GSMC 2025: The Growing Appeal of Seafood in Non-Traditional Restaurants

Circana’s SVP of Food and Foodservice, David Portalatin, highlighted that after two years of declines, restaurant seafood servings found positive momentum in the past year.

Notably, seafood has found success as a valuable add-on to dishes such as pasta and salads, witnessing growth rates of 8% and 4%, respectively, in 2023. Portalatin emphasized the potential for seafood beyond traditional restaurant formats, highlighting emerging chains like Playa Bowls, Cava, and sweetgreen as prime examples of venues where seafood can thrive...

GSMC 2025: Balancing Act in Sight for the Shrimp Market in 2025?

Did you have an appearance from former NFL superstar Rob Gronkowski on your Global Seafood Market Conference (GSMC) 2025 bingo card?

Yes, the man known as Gronk made a quick video appearance in the middle of the GSMC Shrimp panel discussion, but let’s quickly shift focus to more pressing topics discussed by the panelists.

The National Fisheries Institute’s Richard Barry moderated the panel featuring Patrick Kraver of Fortune Fish & Gourmet, Gabriel Luna of Glunashrimp, Jamie Marshall of AZ Gems Inc. and Guy Pizzuti of Publix Super Markets, Inc...

GSMC 2025: Flexibility and Optionality Key to Scallop Market Amid Shrinking TACs

The headline for scallops in 2025 is the supply constraints facing the marketplace, particularly in many of the major production areas like the U.S., Canada and Japan.

This was the primary message showcased during a portion of the Shellfish Species Panel at the National Fisheries Institute (NFI)’s Global Seafood Market Conference in Palm Springs, California.

Marder added that the North Atlantic Total Allowable Catches (TACs) in the U.S. will be down by about 25%, Canada will see its...

GSMC 2025: Shellfish Panel Highlights the Lobster Meat Era

The lobster market has entered its ‘Lobster Meat Era.’ While the ‘era’ phrase may typically be found on TikTok, Expana’s Managing Editor Janice Schreiber summed up the lobster meat craze well during the Global Seafood Market Conference’s Shellfish Panel on January 21.

Owen Kenney, VP of Sales for Champlain Seafood, noted that until relatively recently, lobster meat was a byproduct as people searched for lobster tails and it was highly seasonal.

About a decade ago, lobster meat saw a massive increase in the usage of non-seasonal applications of lobster meat...

Despite Sanctions, Russia Hopes to Maintain Fish Exports to Western Europe

Russia hopes to continue exports of its fish and seafood to Western European countries in 2025. The country is leaning on a stable demand picture and a lack of full-fledged alternatives to replace Russian supplies.

This is also reflected by the earlier decisions of the authorities of many EU states to continue such supplies. For example, at the end of last year, the UK authorities refused to introduce new duties on fish products made from Russian fish.

Commenting on this, German Zverev, head of the All-Russian...

Trump Orders Temporary Halt on Offshore Wind Leasing, Calls for Federal Review

President Donald Trump issued a memorandum that directed the temporary withdrawal of all areas on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) from wind energy leasing and called for a comprehensive review of federal wind leasing and permitting practices on January 20.

The memorandum, titled, “ “Temporary Withdrawal of All Areas on the Outer Continental Shelf from Offshore Wind Leasing and Review of the Federal Government’s Leasing and Permitting Practices for Wind Projects” goes into effect today, January 21, 2025, and Saving Seafood highlighted the following directives included in the document...

Of All the Gin Joints… New Crayfish Gin Makes its Market Debut

Kennet Crayfish Company (KCC) recently unveiled a unique product well outside the realm of the UK seafood processor’s typical crayfish line-up: an unprecedented craft gin made from crayfish oil and inspired by KCC’s namesake waterway.

From seafood industry to seafood beverage industry

The licensed crayfish company usually wheels and deals in wild-caught North American signal crayfish from the Kennet chalk stream, an offshoot of the River Thames.

KCC's debut alcohol distills its success in the UK seafood industry into a craft gin that balances the sweetness...

GSMC 2025: Trump’s Tariffs A Big Stick for Statecraft, Says Rabobank Strategist

Christian Lawrence, head of cross-asset macro strategy for Rabobank, got straight to the point when discussing what the top three things in the world of macroeconomics would be for the year.

“Trump, Trump and Trump,” he told the crowd at the Global Seafood Market Conference 2025.

Lawrence highlighted that in just about 24 hours since President Donald Trump’s inauguration, he had already signed 46 Executive Orders and his impact could be massive when attempting to forecast 2025 and the years ahead...

GSMC 2025: How Consumers Perceive Seafood in 2025

Throughout the opening session of the Global Seafood Market Conference (GSMC) 2025, much of the focus revolved around seafood’s presence in retail.

Steve Markenson, vice president of research & insight for FMI – The Food Industry Association, provided a sneak peek of FMI’s annual Power of Seafood report.

Much of the conversation revolved around the perception of seafood at supermarkets and grocery stores.

Markenson noted that seafood is generally perceived to be healthy and environmentally friendly, creating a positive halo effect around the species in general. However, it is also perceived to be expensive...

The Retail Rundown: Arctic Blast Supports Egg Demand While Seafood Leads Ads

Seafood continues to lead the retail protein category for the fourth consecutive week, accounting for 29% of all featured advertisements. Beef comes in second with 25%, while pork and chicken are tied at 20% each.

Arctic air across much of the country and an unusual winter storm in the South have influenced product movement and demand this week. Expana reports that the frigid conditions have boosted egg demand as consumers stock up on essentials.

Wholesale egg prices have ascended to a fresh all-time high, with Expana’s Midwest large quotation at...

Russian Fishing Industry Hopes for High Revenue in 2025

The Russian fishing industry may show positive dynamics in terms of revenue this year, although much will depend on the further economic situation in Russia and its fish sector, as well as some external economic factors.

According to earlier predictions made by German Zverev, head of the All-Russian Association of Fish Producers (VARPE), an optimistic scenario might include the industry’s revenue exceeding 742.7 billion rubles (US $7.37 billion).

According to analysts, the Russian fish sector rests its hope in stabilizing the situation next year. That stabilization will not be...

Trump to Lay Out Trade Vision but Won't Impose New Tariffs Yet

President-elect Donald Trump is planning to issue a broad memorandum Monday that directs federal agencies to study trade policies and evaluate U.S. trade relationships with China and America's continental neighbors -- but stops short of imposing new tariffs on his first day in office, as many trading partners feared.

The presidential memo directs federal agencies to investigate and remedy persistent trade deficits and address unfair trade and currency policies by other nations, two longstanding Trump irritants. And it singles out China, Canada and Mexico for scrutiny, directing agencies...

US Coast Guard Medevacs Injured Man from Fishing Vessel 40 Miles Offshore Oahu

On Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard medevaced an injured man from a 72-foot commercial fishing vessel about 40 miles offshore of Oahu.

Watchstandrs at Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu received a notification at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday from crew members aboard the fishing vessel Capt Davis, indicating that a 34-year-old man had suffered an eye injury while the vessel was approximately 350 miles southwest of Oahu...

Supreme Crab and Seafood Pledges to Achieve Carbon Neutrality

Yesterday, Seafood importer Supreme Crab and Seafood reaffirmed its sustainability pledge by announcing its goal of achieving carbon neutrality.

To accomplish this, Supreme Crab and Seafood will continue working with the global organization Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to increase the efficiency, and reduce the carbon footprint of, its current operations. As part of its strategic approach, Supreme Crab and Seafood will focus on the following areas: sustainable sourcing, energy efficiency, supply chain optimization, and research and development...

Quin-Sea Fisheries Withdraws Membership from ASP

Today, Quin-Sea Fisheries withdrew its membership from the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP), effective immediately.

Previous friction between Quin-Sea and ASP

The withdrawal follows a series of back-and-forth interactions between the two entities, including ASP’s October 2024 application filing to the Newfoundland and Labrador’s Labour Relations Board claiming that Royal Greenland-owned Quin-Sea Fisheries refused to hand over sales receipts that the ASP argued were required to pass along under the third-party review of 2024 snow crab sales...

Maine Lobstermen Urged to Relocate Gear After Right Whale Sightings

The Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) released a bulletin urging commercial lobstermen to move their gear from Jeffreys Ledge after 75 endangered North Atlantic right whales were spotted last week just off the western edge of the area, per a January 17 bulletin.

“I am strongly urging any lobster fisherman with gear in the vicinity of the right whales on Jeffreys Ledge to move their gear to another area until surveys indicate that the whales have moved on,” DMR Commissioner Patrick Keliher said...

ANALYSIS: Navigating Volatility: US Squid Market Trends and Supply Dynamics in Late 2024

The U.S. squid market continued to grapple with significant challenges as 2024 drew to a close. Peru, a key supplier, has faced sharp supply declines throughout much of the year, with imports down 16.3% year-to-date through November—equivalent to nearly 2 million pounds below 2023 levels. November alone witnessed a dramatic 62.4% drop, amounting to a loss of 650,000 pounds. These steep declines have forced many buyers to seek alternatives amid a market already strained by external pressures...

New Hampshire Rejects Federal Lobster Catch Restrictions, Aligning with Maine's Stance

New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte sent a letter to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) stating that the state would not comply with the new guidelines focused on increasing the minimum size of lobsters caught in the Gulf of Maine.

The move mirrors a decision made by the State of Maine earlier this month, as Expana reported.

“New Hampshire’s commercial fishing industry is a proud part of our heritage, and I have heard loud and clear from our lobstermen...

Acme Smoked Fish Foundation Announces Seafood Industry Climate Awards

Earlier this week, Acme Smoked Fish Foundation announced the three winners of its annual Seafood Industry Climate Awards (SICA).

Awards of $70,000 each went to the following recipients: the Council of Great Lakes Governors, Inc. (Great Lakes, which is pictured in photo), Oceans 97, LLC (Oceans 97), and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI).

Launched in 2022, the SICA grant program helps to support early-stage efforts that reduce the carbon footprint and increase diversity within the U.S. seafood industry. This round, projects display a particular focus on circular...

GSMC 2025: Diving Into What’s Working in Seafood Retail

The Global Seafood Market Conference (GSMC) 2025 started with Chris DuBois, of Circana, who presented “Finding New Paths for Growth: What’s Working in Retail”.

Seafood at retail didn’t have the best year in 2024 compared to other food departments. While many saw sales increase in dollars and units, seafood fell by 3.6%, according to DuBois.

The dip was attributed to double-digit declines in refrigerated and frozen shellfish, followed by a more modest dip in shelf-stable seafood.

That doesn’t mean there isn’t a...

BOEM Issues Final Guidance for Fisheries Mitigation Before Temporary Halt on Offshore Wind Leasing

Last week, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), issued its final guidance for mitigating the impacts of offshore wind energy projects on commercial and for-hire recreational fisheries.

Key notes of BOEM’s final guidance

Per the final guidance, any plan approvals for siting offshore wind energy projects on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) should be accompanied by key information regarding the potential social and economic impacts of said development operations, including any impacts on recreational and commercial fishing seasons and...

Trump Fires Admiral Linda L. Fagan as Coast Guard Commandant

Within Donald J. Trump’s first 24 hours as president, he issued an order to fire the first female officer to head any branch of the military, 4-star Admiral Linda L. Fagan. Yesterday morning, acting secretary of the Homeland Security Department, Benjamine C. Huffman, sent a message to all Coast Guard units relieving Fagan of her duties. The Coast Guard, unlike all other military branches who are overseen by the Department of Defense, is within the Homeland Security Department. 

Huffman initially praised her as serving “…a long and illustrious career..."

ANALYSIS: China Shrimp Imports Declined by 6.7% in 2024

According to the latest data released by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), the country experienced a decline in its frozen shrimp imports in 2024. Total volume imported reached 1,000,507 metric tons, marking a decrease of 6.7% compared to the previous year. This decline follows a y-o-y growth in both imports and exports in 2023, which saw an increase of 12.3% in imports and 2.0% in exports between 2022 and 2023...

ANALYSIS: Canadian Lobster Exports Drop Sharply in November Year-Over-Year

In November, exports of live lobsters from Canada dropped by nearly a third compared with the same time last year, falling by 36.2%. According to the the latest census data, 1,358 metric tons of live Homarus Americanus from Canada were sent abroad in November compared to 2,014 MT last year and 3,305 MT two years ago. In value, the month of November represents 41,501 CAD ($28,807) or a 21.9% yearly decline...

Japan: November Imports for Salmon and Trout Fall 8%, and Sockeye from the US Plummets to 60 MT

According to the Ministry of Finance's trade statistics, the total import volume of salmon and trout (including salted, smoked, and prepared products) in November 2024 was 21,009 tons, down 8% from last year. The CIF import value was 27,856 million yen ($178.49 million), up 6%. The value excluding fillet imports were 14,474 tons, down 17%, while fillets (fresh, frozen, salted, and dried) increased 24% to 6,535 tons.

Minato Shimbun reported that the decrease in frozen sockeye salmon affected raw materials other...

NRGene Canada and Northern Indigenous Fish Company Partner to Turn Fish Waste Into Feed

NRGene Canada Inc., a leading AI-driven genomics company in the agricultural industry, announces its partnership with Ile-a-la-Crosse Fish Company Inc. Together, the two companies will utilize fish waste to develop sustainable protein solutions. This collaboration marks a major step forward in promoting circular economy practices and fostering a more resilient future.

The project will apply BSF larvae growth technology to convert fish processing waste into valuable resources, including high-quality protein for the pet food and aquaculture industries, and nutrient-rich organic fertilizers...

The Winding Glass:  On the Eve of Trump, Tariff Outlook May be Moderate

Last month, I wrote about a worst-case scenario for U.S. seafood if major tariffs are imposed on Canadian lobster and crab. The interdependence of production and consumption in these two countries is so entwined that any dramatic action could be hugely disruptive.

Now, on the eve of the inauguration, I believe the worst-case scenario is unlikely. In fact, the lobster and crab seasons could begin in Canada without a clear picture of tariffs. In short, the seafood industry may have time to make the necessary market...

Nordic Aquafarms Abandons $500M Salmon Facility in Belfast, ME Amid Legal Challenges

After six years and “tens of millions of investment dollars”, Nordic Aquafarms is dropping efforts to build a land-based salmon farm in Belfast, ME, according to an announcement from the firm last Friday.

“This is a sad day for Maine’s economy and outlook for aquaculture or any significant investment in the State” says Brenda Chandler, US CEO for Nordic. 

“While a few may view this as a victory, we argue that this is a significant loss overall, not just for Nordic Aquafarms but for the ...

ANALYSIS: November 2024 Marks a Pivotal Shift in the Warm Water Shrimp Market

In 2023 and 2024, the EU and UK showed overall growth in warm-water shrimp imports from the beginning of spring until November, followed by a winter demand slowdown. The U.S. followed the same pattern, but the uptick in imports occured in October. Chinese imports also rose this season, but the turning point is situated towards December or January, depending on when the Chinese New Year falls on the calendar...

16 Congressmen Release Bill to Ban NOAA Fisheries From Any Shut Down of Atlantic Red Snapper

One of the first bills introduced in the brand new 119th Congress is a bipartisan, bicameral Red Snapper Act, introduced late last week “to stop the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from unilaterally closing the red snapper fishery in the South Atlantic until reliable and accurate data from the soon-to-be completed independent study, the South Atlantic Great Red Snapper Count, is incorporated into the stock assessment.” 

The quote is from a January 16, 2025 announcement from Senator John Rutherford (R-Fl),  ...