Norwegian Seafood Exports Face Continued US Market Pressure in May

Norwegian seafood exports declined 1% in May to NOK 13.4 billion, marking the fourth month of value decline in 2026 as US market losses and quota-driven volume reductions continue to pressure the industry.

US Market Losses Mount

The United States remains Norway's most challenging export market, with May exports falling NOK 363 million to NOK 992 million, a 27% decline from May 2025. The US has now become Norway's third-largest market, down from previous rankings.

"The US market has seen the sharpest decline...

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...

California Senate Advances Dungeness Crab, Steelhead Reforms in McGuire's Fisheries Omnibus

California State Senator Mike McGuire's comprehensive fisheries legislation, SB 1393, cleared the California Senate on May 28 with bipartisan backing, advancing key reforms for the state's commercial fishing industry.

The omnibus bill targets three priority areas: strengthening steelhead trout fishing restoration programs by increasing habitat funding, modernizing Dungeness crab fishery management regulations, and establishing clear vessel transit rules within closed crab fishing areas.

California's commercial and recreational fishing sectors support over 100,000 jobs and generate hundreds of millions in annual economic activity. The Dungeness crab fishery alone, concentrated...

Undeclared Allergen Triggers FSIS Recall of Synear Pork and Crab Dumplings

The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on Sunday, May 31 announced a recall initiated by Synear Foods USA, LLC covering 71,603 pounds of frozen not‑ready‑to‑eat (NRTE) pork and crab soup dumpling products due to mislabeling and undeclared peanuts.

FSIS said the issue was identified during a routine inspection. The affected products were produced between October 15, 2025, and February 23, 2026, and carry establishment number “EST. 45942” inside the USDA mark...

Webinar Explores Seafood Market Outlook for H2 2026, Price Trends and Sourcing Risks

Seafood markets are entering H2 2026 under real pressure.

How will shifting trade flows, disease outbreaks, evolving consumer demand, and shipping volatility shape seafood procurement and pricing in the coming months?
In just 30 minutes on May 28, Expana's seafood experts Angel Rubio and Janice Schreiber will walk you through the latest price movements, supply dynamics and sourcing risks potentially impacting your supply chains in H2 2026.

● Shrimp: Where farmed output from Ecuador, India, Vietnam are heading, antidumping duties updates - and the impact on US and EU prices.
● Salmon: Supply vs. demand for Norwegian and Chilean Atlantic salmon, impact of sea lice...

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...

Russia Expands Fish Export Geography to Africa, Middle East, Latin America

Russia is increasing fish exports this year as demand for its fish and seafood remains strong in major export markets.

According to the Russian Federal Center for Fish and Seafood (Agroexport), fish exports from Russia rose 19% in value year-on-year in Q1 2026 to US$1.7 billion.

Growth was observed in most key export categories. Frozen fish shipments increased 26% year-on-year to US$944 million. Within that category, frozen pollock exports rose 45%, cod by 58%, and haddock by 63%. Crustacean shipments...

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...

Pacific Seafood Hit with $3.2 Million in Oregon DEQ Fines for Water Pollution Violations

A trio of companies under Oregon-headquartered Pacific Seafood was hit with $3.2 million in fines from the state's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) on April 23.

The largest penalty, $2.9 million against Pacific Seafood's Charleston facility near Coos Bay, represents the second-largest civil penalty DEQ has ever issued. The facility was cited for failing to install a required wastewater treatment system by an April 2023 deadline and for continuing to discharge fish parts, oil, grease, and suspended solids into coastal waters...

ODFW Plans 3 Meetings on Dungeness Crab Fishery New Gear, Monitoring, and 5-year Risk Reduction

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) will hold three public meetings to discuss updates related to marine life entanglement next month. The meetings, held in North Bend, Newport, and Astoria, will also offer stakeholders the opportunity to provide input on planned agenda items for the August 14, 2026, Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting in Salem.

Topics for the three meetings include:

- Five-year risk reduction measures evaluation

- Vessel monitoring and electronic logbooks- Experimental fishing gear permits...

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...

Canada Pushes Seafood Export Growth in Europe at Seafood Expo Global

Canada is stepping up efforts to grow and diversify its fish and seafood exports, with a strong focus on expanding its presence in Europe.

At this year’s Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson met with Canadian exporters, European buyers, and senior officials from Spain, the European Union, and the United Kingdom to discuss strong European demand for Canadian seafood, particularly frozen and value-added products.

Thompson also pointed to growing momentum in Spain, where the Sabores de Canada (or Flavours from...

Venezuela Says MMPA Blue Crab Process Complete, Eyes US Market Return

Venezuela's Ministry of Fisheries announced on April 16 that it has successfully completed the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) comparability registration process with NOAA Fisheries, potentially clearing the way for resumed blue crab exports to the US market after a three-month embargo that devastated the country's fishing industry.

The Venezuelan government claims the registration "ensures that Venezuelan seafood products meet the rigorous quality and sustainability standards required for export to the North American market," according to an April 16 statement from the Ministry of...

Newfoundland Snow Crab Processors File $2.5M Lawsuit Against FFAW Leaders

The Association of Seafood Producers and five major Newfoundland processing companies have filed a CAD 2.5 million lawsuit against Fish, Food & Allied Workers union executives, alleging an "unlawful conspiracy" involving threats and intimidation.

The Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador action, filed April 10, targets FFAW inshore vice-president Jason Sullivan and union president Dwan Street, claiming their actions have caused significant financial damage to processors unable to purchase crab for processing and sales.

The lawsuit, which was first reported by allNewfoundlandandLabrador...

Gulf Snow Crab Season Gets Underway as Newfoundland Harvesters Weigh Price Decision

Snow crab fishermen in the Gulf of St. Lawrence have begun the 2026 season after brief ice-related delays, moving quickly to capitalize on fishing opportunities before endangered North Atlantic right whales arrive in southern waters.

The Gulf's Total Allowable Catch was set at 16,267.90 tonnes, down 11% from 2025 levels using a 34.82% exploitation rate under the Department of Fisheries and Oceans' Precautionary Approach harvest decision rules. The reduction marks the third consecutive year of quota declines for Canada's second-largest crab fishery...

US Extends Russian Seafood Ban as Alaska Pushes for Continued Restrictions

The US has renewed its national emergency declaration targeting Russian activities, effectively extending the ban on Russian seafood imports that has benefited Alaska's fishing industry since 2022.

President Donald Trump signed a continuation of the national emergency on March 24, extending Executive Order 14024, which underpins the prohibition on Russian seafood imports. The order was published in the Federal Register on March 27, 2026.

The extension comes just days before Alaska lawmakers passed House Joint Resolution 29 on March 30, urging federal authorities to maintain and strengthen the Russian...

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...

Japan's April Marine Products Import Fell 6% in Volume, but Increased 3% in Value

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on May 28th, April imports of marine products (preliminary figures, including fish and shellfish and their preparations, fishmeal, and seaweed) were down 6% year-on-year to 181,057 tons. While imports of fresh and frozen tuna increased, imports of salmon, trout, and shrimp decreased. The value of imports increased 3% to 184.977 billion yen ($1.16 billion).

According to a report by the Minato Shimbun, imports of fresh and frozen tuna increased...

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...

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...

Whale Entanglement Highlights Pressure on Oregon Dungeness Fishery

A whale entanglement off the Oregon coast is raising renewed concerns about marine habitat and commercial fishing after local outlets reported a humpback whale dragging tagged Dungeness crab gear. The Oregonian reported that officials have not identified the gear’s owner because the vessel name and permit number on the tag could not be clearly read.

NBC5 News interviewed Ben Grundy of the Center for Biological Diversity, who said rising ocean temperatures and marine heatwaves are causing “habitat compression,” increasing interactions between whales and human activity.

The sighting...

NOAA Grants Swimming Crab Import Access to Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka After Court-Ordered Review

NOAA Fisheries has granted comparability findings to swimming crab fisheries in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, allowing continued US imports from these countries while maintaining import restrictions on Philippines fisheries following a court-ordered reconsideration process.

The agency announced May 11 that it granted comparability findings to swimming crab fisheries in the three Asian nations after reviewing additional information submitted as part of the legal proceedings with the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) and other industry groups that challenged...

Russian Far East Origin Spiny Snow Crab and Red Snow Crab Prices up by 30% in the Japanese Market

According to a report by the Minato Shimbun, the price of spiny snow crab and red snow crab from the Russian Far East has risen sharply due to the increasing demand for all-you-can-eat crab in Japan, particularly from inbound tourists.

As of late March, the domestic selling price (trading company price) for both species was ¥2,600-2,800/kg ($16.25-17.60/kg) for large-sized animals, a 20-30%...

Lutnick Pledges Maine Lobster Coordination, Disaster Relief Reform Under Bicoastal Senate Pressure

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faced intense scrutiny from senators representing both coasts during his April 22, 2026, Senate Appropriations Committee testimony, addressing mounting concerns over federal fisheries management from Maine's lobster industry to Alaska's disaster-stricken crab fleet.

Senator Susan Collins secured multiple commitments from Lutnick regarding Maine's lobster industry as the sector approaches a critical regulatory transition. With Congress's 2022 moratorium on new NOAA regulations affecting the American Lobster Fishery set to expire in 2028, Collins pressed for comprehensive industry coordination...

Canadian Fishermen Face Fuel Cost Surge Amid Start to Lobster, Snow Crab Seasons

Canadian fishermen are grappling with soaring fuel costs as snow crab and lobster seasons get underway, with operating expenses jumping nearly 30% according to Quebec harvesters.

A recent Canadian Broadcasting Corporation report highlighted the diesel price burden on Quebec fishermen, prompting calls for government assistance similar to the aid recently provided to the province's farmers.

"Whether you drive a tractor or a boat, the costs associated with the increase in diesel fuel costs are the same," said Joel Arseneau, member of Quebec's National Assembly...

NOAA Says Venezuela's MMPA Comparability for Blue Crab Fishery Still Pending

After Venezuela's fisheries and aquaculture ministry said its blue crab fishery completed the registration process for an MMPA comparability finding, NOAA said the country is still in the process of applying for a finding.

Venezuela's Ministry of Popular Power for Fisheries and Aquaculture announced on April 16 that it had "successfully completed" the Marine Mammal Protection Act comparability registration process with NOAA Fisheries, claiming the process began on March 27 and was completed in less than three weeks.

However, NOAA Fisheries spokesperson...

Northern California Temporarily Closes Dungeness Crab Season While Whales Migrate Through

On Friday, Meghan Hertel, California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife Director, closed the season April 30 along the Sonoma Coast, from the Oregon border south to Pigeon Point, to avoid entangling endangered whales.

“Observations by researchers reported to the Point Blue Conservation Science Whale Alert observed 66 humpback whales in Fishing Zone 3 during the week of April 8-14, 2026,” reported Hertel in Friday’s announcement. “Pursuant to 132.8(c)(2), I must implement a Fishing Zone delay or other protective management action in the commercial Dungeness crab fishery...

ASP and FFAW Reach Deal on Newfoundland Snow Crab Season After Price Dispute

The Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) and the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union-Unifor (FFAW) have reached an agreement on the 2026 Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab season, ending a dispute that had stalled the province's largest crab fishery.

The groups said in a joint statement that the deal creates a system that will adjust in-season snow crab prices based on market conditions, moving away from traditional post-season settlements.

The agreement confirms that the current collective agreement remains in place...

NY Man Indicted in $800,000+ Cargo Theft Ring That Targeted Snow Crab, Beer, Blueberries

A New York man has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly orchestrating a sophisticated cargo theft conspiracy that targeted over $800,000 worth of goods, including $325,000 in frozen snow crab that represents the single largest theft in the scheme.

Romoy Forbes, 31, a Jamaican national residing in Deer Park, NY, was indicted Tuesday by federal prosecutors in Massachusetts on charges of interstate transportation of stolen goods and conspiracy to commit that offense. He was arraigned on April 7...

Access Determines Price: The Global Crab Market Tightens in 2026

Global crab trade expanded in 2025, but 2026 is developing into a more difficult operating environment defined by tighter positioning and more contested negotiations.

The structure of the market continues to narrow. Supply remains concentrated, and access to key destinations is increasingly controlled. The central issue is no longer how much crab is produced, but who can place product into the markets that set the price.

Most major producing regions enter the year with workable quotas. Russia increased total crab quotas by 2% to 109,485 metric tons and continues to...