ANALYSIS: Fish Meal Prices Surge as Peru Cuts Anchovy Catch Limits

The first 2026 anchovy (Engraulis ringens) and white anchovy (Anchoa nasus) season in the North-Central zone of the Peruvian coast opened April 1. The Peruvian Marine Institute (IMARPE) recommended a Total Allowable Catch Limit (TAC) of 1,914,049 MT, representing a 36% reduction compared to the same season in 2025 when the TAC was set at 3 million MT. The same season last year closed early on July 24 due to environmental and biological factors, with juveniles comprising a significant portion of the catch...

Commerce Drops 283 Indian Shrimp Exporters from AD Review Over No Entries

The Commerce Department has rescinded antidumping duty administrative review for 283 of 391 Indian frozen warmwater shrimp companies originally covered in the 2024-2025 review period, citing no reviewable entries during the timeframe.

The partial rescission, published April 10 in the Federal Register, leaves 108 companies still subject to the ongoing review covering February 1, 2024, through January 31, 2025. Companies dropped from the review will have their duties assessed at the existing cash deposit rates rather than at newly calculated assessment rates...

Alaska’s Gubernatorial Candidates Focus on Trawl Behavior While Trawl Allies Fire Back in Radio Ads

The governor’s race in Alaska to replace termed-out Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy now includes 18 candidates, many of whom have found a common criticism against the mostly Seattle-based fleet of groundfish trawlers and their bycatch of salmon, crab, and other non-targeted species. 

Despite the primacy of the seafood industry in Alaska's economy, most political candidates have been less than up to date on the intricacies of fisheries management or policies. Mary Peltola’s campaign for Don Young’s House seat changed all that when...

Maine Senators Press NMFS on Ropeless Gear Concerns as Industry Testing Continues

Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) are urging the National Marine Fisheries Service to fully consider Maine lobstermen's documented concerns about ropeless fishing gear requirements, and to continue stakeholder engagement as the agency prepares future North Atlantic right whale conservation rulemaking.

In a letter to NMFS Assistant Administrator Eugenio Piñero Soler, the senators highlighted industry feedback from the recent Maine Fishermen's Forum, where lobstermen directly shared concerns about costs, safety risks, and operational challenges posed by ropeless technology mandates...

Japan-Russia Trade Official Highlights Strong Crab Demand Growth

Japan continues to increase crab imports from Russia due to their high quality and relatively competitive pricing.

According to Yukio Asadzuma, vice chairman of the Japan-Russia Relations Society and foreign trade adviser, most supplies consist of Kamchatka and snow crab, which are the species in highest demand among Japanese consumers.

In addition to Russia, Japan also imports crab from Canada and Norway. In the processed segment, China and Vietnam are among the leading suppliers of crab products to the Japanese market...

NFWF Announces $3.4 Million in Grants to Modernize Data Collection in US Fisheries

Collecting, sharing, and analyzing fishery data is the single most important factor in the sustainability of a resource and the management of the U.S.’s $5 billion seafood industry.  How data is gathered and applied to real-world challenges changes as technology improves.  

One of the engines of this change is the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and NOAA Fisheries, which annually fund matching-grant support for data collection. Their partnership for this financial support is the Electronic Monitoring and Reporting Grant Program...

SeaPak's National Picky Eaters Day Builds Momentum for Family Seafood Adoption

SeaPak leveraged its second annual National Picky Eaters Day on April 4 to expand its family-focused marketing strategy, building on the frozen seafood brand's successful Lent campaign and reinforcing its position as a solution for parents navigating mealtime challenges.

The company partnered with child nutrition expert Diana Rice and launched a national influencer campaign to celebrate "mealtime wins" rather than demanding perfection at the dinner table. The approach continues SeaPak's broader push to position seafood as accessible and family-friendly, extending momentum from its Lent promotion covered by...

Evolving Strategies and Market Momentum in Foodservice

The foodservice industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace, with major consolidation moves, strategic partnerships, and value-driven innovation shaping the landscape. This biweekly roundup highlights a blockbuster acquisition poised to reshape distribution, high-profile collaborations bringing new offerings to consumers, and continued momentum in emerging categories like sushi. At the same time, operators are doubling down on menu innovation and aggressive value platforms to navigate cost pressures and drive traffic, signaling a competitive environment where scale, differentiation, and affordability are more critical...

Seafood Expo Global Heads to Barcelona for Record-Breaking Edition

Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global is heading to Barcelona for its largest edition yet, running April 21–23 at the Gran Via halls of Fira de Barcelona. Organizers Diversified report the show now exceeds 52,950 net square meters of exhibit space, with more than 2,300 companies from 86 countries and 65 national and regional pavilions registered.

"As company participation reaches record levels and continues to grow, the scale and diversity of this edition reflects the growing global appetite for innovation and collaboration across the...

AI Biomass Cameras Enable Individualized Growth Strategies in Aquaculture

Ace Aquatec and Hendrix Genetics are piloting an AI-driven biomass camera project that shifts fish monitoring from tank-level snapshots to individualized growth strategies.

Hendrix Genetics is using Ace Aquatec’s A-BIOMASS® system to track weights over time and identify individual fish, allowing monitoring and genetic indicators of growth and health to be unobtrusively recorded. This long-term, individual-level view adds depth to the company’s genetic selection toolkit.

Plotting growth patterns has helped Hendrix Genetics understand which fish perform best...

American Seafoods Refutes Federal Seizure of Pollock Roe, Calling it a Paperwork Discrepancy

American Seafoods is taking issue with the US Coast Guard and the Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) of the NOAA Fisheries Service within the Department of Commerce. In response to a USCG press release last Monday, the Seattle-based owner of seven vessels, some of which harvest and process pollock in the Bering Sea, issued a press release the next day saying the investigation of, as the Coast Guard press release said “major discrepancies between the vessel’s production reports and electronic logbook” is nothing more...

ANALYSIS: Chilean Atlantic Salmon Harvest Surges 15.4% in 2025 as Mortality Rates Decline

Chilean Atlantic salmon harvest reached 815,288 metric tons (MT) in 2025, a 15.4% increase year over year (YOY). Harvest volumes accelerated significantly from August through December (Figure 1). Early 2026 performance remains strong, with accumulated harvest through February totaling 135,377 MT, a 26.5% increase year-to-date (YTD) compared to the same period in 2025. While harvest declined 16.2% between January and February, volumes remained 20.5% higher YOY...

Alaska Peninsula Communities File Suit to Void Conflicted Fisheries Regulations 

Canada Commits $1.1 Billion to Renew Pacific Salmon Recovery Strategy

The Government of Canada has released results from the first phase of the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI) alongside announcing a major renewal of the program under Canada’s Nature Strategy.

Phase 1, from 2021–2026, of the PSSI focused on protecting, conserving, and restoring wild Pacific salmon across British Columbia and Yukon through broad collaboration with Indigenous partners, governments, scientists, and local communities. The initiative laid "the foundation for long-term recovery" by advancing habitat restoration, improving fishery management, and expanding...

Salmon Evolution Holds Q1 Steady, Eyes Stronger Volumes After Operational Reset

Salmon Evolution reported a solid first quarter, with results in line with expectations and early signs of improved biological performance following operational changes.

The company harvested 1,765 tonnes of HOG salmon during Q1, achieving an all-in price realization of around NOK 84 per kilogram.

Biomass growth during the quarter was temporarily affected by an adaptation period linked to the introduction of new feed and adjustments to operating protocols. However, performance improved as the quarter progressed, with management highlighting a "step-change ...

ANALYSIS: February US Shrimp Imports Hold Steady as Ecuador Fills India's Peeled Shortfall

February warm-water shrimp imports totaled roughly 139 million pounds, reflecting a modest 0.3% year-over-year decline that was smaller than our forecasted 0.5% drop. Beneath the stable headline, however, significant compositional shifts continued to reshape the import mix: Ecuador gained substantial peeled share while India's peeled volumes contracted sharply, and shell-on flows remained below model expectations. These dynamics underscore the ongoing rebalancing as tariffs, certification issues, and origin-level supply patterns drive substitution across both countries and product forms...

Trump's Proposed 2027 Budget Slashes NOAA by $1.6B Despite Maritime Investment

President Trump's proposed fiscal year 2027 budget delivers massive cuts to NOAA, reducing Operations, Research, and Grants programs by $1.6 billion while providing a comparatively modest $135 million increase for shipbuilding and unmanned systems.

The budget represents a net reduction of approximately $1.465 billion to NOAA, with the administration targeting what it calls "Green New Scam programs" while attempting to refocus the agency on core fisheries management and maritime infrastructure.

The $1.6 billion in cuts eliminates educational grants, climate adaptation programs, and research initiatives...

USTR Greer Blasts WTO as "Not Serious Forum" After Cameroon Conference

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer delivered a scathing critique of the World Trade Organization following last month's ministerial conference in Cameroon, signaling continued US frustration with multilateral trade frameworks governing global seafood commerce.

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed published Monday, Greer described the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé as a poorly attended gathering where "WTO staff bopped to the beat" of self-congratulatory presentations about an incomplete fisheries subsidies agreement while only "a couple dozen cabinet-level trade ministers" bothered to attend...

Vital Pet Life Brings First ASC-Certified Pet Supplement to US Market Through Walmart Launch

Vital Pet Life has launched what it calls the first ASC-labeled pet supplement in the US market, rolling out "Only Salmon Oil for Dogs & Cats" across more than 1,600 Walmart stores nationwide this spring.

The move marks a significant expansion for the Aquaculture Stewardship Council into North America's pet sector, as the certification body seeks to build on growing consumer demand for traceable, responsibly sourced ingredients in pet products.

Only Salmon Oil features responsibly farmed salmon oil...

MSC Report Shows Seafood Shoppers Demand Simplicity, Value and Trust

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has released new insights, in partnership with global growth and creative firm Prophet, showing that consumers are prioritizing simplicity, value, and trust when shopping for seafood.

The data highlights "the evolving mind of the conscious shopper," revealing that consumers are making more mindful decisions by balancing health, sustainability, affordability, and convenience, under the pressure of today’s economic climate.

"Shoppers want to do the right thing for their health, their budgets, and the environment, but don’t have the mental...

SalmonChile and ProChile Join Forces to Strengthen Chilean Salmon in US Market

SalmonChile and ProChile are teaming up to boost Chilean salmon in international markets, with a new focus on the United States.

Both organizations met to strategize and define collaboration lines in a session led by SalmonChile president Patricio Melero and ProChile directors. They agreed to expand the Sectoral Brand’s work and make the U.S. a strategic axis for promoting national salmon.

“We have defined a very clear roadmap with ProChile that will allow us to strengthen our presence...

BAADER Presents Next-Generation Seafood Processing Solutions at SPG

BAADER will showcase its latest seafood processing solutions at Seafood Processing Global 2026, taking place 21–23 April 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. Visitors can meet the BAADER team at booth 3JJ601 to explore how the company supports seafood processors in improving yield, automation, food safety, animal welfare and raw material utilization.

Under the theme “Solutions on Demand”, BAADER’s presence at this year’s event will address the key challenges and opportunities shaping the seafood industry. As processors face rising cost pressure, labour shortages, stricter food safety and animal welfare...

ANALYSIS: Canadian Lobster Exports Recover in February After Weak Start to the Year

Last week, Statistics Canada published February trade data showing Canadian exports of Homarus americanus totaled 3,915 metric tonnes. This was up 2.1% month‑on‑month and 43.3% year‑on‑year, supported by elevated live‑lobster shipments to China for the Lunar New Year in mid‑February.

Despite February’s strength, cumulative exports for January–February are down 4.1% year‑on‑year, a shortfall concentrated in January: volumes that month were 28.4% below the previous year and 39.2% below the five‑year average. Part of January 2025’s strength...

Norway's Seafood Exports Rise 3% Despite Continued US Decline

Norway exported seafood worth NOK 15.5 billion ($1.6 billion) in March, up 3% from the same month last year, despite a third consecutive month of declining US shipments exceeding NOK 500 million.

The US market share fell to 9% of Norwegian exports, down 4 percentage points from March 2025, as increased tariffs and a weaker dollar against the Norwegian krone continued to impact trade. Salmon fillets bore the brunt of the US decline, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council.

"The main reason for the decline to the US is increased...

Mersey Seafoods Acquires Nova Scotia's Comeau's Sea Foods

Nova Scotia-based Mersey Seafoods has struck a deal to acquire fellow provincial seafood firm Comeau's Sea Foods, the companies announced April 8.

Comeau's said day-to-day operations will remain unchanged, and the company will continue operating from its Southwest Nova Scotia locations under the same name. The scallop and herring processor serves foodservice and retail sectors and also handles Atlantic salmon, haddock, halibut, and Alaska pollock.

"We have a strong foundation in the Clare community and have been a staple employer in the region," Comeau's stated. "We believe this...

Mexico Launches New Campaign to Boost Seafood Industry and Regional Economies

The National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (Conapesca) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRICULTURA) have initiated "Mexico Sabe a Mar"—or "Mexico Tastes like the Sea". This campaign brings together more than 100 producers to boost awareness of seafood's role in the food industry while strengthening regional economies through increased commercialization.

The fishing and aquaculture industry is vast in the region. Conapesca's registry shows 328,932 workers collectively producing 2.17 million tons of seafood in 2025, based on preliminary harvest...

Nomad Foods Expands Executive Leadership with Two Newly Created Roles

Nomad Foods Limited is expanding its executive leadership with two newly created roles designed to strengthen the company's presence in European markets.

Chief Executive Officer Dominic Brisby said, "Both roles will help sharpen our commercial execution, enhance agility and create greater alignment between our local teams, our brands, and our long-term strategic priorities." He added, "I am delighted to welcome Jon this month and look forward to completing the appointment of our President for Central Europe later this year. Each leader will...

Day 41 of Iran War: Lebanon Mourns After Deadly Israeli Strikes; Iran, US Clash Over Ceasefire Terms

Lebanon declared a national day of mourning after Israeli air strikes killed over 250 people and injured more than 1,000, marking the deadliest bombardment of the current war. 

Iran said a cessation of Israeli strikes in Lebanon was a key condition of its proposed 10-point plan to end the broader Middle East war. Iran's Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said ceasefire talks were “unreasonable” given what he described as repeated violations, including continued attacks in Lebanon.

Confusion persists within the...

Oil Spill Prompts Protests and Government Response in Veracruz

Residents of Veracruz, Mexico, marched on Easter demanding answers and aid following an oil spill that has spread for hundreds of miles across the Gulf of Mexico, affecting the Mexican coastline.

In a video published by The Star, protester Santa Hernandez states, "Is is Easter and our lagoons are still polluted. Yesterday, oil reached the beaches of El Salado and the coral reefs. Two new dead turtles appeared on the beaches of Punta San Juan. Fish in the sea with tar stains show that the spill is still affecting the...

Aquaculture Tech Giant AKVA Group Considers Sale Following Strong Growth

AKVA Group, an aquaculture tech group, announced that its board of directors has initiated a strategic review to maximize shareholder value, which could lead to a potential sale or “value creative business” combinations.

AKVA Group said today that, after years of investments in technology, operational scale and system integration, the firm has entered a period of “strengthened commercial momentum” across all of its business segments.

Revenues have increased from NOK 3.4bn ($357 million) in 2023 to NOK 4.4bn in 2025, representing a CAGR of 13.7%, accompanied...