Summer Olympic Games: Seafood’s Spot In The Winner’s Circle During the Paris 2024 Olympic Games 

The 2024 Olympics officially open in Paris Friday night, bringing together the most talented athletes from around the world for the most anticipated event of the summer. While all eyes will be on stars like Simon Biles, LeBron James and Sha’carri Richardson, it’s important to highlight what’s fueling these competitors…like seafood!

The Olympics Committee had to plan for providing meals and snacks over a span of 15 days to not only athletes, but also volunteers, spectators and members of...

CFIA Confirms Presence of MSX in Additional Locations on PEI

Multinuclear sphere x (MSX), an infection that can cause disease in oysters, has been confirmed in additional locations on Prince Edward Island (PEI).

As Seafoodnews reported earlier this week, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the first case of Haplosporidium nelsoni, also known as MSX, in the Bedeque Bay area. While not considered dangerous to humans, MSX can lead to decreased rates of growth in oysters, or even increased mortality in oysters. Because of this, CFIA declared a Primary Control Zone (PCZ) in and around...

RODA Argues Appeal In Vineyard Wind Lawsuit Days After Blade Failure Off Nantucket 

On Thursday the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA) made its oral arguments before the First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in its Vineyard Wind lawsuit against the Department of the Interior (DOI) and other federal agencies. 

RODA, a membership-based coalition of fishing industry associations and fishing companies, filed its initial lawsuit against the DOI in 2022. In the lawsuit, the coalition challenged the Interior Department’s approval of a massive offshore wind project to be constructed in federal waters south of Martha’s Vineyard. RODA claimed that...

Former AquaBounty CEO Sylvia Wulf Announces New Position At Biotechnology Innovation Organization

Former AquaBounty Technologies CEO Sylvia Wulf announced on Linkedin that she has taken on a new full-time position following David Melbourne’s June promotion to CEO and President. Wulf said in a post that she is starting a new position as interim EVP of Agriculture & Environment at Biotechnology Innovation Organization. 

Wulf has served as the CEO of AquaBounty since 2019. But in August 2023 the land-based aquaculture company promoted David Melbourne Jr. to President as part of its leadership progression. This past...

Kingfish Maine Overcomes Yet Another Appeal in Jonesport Project 

The Kingfish Maine saga continues. On Thursday The Kingfish Company announced that its U.S. subsidiary, Kingfish Maine, has overcome another appeal of the municipal permit for the proposed Jonesport project.

Kingfish has been working for years to build a new U.S. facility in Jonesport, Maine. In January 2022 Kingfish’s U.S. facility was fully permitted by local, state and federal agencies. Founder Ohad Maiman said at the time that “we are excited for what the future holds for Maine — bringing out sustainable land-based technology to the...

FDA Issues Advisory For Certain Oysters From Maine

The FDA is warning restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell certain oysters from Recompense Cove, Freeport, Maine, as they may potentially be contaminated with Campylobacter.

An advisory was issued by the government agency on Thursday to alert restaurants and retailers in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Ontario, Canada. The oysters in question were harvested between June 19, 2024 and July 16, 2024 from harvest areas CAS RC2 and...

VIDEO: Captain Fresh’s Latest Acquisition; Red Lobster’s New Buyer; Vineyard Wind Blade Failure

Join Seafoodnews Senior Editor Amanda Buckle and Expana seafood market reporter Josh Bickert as they take a look at the top stories of the week, including Captain Fresh’s latest acquisition and Red Lobster’s new buyer. Plus, get the latest scoop on the Vineyard Wind blade incident that happened off the coast of Nantucket. 

Nordic Aqua Partners Reports “Off-Flavor” In Salmon; Not Selling For Human Consumption

Land-based Atlantic salmon farming company, Nordic Aqua, revealed this week that, due to overloading of the purging unit at its farm in Ningbo, China, the company has detected high concentrations of the off-flavor compound geosmin.

It’s not unusual to find geosmin in farmed fish as it's a naturally occurring compound that has been known to be absorbed by fish in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). While considered to be harmless, elevated concentrations of geosmin can negatively impact the taste of the fish...

FFAW Hosts 2024 Executive Board Election; Welcomes Dwan Street as First Female President 

FFAW-Unifor is welcoming new leadership following President Greg Pretty’s decision not to seek re-election this year. On Thursday the union’s Elections Committee announced that Dwan Street would be replacing Pretty, serving as FFAW’s first female president.

Street has been involved with FFAW for nearly 10 years, first serving as a Projects Coordinator before working as a Staff Representative for a few different areas. Now she’ll be leading FFAW as the union deals with issues ranging from the end of the moratorium on cod fishing...

Captain Fresh Acquires Poland-Based Salmon Producer

From shrimp to salmon. Captain Fresh is making big moves with the acquisition of Koral, a Poland-based producer and distributor of branded salmon products.

India-based Captain Fresh was founded in 2020 as an exporter and distributor of fish and seafood. The company is aiming to leverage its proprietary technology to create one of the largest seafood platforms in the world. And according to Captain Fresh founder and CEO Utham Gowda, the acquisition of Koral is the next step in strengthening its supply chain and global...

The Retail Rundown: Competition for Ad Space Intensifies

As the final full week of July comes to a close, the retail sector is promoting at-home eating during the dog days of summer, a time when protein consumption typically drops due to the heat and fewer major retail buying occasions.

Competition for ad space is heating up, with seafood and pork leading the way, each capturing 25.8% of retail buying opportunities this week. Beef follows with 22.4%, unchanged from the previous week. Chicken has increased to 17.7%, up from 16.4% last week. Eggs account for 4.5%, with most feature activity...

Russia on the Verge of Sharp Increases in Salmon Prices

Russia is on the verge of a sharp increase in salmon prices due to a new formula for calculating fees for the use of fishing areas, which was proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture. 

It was initially assumed that the entire industry would pay 92 billion rubles to use these sites for the next 25 years. However, according to recent statements of the All-Russian Association of Fisheries Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters (WARPE), this figure will grow up to 200 billion...

The Winding Glass: Why Fish Markets Are a Mainstay of American Seafood

Want to know the bright spot in retail seafood? It’s your local fish store. 

For months we have chronicled the decline in overall U.S. retail seafood sales. Again in June, Circana data from US supermarkets and warehouse stores showed continuing problems.

Retail seafood experienced continuing deflation, led by frozen fish that was down -4.5% from a year ago. On the fresh side, everything but tilapia was lower priced than a year ago. And despite price decreases, dollar sales, unit sales, and volume continued to...

Congressman Jared Golden Makes Move To Block Proposed Gauge Increase In Gulf of Maine

The looming threat of a lobster gauge increase in the Gulf of Maine has been haunting the industry for months. But on Monday, Congressman Jared Golden took action and introduced an amendment to block gauge increases for Maine lobstermen for one year.

With a documented decline in stock abundance of Gulf of Maine/ Georges Bank stock, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Lobster Management Board voted to create a threshold that, if exceeded, “would result in automatic conservation members.” When a recent look...

Blumar Begins Operations At Magallanes Processing Plant Following February Fire

Blumar proudly shared this week that it has started operations at its Magallanes plant following a devastating fire that struck its processing plant in Punta Arenas this past February. 

To briefly recap, Entrevientos S.A. was formed in 2018 by Blumar and Multiexport Foods. In 2019 the two companies spent $55 million to build a processing facility with the capacity to process 72,000 metric tons of salmon. The facility employed more than 750 workers who were left unemployed when a fire completely destroyed the processing plant. It also left...

A Century-Old Whale Meat Processor Goes Bankrupt

Maruko Shoji, based in Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, processes and sells whale meat products. According to a report by Minato Shimbun, the company filed for bankruptcy proceedings on July 19 at the Shimonoseki branch of the Yamaguchi District Court. The company has decided to give up on continuing its business as it has been unable to improve its insolvency situation.

Despite its financial troubles, Maruko Shoji is committed to its customers. The company, which stores its products in refrigerated warehouses, has notified the depository in writing about its...

ANALYSIS: EU and UK Shrimp Imports Pick Up in Spring 2024

We have recently observed a positive trend in the European shrimp market after a seasonal dip in imports in February and March.

According to the latest data from Global Trade Tracker, EU and UK imports of shrimp from tier regions reached 53,847 MT in May 2024, a 5.5% progression since April, which was 10.6% up since March. All in all, from January to May 2024, EU and UK shrimp imports grew by 4.1% year over year.

However, May volumes are down 3.9% compared with...

ANALYSIS: Farmed Salmon Northeast Whole Fish Update

The farmed salmon whole fish market in the U.S. continues to be volatile with all origins oscillating. Post-Memorial Day weekend has seen the market move lower out of most origins. At current, Norway is down 31 percent from the 3-year average, Scotland is 35.8 percent lower than the 3-year average, and the Northeast Canadian 12–14-pound fish is also behind 15.4 percent from the 3-year average.

In looking at imported levels from the above origins, Canada is up significantly from year-to-date levels through May, up...

ANALYSIS: Salmon By-products And Its Role in Pet Food 

Walking down the pet food aisle, a theme that one would most likely observe is that it has grown. It not only appears to have grown but it is also getting increasingly more specific. Long are the days of buying basic kibble for your canine friend. More and more pet-owners are not only splurging on their pets but also paying closer attention to what they are feeding their companions.

Salmon has developed into a staple in the pet food aisle, along with many other...

ANALYSIS: Maine Lobster Fishing Season Update

Supply: By all accounts, the Canadian spring fishing season was exceptional. First, the weather conditions for fishing were nearly perfect. The catch started early and remained abundant throughout the season, resulting in lower-than-usual acquisition costs. Live buyers, processors, and shippers all met their demands, while tank houses were able to build their inventories to full capacity.

While the Canadian spring fishing season was highly productive, the Maine summer fishing season has been slow to start. However, promising reports of strong landings have emerged in the last week...

NMFS Schedules Third Pacific Halibut Opener for Area 2A Directed Fishery

A third – and probably last – directed halibut period is scheduled for the first part of August, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service.

The allocation available for the 2024 non-Tribal directed fishery is 249,338 pounds, or 113 mt, net weight. After the first two periods, an estimated 66,560 pounds, or 30.2 mt, remains available for harvest in August.

The third opener is set to start at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6, and close at 6 p.m. on ...

Hokkaido Sea Urchin Landings Halved Due to Rising Water Temperatures

As sea urchin landings in Hokkaido's Sea of Japan are suffering from a shortage, the green sea urchins on Rebun Island are only half of what they were in the same period last year—and the beach price at sea has doubled. This is thought to be due to the high water temperature, a concern that fishermen fear will persist for a long time, emphasizing the urgency of the situation, reported Minato Shimbun.

The harvest season for green sea urchins opened in Rebun on June 1. The Funadomari Fishery Cooperative...

Red Lobster Has A New Owner In Fortress Credit Corp.

Say hello to Red Lobster’s new owner: RL Purchaser, a stalking horse bidder composed of Red Lobster lenders and controlled by Fortress Credit Corp.

The fate of seafood restaurant chain Red Lobster has been hanging in the balance since Thai Union announced late last year that it would be exiting its minority investment in the restaurant. Financially struggling due to losses related to COVID, and then the Ultimate Endless Shrimp promotion, Red Lobster ended up shuttering locations before filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this...

Vineyard Wind Failure: Initial Environmental Assessment Released After Nantucket Blade Incident 

An initial environmental analysis following the Vineyard Wind blade incident is shedding light on not only the potential risk of injury from the debris, but also the anticipated next steps. 

On July 13 a GE Vernova blade on a Vineyard Wind turbine in an offshore development area on Nantucket’s south shore was damaged, resulting in debris, including “sharp fiberglass shards,” floating in the water and washing up on shore. The incident forced south shore beaches in Nantucket to close so that debris recovery efforts could...

Long John Silver’s Launches New Value Promotion Featuring Alaska Pollock

Long John Silver’s is offering up a deal that is sure to make waves this summer. The quick service seafood chain has launched a new great value promotion and side menu item: $6 fish baskets featuring two pieces of battered wild-caught Alaska pollock, including two golden hushpuppies and a choice of a side — like Long John Silver’s new crispy waffle fries.

“At Long John Silver’s, we are committed to providing our customers with convenient, affordable, high-quality seafood,” says Christopher Caudill, senior vice president of marketing and...

Canadian Food Inspection Agency Declares Control Zone After First Case of MSX Found In PEI Oysters

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the first case of Haplosporidium nelsoni — also known as multinucleate sphere unknown, or MSX — in Prince Edward Island (PEI) oysters. Previously MSX had only been found in Nova Scotia and British Columbia.

MSX is an infection that can cause disease in cultured and wild American and Pacific cupped oysters. While MSX does not pose a risk to human health, it can lead to decreased rates of growth in oysters, or even increased mortality in...

Florida Fishermen Challenge Amendment 56, Fishery Councils’ Constitutionality

Dominick and James Russo have filed a lawsuit against the Department of Commerce, challenging the constitutionality of a catch limit rule adopted by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council drastically limiting their business.   

The Russo brothers have been fishing since they were teenagers and now run FFC Seafood in Sarasota, Florida. Their largest source of income is gag grouper due to its popularity with high-end restaurants.  

But in 2021, a new rule known as Amendment 56 cut the amount of gag grouper the Russos can legally catch by...

NFI’s Gerrie Thomas Elected to SeaShare Board of Directors

Gerrie Thomas, the Vice President of Membership and Training for the National Fisheries Institute (NFI), has been elected to the SeaShare Board of Directors. 

SeaShare is a non-profit organization founded in 1994 with the goal of teaming up with the U.S. seafood industry to fight hunger. Since the organization’s start, SeaShare has been able to donate more than 265 million servings of seafood to those in need. 

“SeaShare is a group that has evolved from a novel concept about valuing every part of the catch, to a...

PODCAST: Northline Seafoods Freezer Barge Update; Vineyard Wind Turbine Failure and More

Don't miss a new episode of the Seafoodnews Podcast! Join Seafoodnews Senior Editor Amanda Buckle and Expana Senior Seafood Market Reporter Lorin Castiglione as they talk about some of the biggest stories of the week, including an update on Northline Seafoods' freezer barge following the electrical fire; the latest on Red Lobster's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing; and Vineyard Wind's turbine failure.

ANALYSIS: Diverging Trends in the Imported Crawfish Market

There have been two opposing storylines regarding imported crawfish in the United States this year, depending on the product form: whole cooked crawfish or tail meat. In 2024, tail meat prices have declined, while whole cooked products have firmed.

Tail meat prices from China and Spain has retreated for most of the year, reaching the lowest levels in the last five years. The average price for Chinese 100/150 ct. tail meat is about $6.50 per pound, which is 16% lower than the same point last year and...