Clearwater Scallop Shortfall Weighs on Premium Brands' Seafood Results as Parent Posts Record Q2

Clearwater Seafoods delivered a difficult second quarter, with total revenue falling $46.4 million year-on-year to $91.7 million as a combination of asset sales and weak Canadian scallop catch rates dragged on performance — even as parent company Premium Brands Holdings Corporation posted record overall results for the period ended June 27, 2026.

Three factors drove Clearwater's revenue decline: the sale of its Macduff land-based operations in Q3 2025, the divestiture of its Argentine scallop business during the latter...

Federal Investment Strengthens Small Craft Harbor Infrastructure in Newfoundland and Labrador

Small craft harbors play a vital role in keeping Canada’s seafood sector moving, providing the infrastructure needed for fishing activity, product shipment and business in coastal regions. Together, the country’s commercial fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing industries employ close to 65,000 people, including more than 42,900 commercial harvesters. In 2025, fish and seafood exports reached $8.47 billion nationwide, with Newfoundland and Labrador accounting for about $1.75 billion of that total.

To help maintain that infrastructure, Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson has announced federal...

DFO Launches Tougher Transfer Enforcement, Public Consultations on Inshore Fishing Regulations

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) says it is taking additional steps to protect Atlantic Canada and Quebec’s $3 billion annual inshore fishery, as it continues a comprehensive review of regulations that took effect in 2021.

The Inshore Regulations were introduced to clarify who can hold a licence, who must do the fishing, and who can make decisions about fishing activities. DFO began its review of the rules in February 2026.

Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson announced two new measures aimed at ensuring the economic benefits...

HF Foods Expands into Canada with $35M Acquisition of Searay Foods

HF Foods Group Inc., a distributor of international foodservice solutions to Asian restaurants and other businesses across the United States, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Searay Foods Inc., including Morgan Foods Inc. and Searay Foods USA Inc. for approximately CAD$47.9 million (about US$35 million based on current exchange rates).

Announced July 23, the acquisition marks HF Foods' first expansion outside the United States and its entry into the Canadian market.

British Columbia-based Searay is an importer and distributor of ethnic...

Newfoundland and Labrador Seafood Sector Valued at C$2.11bn in 2025

Newfoundland and Labrador’s seafood industry generated a combined market value of C$2.11 billion in 2025, with the wild fisheries and aquaculture sectors continuing to underpin the province’s economy, according to newly released data.

"Our seafood industry continues to be a major economic driver for Newfoundland and Labrador, supporting workers, families and communities throughout the province," said Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Loyola O’Driscoll. "Surpassing $2 billion in market value is a significant milestone that reflects the strength of our local fishing...

Canada, Quebec Renew $50M Fisheries Fund with Market Diversification Focus

The Quebec Fisheries Fund has been renewed with $50 million over five years to help the province's fish and seafood sector invest in innovation, infrastructure and new markets.

Announced by federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson and Quebec Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Donald Martel, the renewed program is designed to help harvesters, processors and aquaculture businesses improve productivity, adapt to ecosystem changes and expand into new markets.

A key addition to the renewed fund is a market development and diversification stream aimed...

Study Backs Marine Conservation Farming as Tool for Atlantic Salmon Recovery

A newly published study on the Fundy Salmon Recovery (FSR) project is adding momentum to calls for Canada to adopt new tools to restore wild Atlantic salmon populations, arguing that habitat work alone will not be enough to reverse declines.

The research, published in Fisheries Research by scientists from the University of New Brunswick, Parks Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, found that salmon raised through the project’s marine conservation farming approach produced more than four times as many offspring as fish reared entirely in traditional...

NOAA Links Chinook Salmon Declines in Yukon River to Bering Sea Heatwaves

In a new study, NOAA scientists at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center have linked the rapid decline of Chinook salmon in the Yukon River to marine heatwaves during 2016–2019, a period when adult run sizes reached their lowest levels on record.

The researchers used a new modeling approach to reconstruct the full Chinook life cycle by combining data from multiple sources: juvenile marine survey data and bycatch information collected by the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, and adult monitoring data collected by the Alaska Department...

CFIA recalls Five Star Shellfish Oysters Over Salmonella Risk

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has recalled several Five Star Shellfish Inc. oyster products sold in Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec over possible Salmonella contamination.

The recall, issued by the Poplar Grove based company in Prince Edward Island, includes Malpeque, Conway Pearls, Blackberry and Gooseberry oysters harvested on June 22, 2026, from harvest location PEI 1Q. Affected products include select 25-count, 100-count and 2.5-pound packages shipped on June 22 or 23, 2026.

Consumers, retailers and food service operators are advised not to consume...

Canada Reopens Northern Shrimp Fishery Off Newfoundland for First Time in Over a Decade

The commercial Northern shrimp fishery will open off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador for the first time in over a decade, Canada's Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson announced on June 22.

Thompson confirmed the reopening of Shrimp Fishing Area (SFA) 7, the domestic portion of NAFO Division 3L off eastern Newfoundland and Labrador, along with the establishment of a Total Allowable Catch of 1,367 tonnes for the 2026-2027 season.

The fishery was shut following a 2015 NAFO moratorium...

Nova Scotia Launches 3-Year Seafood Strategy with Innovation, Market Expansion Push

Nova Scotia unveiled its new Seafood Sector Strategy on June 24, aiming to help the province's seafood industry "adapt, compete and create more economic benefit" amid rising costs, labor shortages, and global trade uncertainty.

Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Kent Smith released the three-year strategy at Sea Star Seafoods in Clark's Harbour, highlighting the sector's critical role as Nova Scotia's top export industry. The province's seafood exports were valued at CAD 2.2 billion in 2025, supporting approximately 19,000 jobs...

Americold Opens New Cold Chain Hub at Port Saint John, Expanding Global Trade Connections

Americold Realty Trust has opened a new import-export hub at Port Saint John, strengthening links between North American producers and international markets while advancing temperature-controlled logistics in Canada.

Unveiled during Port Days 2026, the facility was developed with DP World and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). The project combines cold storage, maritime logistics and rail transportation in a single location, creating what the companies describe as the first integrated operation of its kind globally...

Canada Boosts Newfoundland Northern Cod Quota 55% to 59,000 Tonnes

Canada's Newfoundland and Labrador Northern cod quota will jump 55% to 59,000 tonnes in 2026, Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson announced, marking the third consecutive year of significant increases as global cod supplies tighten.

The increase in the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) to 38,000 tonnes continues the fishery's remarkable recovery trajectory since its reopening in 2024 after a 32-year moratorium. The decision comes as other major cod-producing regions face declining quotas, creating opportunities for Canadian suppliers in premium markets...

Commercial Sockeye Opening Kicks off 2026 Wild BC Salmon Season in Barkley Sound

Commercial salmon harvesters are heading to Barkley Sound near Port Alberni as British Columbia’s 2026 Wild BC Salmon season officially gets underway. The first commercial sockeye opening of the year begins June 9, marking an early milestone for the province’s fishing industry.

The opening is fueling renewed optimism across the coast, with forecasts stronger than they have been in years. An estimated 7.5 million Fraser River sockeye are expected to return in 2026, making it the largest forecast run...

Canadians Want Sustainable, Traceable Seafood as Ocean Concerns Grow

As the world marks World Ocean Day, a new survey suggests Canadians are deeply concerned about the condition of the oceans but remain increasingly optimistic that meaningful progress can be made.

The survey, released by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) in Canada, found that 90% of Canadian seafood consumers are concerned about the state of the ocean. At the same time, 41% said they are optimistic about the world's ability to protect oceans over the next two decades.

The findings are part of a global study conducted by...

Quinlan Sues Newfoundland Government Over 2024 Seizure of $500K Worth of Crab

Canadian seafood processor Quinlan has filed suit in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador against the province's Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, seeking damages from the seizure and destruction of snow crab in July 2024.

The lawsuit alleges government officials acted "without lawful authority" when they seized and destroyed approximately 52,000 pounds of processed crab ready for market, causing substantial financial losses estimated at $500,000 and significant harm to the company's reputation.

"This action is not about the current government, and it should not come...

Ocean Supercluster Backs $25M in Projects, Including First Seafood-Specific HPP System in Canada

Canada's Ocean Supercluster announced three new projects on July 28 totaling more than $25 million in combined value, spanning premium seafood processing technology, zero-emission marine transportation, and smart marine glazing.

The most directly relevant for the seafood industry is the $6.2 million Advancing Technology for Premium Seafood Exports Project, led by Richmond, B.C.-based Ocean Master Foods International in partnership with HPP Tolling Facility Canada. The Ocean Supercluster is investing $2.4 million, with the remainder coming from project partners. The project...

High Liner Foods' Sea Cuisine Skillet Meals Hit Retail Shelves After SENA Debut

High Liner Foods announced on July 27 that its Sea Cuisine Skillet Meals are now available at select grocery stores across the United States, completing a journey that began with a first look at the Seafood Expo North America in March.

The line, three globally inspired, one-pan seafood dinners ready in 15 minutes, is designed to address what the company describes as a meaningful gap in the frozen meals aisle. Chicken and beef account for nearly 70% of the top 300 frozen multi-serve SKUs...

DFO Fishery Officers Issue Violations During Surveillance Operation in Northern British Columbia

Canada's fishery officers uncovered multiple violations during a recent enforcement operation in northern British Columbia, according to an update from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) published on July 22.

The surveillance operation focused on ensuring compliance with fisheries regulations and licence conditions across both the commercial and recreational sectors.

During the operation, fishery officers inspected recreational fishing vessels, commercial Area F troll vessels and commercial Area C gillnet vessels, as well as the operations of three recreational fishing...

Canadian Seafood Not Targeted by Trump's New 50% US Tariffs

Fish and seafood do not appear in any of the three proclamations President Trump signed on July 20 imposing 50% tariffs on Canadian goods, continuing a pattern of protection that has shielded the sector through each round of the US-Canada trade dispute.

Trump signed three separate proclamations invoking Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, each targeting a specific grievance: discriminatory treatment of US motor vehicles, a near-total ban by Canadian provinces on US alcoholic beverages, and unequal dairy tariff-rate quota access compared to EU producers...

DFO Enforcement Roundup: Snow Crab, Lobster, and Groundfish Violations Highlight Busy Start to July

Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has released a series of enforcement updates this month, covering incidents from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The actions span illegal snow crab offloading, lobster violations, groundfish monitoring failures, and an earlier elver smuggling conviction.

860 Pounds of Snow Crab Intercepted in Newfoundland

On July 1, fishery officers from the Springdale Detachment in Newfoundland and Labrador intercepted a fishing vessel returning to port in the Triton area carrying approximately 860 pounds...

FFAW Renews Push for Commercial Mackerel Reopening after DFO Maintains Closure

The Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW-Unifor) is ramping up pressure on the federal government to revisit its 2026 Atlantic mackerel management decision, arguing that the latest stock assessment and conditions on the water no longer justify keeping the commercial fishery closed.

The call comes after Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) released its latest science assessment, which found Atlantic mackerel biomass increased by nearly 50 per cent over the past year. Despite the improvement, the stock remains in the critical zone under Canada's rebuilding...

Les Hodges: Market Access Becomes the New Measure of Value

The defining issue in the global crab market is no longer production alone. Across every major producing region, the ability to access the highest-value markets is becoming a more important factor of profitability than the size of the harvest itself. Biological conditions continue to improve in Alaska, Norway remains constrained by lower king crab quotas, Russia continues directing premium live product into Asia, and Japan is finding it more difficult to compete for available supply. The result is a global market increasingly shaped by tariffs, sanctions...

Canada Raises Mackerel, Southern Gulf Fall Herring Catch Limits

Canada is increasing catch limits for Atlantic mackerel and Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence fall herring after updated stock assessments showed improved conditions, a move officials said will support harvesters and strengthen fisheries in Atlantic Canada and Quebec.

The Honourable Joanne Thompson, minister of fisheries, announced the new total allowable catch, or TAC, levels, citing peer-reviewed science, industry input and socioeconomic factors.

For Atlantic mackerel, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans said its 2026 stock assessment, completed ahead of the usual two-year cycle, found...

Cooke to Take Over Mowi's Atlantic Canada Salmon Farms in CAD 225 Million Deal

Mowi has agreed to sell its Atlantic Canada salmon farming operations to Cooke Inc. for CAD 225 million ($158 million) on a debt-free basis, the companies announced Tuesday, as the Norwegian salmon giant moves to exit a region that has weighed heavily on its financial performance.

The Share Purchase Agreement covers Mowi's operations across New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, including freshwater hatchery facilities, sea farming sites, and two processing plants. Standing biomass at the time of the deal was approximately...

USMCA Is in Limbo. Here's What That Means for North American Seafood.

With a July 1 deadline looming, President Trump recently announced that the US will likely not reauthorize the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) for a full 16-year extension, opting instead for a rolling annual review process that trade analysts say could drag well into 2027.

"I would rather not have the agreement, but I may sign it," Trump said in France on June 17. "We do better as a country if we don't have ​an agreement...

Young Right Whale Entangled in Gulf of St. Lawrence as Rescue Efforts Begin

Canadian authorities are working to track and potentially rescue a 5-year-old North Atlantic right whale spotted entangled in fishing gear in the Gulf of St. Lawrence on June 8.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) reported that an aerial survey near Shippagan, New Brunswick, identified the whale as Catalog #5192, an unnamed male with fishing rope caught in its mouth and trailing several body lengths behind its body.

Scientists at the New England Aquarium confirmed the whale was last seen gear-free...

Canada Launches Mission to Combat IUU Fishing in the North Pacific Ocean

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing threatens national and international fish stocks, ocean ecosystems, and global markets. Last Tuesday, Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) launched its fourth annual high seas patrol to detect and deter IUU fishing in the North Pacific Ocean.

The mission, known as Operation North Pacific Guard (Op. NPG), is led by DFO fishery officers and supported by the Canadian Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The patrol also includes representatives from the US Coast Guard...

Canada Secures New Seafood Export Openings Across Five Global Markets

Canada is expanding export opportunities for its fish, seafood and aquatic products sector after securing new and renewed market access in Vietnam, Oman, Brazil, Armenia and Costa Rica. The developments, led by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), are expected to support trade diversification and strengthen the global reach of Canadian exporters.

Among the most significant gains is the restoration of access to Vietnam for chilled and frozen finfish fillets and steaks after the country accepted a Canadian health certificate. The move reopens...

NL and Seafood Industry Seeks Federal Support to Maintain Marine Atlantic's Essential Service Status

The Newfoundland and Labrador provincial government has called for federal help to ensure the Marine Atlantic ferry service remains an "essential service" within the province.

NL Premier Tony Wakeham wrote to the federal Minister of Transport to express concern over an application currently before the Canada Industrial Relations Board that would reconsider Marine Atlantic's "essential service" designation.

"Marine Atlantic is more than a ferry service. It is a critical supply chain and transportation link for Newfoundland and Labrador, and the primary means of moving essential...