Salmon Surges While Shrimp Slips in NFI's Top 10 US Consumption Rankings

Salmon emerged as the standout winner in US seafood consumption patterns for 2023, while the traditionally dominant shrimp category showed signs of vulnerability, according to the National Fisheries Institute's annual top 10 species list.

Salmon consumption surged 0.29 pounds to 3.51 pounds per capita, reinforcing its position as America's second-most consumed seafood. The growth contrasts sharply with shrimp's performance, despite maintaining its No. 1 ranking at 5.10 pounds per capita; shrimp consumption declined by a notable 0.40 pounds from 2022 levels...

ANALYSIS: Farmgate Price Dynamics in Major Shrimp Origins and Their Impact on US Markets

Understanding how farmgate prices in key producing countries translate into US wholesale shrimp pricing requires careful attention to timing and the strength of statistical relationships. By examining five years of data—factoring in newly implemented tariffs (excluding antidumping and countervailing duties), yield loss and exchange‐rate movements—we uncover distinct lead-lag patterns and correlation intensities for two core product forms: Peeled and Deveined Tail-On (PDTO) and Headless Shell-On (HLSO).

India

In India, PDTO farmgate prices and US wholesale PDTO...

Washington State Adjusts Strategy to Limit Dangerous Low-Oxygen Levels in Puget Sound 

Across the country, states and regions are facing outdated permit processes, overwhelmed wastewater treatment plants, and competing land use policies that are creating oxygen ‘dead-zones’ where marine life cannot survive. 

Some of the worst areas in the U.S. are the northern Gulf of Mexico (now known as the Gulf of America) fanning out from the Mississippi River; the Chesapeake Bay, fed by the Susquehanna, Potomac, and James Rivers; and in the Pacific Northwest’s Puget Sound, into which the Skagit, Stillaguamish, Snohomish, Nisqually, and the Skokomish...

FDA Issues Warning Letters to Iowa Wholesaler, Chicago Importer Over Seafood HACCP Violations

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted a pair of Warning Letters on March 10, citing Chicago-based El Rey USA Meats & Seafood Inc. and Iowa-based Rio Verde Food Service Inc. for serious violations of seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulations.

Rio Verde Faces Oyster Temperature Control Issues

Rio Verde Food Service Inc., located in Des Moines, received its warning letter dated February 27 following a July 2025 inspection that found critical deficiencies in the company's live oyster HACCP program...

NOAA: Gulf Shrimp Fishery “Not Economically Sustainable” After Decades of Thin Margins

NOAA Fisheries' new economic snapshot lays out a stark picture for the Gulf shrimp industry: landings, revenues, and fleet participation are down sharply, while long-term profitability remains effectively nonexistent.

The agency found Gulf shrimp revenue plunged from $489 million in 2021 to $221 million in 2023, a drop of more than 50%. At the same time, the share of U.S. shrimp supplied by Gulf harvests fell to just 4.5% of the market in 2023, down from 28.7% in 1984, as imports, especially farmed shrimp...

Benson Seafood Rebrands, Opening New Processing Plant to Add Crab, Scallops and Value‑added Lobster

Benson Seafood, the former Benson Lobster, has rebranded and is opening a new processing facility on Grand Manan, New Brunswick, the company announced in a LinkedIn post and in comments to Navigator Magazine.

The move shifts the family business beyond live Atlantic lobster into frozen and value‑added lobster, crab and scallop products. The company said the expansion will help open “new market opportunities” for its partners and broaden its product portfolio.

CEO Casey Benson told Navigator the plant is on track to open this...

FDA Announces Recall of Certain Oysters and Clams Contaminated with Norovirus

The United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an announcement to restaurants and retailers, advising them not to serve or sell certain oysters and Manila clams from Drayton Harbor, WA. The notice specifies that the items harvested by Lummi Indian Business Council and Drayton Harbor Oyster Company may be contaminated with Norovirus.

Manila clams were distributed to foodservice establishments and retailers in Arizona (AZ), California (CA), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Illinois (IL), Nevada (NV), New York (NY)...

Seafood Expo Global Set for Record-Breaking 2026 Event in Barcelona

Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global will host its largest event to date at the Gran Via venue in Barcelona from April 21–23, 2026.

With more than 52,907 net square meters of exhibition space sold so far, the trade show is expected to be the largest in its history. Organizers say the event will feature exhibitors from more than 80 countries and include 62 national and regional pavilions.

New pavilions participating this year include the Association of the Fish Products Producers “BG FISH”...

Mowi Consumer Products to Unveil Redesigned Booth, New Packaging at SENA 2026

Mowi Consumer Products (Mowi CP) of Americas, a subsidiary of salmon farming giant Mowi, said its presence at Seafood Expo North America (SENA) 2026 will be its most ambitious yet (Booth #217). The company is gearing up to showcase its redesigned booth, new innovations, and to preview its major packaging transformation across its MOWI, Ducktrap, and Marine Harvest by Mowi brands.

“The new space brings Mowi's brand vision to life with interactive features to explore, expanded seating for deeper conversations, and dedicated areas highlighting retail...

Shinkei Systems Expands in Pacific Northwest with New Facility

Shinkei Systems, a seafood robotics company, has announced an expansion in Tacoma, Washington, set to be fully operational by the spring with a core team in place and plans for additional hiring during peak fishing seasons in the years ahead.

This Seremoni Grade Plant was acquired from FATHOM Seafood and spans 16,000 square feet.

Its location serves as a strategically positioned hub in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, within direct proximity to key regional fisheries. The company currently sources black cod from fishermen in Alaska...

Hunchun Border Crossing Becomes Main Gateway for Russian Live Crab to China

Russian‑Chinese crab trade has strengthened in recent months, supported by a surge in Chinese demand ahead of the Lunar New Year.

To handle higher volumes, logistics have improved significantly. Most Russian live crab now enters China through the Hunchun border crossing, which operated at full capacity prior to the holiday period due to increased shipments from Russia, according to Chinese media.

Hunchun, located in China's Jilin Province at the junction of the borders with Russia and North Korea, has...

Innovasea Repositions with New Brand Identity and Reorganized Leadership

Innovasea, the aquaculture technology and fish‑tracking firm, rolled out a refreshed brand identity and a reorganized leadership structure this week, positioning the company to more clearly link its product portfolio to its mission on sustainability and global seafood systems. The update includes a reimagined logo, new color palette, a redesigned website and a regrouping of offerings to highlight fully integrated open‑ocean and land‑based solutions.

The rebrand explicitly ties Innovasea’s identity to its affiliations with innovaciones Alumbra (iAlumbra) and the Cuna del Mar portfolio and emphasizes the company’s push...

US Department of Commerce Issues Preliminary CVD Results for Ecuadorian Shrimp

The US Department of Commerce (Commerce) has released preliminary results in its expedited countervailing duty (CVD) review for frozen warmwater shrimp from Ecuador, covering the period January 1–December 31, 2022.

The review followed requests from six Ecuadorian producers/exporters, but was rescinded for Natluk and Total Seafood after both companies withdrew their review requests within the required 60-day window.

The expedited CVD review continues for the remaining four companies. Preliminary subsidy rates announced in the March 10 Federal Register notice are as follows...

Day 12 of Iran War: Oil Prices Rebound After Tuesday’s Slide; Maersk Reports Multiple Ships Stranded

On Day 12 of the US-Israel war on Iran, Israel continued its bombardment of Tehran and intensified its bombings across Lebanon. Iranian retaliatory strikes persist, as several Gulf states, including Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, report intercepting missiles and drones in their airspace.

The US military says it has destroyed 16 inactive Iranian mine-laying vessels, following a warning from US President Donald Trump of “grave consequences” if oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted...

The Retail Rundown: Grocers Refresh Promotions Ahead of Spring Holidays; CPI Meets Expectations 

With spring around the corner, grocers are leaning on improving weather and refreshed promotional campaigns to attract shoppers to the meat and seafood departments.

Seafood remains a main focus this week as the Lenten season continues, accounting for 27% of total protein promotions, tied with beef for the top spot. Pork follows with 24% of total advertised features, while chicken holds 15% of total protein ad space.

Within seafood, filets dominate promotional activity, with shrimp advertisements close behind. Last week, the fresh finfish category averaged $9.84 per pound...

US Interior Department Wants Industry Input on Adding Cephalopods to Definition of Shellfish

The Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior is proposing to change the definition of “shellfish” by replacing the phrase “having a shell” with specific names of species, such as Mollusca, which would include oysters, clams, squid, octopus, or cuttlefish; and Order Decapoda, including lobsters, crabs, crayfish, shrimp or other crustaceans. 

USF&W says the action reduces regulatory burden.  

“The purpose of this proposed rule is to modernize and clarify the definition of ‘‘shellfish...

Reach3 Insights Report Shows Shift in How Americans Grocery Shop

Reach3 Insights has released a study, Rethinking Routine: What's Really Happening in the Grocery Aisle, revealing that 81% of Americans are open to trying new grocery brands. This research indicates a shift from sticking with familiar brands to more thoughtful brand comparison, research, and evaluation.

"In this time of sustained economic volatility, the grocery aisle has become more evaluative, rather than CPG shopping being comprised of quick, non-conscious decisions," said Jonathan Dore, Executive Vice President at Reach3 Insights. "Shoppers, particularly younger generations...