Thailand to Host 25th Global Seafood Alliance Responsible Seafood Summit

The Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) is set to host its 25th annual Responsible Seafood Summit at the prestigious Shangri-La Bangkok, a 5-star luxury hotel in Thailand, known as one of the world's leading regions for shrimp production.

Scheduled for the week of September 21, 2026, the summit marks a significant collaboration with The Center for Responsible Seafood (TCRS), infusing the event with the TCRS Shrimp Summit content.

Mike Kocsis, CEO of GSA, expressed enthusiasm for the strategic partnership, highlighting the unique opportunity...

ANALYSIS: Update on Norwegian Farmed Atlantic Salmon Production

The total biomass of farmed Atlantic salmon at sea in Norway has been lower than in 2024 for two consecutive months, August and September. According to the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, the final biomass in September 2025 showed a modest year-on-year reduction of 0.6%. This decline in live fish stock may be linked to a marked increase in harvest volumes from June through August 2025. As a result, harvest intensity during those months rose by roughly 13.5%...

Kodiak, Chignik, and South Peninsula Remain Closed for Tanner Crab This Winter

The tanner crab season for the Kodiak, Chignik, and South Peninsula Districts will remain closed this year and for the first part of 2026 due to low abundance thresholds in each area. 

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has established male crab abundance levels needed to open each fishery. Based on the 2025 survey results, only two of the six sections — the Southeast and Southwest — met the thresholds, but surplus abundance was not sufficient to meet the 100,000-pound minimum guideline harvest level (GHL) requirement in either...

Russia Clears Chilean Seafood for Import Following Forum Talks

Russian and Chilean authorities confirmed that Chilean seafood will be allowed to enter Russia after talks during the VIII International Fishery Forum and the Fish Industry, Seafood, and Technology Exhibition in St. Petersburg.

The deputy head of Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision (Rosselkhoznadzor), Konstantin Savenkov, met with María Soledad Tapia Almonacid, Head of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service of Chile (Sernapesca), on October 23. The fallout of the meeting saw 34 companies land authorization to ship products to Russia...

VARPE, VASEP Pact Aims to Expand Russian Seafood Exports to Vietnam 

Russia and Vietnam have agreed to significantly expand joint fish trade under a memorandum signed by the Russian fish association VARPE and the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) during an international forum in St. Petersburg.

The memorandum commits both sides to expand trade volumes, simplify cross-border procedures, and develop scientific cooperation in the fisheries sector. For Russia, the agreement opens greater access for Russian fishermen and processors to Vietnam’s large and growing seafood market.

Herman Zverev, head of VARPE, said Vietnam...

Senator Markey: Commerce Committee Advances Bill to Reauthorize the Young Fishermen’s Program

The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee yesterday advanced bipartisan legislation—introduced by Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) in July—to reauthorize the Young Fishermen’s Development Program. The program, first authorized in law in 2021 for five years, seeks to mitigate the challenges and hurdles facing the next generation of entrants into the fishing industry. The senators’ legislation would authorize $2 million annually through FY 2031 to support regional training opportunities...

Teamsters Secure Major Contract Victory for US Foods Drivers Across the South

Following the threat of a strike, more than 200 US Foods drivers across Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia have overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year collective bargaining agreement.

"We showed US Foods that we would not settle for less," said Glenn Tyler, a driver at US Foods and member of Local 71. "It feels great heading into work knowing we are protected and rewarded under such a strong Teamsters contract."

The workers, represented by Teamsters Locals 61, 71, and 391, won significant gains including wage increases...

Senator Susan Collins Advocates for Maine Lobster Industry Amid Tariff Challenge

Senator Susan Collins sent correspondence to US officials on Monday, urging them to address the negative impact tariffs are having on Maine's lobster industry.

The letter, addressed to US Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jameison Greer, highlighted the significant hardships lobstermen are currently facing.

Collins stated that the job of lobstermen has become less profitable in recent years, noting that earnings per pound in 2024 have decreased to some of the lowest levels in the past 75 years, a situation...

Japan: Frozen Chilean Coho Imports Plummet 95%, Russian Sockeye Imports Surge 11.2 Times to 3,455T

According to the Ministry of Finance's trade statistics, August imports of salmon and trout (frozen and fresh) increased 7% year-on-year to 12,589 tons, and the value increased 8% to 18.675 billion yen ($123.07 million). Imports of frozen Chilean coho salmon, the main product, fell sharply. Imports of frozen Russian sockeye salmon increased significantly.

According to a report in the Minato Shimbun, a breakdown of imports shows that August imports of frozen Chilean coho salmon were down 95% year-on-year to 148...

AIPCE-CEP Rebrands as SEAFOOD EUROPE|European Fish Processors and Traders Association

The long-standing EU Fish Processors and Traders Association, along with the European Federation of National Organizations of Importers and Exporters of Fish (AIPCE-CEP), has announced its rebranding.

Founded in 1959, the organization has grown to incorporate more than 3,900 businesses and 128,000 people, further cementing its value within the industry.

Its new name, Seafood Europe | European Fish Processors and Traders Association, aims to unify the organization's voice and visibility, further reinforce its centralized position in Europe's food system...

Taiwan’s First Seafood Farm Joins the Improver Programme by ASC, Advancing Responsible Aquaculture

Tuna Rich Trade & Fishery Co., Ltd. has become the first farm in Taiwan to join the Improver Programme by ASC through an Aquaculture Improvement Project (AIP).

Located in Kaohsiung, the farm produces cobia (Rachycentron canadum) and dragon-tiger grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus X Epinephelus lanceolatus). It also produces around 95 metric tonnes of cobia and 480 metric tonnes of dragon-tiger grouper each year and is now taking important steps to further enhance its farming practices.

The Improver Programme by ASC is designed for farms...

Indiana’s Aquashell USA to Acquire Cozy Harbor Seafood and Affiliates in $6.5M Deal

Maine lobster processor Cozy Harbor Seafood, along with its affiliate companies Casco Bay Lobster and Art’s Lobster, was purchased by Indiana-based Aquashell USA for $6.5 million.

The deal includes the price of $2,015,099 for Cozy Harbor's accounts receivable, $2,738,920 in Inventory and $1,750,000 in property. The transaction now awaits court approval.

The sale comes after Cozy Harbor filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July, as reported by Expana. The initial bankruptcy filing...

NFI Sushi Council Names Dick Jones as Executive Director

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) Sushi Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Dick Jones as its new Executive Director. A mission-driven seafood and aquaculture executive with more than 38 years of experience across the private, nonprofit, and retail sectors, Jones brings deep expertise in sustainable fisheries, global seafood markets, and industry transformation.

“The Sushi Council is entering an exciting new chapter as we grow membership, strengthen industry leadership on food safety, and build sushi’s place as a vibrant and expanding category,”...

American Saltwater Guides Association Calls for Immediate 55% Reduction of TAC for Menhaden

The American Saltwater Guides Association ("ASGA"), a coalition of forward-thinking guides, small business owners and like-minded anglers who understand the value of keeping fish in the water, today called on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission ("ASMFC") to immediately reduce the total allowable catch of Atlantic menhaden ("menhaden") by 55%. This call for the significant reduction is in direct response to an assessment of the "most important fish in the sea" showing that figures used to determine natural mortality of menhaden has been inaccurately estimated...

Mowi’s Bid to Take 95% of Nova Sea Gains EU Sign-off, Norwegian Competition Authority Next

Norwegian salmon farming giant Mowi’s move to acquire a majority stake in fellow farmer Nova Sea landed approval from the EU Commission, the company announced in a stock exchange notice on October 17.

Mowi agreed to increase its ownership share in Nova Sea from 49% to 95% on January 30 in a deal worth NOK 7.4 billion ($656.4 million), as Expana reported.
Now, the transaction needs the approval of the Norwegian competition authority before it can be approved...

Indonesia, FDA Reach Deal Allowing ‘Thousands’ of Shrimp Containers to Enter US

Indonesia’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) said that it reached a deal with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to allow thousands of shrimp containers currently in transit to enter the United States.

KKP said in a press release that the agreement was finalized on October 18 after negotiations over new import requirements tied to FDA Import Alert 99-52. The ministry said the deal permits thousands of shrimp containers already en route to the US to be admitted...

Five Charged by DFO for Fisheries Act Violations

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) recently issued an update on its enforcement news page regarding five individuals charged under the Fisheries Act and related regulations. The individuals are known to authorities, having previously been arrested and charged for similar violations.

The most recent incident occurred on September 19 and 20, 2024, in St. Marys Bay, located in Lobster Fishing Area 34.

On October 9, all five individuals appeared in provincial court in Digby, Nova Scotia, and were each charged with one count of obstruction of a fishery officer, contrary to section 62 of the Fisheries Act.

Cousins Maine Lobster Expands Southwest Footprint Through Multi-Unit Deal

Cousins Maine Lobster (CML), the industry-leading fast-casual lobster roll brand, signed an agreement to bring four new trucks to New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. This deal meets the growing demand for more high-quality seafood across the Southwest region. It will offer local seafood lovers the opportunity to enjoy CML's world-famous Maine Lobster rolls, mouthwatering lobster tacos, savory lobster grilled cheese, and delicious whoopie pies.

Entrepreneurs and longtime friends Chris Wilson and Gary Andrews are leading the expansion, building on their...

US Congressman Calls for Shrimp Import Pause, Cites FDA Radiation Concerns

Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) called on President Donald Trump to pause all shrimp imports into the US, citing the recent radioactive shrimp concerns raised by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Congressman Higgins wrote, “Radioactive and contaminated shrimp in our country’s grocery stores is a significant public health threat. I have long maintained that imported seafood can be dangerous, and that stronger preventive measures are necessary to ensure tainted products do not reach American consumers.”

“I recommend that you use executive authority to ensure the integrity...

ANALYSIS: EPO Yellowfin Landings Surge While Skipjack Declines 

The most recent data from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) shows that the total catch of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) from January to August 2025 is 52.6% higher year-to-date (YTD) compared with the same period in 2024. Mexico remains the biggest shareholder of yellowfin landings in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) with 47%, followed by Ecuador with...

AquaStar Adds to Indonesian Shrimp Recall Wave

AquaStar (USA) again expanded its recall of shrimp products due to concerns over radioactive Cesium-137 (Cs-137) contamination.

The latest recall, published on the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s website on October 17, focused on a “limited quantity” of frozen shrimp imported from Indonesia.

The company noted that none of the impacted products throughout its multiple recalls have tested positive for Cs-137, and no illnesses have been reported.

The impacted products include Best Yet, Waterfront Bistro, AquaStar and Publix-branded items...

Seafish Announces New CEO Colin Faulkner After Marcus Coleman's Departure

In July, Expana reported changes to the executive staff for United Kingdom seafood trade association, Seafish.

After more than a decade, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Marcus Coleman announced his resignation as he prepared to take on an executive role for another company, with his last day set for December 17, 2025.

"Under Marcus’s leadership, Seafish stepped up to assist seafood businesses through turbulent times brought on by Brexit, Covid, and evolving geopolitical situations. Seafish was recognized in recent years in the Sunday Times Top 100...

Echo Falls Promotes Two Senior Sales Leaders to Spearhead Branded and Private-Label Expansion

Echo Falls Seafoods announced the promotion of a pair of its sales managers, Jeff Gernand and Rachael Minieri to new leadership roles.

Gernand now becomes the company’s Director of National Sales – Branded Products, while Minieri is now the Director of Private Label Sales.

Gernand was previously the sales manager for the West Coast, and will now oversee national sales for the company’s branded products, including its Echo Falls and LASCco lines. He will manage relationships with top US retail chains and lead the company’s...

Ahold Delhaize USA Announces Plans to Build State-of-the-Art Distribution Center in Burlington, NC

$860 Million Investment Will Expand Capacity for Supply Chain Network Supporting Food Lion and Other Grocery Brands, Bringing More than 500 Jobs to Burlington, NC

Leading grocery retail group Ahold Delhaize USA has announced that its distribution and transportation companies, ADUSA Distribution and ADUSA Transportation, will build an $860 million state-of-the-art distribution center in Burlington, N.C. (Guilford County). The new facility will grow the supply chain network, which serves Ahold Delhaize USA’s omnichannel grocery brands on the...

The Retail Rundown: Poultry Promotions Pick Up Steam

Retailers are leaning into autumn demand with meat and poultry features this week, as consumers favor home-cooked meals and prepare for the holiday season.

With Thanksgiving a little more than five weeks away, early holiday promotions are starting to surface. Turkey features are gaining momentum, now accounting for 5% of total ad space, up two points from the previous week.

Retail buying opportunities for seafood and beef held steady week-over-week at 27.5% and 22.2%, respectively. Pork promotions dipped to 21.4% as National Pork Month wraps up, while chicken features rose to 19.4%.

Walmart and Avery Dennison Collaborate to Enhance Freshness and Increase Efficiency Using RFID

Walmart (NYSE: WMT) and Avery Dennison (NYSE: AVY) today announced a new innovation to advance the use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology in fresh categories previously not possible. Addressing food waste and ensuring freshness are more important than ever for consumers, producers and retailers. This first-to-market solution is set to transform inventory processes and enhance both associate and customer experiences across fresh departments — particularly bakery, meat and deli. 

Looking to help develop a solution to a longstanding industry challenge of using RFID technology in high-moisture, cold environments, like meat cases, Walmart teamed with Avery Dennison to create and test a...

US Coast Guard Suspends Coastal Buoy Modernization in the Northeast

Coast Guard District Northeast is closing the period for providing comments to the Coastal Buoy Modernization Proposal (CBMP) advertised in the Local Notice to Mariners (LNM) and directly solicited from stakeholders.

After receiving over 3,200 public comments, the Coast Guard will be conducting further analysis of the aids to navigation (ATON) system. There will be no changes to ATON in relation to the proposal until further analysis is complete.

“We are extremely appreciative of the public’s input on this important project, and our team’s hard work...

Global Initiative Sparks Movement to Take Ocean-Farmed Salmon Off the Table

Off the table, a coalition campaign led by WildFish, is mobilizing chefs, restaurants, consumers, and organizations to take ocean-farmed salmon off plates and menus worldwide, replacing it with a vision for a healthier, more sustainable food future.

Ninety-nine percent of Atlantic salmon consumed worldwide is raised in industrial sea cages, a practice that pollutes oceans with approximately one million pounds of waste per farm annually, releases harmful chemicals, and spreads diseases to wild fish populations. This practice is a...

ANALYSIS: EU-UK Latest Shrimp Import Figures Indicate Slight Dip in August

The latest data from Eurostat indicates a 5.1% year-on-year decline in EU-UK shrimp import volumes for August. However, the value of these imports reaching USD 440.86 million remained relatively stable, with a modest 0.6% increase compared to the same month last year. The drop in volume is primarily due to a significant reduction in imports from Argentina and Venezuela, who faced ongoing social and political instability. Imports from Argentina fell by 78.4%, and those from Venezuela by 44.5%...

The Klamath Basin Paradox: Salmon Stage Historic Returns as Federal Grants are Pulled

There’s been a steady stream of good news regarding Klamath River Chinook salmon: Since four dams were removed last year, fish have been seen at greater distances from the ocean, in tributaries not accessible for more than a century.  

Earlier this month, spring-run Chinook were documented above the Upper Klamath Lake threshold.  

But at almost the same time, the federal government abruptly terminated grants designed specifically for salmon monitoring, habitat restoration, wildfire mitigation and related watershed work, according to the Mid Klamath Watershed Council...