Mark Foods Acquires Bristol Seafood, Expanding Scallop and Value-Added Seafood Portfolio

US seafood importer, processor and marketer Mark Foods announced that it has acquired Maine-based Bristol Seafood on July 14.

Bristol Seafood boasts a strong presence in the scallop sector, but also offers other products, including groundfish and value-added seafood offerings such as salmon and shrimp. The move provides Mark Foods with a notably larger footprint in the scallop trade.

The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in August 2025...

ANALYSIS: Wild Salmon Week in Review for Week 27, July 6-12

The peak of the sockeye season is underway, driven by strong harvests out of Bristol Bay. Prices fell sharply again over the past week but remain above year-ago levels. After a slower start in week 25 compared to 2024, landings quickly accelerated and surpassed last year’s weekly totals for sockeye. The overall trajectory so far is tracking closely to 2024, though on a slightly delayed timeline...

Trump Announces 30% Tariffs on EU and Mexico as Trade Tensions Persist

President Donald Trump has expanded his administration’s tariff policy, targeting the European Union and Mexico with newly announced 30% tariffs on all products imported into the United States.

On July 11, Trump formally notified the leaders of both trading partners about the new rates via letters.

In response, the European Union announced yesterday that it will extend its suspension of retaliatory measures against U.S. tariffs until early August, signaling a willingness to continue negotiations with the Trump administration in hopes of reaching a new trade agreement...

Del Mar Seafoods Expands Operations with Advanced IQF Freezing and New Processing Facility

California-based Del Mar Seafoods showcased its new expanded operations through a new facility lease and the addition of state-of-the-art Individual Quick Freezing (IQF) and processing capabilities.

The vertically integrated seafood producer and processor said the new facility will allow for greater processing capacity and efficiency, expanding its footprint by 40%. Del Mar’s new facility is located on the same campus as its Watsonville headquarters.

“This was the logical next step in our company’s growth,” said Joe Roggio, Chief Financial Officer at Del Mar...

Canadian Seafood Escapes Trump’s 35% Tariff, According to Multiple Reports on USMCA Exemptions

Key Canadian seafood exports will be exempt from President Donald Trump’s newly imposed 35% tariff on Canadian goods, according to multiple reports from CBC, The Wall Street Journal and Yahoo Finance.

While Trump’s tariff announcement last week sparked uncertainty over whether critical species like salmon, crab and lobster would be affected, officials confirmed that products compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will remain tariff-free.

The question of whether seafood would be faced with a 35% tariff rate followed the release of Trump’s tariff...

Oregon Dems to Trump Administration: The Salmon Fishery Needs the Promised Funding

Oregon Democratic lawmakers want the salmon industry to get the money it’s due in disaster funding. 

Members of the delegation, including Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, and Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, Maxine Dexter, Andrea Salinas and Janelle Bynum, are pressing the Trump Administration to release the $7 million that was allocated to Oregon for the catastrophic regional fishery failure declared back in 2018, 2019, and 2020 for the state’s Chinook salmon commercial ocean fisheries.  

Then-Gov. Kate Brown had requested that the government determine the...

Trump Announces August 1 Tariffs — Here's the Complete List

Global leaders are receiving news on their countries' US tariff rates this week, as President Donald Trump dispatched approximately 20 letters by Wednesday afternoon.

The tariff rates, which range from 20% to 50%, are set to take effect on August 1, unless new negotiations or trade deals are reached in the coming weeks. Trump signed an executive order establishing an August 1 deadline for implementing his “reciprocal” tariffs. He remained firm on social media, emphasizing that it marked the final cutoff for any new trade agreements...

Russian Crab Company Group to Produce Air-Blast Frozen Crab in Barents Sea, With Focus on Japan

This year, the Russian Crab Company Group (RCCG), the largest crab fishing company in Russia’s Far East, will begin operations in the Barents Sea in northwestern Russia, according to recent reports from Minato Shimbun and multiple trading companies. RCCG will primarily produce air-blast frozen king crab products, similar to those from the Far East, with a focus on the Japanese market. RCCG's king crab quota in the Barents Sea is expected to be 4,788 tons, which will significantly change the production landscape...

Cowlitz Tribe and NOAA Improved Lower Columbia River Tributary for Salmon and Steelhead

In Southeast Washington, NOAA funding is supporting the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s goal of restoring 30 percent or more of the salmon and steelhead habitat on its traditional lands in the lower Columbia River watershed.  

Last year the 55-foot-tall, 425-foot-long Kwoneesum Dam on Wildboy Creek was removed with the help of NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Habitat Conservation grant of $3.3 million. The dam had blocked upstream salmon and steelhead migration on the creek for almost 60 years...

Trump Places 35% Tariff on Canadian Imports, Sparking Uncertainty in Seafood Trade

US President Donald Trump announced a sweeping 35% tariff on all Canadian goods entering the US on July 10, a move that could send shockwaves through seafood industries on both sides of the border. The tariff will take effect on August 1.

The news arrived via a Trump tariff letter addressed to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Trump’s letter criticized Canada for its efforts to stop fentanyl from entering the US. Trump said Canada had chosen to retaliate with its own retaliatory tariffs rather than cooperate, prompting...

Commercial Fishermen Sue NMFS Over Red Snapper Rules, Citing Harm from Recreational Dead Discards

A group of commercial red snapper fishing companies, fishermen, buyers and processors filed a lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick over new regulations for the fishery.

Specifically, the plaintiffs took issue with the recently implemented “Amendment 59 Final Rule” to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.

“The red snapper annual catch limits established in the Amendment 59 Final Rule only serve to limit landings; they do not function...

USDA Awards $34.66 Million for Pacific Pink Shrimp and Atlantic Groundfish Contracts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently awarded $34.66 million in Section 32 contracts for Pacific pink shrimp ($15.73 million) and Atlantic groundfish ($18.93 million).

The announcement comes after the USDA’s pre-solicitation notice on May 23 and its solicitation notice on June 16 for frozen Atlantic pollock fillets, frozen haddock fillets, frozen ocean perch fillets, and Pacific salad shrimp.

Among the successful pink shrimp contracts were the following awards for Pacific salad shrimp: $3.275 million to Bornstein Seafoods, Inc., $10.01 million...

US Coast Guard Receives $25 Billion Under President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act 

The US Coast Guard (USCG) has received a $25 billion funding package as part of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.  

The investment will go toward the purchase of 17 icebreakers, 21 cutters, and over 40 helicopters. The money will also fund upgrades to search and rescue operations, modernize shore infrastructure, and enhance maritime surveillance systems. 

“This historic investment...reflects the strong support of the American people and empowers us to restore our Service and prepare for the challenges of...

Norway Has Replaced Russia in the US Crab Market; Russia Looks to Tag Back in

Norway has taken Russia’s place in the U.S. crab market, though Russia is hoping that possible restoration of economic relations with the U.S. will allow its crab fisherman to resume supplies to the U.S. market—once one of the most important for Russian crabbers—and thus compete with its Norwegian rivals.

Prior to 2022, the United States was one of the largest buyers of Russian crabs, accounting for almost half of Russian exports, some estimates indicate. While Asian countries mainly consume live Russian crab, which is supplied from the...

Brazilian Seafood Exports to US in Jeopardy After New 50% Tariff

United States President Donald Trump placed 50% tariffs on Brazil starting on August 1 as Trump criticized the country’s handling of former President Jair Bolsonaro in a letter.

Brazil’s letter is the most recent that Trump sent to 22 US trading partners so far this week, as Expana covered. While the rest of the letters were largely identical, the letter to Brazilian leadership was unique as Trump cited a “witch hunt” against Bolsonaro, per Expana’s Ryan Gallagher.

From a seafood perspective, Brazil ranks in the top 20...

New Lawsuit Alleges Trident is Violating Clean Water Act at Washington Facility

On July 8, 2025, Washington-based nonprofit Waste Action Project (WAP) filed a citizen lawsuit against Trident Seafood Corporation (Trident) for allegedly violating pollution discharge standards required under the Clean Water Act (CWA) at the seafood giant’s Washington production facility.

Waste Action Project is a Washington-based non-profit membership organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the environment of Washington State. WAP has at least one member who is injured by Trident’s violations.

The formal complaint targets Trident’s 8.9-acre seafood processing and packaging facility in Anacortes, Washington...

Trump Tariff Letters Continue to Roll Out; Philippines Faces 20% Tariff

President Trump has sent a new batch of letters to several countries, including the Philippines, notifying them of new US tariff rates set to take effect on August 1, giving them a short window to renegotiate trade terms before the deadline.

On July 8, Trump stated that a minimum of seven countries would be released, with an additional group to be released in the afternoon.

Despite multiple tariff implementation delays already, Trump was steadfast and set August 1 as a hard deadline in a social media...

ANALYSIS: Early Start to Norwegian Cold-Water Shrimp Season Offsets May Export Decline

According to Norway Statistics, exports of cold-water shrimp in May fell by 45.7% year-on-year, totaling 2,265 metric tons compared to 4,171 MT in May 2024. Despite this sharp monthly decline, cumulative exports of Pandalus borealis from January to May remain relatively stable, down just 0.5% year-on-year at 7,870 MT...

Portugal and Spain Regain MSC Certification for Iberian Sardine Fishery

According to a press release from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), purse seine fishing fleets in Spain and Portugal recently regained their MSC certification for Iberian sardines, making it the first fishery to achieve this sustainability marker through such an alliance.

This joint accomplishment was made possible through coordinated efforts from the entire sector's value chain, including fishers, the processing industry and distributors.

The Iberian sardine is a key marine resource for the two European countries.

While the Portuguese sardine fleet had previously been certified as sustainable, it was suspended...

Kenyan Tilapia Farmer Victory Farms Joins ASC Improvement Program

Last week, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) announced that Kenyan tilapia farmer Victory Farms became the first tilapia farm in Kenya and across Africa to participate in an Aquaculture Improvement Project (AIP) under the ASC’s Improver Programme.

The vertically integrated farm spans 50 hectares in western Kenya’s Homa Bay and produces 18,000 tonnes of tilapia annually, from hatchery to table.

ASC explained the milestone as “a major step forward for responsible seafood farming on the continent,” underscoring the tilapia farmer’s...

US Tariffs on Brazilian Imports Spark Cross-Commodity Concerns

On July 9, US President Donald Trump moved to raise tariffs on Brazilian imports to 50% starting August 1—up sharply from the 10% rate imposed in early April—sparking concerns in global markets, with potential ripple effects across commodities like orange juice, beef, coffee, sugar, and seafood.

These trade measures are raising alarms in export-dependent sectors and among US importers, with market participants saying the implications could be wide-ranging.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said the country would respond to the newly announced tariff...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #17

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 #17."

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...

This week, reciprocal tariffs were re-announced in the form of letters from the US Trump administration to trading partners who could not reach a trade deal within the previously granted 90-day pause...

The Winding Glass: Seafood Trade Disruptions Reappear While Economic Headwinds Drive Prices Down

The economic collapse that many of us feared from the chaotic tariff policies of the Trump administration has not materialized—at least not yet. The seafood industry has shown a remarkable degree of resilience in the face of disruptive trade policy. But this should not be mistaken for invulnerability. The more pressing issue now is not tariffs but weakening consumer demand.

There are three reasons the anticipated tariff-induced disaster hasn’t occurred. First, there’s a deep political bias baked into how people perceive economic risks...

Bristol Bay Landings are Now Just 3.5M Sockeye Short of Forecasted 35M Catch

It is another endurance test in Bristol Bay for fishermen and processors to keep up with the annual phenomenon of 50 million sockeye salmon returning to five rivers within about 100 square miles, or one third the size of New York City. And the majority of the run comes in over the course of just two weeks. 

Deliveries of July 9 are just coming in at press time, but as of July 8, a total of 2.6 million sockeye salmon, also called...

Hokkaido Surimi Production Increased by 18% to 1693 Tons in May 

According to member reports compiled by the National Surimi Manufacturers Association, based in Abashiri, Hokkaido, frozen surimi production in Hokkaido in May increased 18% from the same month last year to 1,693 tons, the highest in the past three years, due to an increase in Alaska pollock landings, reported Minato Shimbun. 

Of this, Alaska pollock surimi increased 16% to 1,629 tons. According to manufacturers, landings of the fish in Hokkaido increased across the island, with the Okhotsk region up by 9% to 11,100 tons, Wakkanai 2.6 times to 4,300...

Mowi Scotland Unveils Revamped Processing Facility, Expects to Break Records in Coming Months

Mowi Scotland announced that its Blar Mhor processing facility witnessed a transformation that will lead the facility to break records for fish numbers and volume, with a peak of 10kt during its busy months right around the corner.

“This was a complex and ambitious project – constructing around the old factory, moving into the new extension while refurbishing the original facility,” Scott Nolan, Sales and Processing Director said. “We added 5,000m² of new floor space, then removed the dividing wall and seamlessly integrated the equipment across both...

Newfoundland and Labrador Announces Changes to Harvester Loan Program 

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is enhancing the Harvester Enterprise Loan program to make financing more accessible to fish harvesters.  

The changes aim to streamline the application process and improve access to down payment loans and interest rebates. 

As part of the update, loan guarantees are now optional. This means that harvesters approved for a loan — even without a guarantee — can still apply for both the interest rebate and the patient down payment loan. 

The government says these enhancements are meant to ease the burden and...

ANALYSIS: Seasonal Growth in Chilean Salmon Supply Meets Depressed Global Salmon Market

Chilean salmon production continues to display higher monthly levels of harvest compared to 2024, but lower than in 2023, according to the Undersecretariat for Fisheries and Aquaculture (SUBPESCA). The accumulated harvest up to May reached 281,338 metric tons (mt), representing a 7.4% year-to-date (YTD) increase (Figure 1). Additionally, the harvest volume has been increasing in line with the seasonal rise in harvests. In May, the harvest volume grew by 6.3% month-on-month (m-o-m). Typically, the Chilean Atlantic salmon industry reaches its...

Trident, Silver Bay Awarded $2.8 Million via USDA Contracts for Pollock 

Trident Seafoods and Silver Bay Seafoods were awarded contracts via the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for frozen Alaska pollock products.  

The Washington-based companies will sell the USDA 39,600 pounds of frozen Alaska pollock fillets for $2.83 million.  

Trident took home the bulk of the contract, $2.3 million. Meanwhile, the USDA will buy over $522,000 worth of Alaska pollock from Silvery Bay Seafoods.   

Last month, Trident and Channel Fish Processing were awarded contracts worth $1.97 million for...

Former USDA Economist Looks at How Trade Disputes and Geopolitics Are Reshaping Agri-Food

As global supply chains face intensifying pressure from geopolitical tensions, climate variability and shifting consumer demands, agri-food leaders are constantly rethinking their procurement strategies.

At Expana’s Agri-Food Americas event on September 23-24 in Chicago, these themes take center stage in the panel discussion “How Geopolitical Uncertainty, Tariffs, and Trade are Impacting Food & Ag”.

Conflict and policy shifts can destabilize your supply chain and disrupt sourcing. This panel will offer expert insights into international affairs so you can adapt quickly...