-24 at the Shangri-La Bangkok in Bangkok, Thailand.

Co-hosted by the Center for Responsible Seafood, the annual event draws industry leaders across supply chain segments to address sustainability, trade, and production challenges. This year's Summit is expected to draw significant representation from the marketplace, with retail and foodservice companies including Albertsons, Walmart, Red Lobster, Waitrose, Captain D's, and Mark Foods confirmed to attend...

Andfjord Salmon Completes First Post-Smolt Sale, Launches Strategic Partnership 

Andfjord Salmon Group has completed its first-ever post-smolt sale, marking a key milestone in the company’s production strategy. The inaugural sale saw Andfjord Salmon deliver post-smolt to regional fish farmer Eidsfjord Sjøfarm, strengthening a new strategic partnership between the two companies.

“We announced our post-smolt production strategy in February 2024 as a complement to our human-grade salmon production,” said CEO Martin Rasmussen. “We are proud to complete the first post-smolt sale under this strategy.” He added that...

Expana's Weekly Top 10

Trade uncertainty, animal health, and shifting market dynamics continue to shape the agri‑food landscape. In this week’s Top Ten, we examine the developments influencing global supply chains, business strategy, and consumer markets, alongside the return of our regular columns and the latest episode of the Agri‑Food for Thought podcast. This list is in no particular order.

Find archived recaps here.

UNFI highlights three key trends at its 2026 Holiday and Winter Selling Show (East)

UNFI hosted its 2026 Holiday and Winter Selling Show (East) at...

All's Quiet on the Western Front One Week Before the Traditional Peak of Harvest in Bristol Bay

Bristol Bay's estimated harvest forecast is 32.3 million sockeye, assuming a total run of 44.1 million red salmon. That harvest is usually taken in a whirlwind five to seven days, around or shortly following the Fourth of July. If this week was the quiet before the storm, it was indeed silent.

Commercial catches as of June 23 are 837,509 sockeye salmon. Of the five river systems in the Bay, Ugashik is leading the pack so far with 635,202 salmon landed. Second is Egegik...

Trump Decision to Reverse OOI Dismantling Came as Oregon Lifted the First Buoy Arrays

A bipartisan effort in the U.S. Senate last week led by Alaska’s Senator Lisa Murkowski and Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley proved sufficient to force the Trump administration to end its effort to scrap the Ocean Observation Initiative (OOI).  

Word that the National Science Foundation was suspending efforts to dismantle the system, as well as planning steps to replace several huge, expensive research buoys that have already been removed from the water, spread quickly through the seafood industry, lawmakers, and academics. Most applauded the announcement, but...

Private Labels, Health and Wellness Take Center Stage at UNFI’s 2026 Holiday and Winter Selling Show

UNFI hosted its 2026 Holiday and Winter Selling Show (East) at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, on June 24–25. 

The convention brought together more than 1,400 grocery retail representatives and 715 suppliers to connect ahead of the holiday and winter selling season. 

"This show reflects our continued focus on strengthening capabilities to help our retail customers differentiate and compete, while also supporting suppliers as they grow their brands in diverse retail environments," said Sandy Douglas, CEO of UNFI... 

Russia, Japan Reach Agreement on 2026 Fishing Quotas After Protracted Negotiations

Russia and Japan have reached an agreement on mutual fishing quotas within each other's 200-mile exclusive economic zones for 2026, concluding talks that stretched across multiple rounds of negotiations.

Under the terms of the deal, fishermen from both countries are permitted to catch up to 19,000 tonnes of seafood each within the other's EEZ — down from 22,000 tonnes under the previous arrangement. Approximately 70 trawlers are expected to operate during the season...

P.F. Chang’s Rolls Out “Summer in Tokyo,” Spotlighting Shareable Sushi and Tableside Drama

P.F. Chang’s is leaning into experience-driven dining this summer with "Summer in Tokyo," a limited-time program running June 25 through Sept. 15 that combines shareable sushi, theatrical presentation and influencer marketing.

At the center of the promotion is the new Sushi Boat, a tableside presentation delivered under a cloud of dry ice to create a memorable, social-ready moment. Designed for sharing, each boat includes chilled edamame, a California Roll, a Shrimp Tempura Roll and a choice of two additional...

Aleutian Islands Golden King Crab Catch for 2026-2027 Season Up 13% From Last Year

Yesterday, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced the season dates and catch limits for Aleutian Islands golden king crab. The season opens August 1, 2026 and closes April 30, 2027. This year, the fleet is allowed to catch 4.742 million pounds of the delicacy, slightly more than 13 percent above the 2025/26 season.  

Alaska’s Aleutian Golden King crab is harvested and managed differently from all other types of crab landed in Alaska. The total allowable catch (TAC) is divided...

Supreme Crab & Seafood Debuts at Fancy Food Show With New Blue Swimming Crab Combo Stack

Supreme Crab & Seafood is stepping onto the Summer Fancy Food Show floor for the first time this year, using the New York event to introduce a product aimed squarely at one of seafood’s most persistent challenges: maximizing crab yield without sacrificing appearance.

The company, which has supplied Indonesian Blue Swimming Crab, Red Swimming Crab, tuna, and related seafood products since 2009, will exhibit June 28–30 at the Javits Center, Booth 4000. The focus of its debut is the Signature Catch Blue Swimming Crab Combo...

Oral Arguments Heard on EPA's Veto of Pebble Mine, Decision Expected in 'Near Future'

The copper, gold and molybdenum mine known as Pebble and led by Canadian-owned Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd., was in court last week arguing over whether a 2023 decision by the Environmental Protection Agency “vetoing” the project was right or wrong. The argument was before US District Court Judge Sharon Gleason in her Anchorage courtroom. 

Pebble Mine would be located in the watershed above Bristol Bay, the world’s largest run of sockeye salmon and home to five large river systems. The lawsuit was brought...

Japan's May Fishery Product Exports Fell 2% in Volume, Value Surged 41%

Trade data released by the Ministry of Finance on June 26 show Japan’s seafood exports in May totaled 42,716 tons, down 2% year-on-year (YOY), while export value rose 41% to 33.582 billion yen  ($207.8 million). The divergence between slightly lower volume and much higher value suggests higher prices and a favorable product mix drove the gain in dollar terms.

Scallops remained a major contributor: exports totaled 3,845 tons, down 7%, but value increased 13% to 5.779 billion...

IMR: Northeast Arctic Cod Advice Up 16% for 2027, But Recruitment Outlook Remains Weak

Norway's Institute of Marine Research (IMR) and the Norwegian-Russian scientific working group for Barents Sea fish stocks have released quota advice for 2027, recommending a modest increase for Northeast Arctic cod while flagging continued concerns about long-term recruitment.

The joint Norwegian-Russian working group (JRN-AFWG) advises that Northeast Arctic cod catches should not exceed 312,667 tonnes in 2027, a figure 16% above the 2026 advice and 10% above the 2026 quota. The increase is attributed to the 2021 year class entering the fishable...

IFFO Unveils Program for 2026 Annual Conference in Buenos Aires

IFFO, The Marine Ingredients Organization, has announced the program for its 2026 Annual Conference, taking place October 19–21 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The three-day event will bring together leaders from the aquaculture, feed, and marine ingredients sectors to focus on key industry priorities, including geopolitics, fisheries management, responsible sourcing, and in-depth market analysis from both supply and demand perspectives.

The conference features a mix of detailed sessions, networking opportunities, and social events designed to encourage open dialogue across the value...

Rainfall Closure Triggers Oyster Recall Linked to Maine Aquaculture Site

The State of Maine has issued a recall alert for live shellstock oysters harvested on June 24, 2026, from limited-purpose aquaculture site AGAI 121 in the Yarmouth, Maine harvest area, after the product was taken during a rainfall-related harvest closure.

The recall covers live shellstock oysters identified with traceability lot code 6/24/26 AGAI 121. The oysters were harvested and shipped on June 24, 2026, in 10-count bags from the Yarmouth site. The grower initiated the recall prior to contacting the...

Fortune Fish & Gourmet Acquires Inland Foods' Houston and New Orleans Divisions

Fortune Fish & Gourmet has completed its acquisition of Inland Fresh Seafood Corporation of America's Houston and New Orleans operating divisions, effective June 27, expanding the Bensenville, Illinois-based distributor's footprint across Texas, Louisiana, and Southern Mississippi.

The deal adds to FF&G's existing regional operations, which already serve customers six days a week across a network spanning Dallas, San Antonio, Bryan, and Austin in Texas; Lafayette and Baton Rouge in Louisiana; and Jackson, Gulfport, and Biloxi in Mississippi. Inland's Houston and New Orleans operations will be integrated...

Nova Scotia Launches 3-Year Seafood Strategy with Innovation, Market Expansion Push

Nova Scotia unveiled its new Seafood Sector Strategy on June 24, aiming to help the province's seafood industry "adapt, compete and create more economic benefit" amid rising costs, labor shortages, and global trade uncertainty.

Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Kent Smith released the three-year strategy at Sea Star Seafoods in Clark's Harbour, highlighting the sector's critical role as Nova Scotia's top export industry. The province's seafood exports were valued at CAD 2.2 billion in 2025, supporting approximately 19,000 jobs...

Federal Magistrate Recommends Voiding Permits for Nine Washington Shellfish Operations

A US federal magistrate judge has recommended that nine commercial shellfish aquaculture permits in Washington state be vacated, finding that the US Army Corps of Engineers improperly bypassed required environmental review when it authorized the operations — a ruling the Center for Food Safety is calling a "landmark victory."

The Report and Recommendation, issued June 23 by US Magistrate Judge David W. Christel of the Western District of Washington, is not yet a final order. Parties have 14 days to file objections, and the matter is scheduled for consideration by...

Ecuadorian Shrimp Sector Formalizes Mangrove Alliance with Conservation International

Ecuador's shrimp industry has partnered with Conservation International Ecuador (CI-Ecuador) to advance mangrove conservation, restoration, and sustainable aquaculture practices along the country's coast. The agreement, announced on June 24 in Guayaquil, brings together the National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) and the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) under a joint framework aligned with the Mangroves for Climate initiative.

By 2030, the alliance aims to restore 250 hectares of mangroves within shrimp farming landscapes — a goal the partners estimate could reduce approximately 112,870 metric tons of CO₂ emissions...

Angry Crab Shack Welcomes Ginni Naegle as Director of Franchise Operations

Angry Crab Shack, a leading full-service restaurant renowned for its seafood boils with bold Asian-Cajun flavors, announced that Ginni Naegle has been appointed Director of Franchise Operations. With more than 30 years of experience in restaurant and franchise operations, Naegle will help strengthen operational support across the brand's growing franchise system. She most recently served as Director of Operations at RMH Franchise Corporation.

"We are excited to welcome Ginni to the Angry Crab Shack family as we continue strengthening the support we provide to our franchise partners...

ANALYSIS: Ecuador's Shrimp Export Declarations and US Arrivals Are Diverging

One of the inputs underpinning Expana's US shrimp import estimates is the relationship between Ecuador's declared exports to the US — as reported by Ecuadorian customs — and volumes recorded as arrivals by US customs. Historically, these two series have tracked closely, with an approximate one-month lag. That relationship forms a core component of the export-led seasonal...

Darden Sees Same-Store Sales Growth Across All Segments in Fiscal 2026

Darden Restaurants closed fiscal 2026 with sales and earnings growth that, according to President & CEO Rick Cardenas, outpaced the broader restaurant industry. Results were driven by positive same-restaurant sales across all segments, continued unit expansion and the benefit of a 53rd week of operations.

The company reported fiscal 2026 sales of $13.21 billion, up 9.4%, while blended same-restaurant sales increased 4.5%.

"Our performance throughout the fiscal year reflects the strength of our brands, the discipline of our strategy, and the quality of our...

Bairdi Snow Crab Landing Keeps Increasing, Exceeding 1800 MT in Hidaka, Hokkaido

The Hokkaido Research Organization's Mariculture Fisheries Research Institute recently compiled landing data for Bairdi snow crab in the Hidaka region—the primary production area—where catches have surged in recent years. Landings rose from 1 ton in 2022 to 817 tons in 2023, then more than doubled to 1,823 tons in 2024. The institute estimates that the figure increased further in 2025. 

According to reports from Minato Shimbun, one factor behind the surge is the higher market value resulting from larger catch sizes...