ANALYSIS: Cod Retail Data Suggests Peak Promotional Efforts from New Year to End of Lenten Season 

The groundfish market has been under upward pressure for several months due to a shortage in raw materials and escalating tariffs on imports from China. This analysis examines the promotional activity of cod at retail level over the past four years and highlights seasonal trends in promotional efforts...

FDA Finalizes “Healthy” Food Definition, Includes Nuts, Seeds, Eggs, Olive Oil, and Salmon Products

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently finalized its definition of ‘healthy’ for U.S. food products, thus allowing foods like nuts, seeds, higher-fat fish, and certain oils—which were previously not included in an earlier version of the rule—to bear the word “healthy” on their packaging and other food marketing materials.

As Expana reported in December 2024, varieties of these foods such as fresh, frozen, or canned options are also listed in the update, so long as they have no added ingredients...

Fisheries Council of Canada Congratulates Newly Elected Prime Minister Mark Carney

The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) recently released a statement congratulating Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Liberal Party of Canada on their re-election.

The election, which took place on April 28, saw the Liberal Party’s Mark Carney—Trudeau’s successor and Canada's newly re-elected Prime Minister—going up against the Conservative Party’s Pierre Poilievre.

In the end, the Liberal Party won 168 of the 172 parliamentary seats required to hold the majority. Therefore, while Carney and the Liberals did not win the outright majority of seats, they...

NMFS Issues Temporary Rule to Ensure Uninterrupted Northeast Groundfish Season; Fishery Opens May 1

On April 29, NOAA Fisheries (NMFS) signed a temporary rule to facilitate uninterrupted fishing for the Northeast Multispecies fishery, otherwise known as the Northeast groundfish fishery. The rule is effective May 1, the same day the fishery’s 2025 season opens up.

Per the emergency action, NMFS established interim specifications for Georges Bank haddock and two stocks of cod, as well as affirmed specifications for other Northeast Multispecies stocks previously set in Frameworks 65 and 66. As a result, the measure will allow the fishery to...

Navigating the Trump Tariff Turbulence: A Comprehensive Timeline

US President Donald Trump and his administration have paused reciprocal tariffs on most countries.

“Based on the lack of respect that China has shown... I am hereby raising the [tariff] charged to China by the [USA] to 125%, effective immediately,” wrote Trump on Truth Social at 1:18 pm ET. 

It’s not clear if this 125% is in addition to the 20% imposed on Chinese imports to the US. In early March, Trump noted that he would add another 10% tariff on Chinese goods...

Russia Reduces Imports of Fish Products from “Unfriendly” States

Lately, Russia has been reducing its imports of fish products from so-called “unfriendly” states, according to recent statements from local fishermen and Russian media reports.

According to earlier data provided by the All-Russian Association of Fishery Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters (VARPE), which cites statistics from Trademap, Russia only imported 2.28%, or less than 6,500 tons, of frozen, smoked, and dried fish and seafood from “unfriendly” countries in 2024 was 2.28%.

Most of these imports were delivered from South Korea along with Taiwan and some other countries...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #6

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #6."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text...

Save California Salmon: Another Lost Season is a ‘Total Crisis, Not a Closure’

Recent notice of another complete closure for commercial salmon fishing in California this year means more must be done to save fish – and the fisheries – says a California non-profit working with tribes and Northern California fishermen.​ 

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s April decision marks the third year in a row of no commercial fishing season in California, as well as the state’s first recreational salmon season since 2022.  

Tribal subsistence fishing allocations will also be limited. This decision was made due to extremely low returns...

Russia Aims for 89,000-Ton Catch from Faroese Waters This Year

This year, Russia plans to catch about 89,000 tons of fish in the waters of the Faroe Islands, which aligns with earlier forecasts made by experts of the All-Russian Association of Fishery Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters (VARPE).

The current catch is being conducted in the 200-mile exclusive economic zone of the Faroe Islands as part of an existing agreement between the Faroe Islands and Russia. This mutual fishing agreement, initially established in 1977, has been extended, despite previous protests from some Western countries, and is revised...

Bipartisan Bill Would Ban Offshore Drilling Off New England Coast and Gulf of Maine

U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King recently cosponsored a bipartisan bill that would prohibit offshore drilling off the coast of New England, including the Gulf of Maine.

The legislation, titled the New England Coastal Protection Act, specifically stands to ban oil and gas leasing off the coast of Maine as well as in protected coastal areas spanning New England.

Together, these areas represent ocean and coastal resources that account for more than $17.5 billion in annual revenue for New England's tourism, fishing, and recreation...

Canadians Focused on Economy in Today’s Federal Election; Stakes High in Seafood Industry

The federal election in Canada will end tonight with final ballots cast no later than 7 p.m. local time in British Columbia. This comes after a month-long campaign marked by a rare flip in the polls, as voters reacted to U.S. President Donald Trump’s ‘retaliatory’ tariff policy against Canadian goods and a threat to annex the nation as the 51st state.

In early January, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he would be stepping down in March. At that time, Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative party had a...

Watch Out for Hairy Crab Claws: Invasive Chinese Mitten Crab Found in Columbia River

A Columbia River commercial fisherman pulled up quite a surprise last week.

A Chinese mitten crab, a prohibited species in Oregon, was caught on April 22 in the Lower Columbia River east of Tongue Point, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). Chinese mitten crabs have not been confirmed in the Pacific Northwest until now. A single Japanese mitten crab was found in the same area in 1997. 

While this is a rare event in Oregon, mitten crabs caused significant infrastructure and ecological...

Fishermen’s Interest and Renewed Testing Allows Partial Opening of California Rock Crab Fishery

It’s been a rocky crab fishery for fishermen in California. Now, after being closed for almost a decade, fishermen can now harvest rock crab in northern California, thanks to a recent announcement from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).  

The announcement comes after a recommendation from state health agencies, which was released by the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment on April 23.

Per the recommendation and CDFW’s subsequent announcement on April 24, the commercial rock crab fishery in northern California...

Russia Reduces its Output of Fish Products This Year

This year, Russia has reduced its production of fish products, mainly due to unfavorable weather conditions, which have led to a decline in pollock catch, the most important fish in the country’s overall fish catch structure.

According to data from the Russian Fish Union’s Analytical Center, the production of Russian fish products in Q1 2025 amounted to 1.16 million tons, which is 3% lower on year-on-year basis. Of these products, frozen fish products decreased by 4%, amounting to 722,000 tons. At the same time, the production of frozen fish...

Today’s Top Story: Fisheries Council of Canada Congratulates Newly Elected Prime Minister Mark Carney

In our top story today, the Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) recently released a statement congratulating Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Liberal Party of Canada on their re-election. The election, which took place on April 28, saw the Liberal Party secure 168 parliamentary seats while the Conservative Party secured 144, thus giving the Liberals enough seats to form a majority government and put Carney officially in office as Canada’s new PM...

ANALYSIS: Unsettled Start for 2025 Snow Crab Market as Supply and Sectoral Pressures Mount

In our top story today, Janice Schreiber analyzes the 2025 snow crab market, pointing out that while such early-season volatility is not unusual, this year’s market is exhibiting an especially wide range of offers and sales from seller to seller. Of note this year, and in the present market, is the current price spread between snow crab from Newfoundland and the Gulf. Several contributing factors help explain this divergence including a significant quota reduction in the Gulf and a current shortage in crabs of larger sizes...

Today’s Top Story: NOAA Fisheries Closes Federal Scallop Fishing in Northern Gulf of Maine Until April 2026

In our top story today, NOAA Fisheries (NMFS) announced the closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Scallop Management Area to all scallop vessels fishing under federal scallop regulations, effective April 28, 2025, at 0001 hour. According to NMFS’ recent press release, the federal entity projects that 100% of the set-aside for the NGOM Scallop Management Area will be taken by April 28, effective until March 31, 2026...

Japan’s March Seafood Exports Surged 63% in Quantity and 48% in Value

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance, Japan’s marine product exports (including fishmeal and fish and shellfish products) for March increased 63% in quantity compared to the same month last year, amounting to 57,522 tons. Imports also increased 48% in value to 33,080 million yen ($231.68 million).

While the volume of frozen scallops (combined shucked and with shells) decreased, the value increased. Meanwhile, frozen yellowtail fillets increased in both quantity and value.

Minato Shimbun highlighted key marine products that are important for Japan’s exports...

World’s First Wind-Aquaculture Platform Passed Acceptance

The world’s first integrated floating platform for wind power and aquaculture, Guoneng Sharing, independently developed by China Longyuan Power Group Corporation Limited, has recently passed acceptance by a panel of authoritative experts in Beijing.

Located in the waters off Nanri Island, Putian, Fujian Province, the project marks a significant breakthrough in China’s three-dimensional development of marine resources.

The innovative Guoneng Sharing platform combines a 4-megawatt floating wind turbine with an intelligent deep-sea aquaculture cage system capable of rearing 50,000 deep-sea fish. The project overcame multiple technical challenges, including performance...

ANALYSIS: Unsettled Start for 2025 Snow Crab Market as Supply and Sectoral Pressures Mount

The U.S. snow crab market, particularly for product sourced from Newfoundland, has experienced a notably unsettled start to the 2025 season. While such early-season volatility is not unusual, this year’s market is exhibiting an especially wide range of offers and sales from seller to seller. As is typical, the market is expected to stabilize as more product flows into the U.S. and trading patterns normalize...

Kawasaki Heavy Industries Lands First Trout Salmon Harvest, Aims for Future Sales of JPY 10 Billion

According to a recent press release from Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), the company has developed a sustainable aquaculture system that aims to contribute to food security, promoting the system as part of the "MINATOMAE" project.

As a step toward commercializing this project, KHI conducted the test landing of a trout salmon cultivation in the waters of Kobe Port on April 24. The landing was successful, and approximately 850 fish were cultivated (with an average size of two kilograms per fish)...

International Coalition of Fisheries Associations Will Host Global Affairs Panel in Barcelona

The International Coalition of Fisheries Associations (ICFA), building on its interactive presentation at Seafood Expo North America in Boston, is hosting another panel on May 6 at Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, Spain. 

ICFA was formed in 1988 to build consensus among global fisheries organizations on international issues that nations and companies address. The group has special consultative status at the United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).

Recently, ICFA Chair Ivan López Van der Veen took the group public with a website launched about a year ago...

Chicken of the Sea Reveals New Ghost Pepper Tuna Packet

Chicken of the Sea just announced the newest addition to its shelf-stable tuna packet line: Wild Caught Light Tuna with Ghost Pepper.

The spicy 90-calorie tuna product is available for a limited time only at retail locations where Chicken of the Sea tuna packets are sold. The company recommends trying it on its own, scooped with a tortilla chip, over rice, or paired with your favorite recipe.

The debut marks Chicken of the Sea’s hottest flavor offering.

"At Chicken of the Sea, we keep a close eye on..."

New Agreement Ensures Water for Farmers, Fish in California

Water for salmon and farms in California? Is it really possible?

Years of drought and a long-standing tug-of-war for water between farmers and fishermen – with state and federal regulatory entities also in the mix – has led to hard feelings all the way around for decades.

But now, a joint project between NOAA, California, and the local Yuba Water Agency will fulfill the Presidential Memorandum calling for Putting People Over Fish, NOAA Fisheries said in a press release. The Yuba River Resilience Initiative agreement unlocks new, reliable irrigation water...

NOAA Fisheries Closes Federal Scallop Fishing in Northern Gulf of Maine Until April 2026

Today, NOAA Fisheries (NMFS) announced the closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Scallop Management Area to all scallop vessels fishing under federal scallop regulations, effective April 28, 2025, at 0001 hour.

According to NMFS’ recent press release, the federal entity projects that 100% of the set-aside for the NGOM Scallop Management Area will be taken by April 28, henceforth the end of the 2025 fishing season.  

Per the announcement, no scallop vessels within the federally permitted limited access general category may fish...

CSI Launches Global Certification Program for Wild-Capture Seafood

When it comes to certifications, Certified Seafood International is making some changes. 

Or, more specifically, it’s going global and encompassing the successes gained by the Responsible Fisheries Management Program, a certification program for wild-capture fisheries.  

CSI was developed in partnership with credible regional certification. The certificates and standards of the GSSI-benchmarked RFM program will now be part of CSI, meaning that approximately 3 million metric tons of fishery landings are currently certified under the updated umbrella of CSI’s certification program.  

The Program’s new global governing board currently includes individuals...

Cousins Maine Lobster Debuts Third Truck in Michigan; Celebrates 85 Units Amid 13th Anniversary

Fast-casual lobster roll company Cousins Maine Lobster (CML) recently announced the launch of a new food truck in Grand Rapids, Michigan, making it the 85th food truck on the company’s nationwide roster.

This addition marks the third CML food truck and the second market for operators Hussein (Hank) Kdouh, Muhammed (Moe) Zahr, and Rabih Zahr, who launched their first truck in Detroit in 2022 and a second truck three months later.

The new truck will provide seafood lovers in the Grand Rapids area with...

The Retail Rundown: Grocers Turn Up the Heat 

Grocers are turning up the heat in this week’s circulars, leaning into classic summer grilling staples—ribs, burgers, and barbecue fixings—signaling early excitement for the season even with Memorial Day still a few weeks away.

Seafood tops this week’s retail protein promotions, claiming roughly 28% of total ad space. Beef follows with 24.7%, trailed by pork at 23.1% and chicken at 20.2%. Turkey ads were slashed by half compared to last week, now accounting for just 3% of circular space.

Retailers are also highlighting festive favorites ahead of Cinco de Mayo. Ground beef in the 78–84% lean range averaged $4.89 per...

Today’s Top Story: Canadians Focused on Economy in Today’s Federal Election; Stakes High in Seafood Industry

In our top story today, we report on Canada’s federal election, which will end tonight with final ballots cast no later than 7 p.m. local time in British Columbia. This comes after a month-long campaign marked by a rare flip in the polls, as voters reacted to U.S. President Donald Trump’s ‘retaliatory’ tariff policy against Canadian goods and a threat to annex the nation as the 51st state. The election results will also determine Canada’s next Fisheries Minister...

Today’s Top Story: Ecuador Imposes Seasonal Ban on Titi Shrimp to Protect Juvenile Stocks

In our top story today, Ecuador has implemented a temporary and seasonal recruitment ban on titi shrimp (Camarón Pomada) from April 22 to May 21, 2025, as outlined in a recent agreement from the Ecuadorian Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investment, and Fisheries. The measure prohibits the capture, commercialization, and transportation of the species during this period to protect juvenile shrimp and support resource sustainability, with exceptions allowed for verified shrimp caught before the start of the ban...