BCSFA Says New Report Confirms Salmon Farms Don’t Drive Sea Lice Levels in Wild Salmon

A recently published peer-reviewed paper in Diseases of Aquatic Organisms provides strong evidence that removing salmon farms in British Columbia’s Broughton Archipelago has not reduced sea lice levels on wild Pacific salmon.

“Another year has passed, marking ten years of sea lice monitoring in the Broughton Archipelago and nine years in the Discovery Islands, and the data continue to confirm that BC salmon farms are not driving sea lice levels in wild Pacific Salmon...

Loblaw Recalls SeaQuest, President's Choice Shrimp Cocktail Products Over Undeclared Mustard

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a national recall on October 6 for two shrimp cocktail products sold by Loblaw Companies, citing undeclared mustard — an allergen not listed on the label.

The affected products are President's Choice Black Tiger Shrimp with Mild Cocktail Sauce (568 g, UPC 0 60383 18048 5, best before October 6-7, 2026) and SeaQuest Shrimp Ring with Mild Cocktail Sauce (454 g, UPC 0 60383 18047 8, with best-before dates ranging from November 2026 through July 2027)...

Hodges: Fall Crab Supply Improves. Buyers Remain Selective

October’s National Seafood Month provides a timely opportunity to promote seafood and begin planning holiday purchases. For the crab industry, the fall outlook brings encouraging news from Alaska, limited uncommitted Canadian snow crab inventory, and continued growth in Norwegian snow crab shipments to the United States. The opportunity is there, but consumer response to current prices will determine how much additional business develops.

Alaska’s new allocations are a particularly positive development, led by a major increase in Bering Sea Tanner crab. The combined eastern and western allocations total 32.1 million pounds...

Atlantic Economic Panel Calls for Seafood Sector to Anchor $100 Billion Natural Resource Push by '35

A federal advisory panel is urging Ottawa and the four Atlantic provinces to treat fisheries and aquaculture as a core pillar of a decade-long economic transformation. The panel named oceans one of just three "opportunity" pillars — alongside natural resources and defense — in a new blueprint for Atlantic Canada's growth through 2035.

The Atlantic Economic Panel, chaired by Don Mills and commissioned with support from federal minister Sean Fraser, released its "Bolder Ambitions: Greater Prosperity for All" report identifying seafood... 

North American Bluefin Tuna Increased Sharply in August at Toyosu Market

According to a report by the Minato Shimbun, Jiji Press data show that the volume of imported fresh tuna arriving at Tokyo's Toyosu Market in August totaled 3,261 fish, up 44.9% from the same month last year. While supplies of wild bluefin tuna and southern bluefin tuna rose steadily, bigeye tuna numbers declined. 

The total number of bluefin tuna reached 770 fish, up from 386 the previous year, effectively doubling. Amid a sharp drop in domestic wild catches, active procurement efforts—particularly from North America...

Thai Express Bets on Calamari as Canada's Next Premium QSR Protein

Thai Express, a Canadian quick-service chain, is betting on calamari with its latest menu item. The Montreal-founded chain has grown into one of the largest Thai restaurant concepts in Canada, with more than 300 locations worldwide.

The brand launched its first-ever Crunchy Calamari as it looks to bring a premium seafood item to more Canadians. The launch follows the company's lobster debut, which turned into one of its hottest limited-time offerings ever.

Thai Express said the success of last year's lobster launch showcased demand...

CFIA Recalls R.J. King Fisheries, Moncton Fish Market Frozen Lobster Meat Over Staph Contamination

Canada's food inspection agency has recalled multiple lots of frozen cooked lobster meat sold under the R.J. King Fisheries and Moncton Fish Market brands due to Staphylococcus aureus contamination, according to a notice published by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

The recall covers R.J. King Fisheries Ltd. Frozen Cooked Lobster Meat CK in both 1-pound and 2-pound sizes, frozen on May 12, 15, 18, and 19, 2026, with best-before dates two years out. It also covers Moncton Fish Market Frozen Cooked Lobster...

Province Proclaims Aquaculture Week in Newfoundland and Labrador

The Honourable Loyola O’Driscoll, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, today joined Bradley George, executive director, Newfoundland and Labrador Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA), to officially proclaim September 13-19, 2026, as Aquaculture Week in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Aquaculture Week is being held in conjunction with the 2026 Cold Harvest Conference, being co-hosted by NAIA and the Aquaculture Association of Canada, at the JAG Hotel in St. John’s, September 15-17, 2026.

The Newfoundland and Labrador aquaculture industry employs more than 500 workers directly...

Murray Pushes Bill to End Trade War With Canada, Criticizes Trump As She Tours Home State of WA

“Our maritime industry and our ports power the economy in Washington state—our fish and shellfish travel far on their own, but our fishermen and our ports are the reason they’re famous worldwide,” said Senator Murray last week in Bellingham, WA, during a tour of the western part of the state.  

“And this administration’s reckless and unpredictable tariffs have been nothing short of a disaster for them—driving up costs and making it impossible for any small business to plan...

Marine Stewardship Council Launches New Sustainable Seafood Awards for Canada and US

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has announced the MSC Sustainable Seafood Awards, a new annual series recognizing Canadian and US companies and individuals who go above and beyond to protect the sustainability of seafood resources.

Applications and nominations are open through Oct. 31, 2026. Winners will be announced in January 2027, with an awards ceremony planned for Seafood Expo North America in March 2027.

MSC has established six award categories...

Canada Pulls Seafood From Counter-Tariff List After Industry Pushback

Canada's Department of Finance has reversed course on one of the more contentious elements of its retaliatory tariff package, removing fish and seafood products from its list of US goods facing counter-tariffs, less than 24 hours after the measures were announced.

The department said it made the adjustment based on feedback from Canadian industries, citing a commitment to continually assess the effectiveness of its counter-tariff measures, with a primary focus on sectors that have themselves been targeted by US tariffs. Seafood, notably, has not been...

Canada Targets US Lobster, Salmon, Pollock With 25% Counter-Tariffs

Canada will impose 25% counter-tariffs on American fish and seafood effective September 8, escalating a trade war that now threatens one of the world's most deeply integrated bilateral seafood supply chains.

The measures, announced August 25 by Prime Minister Mark Carney, cover roughly 700 US product lines at rates of 15%, 25% and 50% — a dollar-for-dollar response to US Section 338 tariffs of 50% that took effect August 19 on select Canadian imports after trade talks between the two countries collapsed. Fish and seafood fall...

86-Year-Old New Brunswick Seafood Co-op Seeks Creditor Protection With Nearly CAD $25M in Debt

Island Fisherman's Co-operative Association Limited, one of the largest snow crab and lobster processors on New Brunswick's Acadian Peninsula, has filed for protection under Canada's Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). The Lamèque-based co-operative — founded in 1940 — obtained a temporary protection order effective August 12, 2026, granted by a Saint John judge, shielding its assets from creditors for an initial ten-day period while it works to stabilize its finances, CBC News reported...

Canada Offers $40,000 Buyout to Wild Oyster Harvesters as MSX, Dermo Spread Through Atlantic Stocks

The Canadian government has launched a voluntary license retirement program for wild oyster harvesters in Atlantic Canada, offering $40,000 per license in exchange for permanent exit from the fishery as two devastating diseases continue to spread through oyster populations.

Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson announced the Oyster License Retirement Grant Program on August 10 in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. The program targets harvesters in PEI, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick who are most heavily dependent on wild oyster harvesting...

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...

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...

Thai Express: 2025 Lobster LTO 'Sold Through Faster Than Anticipated,' Paving Way for Calamari

Thai Express is framing its new Crunchy Calamari launch as a deliberate second act in a seafood strategy that began with a 2025 lobster limited-time offer (LTO) — one the Canadian quick-service chain says performed well enough to justify building on it, even as the brand declines to commit to seafood as a permanent fixture just yet.

Expana reported on the calamari launch when it debuted in September, noting Thai Express was betting on the dish as Canada's next premium QSR protein...

Canadian Aquaculture Alliance Rebrands as Canadian Seafood Farmers

The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance has rebranded as Canadian Seafood Farmers / Producteurs Aquacoles Canadiens, reflecting the sector’s push to have aquaculture recognized and supported on par with other Canadian agriculture. Members unanimously approved the new name at the association’s annual general meeting on Sept. 29. The change comes as the federal government emphasizes economic resilience and domestic food production amid a challenging trade environment.

“Aquaculture is agriculture, and our members are focused on responsibly growing, harvesting and processing Product of Canada seafood for grocery stores,” said Timothy Kennedy...

South Korea Overtakes US in Crab Imports

South Korea moved ahead of the United States in the first quarter of 2026 to become the world's second-largest crab importer after US purchases fell 10%, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported today.

World crab imports were stable at about 92,000 tonnes in the first quarter, but a greater share of the trade moved toward Asia. China took roughly 37% of global imports.

Canadian snow crab exports were low during the quarter as sea ice and price disputes delayed the start of the fishing season...

Canadian Food Manufacturers Face Rising Trade and Cost Pressures

Canada’s food and beverage manufacturers posted sales growth in the first half of 2026, but higher prices rather than stronger volumes drove the increase as tariffs, trade disruption and cautious consumer spending added pressure to margins.

Food and beverage manufacturing sales reached C$88.1 billion in the first half of 2026, up 4% from the same period last year, according to a mid-year update from Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Economics. Adjusted for prices, however, real sales were flat.

“The first half of 2026 shows the sector...

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster Announces Largest Aquaculture Project to Date Totaling CAD 51M

Yesterday, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced its largest project to date, with the $51 million Marine Donut Adaptation and Commercialization Project led by Bluegreen, a Campbell River, BC-based tech company that builds closed-containment aquaculture systems, including the Marine Donut®.

This project will adapt and commercialize the Marine Donut®, a fully closed-containment aquaculture technology system, and will include six key technologies designed specifically for the Pacific Ocean environment.

Investment in innovations like the Marine Donut ® will help position Canada to lead in sustainable...

Report: Salmon Farming Could Lift Atlantic Canada's GDP by 1% by 2035

A new report from the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association (ACFFA) says the region's salmon farming industry could grow Atlantic Canada's GDP by 1% by 2035, while creating jobs, attracting investment and producing more food domestically.

The report, Farming our Future: A Roadmap for Responsible Growth in Atlantic Canada's Finfish Sector, argues the region has the coastline, expertise, infrastructure and workforce needed to responsibly expand the sector — but regulatory delays, uncertainty and investment barriers are holding it back. The report calls specifically for policy changes to...

HF Foods Closes $35M Acquisition of Canadian Seafood Distributor Searay

HF Foods has closed its acquisition of Searay Foods Inc. and related entities, completing the company’s first expansion outside the United States and entry into the Canadian market.

The company announced the deal in July. The CAD$47.9 million (about US$35 million) transaction includes 100% of Searay’s issued and outstanding equity interests and represents approximately 5.0 times Searay’s 2025 Adjusted EBITDA.

HF Foods paid CAD$38.4 million (approximately US$27.8 million) in cash and 1.7 million shares...

Hodges: Crab Inventory Is Committed. Demand Is Not.

The outlook entering fall is better than headline supply figures suggest, but the risks have changed. Much of the Canadian snow crab harvest has already been contracted or shipped, and major processors report little uncommitted inventory. This reduces the threat of widespread discounting, but it does not mean the crab has been sold through to the consumer.

Snow crab’s strongest demand period is normally during the summer, supported by crab boils, tourism, and foodservice activity. Foodservice movement has remained relatively good, particularly in the Southeast, but retail demand has been soft...

Canada Commits $53M to Build Three New Pacific Salmon Hatcheries in British Columbia

The federal government has announced more than $53 million in construction contracts for three new Pacific salmon hatcheries across British Columbia, all developed in partnership with Indigenous nations and aimed at reversing steep declines in Chinook and sockeye populations.

The announcements, made August 25 by Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson, cover facilities on the upper Fraser River near Hanceville, in Prince George, and on the Kitwanga River in Gitanyow territory — each tied to a separate First Nation and targeting distinct at-risk salmon populations...

Kim Phat Seafood Medley Recalled in Canada Over Undeclared Allergens

Kim Phat brand’s Seafood Medley has been recalled in Canada after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) flagged undeclared allergens. The CFIA says the product’s label failed to disclose egg, fish, gluten, soy and wheat.

The recall covers Seafood Medley 1.1 lb (500 g) packs, with UPC 6 28790 00196 2, distributed by Ocean Packers Inc. The affected packs were produced Aug. 16, 2025, and carry a best-before date of Aug. 15, 2027. The action was triggered by a customer complaint...

BC Fisheries Fund Puts $106.5M Behind Innovation, Market Growth

Canada and BC are investing $106.5 million over five years in the province’s fish and seafood sector through a renewed British Columbia Fisheries Fund (BCFF). Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson, BC Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship and Minister Responsible for Fisheries Randene Neill, and BC Minister of Agriculture and Food Lana Popham announced the news Aug. 20.

According to the announcement, Canadian fish and seafood industry contribute more than $8 billion to its economy, supporting over 63,000 jobs and exporting...

Canada, US Shadow Chinese Snow Dragon Research Vessels in Alaskan Arctic 

Late last month a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 surveillance plane joined American Coast Guard and Army personnel shadowing two Chinese research vessels Xue Long and Xue Long 2 as they transited the northern Bering Sea. It was the first time this year that China’s well-equipped research vessels, known as Snow Dragon and Snow Dragon 2, entered the area.

Defense and monitoring capabilities are ramping up in both countries as awareness...

Les Hodges: The Market Has the Crab. Now It Needs the Buyers.

The global crab market has moved from concern over supply availability to the more difficult question of demand. Strong Canadian snow crab shipments have substantially improved U.S. availability, while recovering Alaska resources and increased availability of Santolla from Argentina and Chile have changed the supply outlook. Norway remains constrained by its sharply reduced red king crab quota, while sanctions continue to exclude Russian crab from the U.S. market. The question for the second half of 2026 is increasingly not whether crab is available, but whether demand is strong...

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...