Shanghai Lab Uses Color Carp to Advance Aquaculture Genetics

At a Shanghai Ocean University research station in suburban Shanghai, an international team of young scientists is using the Oujiang color common carp to explore genetics, selective breeding and aquaculture performance.

The fish, native to Zhejiang province’s Oujiang River basin, is known for vivid color varieties including red, white and spotted strains. It is prized for its table value and for its visual appeal and researchers at the university say the species has become a valuable model for improving both ornamental and production...

Putin Visit Reinforces Russia-China Fisheries Partnership Growth Plans

Russia plans a significant expansion of its fisheries trade with China as demand for Russian fish among Chinese consumers continues to grow steadily.

The expansion of joint fisheries trade was discussed during Putin's recent visit to China. Both countries believe they have significant potential to expand mutual fisheries trade. Current trade dynamics remain positive, and most analysts expect continued improvement in the second half of this year.

According to the latest trade statistics from the Russian Fish Union, fish and seafood trade between Russia and China...

Fishmeal Output Slides in Early 2026 as China Demand Signals Soften

Global fishmeal production started 2026 on a weak footing, with cumulative first‑quarter output down 28% year on year and March production alone falling 38%, according to IFFO‑compiled data. The figures reflect reports from member countries accounting for around 40% of global fishmeal output and half of fish oil production.

Fish oil production also declined, though less sharply. First‑quarter output was down 12% year on year, with relative resilience in Denmark/Norway and Spain helping to limit the overall...

For 2026 Norway is Turning its Marketing Focus Away From the US to China. Here’s Why.

At their annual meeting last January, the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) announced a shift in their marketing focus away from the United States and towards China, supported by a new Trends Report.  

The next few months' export data illustrated the new policy. NSC released their report, “The Year of China” recently with detailed demographics and trends that support the new policy. 

The report notes that China’s four tier-one cities — Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen — each with populations in excess of 18 million people...

ASMI and Jiarong Supermarket Boost Alaska Seafood Visibility During Spring Festival

Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) Hong Kong partnered with Jiarong Supermarket for a month-long promotion across China’s Greater Bay Area (GBA), timed to coincide with the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), which marks the beginning of the lunar calendar year.

The collaboration placed Alaska seafood front and center during one of the year’s most important holidays at a leading retail chain with more than 160 stores across key GBA cities. As consumer demand for seafood peaks during this period, the partnership was especially...

Commerce Initiates Administrative Reviews for Shrimp AD/CVD Orders Covering Thousands of Importers

The Commerce Department has initiated administrative reviews of antidumping and countervailing duty orders on frozen warm-water shrimp from China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam, affecting thousands of importers.

The March 31 Federal Register notice covers the period from February 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026, and includes extensive lists of importers and exporters subject to review across all four countries. The administrative reviews will assess whether current duty deposit rates remain appropriate given recent import activity and pricing data...

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...

BioMar Expands Wuxi Facility with New Production Line

BioMar is expanding its production footprint in China, announcing plans to add a second production line at its Wuxi facility in 2026. The move follows several years of growth in partnership with joint venture partner Tongwei.

The expansion will increase capacity at Wuxi by 50,000 tonnes and introduce new technological capabilities, allowing the facility to produce specialty products for early growth stages and additional high-end species. Today, the Wuxi site primarily serves farmers producing trout, salmon, sturgeon, largemouth bass, turbot and yellow croaker. With the...

Russian Fish Exports to China Reach 1.9M Tons Amid Persistent Tariff Barriers

China continues to maintain tariffs on key Russian fish export products despite growing fisheries trade between the two countries. 

Official data shows that Russian fish exports to China reached 1.91 million tons, worth US$3.4 billion, in 2025. Exports could have been higher if not for tariff restrictions limiting supply. 

Updated tariffs that took effect January 1, 2026, are set at 5% on a wide range of products, including frozen pollock, herring, cod, and blue whiting. In 2025, these species accounted for 71% of the...

US Trade Policy Shifts After IEEPA Loss; Seafood, Rice Targeted in Section 301 Investigations

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the Supreme Court’s ruling against President Trump’s use of the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA) affects only “one element” of the administration’s trade strategy.

Greer added that the administration remains committed to implementing Trump’s trade policy, noting it was one of his core campaign messages. The administration has warned for months that if courts struck down Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, he would use “alternative tools.”

One of those tools will be to launch...

Russia Targets Growth in Shrimp Imports and Production

Russia plans to significantly increase shrimp production and imports in the coming years as local demand remains strong.

According to the Fish Union, Russia increased shrimp imports by at least 2% in volume last year, while the value of imports rose by 20%.

India, Vietnam, and China are among the largest shrimp exporters to Russia, with India being the top supplier, providing 19,000 tonnes in 2025.

Russia imports shrimp species not produced locally due to climatic conditions, including farmed Vannamei shrimp, farmed tiger shrimp, wild Argentine shrimp, and more than 25 other...

US Market Challenges Push Norwegian Salmon Fillet Exports Down 37%, Poland and China Surge

Norwegian seafood exports fell 3% in value at the start of 2026 compared to January last year, as the US market faced “unpredictable tariffs,” a weaker dollar, and rising competition, the Norwegian Seafood Council reports. CEO Christian Chramer pointed to lower salmon prices, reduced quotas for several wild species, and challenging market access as key factors behind the decline.

At this point last year, the US was the largest single market for Norwegian seafood. Today, the value of exports destined for the US has declined...

GSMC 2026: Farmed Salmon Faces Growing China Demand as Buyers Adjust Sourcing

Buyers and producers at GSMC 2026 painted a picture of a salmon market in flux: wild runs are tight and commanding premiums, while farmed volumes and shifting trade flows, notably surging demand from China and other Asian markets, will largely determine where product lands in 2026. Panelists warned US buyers to expect constrained farmed supply, price pressure and the need for proactive sourcing decisions as Chilean and Norwegian harvests flatten after strong 2025 performances.

The conversation, moderated by Richard Barry of the National Fisheries Institute...

Canada and China Reach Deal to Remove Tariffs on Lobster, Snow Crab by March 1, 2026

Canada and China have reached an initial trade agreement that will eliminate tariffs on Canadian lobster, snow crab, and select agri-food products. The agreement, announced January 16, sets a target of March 1 for China to remove retaliatory duties, reinstating market access after a steep 25% tariff hindered Canadian seafood exports.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the deal would remove trade barriers and “unlock billions of dollars in business for Canadian farmers, fish harvesters, and workers across agri-food sectors...

Norwegian Seafood Council Flags US Tariffs Impact, Highlights China and Salmon as Growth Drivers

The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) reported that US tariffs weighed on seafood exports in the second half of 2025 but emphasized that the United States remains a vital market with strong growth potential for Norwegian seafood.

“The USA's new tariffs created a lot of noise and turmoil for Norwegian seafood exports. From being a market with record growth and an almost insatiable appetite for salmon and crab from Norway in the first half of 2025, US trade throughout the year was characterized by tariffs...

Russian Crab Exports to China Up 15% YTD; Competition Expected to Tighten

Russia expects a significant tightening of competition in the Chinese crab market in the coming years as demand rises with China’s expanding middle class, Alexander Dyplyakov, head of the Russian Far East Crab Association, said.

Dyplyakov noted that growing Chinese affluence is attracting interest from multiple producing countries, intensifying competition for market share. Despite the expected pressure, Russia posted solid results in the Chinese crab market this year.

Based on an analysis of Chinese customs data, the Russian Fish Union reports that Russia exported 32,000 tons...

China’s First Mobile Salmon Farm Delivers Commercial Harvest

China’s effort to build a domestic salmon industry hit a milestone this week as the country’s first large-scale “smart” aquaculture vessel harvested thousands of Atlantic salmon raised entirely at sea.

The 150,000-tonne vessel, Guoxin No. 1 2-2, delivered its first commercial batch of roughly 3,000 salmon on Monday, according to Chinese state media. Operated by Qingdao Conson Development Group, the ship is being promoted as the world’s first mobile offshore fish farm capable of producing salmonids on a commercial...

Russian Crab Exports Grow 10% by Volume but Value Stagnates

Official statistics show Russian crab exports grew 10% by volume to 45,800 tons in 2025, but remained virtually unchanged in value at US$1.23 billion. Analysts say this indicates prices for Russian crab declined in some key export markets, particularly China.

Due to limited sales outlets for Russian crab, the Chinese market has become a top priority destination for producers from both the Far East and northern regions of Russia. Northern producers previously focused primarily on the US market, where revenue was significantly higher...

Congress Examines China's IUU Fishing Impact on US Seafood Markets

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) co-chaired a Congressional-Executive Commission on China hearing on April 16 examining how China's illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices harm American fishermen and enable forced labor in global seafood supply chains.

The hearing, titled "Dark Nets, Illicit Labor—Confronting China's IUU Fishing and Seafood Supply Chain," featured testimony from Ian Urbina of the Outlaw Ocean Project, who detailed how Chinese distant-water fleets use forced labor and illegal fishing methods to create unfair competition for US fishermen...

Champagne China Visit Accelerates Trade Momentum with Canada's Seafood Sector in Prime Position

Canadian seafood exports to China are poised for continued growth following Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne's productive visit to Beijing, building on tariff relief secured earlier this year that has already benefited lobster and crab shipments.

Champagne concluded his China visit on April 3, emphasizing the importance of diversifying trade partnerships with Canada's second-largest trading partner. The trip builds on Prime Minister Mark Carney's January visit, which the government called "a turning point" in bilateral relations and secured significant tariff reductions for Canadian seafood exporters...

ANALYSIS: China’s North American Lobster Imports Show Early-Year Decline

The latest GACC (General Administration of Chinese Customs) import figures show that volumes of Homarus Americanus entering China fell year‑over‑year in January–February. Two years ago, combined January–February imports stood at 6,427 metric tons (MT); they dropped by 7.1% in 2025 and declined by a further 18.1% in 2026 to reach 4,889 MT. In USD value, this translates into a 12.3% decrease last year, followed by a 21.1% fall year-over-year for the first couple of...

Norwegian Seafood Exports Slip in February; Salmon Rises but US Demand Falls Sharply

Norway exported seafood worth NOK 13.8 billion ($1.4 billion) in February, a 2% decline from the same month a year earlier, the Norwegian Seafood Council reported on March 4. Exports for January–February totaled NOK 28.5 billion, down NOK 777 million (2.7%) versus the same period in 2025.

“Lower supplies of shellfish and wild-caught fish due to quota reductions, combined with a still troubled world and trade barriers, are affecting the market, product flows and prices even more strongly than we have experienced before...

China Confirms 25% Tariff Removal on Canadian Lobster, Crab Effective March 1

China’s Finance Ministry confirmed on Friday that its 25% tariff on lobster and crab imports from Canada will be lifted on March 1 through the end of 2026.

The initial trade agreement between China and Canada was announced in mid-January, with an implementation target of March 1. The deal included the elimination of tariffs on snow crab and lobster, as well as on other agricultural products such as Canadian canola meal and peas.

After the deal was first announced, Geoff Irvine, the Executive Director...

Vietnam Tops China's Lobster Imports as Tariffs Shift Market Share

Vietnam has seen strong growth in lobster exports to China, with the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) attributing the surge to increased demand from higher-income shoppers.

According to a February 21 VASEP update, China’s lobster imports reached 69,774 metric tons (MT) in 2025, up nearly 9,000 MT from the previous year and marking the highest volume in five years, based on Chinese Customs data.

This growth propelled Vietnam to become China’s top lobster supplier, surpassing Canada, which faced a 25% tariff that contributed to a 15%...

Japan Seizes Chinese Fishing Vessel Amid Increasing Tensions Between the Two Nations

Yesterday, Japan’s Fisheries Agency Control branch seized the Chinese trawler Ziongtong Yu 11998 and arrested 47-year-old captain Chong Nien Lee, a Chinese national, for allegedly defying orders to stop for inspection at sea. 

The incident took place off the shore of Nagasaki Prefecture, 89.4 nautical miles from the Mejima Lighthouse, according to the arresting documents. This is the first incident involving a Chinese vessel since 2022.

Japanese broadcaster NHK was reported to have said the vessel was...

Russia Maintains Crab Exports to China as US Market Remains Closed

Russia continues to supply crab to China from its Northern Basin amid limited export options, particularly to the US and the EU.

According to the Russian agricultural regulator Rosselkhoznadzor, in January 2026, about 27 tonnes of live crab from the Murmansk region were shipped to China. For the entirety of 2025, approximately 530 tonnes of live crab were exported to China from the Russian North, with a significant portion transported by air due to the long distance.

These volumes are significantly lower...

China’s Fish Exports to Russia Reach Decade High in 2025

China increased its fish supplies to the Russian market to a ten-year high in 2025, with export growth continuing into 2026.

The latest figures, reported by Russian newswire RIA Novosti and based on Chinese customs data, show Chinese companies exported fish to Russia worth US$188.3 million in 2025 – up from US$141.1 million in 2024. The 34% year-on-year increase marked the highest level since 2015...

Russia Eyes Further Live Crab Export Growth to China in 2026

Russia plans to further increase crab exports to China in 2026, with particular focus on live crab supplies, which remain in strong demand among Chinese consumers.

Last year, Russia exported up to 38,500 tons of live crab to China, marking a 10% increase over 2024 and a 20% rise compared to 2023. In value terms, these exports amounted to approximately US$1.1 billion.

These figures are expected to grow further in 2026, as Russian fishermen place high hopes on continued strong demand from China...

Proximar in Japan and Nordic Aqua in China Show Norway's Success in RAS Salmon to Asian Markets

Two Norwegian Atlantic salmon producers, both using recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), have released strong financial and production reports for Q4 2025.

Proximar Seafood AS announced its tenth regular production update following the initiation of production of Atlantic salmon in its Oyama facility in Japan in October 2022.

Nordic Aqua also reported good news from its facility in Ningbo, China. That facility reported a commercial harvest of 353 tonnes head-on gutted (HOG) Atlantic salmon, with an average harvest weight of 3.3 kg...

Nordic Aqua Ningbo Lines Up Long‑Term Equity and Debt to Expand Land‑Based Salmon Production

Nordic Aqua Partners AS (NOAP) is pleased to confirm the completion of the co-investment into Nordic Aqua (Ningbo) Co., Ltd. (Nordic Aqua Ningbo), a subsidiary of NOAP, together with the refinancing of the company's long-term debt. These transactions materially strengthen the capital structure of Nordic Aqua Ningbo and provide long-term funding visibility for the next phase of growth.

Under the co-investment agreement, Ningbo Ocean Development Group Co., Ltd...