ANALYSIS: Rising Middle East Tensions Cast Uncertainty Over Growing US Seafood Imports

Middle East and North African seafood exports to the United States totaled approximately 95.3 million lbs. in 2025, advancing from 91.3 million lbs in 2024. Normally, this steady growth would indicate healthy demand and resilient supply chains. Now, however, the numbers are being scrutinized in a new light as an intensifying regional conflict threatens to derail trade flows and disrupt maritime logistics. 

War threatens key shipping routes 

Israeli and US strikes on Iran, followed by Iranian retaliation, have forced shutdowns of oil and gas facilities across...

Maine Lobster Harvest Drops 8M Pounds in 2025, Value Down More Than $75M

Maine’s lobster fishery softened in 2025, with preliminary state data showing landings down by roughly 8 million pounds and total value falling by more than $75 million year‑over‑year.

The Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) reported lobstermen landed 78.8 million pounds last year, generating just over $461 million at the dock. The average boat price was $5.85 per pound — the third‑highest on record — but higher per‑pound returns did not offset the volume decline...

Regal Springs Launches King Tilapia as Whitefish Alternative Amid Supply Constraints

Regal Springs CEO Graham Ellis unveiled the company's new King Tilapia product at the North Atlantic Seafood Forum (NASF), calling it a “significant step forward” for the whitefish category.

The launch comes as Regal Springs positions tilapia as a key fill-in amid ongoing supply constraints and quota reductions for other whitefish species.

The firm said King Tilapia is part of a broader push to align the industry around a formal tilapia standard. The initiative includes size and grading specifications...

Seafood Excellence Award Finalists Unveiled for Seafood Expo North America 2026

The finalists for the Seafood Excellence Awards have been announced ahead of Seafood Expo North America in Boston.

Diversified, producer of the continent’s largest seafood trade show, said 12 finalists were chosen from the New Product Showcase long list of market‑ready products launched or due to launch in North America in the past 18 months. The finalists were selected from 108 entries and will compete for two honors: Best New Foodservice Product and Best New Retail Product.

An expert panel will evaluate entries on product uniqueness and market...

US-Israel War on Iran Enters Seventh Day Amid Ongoing Strikes and Regional Fallout

The US-Israel war on Iran has entered its seventh day, with strikes continuing across the Middle East. Operation Epic Fury, the joint US-Israel campaign, has killed over 1,330 people in Iran, with Israel claiming near-complete air superiority over Iran.

Regional impacts are mounting. In Kuwait and Bahrain, missile attacks from Iran were intercepted, with a fire contained at a Bahraini oil refinery. The UAE and Qatar faced multiple missile and drone strikes, while Tel Aviv was targeted in Iran’s attacks.

Israel intensified its bombardment in Lebanon, and Azerbaijan suspended cross-border traffic following drone attacks...

Korea’s Japanese Seafood Imports Recover to Pre-nuclear Power Plant Accident Levels

According to import and export statistics from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of South Korea, imports of Japanese seafood reached $247 million in 2025, up 27% from the previous year. This increase was primarily driven by significant growth in live fish such as yellowtail and sea bream, which helped imports return to levels seen before the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in 2011. 

After the accident, South Korea continued to ban seafood from eight prefectures, including Fukushima. Imports stagnated at around $100 million from 2012...

Princes Hits 100% MSC-Certified Tuna Sourcing Milestone

Princes Group says it has met its 2025 goal to source 100% of its branded tuna from Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified fisheries, representing around 70 million cans a year, marking what it calls a major step forward for sustainable seafood supply in the UK.

The achievement comes after several years of investment in traceability, collaboration with fishing partners and what the company describes as a large-scale supply chain transformation. Princes set the ambition in 2022 and says it has helped drive a 15‑fold increase in MSC‑certified...

Seafood Nutrition Partnership to Host ‘Fall in Love with Seafood’ Progressive Party at SENA 2026 

The Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) will bring its National Seafood Council Task Force (NSCTF) members together at Seafood Expo North America (SENA) in Boston from March 15-17 to promote seafood nutrition and sustainability through its “Fall In Love With Seafood” campaign.

At the event, SNP will co-host a progressive party at participating member booths to spark conversations on seafood nutrition and offer attendees a chance to engage directly with industry leaders. Registration is available online ahead of the Expo...

ASC Opens a Stakeholder Consultation on Supply Chain Requirements 

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is launching a 60-day public consultation today (2 March 2026) on proposed revisions to its Chain of Custody (CoC) Module. The consultation forms part of ASC’s wider programme of upholding strong social and animal welfare protections across the seafood value chain. It also reflects the organisation’s commitment to robust assurance and meaningful stakeholder engagement. The proposed revisions aim to introduce human rights and humane slaughter requirements, and improve food safety provisions, while aiming to maintain alignment with the Marine Stewardship...

18-Member MAFAC Replaced by One “Fisherman in Residence” AT NOAA, Huffman and Dexter Cry Foul

On Monday this week, two members of Congress sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Under Secretary Dr. Neil Jacobs demanding accountability for the newly appointed “Fisherman in Residence” — Dustin Delano, who continues to work for industry trade associations in a role as advocate, often before the agency responsible for regulating U.S. fisheries, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  

“Based on the available evidence, Mr. Delano has continued to work in both roles simultaneously...

US Attorney’s Office in Anchorage Charges Three SE Alaska Fishermen With Sinking Their Vessels

According to a case put together by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Environmental Crimes Unit, three fishermen from Southeast Alaska have been charged with intentionally sinking their own boats and abandoning the wreckage.

The vessels were allegedly scuttled in waters near Sitka and Petersburg. Separate criminal filings were made by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska in Anchorage yesterday.

The accused are John Fisher, 59, of Sitka, is charged with...

Norwegian Seafood Exports Slip in February; Salmon Rises but US Demand Falls Sharply

Norway exported seafood worth NOK 13.8 billion ($1.4 billion) in February, a 2% decline from the same month a year earlier, the Norwegian Seafood Council reported on March 4. Exports for January–February totaled NOK 28.5 billion, down NOK 777 million (2.7%) versus the same period in 2025.

“Lower supplies of shellfish and wild-caught fish due to quota reductions, combined with a still troubled world and trade barriers, are affecting the market, product flows and prices even more strongly than we have experienced before...

NASA Scientists Join SCEMFIS Industry Advisory Board 

The Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCEMFIS) has announced the addition of researchers from NASA’s Earth Science Division to its Industry Advisory Board (IAB). This partnership creates new opportunities to integrate NASA’s Earth observations into future SCEMFIS research, enabling closer collaboration with NASA scientists and advancing SCEMFIS’ mission to support groundbreaking marine science research.

This collaboration is particularly significant as NASA has pioneered satellite research measuring the biological and physical characteristics of the world’s oceans. Such data has been integral to scientific research broadly, and fisheries research specifically. NASA’s...

EU Continues Importing Russian Fish Despite Sanctions

The European Union continues to import fish from Russia despite sanctions. In the first half of 2025, Russian fish exports to the EU rose to 122,000 tons, driven mainly by pollock fillets, whose supply more than doubled.

While official figures for the full year 2025 are not yet available, most analysts expect growth to continue at a similar pace.

In 2024, the EU imported fish and seafood from Russia for $751.74 million, with comparable figures expected for 2025.

The EU primarily imports white fish...

The United States and Mexico Launch Review Process of the USMCA

Today, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard announced the first round of bilateral discussions in preparation for the Joint Review of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA).

The ministers instructed negotiators to begin a scoping discussion on the necessary measures to ensure the benefits of the Agreement accrue primarily to the parties, including by reducing dependence on imports from outside the region, strengthening rules of origin, and enhancing the security of North American supply chains...

Captain Fresh Acquires Frime, Bolstering European Tuna Production and Sourcing

Captain Fresh, the India-based global seafood company, has completed its acquisition of FRIME S.A.U. (Frime), a leading tuna processor and distributor in Spain. The deal broadens Captain Fresh’s portfolio and strengthens its presence in Europe, described by the company as a “processing stronghold.”

Frime operates four production sites across seven factories with an annual capacity of 5,000 tons of frozen, 9,000 tons of fresh, and 3,800 tons of semi-preserved products. The acquisition also adds €50 million invested into state-of-the-art facilities in Barcelona, which...

US‑Israeli Strikes on Iran Enter Fifth Day as Shipping Companies Divert Vessels 

The United States and Israel have launched strikes against Iran for a fifth day, targeting military, government, and nuclear-related sites in and around Tehran. In response, Iran has launched retaliatory missiles and drones, striking energy infrastructure and diplomatic compounds across the Gulf.

The conflict is expanding regionally, with heightened security alerts across Gulf states and reports of damage to civilian and economic infrastructure. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy chokepoint, has experienced significant disruptions threatening worldwide oil flows...

Save Our Shrimpers Act Clears Key House Committee, Aims to Block Fed Financing of Foreign Farms

The House Financial Services Committee passed Congressman Troy E. Nehl’s (R-TX) Save Our Shrimpers Act on March 4.

The bill would ban federal funds from being made available to international financial institutions to finance foreign shrimp farms, as Expana covered when it was first introduced in 2024. It was reintroduced in March 2025.

“Shrimpers across the country, including shrimpers in my district, are struggling to stay afloat due to an excess of foreign shrimp flooding our markets,” Nehls said...

USTR, Mexican Economy Secretary Launch Initial USMCA Review Discussions

US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer and Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard launched an initial round of discussions ahead of the Joint Review of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) on March 5.

Greer said negotiators are expected to hold initial meetings the week of March 15 with regular meetings to follow.

“The ministers instructed negotiators to begin a scoping discussion on the necessary measures to ensure the benefits of the Agreement accrue primarily to the parties, including by reducing dependence on imports from outside the region...

Whitecap Strengthens North American and European Sales Teams with New Managers

Canada-based seafood export firm Whitecap International bolstered its sales team with the hires of Bryan Carroll as US Sales Manager and Steve Spicer as European Sales Manager.

Spicer announced his new role with Whitecap on LinkedIn earlier this week. Spicer previously held roles with Nordic Seafood and Ocean Choice International, per his profile on the social media platform.

“Whitecap is delighted to add Steve Spicer to our UK and European Sales team,” Whitecap’s President and CEO, Darrell Roche, wrote on LinkedIn. “Steve brings an immense amount of experience...

Quebec Clears the Way for AquaBoreal Land-based Salmon Farming

AquaBoreal has reached a major milestone with yesterday's official filing of a ministerial decree authorizing the implementation of its land-based aquaculture project in Quebec. This major regulatory breakthrough confirms the project's full compliance with current environmental requirements and attests to the rigour and depth of the assessment process it has gone through in order to meet all the Government of Quebec's expectations.

This authorization marks a key milestone for the project and means the company can start the process of obtaining construction permits...

US-Spain Seafood Trade Faces Uncertainty as Trump Threatens Sanctions Over Military Base Dispute

The key seafood trade between Spain and the United States is under potential threat as US President Donald Trump has threatened to cut off all trade with Spain over the country's refusal to allow US military use of its bases for strikes on Iran.

For the seafood sector, such a move would have significant consequences. According to US Customs data compiled on Expana's Foreign Trade Data platform, Spain exported roughly 65.6 million pounds of seafood to the US in 2025, valued at over $300 million...

ANALYSIS: Fresh Salmon Offers Could Increase as Middle East Conflict Disrupts Supply Chains

Norwegian and Chilean salmon exporters are beginning to offer additional volumes into alternative markets, including the USA, as deteriorating logistics in the Middle East threaten to upend regular trade flows. The move highlights the urgency of redirecting fresh product away from blocked routes.

Industry contacts indicate that both nations are actively seeking buyers outside their Middle East channels, spurred by constrained maritime and air logistics through the Strait of Hormuz and key air hubs in Dubai (DXB) and Doha (DOH)...

Northern Wind Welcomes Stuart R. Benton as New Chief Financial Officer

Northern Wind, a global seafood sourcing company, has announced the appointment of Stuart R. Benton, CPA, CGMA, as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). This move further strengthens the company’s leadership team as it accelerates investments in infrastructure, product innovation, and market expansion.

In his new role, Benton will lead the company's global financial strategy and enhance governance to support its expanding domestic and international footprint. He'll oversee the organization’s core financial functions and serve as a strategic partner to the Board and...

Seafood You Can Trust Launches as Save Mart Leads Responsible Sourcing Initiative

Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) launched Seafood You Can Trust, a marketing toolkit that is part of a new, insight-driven campaign designed to help retailers and foodservice operators effectively communicate responsible seafood sourcing at the point of purchase.

US grocery chain Save Mart has signed on as the program's first retailer to participate in the campaign, making Seafood You Can Trust available in all Save Mart and Lucky locations.

This innovative toolkit offers retailers and foodservice operators a suite of customizable assets, including...

Taylor Shellfish Farms Earns First US ASC Certification for Bivalve Aquaculture

America’s appetite for oysters is growing, and the seafood industry is responding with stronger sustainability commitments. As consumption climbs and tinned seafood sales surge, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) announced that Washington-based Taylor Shellfish Farms, North America’s largest oyster producer, has earned ASC certification — becoming the first and only bivalve farm in the United States to achieve the designation.

The milestone also makes Taylor Shellfish just the fifth US farm in ASC’s global certification program, expanding the availability of ASC...

Navigating the Trump Tariff Turbulence: A Comprehensive Timeline

US President Donald Trump and his administration have paused reciprocal tariffs on most countries.

“Based on the lack of respect that China has shown... I am hereby raising the [tariff] charged to China by the [USA] to 125%, effective immediately,” wrote Trump on Truth Social at 1:18 pm ET. 

It’s not clear if this 125% is in addition to the 20% imposed on Chinese imports to the US. In early March, Trump noted that he would add another 10% tariff on Chinese goods...

Culinary Excellence Takes Center Stage at the 152nd Kentucky Derby®

The 152nd Kentucky Derby® is not just a feast for the eyes but also the taste buds, thanks to an innovative menu crafted by Chef Robert Lopez, Senior Executive Chef for Levy Restaurants and Head Chef at Churchill Downs.

This year's menu is a nod to both traditional and modern flavors, offering fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from nearby farms. The menu features locally inspired dishes like chicken paired with roasted peach chutney and Kentucky BBQ shrimp.

Chef Lopez summarized his approach saying, "Churchill Downs is always committed to...

ANALYSIS: Brazil Lobster Tail Exports to China Surge, US Imports Fall

Historically, the United States has been the primary destination for Brazil-origin lobster tails, consistently accounting for the largest volume share. However, in recent years and especially since the imposition of tariffs in 2025, trade flows have been dramatically altered, with China emerging as the dominant market. 

From 2020 through 2024, US imports of lobster tails from Brazil have been in decline, dropping sharply in 2025 to just 829 thousand pounds — a 60% decrease versus the prior year and 65% below the 5-year average...

ANALYSIS: Asian Shrimp Exports Face Delays Due to Middle East Turmoil

The severe armed conflict that started this weekend in the Middle East is not reported to have directly impacted the production or demand of shrimp globally.  

Indirectly, India, Indonesia and Vietnam are major sellers to the Western customers. In 2025, the US and Europe accounted for over half of India’s shrimp export revenue, markets noted for their competitiveness and sensitivity to price. 

Consequently to the conflict between Israel, the US and Iran, the closure of the Red Sea access will induce an estimated two-week delay and additional...