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...

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...

Cermaq Consolidates Canadian Operations Into Single Entity Following $1B Grieg Integration

Mitsubishi-owned salmon farmer Cermaq is streamlining its expanded Canadian operations through a June 1 subsidiary amalgamation, creating a unified structure five months after completing its $1 billion acquisition of Grieg Seafood's North American assets.

The consolidation merges three entities—CQ Canada Holding Ltd., Cermaq Canada Ltd., and Cermaq Seafood BC Ltd.—into Cermaq British Columbia Ltd., with CAD 224 million in capital. CEO Steven Rafferty will serve as director of the Campbell River, BC-based entity...

Nova Scotia's Clark's Harbour Seafood Expands From Live Lobster to Global Processing Operation

Clark's Harbour Seafood has transformed from a traditional live lobster operation into a vertically integrated seafood business with global ambitions, according to a new case study from Invest Nova Scotia.

Under owner Jim He's leadership since 2016, the southwestern Nova Scotia company now operates alongside sister companies Atlantic ChiCan Seafood and Stoney Island Fisheries, creating an integrated supply chain spanning harvesting through export.

The evolution accelerated in 2019 when Clark's Harbour Seafood began diversifying beyond live lobster exports...

Nova Scotia's LFA 33 Lobster Harvesters Gain Jonah Crab Bait Access in Policy Shift

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced May 21 that lobster harvesters in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 33 can now retain Jonah crab bycatch for use as bait, addressing climate-driven bait supply concerns in one of Canada's most valuable lobstering regions.

Minister Joanne Thompson said the decision allows LFA 33 harvesters to keep Jonah crab caught incidentally in lobster traps, bringing them in line with practices already permitted in neighboring Areas 34-38. Previously, retention was prohibited due to the area's directed Jonah crab fishery...

Moxies Rolls Out Limited‑Time Sushi Menu for Summer

Canadian premium‑casual restaurant brand Moxies is welcoming the warmer months with a slate of fresh, limited‑time menu innovations designed for summer dining. Leading the seasonal rollout is Sushi by Moxies, now available at locations across Canada through September 6.

Created in collaboration with Chef Tom Jeon, the new sushi offerings blend classic Japanese inspiration with Moxies’ signature modern twist. The lineup includes:

• Miso Tuna Crispy Rice
• Salmon & Prawn Aburi Oshi
• Spicy Tuna Dynamite Roll

“Moxies is all about creating memorable dining experiences...

Canada to Invest $957.8 Million Over 5 Years in Small Craft Harbors Program

As part of Canada’s Spring Economic Update 2026, the Carney administration proposed $957.8 million over five years, to be dedicated to small harbors across the nation. The funds will be used for ongoing repairs and enhancements. The money is in addition to Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) existing annual program budget of approximately $90 million. 

"Small craft harbours are the working backbone of coastal communities in Canada,” noted Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries. “This is the largest investment ever made in small craft harbours...

The Compression Phase: Alaska Reclaims Strength as Global Crab Markets Diverge

The global crab market is entering a more compressed and strategically uneven phase in 2026, where timing, access, and inventory positioning are becoming more important than production alone. Alaska has re-emerged as a major force in the premium frozen market following a third consecutive year of higher quotas, while Norway’s sharp reduction in king crab supply has materially tightened global availability of premium product. At the same time, Russia continues to consolidate its dominance in the live trade into Asia...

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...

Canada Seafood Farmers Push for Aquaculture Growth in Next Agriculture Policy Framework

Canada’s seafood farmers are urging governments to make aquaculture a bigger part of Canada’s next agricultural policy framework, arguing the sector could play a much larger role in food production, rural growth and exports.

In a March 30 letter sent ahead of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial ministers’ meeting in Halifax, the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance and seven provincial aquaculture groups called on federal, provincial and territorial leaders to adopt a “Grow Canada” approach that treats aquaculture as a strategic growth industry.

The industry...

Canada Invests $816 Million to Expand Coast Guard Maritime Security Role

Canada announced a $816 million, seven-year investment to strengthen maritime security and expand the Canadian Coast Guard's monitoring capabilities, particularly in Arctic waters where vessel traffic and security risks are growing.

Key components include establishing a year-round Maritime Domain Awareness Hub in Iqaluit, adding reconnaissance equipment to helicopters, installing four new long-range radar sites along the Northwest Passage and Hudson Strait, and acquiring surveillance drones to extend Coast Guard reach.

The investment supports the Coast Guard's new security mandate under the Strengthening Canada's...

Scientists Map Regional Differences in Chinook Salmon Diets

A new study from University of Victoria and the Pacific Salmon Foundation has found that adult Chinook salmon in the Salish Sea rely heavily on herring for food, though their diets vary by region and season.

The research, published in Fisheries Oceanography and led by UVic PhD student Wesley Greentree, analyzed thousands of salmon stomach samples collected by recreational anglers through the Adult Salmon Diet Program.

Researchers found herring were the dominant prey year-round across the Salish Sea. But regional differences emerged...

Canada Launches New Funding Call to Tackle Ghost Fishing Gear

The Canadian government is expanding efforts to tackle abandoned and discarded fishing gear in the country’s waters, announcing a new round of funding aimed at preventing and removing “ghost gear” from the marine environment.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has launched a new call for proposals under the Ghost Gear Fund, Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson announced Wednesday. As outlined in Canada’s Strategy to Protect Nature, the federal government will invest $15 million over three years to strengthen efforts to prevent, locate, retrieve...

ArcelorMittal Fined Record $100M for Fisheries Act Violations in Quebec

A Quebec court has ordered ArcelorMittal Exploitation Minière Canada s.e.n.c. (AMEM) to pay a record-setting $100 million fine after the mining company pleaded guilty to 100 counts of violating Canada’s Fisheries Act.

The sentence, handed down May 15 by the Court of Québec, marks the largest fine ever imposed in Canada under the Fisheries Act. AMEM was fined $1 million for each count tied to the unlawful deposit of harmful substances into waterways in the Fermont region between...

Samjin Frozen Fish Cake Recalled Nationwide in Canada Over Undeclared Allergens

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a nationwide recall of Samjin brand Frozen Fish Cake (with Sauce & Shrimp) after CFIA testing found the product may contain egg, gluten and milk that are not declared on the label.

Although no allergic reactions have been reported, the product was distributed nationally. The CFIA advises consumers who are allergic or sensitive to egg or milk, or who have celiac disease or other gluten-related disorders, not to consume the product...