Premium Brands Posts Record Q3 as Clearwater Volumes Fall 9%

Clearwater Seafoods' loss before shareholder-related expenses narrowed sharply in the third quarter, helped by the absence of a large 2025 write-down. Clearwater's revenue from continuing operations was C$103.2 million ($73.2 million), down from C$106.9 million a year earlier.

Sales volumes fell 9.3% on normal volatility in catch rates and the timing of sales, partly offset by higher selling prices for most species. Its loss before shareholder-related expenses was C$1.4 million, against C$39.9 million in the third quarter...

Canada Extends China Market-Access Pact for Canola Meal, Peas, Lobster and Crab to 2028

Canada and China have agreed to a two-year extension of market access for Canadian canola meal, peas, lobster and crab, following talks at the Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETC) meeting in Beijing.

Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, met with China’s Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao, to discuss bilateral trade and economic issues. According to an announcement following the meeting, the negotiations resulted in a pact extending market access for the four Canadian products...

Alaska Crab Takes Center Stage for the Holiday Season. Norway Sets Up for a Bigger 2027

All eyes turn to Alaska in November. As some vessels complete their Bristol Bay red king crab quotas and move on to Tanner crab, buyers have more domestic crab to work with for the holidays. The immediate question is how much consumers will buy at current prices. The next is how much inventory will carry into early 2027, when Norway’s larger quotas could bring additional king and snow crab to market...

Prince Rupert Man Fined $7,500 for Illegal Possession of 10 Endangered Northern Abalone

A Prince Rupert, B.C., man has been fined $7,500 after being convicted of illegally possessing 10 Northern Abalone, an endangered marine species protected under Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA).

Caylin James Holland was convicted on Aug. 5, 2026, following an investigation launched after Metlakatla Fishery Guardians alerted Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to suspected illegal harvesting in nearby waters on Sept. 8, 2025.

The Guardians, who work closely with DFO Conservation and Protection fishery officers, suspected Northern Abalone were...

Canadian Salmon Farmers Say 80% of Feed Is Non-Fish in Early Sustainability Data

Canadian Seafood Farmers has released early sustainability data showing that 80% of salmon feed in Canada comes from non-fish sources. The group also says 95% of the fish products used in that feed come from certified, sustainably managed fisheries.

The figures were released October 9 in advance of a full dataset due in November. The group, formerly the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, said the early release responds to recent news coverage of salmon feed ingredients...

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...

Canadian Seafood Farmers Welcome Food Security Designation in National Security Plan

Canadian Seafood Farmers welcomed the federal government’s recognition of food security as a Strategic Capability in its Plan for a Stronger Canada: National Security for Canadians, saying the designation could help support growth in domestic aquaculture production.

The plan commits to strengthening Canada’s food security through expanded domestic production, processing, and distribution capacity. The organization said the aquaculture sector could help meet those goals by increasing Canadian seafood production, supporting employment in coastal and rural communities, and reducing reliance...

Canada Looks to Expand Seafood Exports Globally, Targets 50% Growth in China by 2030

Canada is looking to boost its fish and seafood exports to China by 50% by 2030, with Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson recently leading a delegation of Canadian industry representatives to Qingdao and Beijing to strengthen trade ties and expand market opportunities from Oct. 26-30.

The visit brought together representatives from across Canada’s seafood sector to promote the country’s product range and build on its position in China, Canada’s largest seafood export market.

From 2022 to 2025, Canada exported...

Canadian Seafood Farmers Names 2026-2027 Executive Committee, Chaired by Cooke's Joel Richardson

Canadian Seafood Farmers has named its 2026-2027 Executive Committee, elected by the board on Oct. 16. Joel Richardson of family-owned Cooke Aquaculture in New Brunswick will chair the committee. The group, which announced the appointments on Oct. 22, brings together leaders from Canada's finfish, shellfish and aquaculture supply sectors.

Jennifer Woodland of Cermaq Canada is vice-chair, Cyr Couturier is treasurer, and Mia Parker of Mowi Canada is secretary. Executive members at large are Elizabeth Barlow of Cermaq Canada...

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...

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...