Nissui to Expand South American Salmon Production to Over 80,000t as Pesquera Yadran Deal Closes

Japanese seafood giant Nissui said it will expand its South American salmon aquaculture business to over 80,000 tons per year by the end of the decade, roughly 2.5 times higher than its current production level.

The bold goal came alongside the company’s announcement that it has completed its acquisition of Chilean salmon farming company Pesquera Yadran (PY), first announced in December of last year, as Expana reported.

The increased Chilean salmon goal aligns with the company’s long-term “GOOD FOODS 2030” vision...

Atlantic Sapphire Reports Lower Q4 Harvest, Average Weight and Price Slip

Land-based salmon farmer Atlantic Sapphire saw its harvest volumes in Q4 2025 dip compared to the previous quarter. The company harvested 1,183 metric tons of gutted weight (HOG), down from 1,426 metric tons in Q3. For the full year, Atlantic Sapphire harvested 5,096mt HOG.

In the final quarter of the year, net biomass gain was 1,683mt live weight (RLW) (Q3: 1,741mt). Standing biomass at the end of the year was roughly 3,437mt (3,215mt RLW).

Average harvest weight in the quarter was 2.9 kg HOG (Q3 2025: 3.1 kg)...

Chilean Salmon Industry Sees 3% Growth YOY in 2025

The Chilean salmon farming sector closed 2025 with a notable 3% growth, achieving US$6,549 million in salmon and trout exports, according to Central Bank data analyzed by SalmonChile.

Arturo Clément, president of SalmonChile, stated, "The 2025 results once again confirm salmon as the undisputed leader of Chile's non-mining exports, reaching 6,549 million dollars."

With salmon farming now representing 6% of Chile's export matrix, it has become a key economic driver, surpassing other non-mining exports such as cherries...

Salmon Evolution Updates Korea RAS Partnership With Dongwon, Drops Investment Commitments

Norwegian land-based salmon farmer Salmon Evolution said its joint venture agreement with major Korean seafood player Dongwon Industries has been replaced with a technical advisory agreement.

Salmon Evolution said the new agreement will see it provide technical advisory services on market terms. The company said this would allow Dongwon to advance the project on its own terms and with full responsibility for project financing.

Here are the highlights of the updated partnership model, per Salmon Evolution:

- Salmon Evolution will provide...

AK Delegation Introduce Bycatch Reduction Act to Address "Unprecedented Challenges"

As promised, Alaska’s Congressional Delegation has followed up on 2022’s Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act with a broader approach to benefit other commercial species caught in Alaska. 

Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Representative Nick Begich introduced the bill earlier this week in both houses of Congress. 

“In recent years, Alaskans have witnessed unprecedented declines among some fish and crab species in parts of the state while, in other parts, runs have been strong and historic,” said Sullivan...

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...

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...

2025: A Pivotal Year Reordering Global Seafood Trade and Policy

The year 2025 marked a watershed in seafood trade and policy with transformative impacts felt across international supply chains, domestic regulations, and industry competitiveness. At the center was President Trump’s sweeping reciprocal tariff regime, reshaping sourcing and pricing dynamics from shrimp to crab, while high-profile regulatory actions, from the FDA's radioactive shrimp recalls to NOAA’s Marine Mammal Protection Act import bans, reverberated through global markets. Domestically, the Trump administration launched bold initiatives, including an executive order to cut regulatory burdens and a strategic roundtable...

No 2026 Deal as Russia–Japan Fisheries Talks Stall

Russia and Japan have failed to reach an agreement on fisheries for 2026. The two countries hold annual negotiations to set quotas, identify target species, and establish catch conditions. These arrangements have governed operations in the Southern Kuril Islands since 1984.

Japanese Minister Norikazu Suzuki said the prospects for further dialogue remain unclear, with Tokyo seeking a solution that protects national interests.

Contacts between the parties may continue. For Russia, the Japanese market is relatively minor in terms of imports. According to Kommersant, citing industry sources, Japanese seafood...

Mitsubishi‑owned Cermaq Boosts Capital in Norway, Canada Subsidiaries to Fund Grieg Seafood Purchase

Mitsubishi-owned salmon farmer Cermaq Group will inject fresh equity into three of its holding companies, Cermaq Holding AS, Cermaq Norway Holding AS and CQ Canada Holding Ltd, to fund the purchase of three salmon-farming operations from Grieg Seafood in Northern Norway and Canada’s east and west coasts.

As a result, each of these subsidiaries will now exceed one-tenth of Mitsubishi’s own capital and are newly classified as “specified subsidiaries” under Japanese reporting standards.

Cermaq announced its acquisition of Grieg Seafood’s operations in Finnmark...

Historic Return of Natural Coho in Northern California Signals Potential Regional Fisheries Shift

For the first time in more than three decades, naturally reproduced coho salmon have been documented in the upper basin of the Russian River — a development that could have important implications for salmon-dependent fisheries and regional ecosystem health.  

Juvenile coho were spotted this past summer in a remote tributary of the Russian River in Mendocino County by a water resources specialist from the Pinoleville Pomo Nation. Their presence marks the first confirmed evidence of successful natural spawning in upper watershed reaches since 1991...

Nissui Finalizes $133M Chile Acquisition; Combined Salmon Output with Pesquera Yadran Hits 70,000T

Japanese seafood heavyweight Nissui has completed the acquisition of Chilean salmon farmer Pesquera Yadran (PY) through its subsidiary Salmones Antarctica (SA) for $133 million, the company announced on December 16.

The deal reflects Nissui’s strategic push to treat aquaculture as a priority growth area, with a target of achieving a profit margin of 10% or more.

Both SA and PY operate in the Chilean farmed salmon sector, with PY bringing both farming and processing capabilities and sales to overseas markets, including the United States...

Hokkaido Fall Chum Catch Unprecedentedly Low at Under 15,000 Tons, Ikura Prices Double

This year's Hokkaido fall chum salmon fishery came to an end at the end of November. According to the Hokkaido Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations' Daily Report, the cumulative catch for this fishing season was 14,465 tons, down 67% from the previous season. While this is a preliminary figure, it ended with the poorest catch on record.

According to a report in the Minato Shimbun, Hokkaido fall chum fishery peaked at 206,000 tons in 2003, and remained at around 150,000 tons in...

Japan: Imports of Frozen Alaskan Salmon Roe Doubled to 3,184 Tons, Russian Roe Minimal

According to the Minato Shimbun report, imported frozen salmon roe is selling at unusually high prices this season. The domestic sales price for Russian pink and chum salmon roe has exceeded 10,000 yen/kg ($64.34/kg). This is even higher than last season's steep price hike, and there have been almost no imports up to September. Imports from the United States are on the rise. 

The domestic sales price for frozen Russian roe from the latest season in November was...

Russia Sharply Increases Salmon Catch in 2025

Russia is sharply increasing its salmon catch in 2025, with overall figures expected to significantly surpass 2024 results.

According to the All-Russian Association of Fishery Producers (VARPE), as of November, Pacific salmon catch totaled 335,500 tons — more than 40% higher than the entire 2024 catch of 235,000 tons, which was Russia’s worst salmon harvest since 2005.

Catch growth was observed in most key fishing areas, including Kamchatka, which accounts for 80% of the total catch, and Khabarovsk Krai. However, Sakhalin experienced a sharp decline due to an extremely hot summer...

ADF&G Forecasts “Average” Pink Salmon Harvest for Southeast Alaska — 19M Pinks in 2026

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) issued its latest salmon forecast for next year last Monday: a lackluster “average” run of pink salmon to rivers in the state’s panhandle, with a predicted harvest of 19 million fish. 

“Juvenile pink salmon abundance measured in northern inside waters during summer 2025 was near the middle of the long-term range, which suggests a moderate number of adults returning in 2026,” the agency’s forecast said. 

While salmon returns can vary due to changing ocean conditions...

Canadian Farmed Salmon Sector Signals Alarm Over BC Ban Amid Food Security Concerns

The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance’s latest report warns that the 2024 ban on west coast open-net pen salmon farming by the Trudeau government threatens Canada’s food security and jobs, and undermines the “Buy Canadian” push amid tariff uncertainty in the US.

“Canada’s aquaculture production is a national economic treasure, but it has been seriously weakened by irresponsible government policies,” said Timothy Kennedy, CAIA President & CEO. “Once a world leader in seafood, Canada now underperforms against global competitors, jeopardizing Canada’s independence and food security at...

SalMar Moves to Full Ownership of Oylaks After Controlling Stake Since 2022

SalMar, one of the world’s leading salmon farmers, announced it has acquired a 100% stake in Oylaks, a Norwegian firm that holds one Atlantic salmon license.

The agreed purchase price in the deal will be settled by the issuance of 209,402 new shares by SalMar at a subscription price of NOK 655.20 ($65.21) per share, SalMar said in its announcement.

SalMar first took a controlling stake in Oylaks in 2022. Salmon Business noted that Oylaks noted at the time that, despite stable profitability, the company said it...

In Denying to Hear the Case, the Supreme Court Hands Alaska Natives a Win on the Kuskokwim

The Supreme Court yesterday rejected the state of Alaska’s petition to review a ruling affirming Alaska Native fishing rights in a case tied to a broader legal battle over subsistence fishing that began more than 40 years ago. 

In an article published in Courthouse News, Lloyd Miller, attorney for the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, described the petition as the fourth time a court has ruled against Alaska’s attempt to “wipe out the subsistence fishing and hunting rights that rural Alaskans...

SalMar Q4 Harvest Climbs 7% Year-on-Year; Lerøy Drops 13% as Regional Volumes Shift

Leading Norwegian salmon producers SalMar and Lerøy Seafood Group released Q4 2025 trading updates highlighting divergent quarterly results and contrasting regional performance.

SalMar reported a consolidated Q4 harvest of 84,100 tonnes gutted weight (GWT), driven by strong production in Central Norway (43,400 t) and Northern Norway (36,900 t). Its full-year 2025 harvest reached 284,500 t GWT. Meanwhile, offshore unit SalMar Ocean registered no harvest in Q4 but contributed 7,200 t for the year...

Salmon Farmer Bakkafrost Scottish Ops Hit by $9 Million in Mortality Costs in Q4

Bakkafrost’s Q4 2025 harvest in the Faroe Islands reached 23,300 tonnes HOG with an average fish weight of 5.6 kg, advancing the year‑to‑date total to 83,600 tonnes. Monthly harvests were 9,500 tonnes in October (5.4 kg), 7,600 tonnes in November (5.9 kg) and 6,200 tonnes in December (5.4 kg).

Scottish operations yielded 4,600 tonnes HOG in Q4, averaging 4.1 kg per fish. Incident-based mortality costs in farming amounted to 58 million DKK ($9 million) in Scotland, largely stemming...

Winding Glass: Trump Policies of Tariff and Weak Dollar Damaged Seafood in 2025, Likely to Continue 

Tariffs and a weak dollar created artificial seafood supply shortages in the US in 2025. The result: higher prices for consumers, reduced consumption, and a reorientation of global trade flows away from America.

Supply is the ultimate driver of seafood pricing, as any boat captain landing in New Bedford, Gloucester or Maine will tell you. On days with more boats, prices are down.

The same dynamic holds at the stock level. When a population expands or contracts, it changes the...

Cermaq Completes $1 Billion Acquisition of Grieg's Finnmark and Canadian Salmon Farming Operations

Grieg Seafood has finalized the sale of its Finnmark, Norway, and Canadian operations to Cermaq for NOK 10.2 billion (USD 1 billion) on a cash- and debt-free basis, with a normalized working capital assumption.

First announced in July 2025, Mitsubishi Corporation–owned Cermaq said the acquisition will strengthen its competitiveness in salmon farming and drive significant growth. Last week, Expana reported that Cermaq would inject fresh equity into three of its holding companies to finance the purchase...

Hokkaido Fall Chum Stocks Collapsed to Levels of 50 Years Ago

This year's fall chum salmon migration to Hokkaido is experiencing a historic low, comparable to catches observed in the 1970s, when hatching and release technology was in its infancy. Koichi Urabe, senior researcher at the Hokkaido Research Institute's Salmon and Inland Fisheries Research Station, reflected on this year at a meeting of the Hokkaido Set-Net Fisheries Association on December 10th, and expressed concern about the rapid decline in salmon resources due to global warming, according to a report in the Minato Shimbun...

West Coast Salmon Files Bankruptcy After Nearly NOK 100M Loss on Nevada RAS Project

West Coast Salmon, a Norwegian company with plans to build a massive land-based salmon operation in Nevada, filed for bankruptcy.

The company reportedly lost close to NOK 100 million ($9.8 million) before the project could gain significant momentum, according to Norwegian publication Dagens Næringsliv. The planned facility never progressed beyond the design stage; the effort stalled after substantial losses.

The company initially planned 50,000 tons of HOG production at its Reno, Nevada, facility, but later reduced...

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...

USDA Purchases $13.7M in Pollock, Catfish and Canned Salmon for Domestic Programs

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchased roughly $13.7 million worth of pollock, catfish and canned salmon products for use in domestic food distribution programs.

The USDA initially released a solicitation to sell various salmon, pollock and catfish products on November 25. In the end, the USDA bought 1.75 million pounds of seafood for $13,694,519.36.

Specifically, the USDA purchased 1,8000 cases of frozen Atlantic pollock fillets for $500,400; along with various frozen Alaska pollock products for a combined $2.3 million...

Russia, India Set Ambitious Fisheries Cooperation Agenda Post-Putin Visit

Russia plans to expand cooperation with India in the fisheries sector, following agreements made during Russian President Putin's recent visit to India.

The plans include establishing joint ventures focused on maritime logistics, deep-sea fishing, and fishing port automation.

Russia is especially optimistic about increasing Indian seafood imports, with particular emphasis on shrimp supplies. According to Russia’s Agriculture Minister Oksana Luth, India remains a leading shrimp supplier to Russia and imports are expected to grow further in 2026.

“India is the world’s largest producer and exporter of shrimp...

Norway’s November Seafood Exports Fall as Asia Gains Share While US, Europe Lose Ground

Norway saw its seafood exports fall from a value standpoint for the second month in a row, as US tariffs led to market shifts, and the increased value of the Norwegian krone has made the country’s seafood products more expensive, according to the latest update from the Norwegian Seafood Council.

“This is the second month in a row that seafood exports have fallen in value compared with the same month last year. In November, even historically high prices were unable to compensate...

Klamath River Posts a One-Year Surprise: There are ‘Salmon Everywhere’

More than a year following the removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River, scientists with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are observing the rapid re-occupation of upstream habitat by salmon — a development with significant implications for upstream-downstream connectivity, spawning success and ultimately commercial availability. 

Michael Harris, Environmental Program Manager of CDFW’s Klamath Watershed Program, said in a statement that he’s surprised at the activity.  

“The speed at which salmon are repopulating every nook and cranny of suitable habitat upstream of the dams...