ANALYSIS: Fresh Imported Seafood Market Faces Crossroads Ahead of August 1 Tariff Deadline

As the August 1 tariff deadline draws closer, the fresh imported seafood sector is bracing for renewed disruption. Importers, buyers and distributors remain on edge amid uncertainty over how broadly the next round of tariffs will be applied. Countries not currently engaged in trade negotiations may continue to face a blanket 10% tariff, or potentially steeper rates. At the same time, a 50% tariff has already been announced on seafood imports from Brazil, a key supplier of fresh snapper, grouper and swordfish...

Chad Stine Tapped to Lead Seattle Fish Company and Lombardi Brothers Meats

Founders Group of Food Companies announced the appointment of Chade Stine as the new President of the Seattle Fish Company and Lombardi Brothers Meats, effective August 11.

Stine will follow Christian Maas, who has been named Chief Operating Officer for Founders. In the past year and a half, Maas led the integration of Seattle Fish Company and Lombardi Brothers Meats.

Stine enters the role with over two decades of experience in the meat and seafood sectors. His most recent role was with Meats by Linz in Chicago...

NOAA Reports Slight Drop in US Large Whale Entanglements in 2023

NOAA Fisheries unveiled its National Report on Large Whale Entanglements Confirmed in the United States in 2023, which found that 64 entanglements took place in 2023, down slightly from the 67 entanglements confirmed in 2022.

It is also below the average annual number of confirmed entanglements over the previous 16 years (which was 71.8), per NOAA Fisheries. NOAA said it would continue to analyze data to determine if the dip in entanglements was a temporary decline or the beginning of a longer-term trend...

Sysco Delivers Strong Q4 and Solid FY 2025 Results

Sysco announced its fourth-quarter and full-year results Tuesday morning.

"Sysco's Q4 results exceeded expectations, as improved financial outcomes were driven by Sysco-specific initiatives and improved restaurant industry traffic. Specific to our business, USFS local volumes improved sequentially by 200 bps, including a strong exit rate in June. Importantly, drivers of our progress accelerated during the quarter, with the momentum continuing in July, an encouraging signal as we begin the next fiscal year of profitable growth" said Kevin Hourican, Sysco’s Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer...

Alaska Sea Grant Funds New Workforce Programs for Seafood Industry

New funding to support five new and continuing workforce development programs for seafood harvesters and processors was announced recently, as part of the state’s Technical and Vocational Education Program (TVEP). 

The projects include three Alaska Seafood School programs focused on food and processing regulations and safety, automated processing and refrigeration equipment, and processing plant management. 

Two TVEP-funded projects support commercial seafood harvesters. The Skipper Apprentice program in Bristol Bay provides training and mentorship for new crew, while an innovative “Scaled Seafood” project provides fisheries business training...

US Coast Guard Responds to and Photographs Chinese Research Vessel off Alaska

Last Friday the US Coast Guard’s 17th District, now called the Arctic District, detected and responded to a China-flagged research ship Xuelong-2 (Snow Dragon 2) about 334 miles north of Utqiagvik, Alaska’s northern most community on the Beaufort Sea. Utqiagvik was formerly known as Barrow. 

A Coast Guard C-130J Hercules, a long-range surveillance aircraft from Air Station Kodiak, flew over the Chinese icebreaker, noting its position as 150 miles inside the Extended Continental Shelf (ECS).  

“The U.S. Coast Guard, alongside partners and other agencies...

Latest ISSF Report Highlights Industry Progress in Tuna Sustainability 

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has released its latest Annual Conservation Measures & ProActive Vessel Register Compliance Report, showcasing strong industry progress among members when it comes to tuna sustainability. 

For the 2024 audit period, 24 participating companies achieved a 99.6% conformance rate across 33 ISSF conservation measures. These include several key practices, including traceability, bycatch mitigation, and the prevention of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. This result represents a slight increase from the 99.1% conformance rate reported in November 2024. 

The report also includes the first...

US-EU Trade Announcement: Markets Open to American Food and Beverage Producers

As of July 27, the United States and the European Union reached a trade agreement: The US will charge a 15% tariff on all imports across-the-board (including sector-specific rates like those on autos) from the coalition of countries, according to a joint announcement between US President Trump and European Commission President von der Leyen. 

The trade deal will contain agreements whereby the EU will purchase $750 billion in energy from the US, invest an additional $600 billion into the US, open markets to...

GAPP to Unveil Wild Alaska Pollock Industry’s Second Life Cycle Assessment Results at 2025 Meeting  

The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) has announced that findings from the Wild Alaska Pollock industry’s second Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) will be revealed at its seventh annual meeting, scheduled for September 18, 2025.  

The study analyzes the industry’s environmental footprint across several key categories, including land and water resources, global warming potential, and energy use. 

“Our consumer research continues to show that sustainable protein continues to elevate in importance for food purchasing decisions,” said GAPP CEO Craig Morris. “As we...

Clearwater Sells Macduff Processing Operations to Seafood Ecosse

Canadian seafood company Clearwater Seafoods has sold the land-based processing operations of Macduff Shellfish to Scotland’s Seafood Ecosse, returning the operations to Scottish ownership. Under a new strategic alliance, Clearwater will continue to operate the scallop fishing vessels that supply Macduff.

 The new strategic alliance will see Clearwater operate the scallop fishing vessels that exclusively supply the Macduff operations. Macduff is one of the largest wild-caught shellfish processors in Europe.

Macduff Shellfish said the move between the two firms will “enhance the value of Scottish seafood” and improve service to...

Indian Seafood Producer Applauds UK Trade Pact, Foresees Export Surge for Shrimp

Indian seafood firm Kings Infra applauded the recent trade deal between India and the United Kingdom as it will lead to duty-free access for India’s seafood exports to the UK.

The company said the move will benefit exporters and boost trade volumes. Kings Infra pointed out that frozen fish ands shrimp products, processed seafood and fishmeal and fish-based ingredients will all benefit from the increased market access to the UK.

“This FTA is a landmark moment for Indian aquaculture. Duty-free access...

Japan: Farmed Coho Salmon Landings in Miyagi Reach 15,000 MT, Surpassing JPY 10 Billion in Value 

As of mid-July, the total landing volume of farmed coho salmon in Miyagi Prefecture for the 2025 season (March–July) has reached 14,900 metric tons — a 15% increase compared to the same time last year. This exceeds planned production by 3%. The total value stands at 12,403 million yen ($83.74 million), surpassing 10 billion yen ($67.51 million) for the first time in two years. 

The average unit price was 833 yen/kg ($5.62/kg), up...

Inside the 2025 Food Manufacturing Landscape: Workforce Challenges and Investment Uptick

Global Location Strategies (GLS), a site selection advisory firm, unveiled its 2025 edition of the Best Places for Food Manufacturing Insights Report, which featured some intriguing takeaways about the impact of tariffs, immigration raids, and regulatory shifts on food manufacturing expansion.

The report features findings from the sector that spans animal food manufacturing, grain and oilseed milling, sugar and confectionery product manufacturing, fruit and vegetable preserving, specialty food manufacturing, dairy product manufacturing, animal slaughtering and processing, seafood product preparation and packaging, bakeries and tortilla manufacturing, and other food...

Oregon Recruiting for Seafood Commodity Commissions

Have a penchant for helping improve Oregon’s fisheries? Serving on a state seafood commodity commission may fulfill that desire. 

The Oregon Department of Agriculture is seeking applicants to fill positions on three commercial fisheries commissions. The deadline to apply is Aug. 15, 2025. 

The Director of the ODA appoints commissioners. Once selected, commissioners serve as public officials, typically serving three-year terms. Each year, commissioners develop and approve a budget using their commodity's assessments (and other funds that may be available) for projects including non-branded promotion, research and education. Commissioners...

Young Male Humpback Whale Found Dead in Gastineau Channel Near Juneau, AK

Last Saturday, a small humpback whale carcass was spotted drifting past Sandy Beach in Douglas, Alaska, just across Gastineau Channel from the state capital of Juneau. 

The Alaska Region Marine Mammal Stranding Network of NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard was notified to secure the calf’s carcass and tow it to a place where experts could perform a necropsy. The necropsy was conducted on Sunday, but lab results will not be known for several days, since many of the tissue samples were sent...

Ex-Ready Seafood Execs Push Back Against Lawsuit, Deny Stealing Trade Secrets

Two former Ready Seafood executives are firing back at their old employer’s lawsuit, denying in newly filed court papers that they stole trade secrets or poached customers to launch their competing company, Packers Pride USA.

In a motion filed on July 24, Andrew Daughan and Robert Kragh, and their company, opposed the temporary and preliminary restraining order that was filed by Ready Seafood earlier this month, as Expana’s Seafoodnews reported last week. The restraining order would halt Packers Pride from soliciting Ready’s customers in the coming years...

Premium Salmon Producer Varlaks Enters France with Carrefour Partnership

Varlaks, a company producing premium salmon products under the Norwegian Seafood umbrella, announced that its products are on the shelves at major French retailer Carrefour.

The company announced that its Arctic-raised salmon has debuted at test stores in France, stating that the partnership “feels like the beginning of something that matters.”

“We’re proud to partner with a team that shares our focus on quality, freshness, and integrity. Together, we want to bring a new kind of seafood story to French consumers. A story that feels real,” the company wrote in...