North Pacific Council Delays Action on Bering Sea Chum Salmon Bycatch Due to Funding Uncertainty 

At the end of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council’s June meeting, the panel issued a two-paragraph statement titled “Budget Concerns and Effects on Future Council Meetings,” that described their critical funding situation. 

“To date, the Council has received only 46% of its operating grant funding from NOAA for 2025, which is not typical,” the June 9th statement read. “Although the Council anticipates receiving another installment of its grant in the coming weeks, that amount is uncertain and it may not be...

Alaska’s Pre-Bristol Bay Salmon Landings Modest Compared to Pre-Season Forecasts 

As of last Saturday, landings of sockeye salmon in the Copper River District totaled 274,400 fish, delivered during the first seven fishing periods since the season opened May 22, 2025. That number is significantly less than the Alaska Department of Fish & Game’s anticipated harvest of 969,000 fish for that period. 

The trajectory of the fishing periods trace the path of a roller coaster. The first period’s harvest was 28,000 sockeye. The second period, which started May 26, netted 52,400 sockeye. Five days after that, the third...

Vancouver Island Man Fined $60K for Illegally Damaging Salmon Habitat on Trent River

A British Columbia resident was found guilty of destroying critical fish habitat on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced on June 10.

According to the Courtenay Provincial Court, area resident David Tingley failed to fix work he had illegally done on his property that impacted fish and fish habitat on the Trent River. Tingley was hit with a CAD 60,000 fine ($43,900), which was directed to the Environmental Damages Fund, which focuses on the conservation and protection of salmon...

ANALYSIS: Chilean Fresh Salmon Fillet Market Declines for Fifth Consecutive Week

The fresh Chilean salmon fillet market continued its downward trend this week, marking the fifth consecutive week of falling prices. Market participants report weak demand and an ample supply of fresh fillets from Chile as key drivers behind the price slump.

Earlier this spring, European fresh fillets—typically priced higher than Chilean fillets—briefly traded below the Chilean market. However, that trend has reversed. As of this writing, European fresh fillet prices have rebounded and are now 10.3% higher than their...

ASMI Releases 2024 Annual Report Highlighting Global Impacts and Market Challenges 

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) has released its 2024 Annual Report, reflecting on partnerships, investments and challenges within the Alaska seafood industry. 

Throughout 2024, ASMI worked to promote Alaska seafood in 36,000 retail stores and 18,000 restaurants across the U.S. – but not without its challenges.  

A Difficult 2024 

According to the August 2024 NOAA Fisheries Alaska Seafood Snapshot Report, the Alaska seafood industry spent much of last year in recovery mode, after suffering a $1.8 billion economic loss from...

Fujisan Salmon Markets White Fujisan Salmon: White Meat Rainbow Trout Grown at the Foot of Mt. Fuji

Japanese newspaper Minato Shimbun recently highlighted the production and sale of "White Fujisan Salmon,” rainbow trout grown by aquaculture company Fujisan Salmon Co., Ltd. (Fujisan Salmon) at the foot of Mt. Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Unlike the image of salmon with red meat, this beautiful white meat is different from both regular salmon and white fish varieties, characterized by its moderate fat content. Utilizing the abundant spring water of Mt. Fuji, Fujisan Salmon strives for sustainability through farming practices aimed at coexisting with...

Over 27,000 Sockeye and 1,000 Chinook Salmon Netted in Copper River’s First Opener on May 22

For the first time in recent history, the iconic Copper River salmon season opened about a week late for the fleet based in nearby Cordova.

Rather than May 15, state salmon managers delayed the first opener until the 22nd to allow more Chinook salmon through to their spawning grounds in the Copper River watershed. In 353 deliveries during a 12-hour opener, drift netters delivered 27,368 sockeye, 1,083 Chinook, 189 chum salmon, and one pink salmon. The fishery began at 7 a.m. local time...

Bakkafrost Q1 Results Show Decreased Earnings Amid Increased Supply

Faroese salmon farmer Bakkafrost recently released its financial results for Q1 2025, reflecting an overall decrease in earnings amid increased supply and weaker prices.

Regin Jacobsen, CEO of Bakkafrost, said the company is satisfied overall with this quarter’s results, noting the strong biological performance at its various facilities.

He cited Bakkafrost’s successful Faroese freshwater and marine operations, which delivered another strong biological performance, and Scotland’s continued focus on high-quality smolt and scaling up production for long-term sustainability and profitability.

In total, Bakkafrost’s Q1 revenues totaled DKK 1,899 million...

Japan’s March Imports of Fresh Trout Increased 2.5 Times, All from Norway

According to trade statistics from the Ministry of Finance, Japan’s total salmon and trout imports for March (including salted, smoked, and prepared products) were 21,029 tons, down 14% from the same month last year. In addition, the CIF import value was 28,306 million yen ($197.07 million), down 2% year-on-year. Non-fillet products were 15,137 tons, down 11%, and fillets were down 21% to 5,892 tons.

Minato Shimbun reported that many items were lower than March of last year. As for raw materials other than fillets...

The Retail Rundown: Seafood Leads Memorial Day Retail Ads; Weather Poses Challenges

Seafood leads retail protein promotions heading into Memorial Day weekend, accounting for 28.7% of total featured protein ad volume. Pork follows at 25.9%, with beef at 21.3% and chicken at 19.3%.

Egg feature volume is virtually absent amid sluggish retail demand. Warmer weather is prompting a shift toward fruit and cereal for breakfast, while elevated, though easing, shelf prices continue to dampen consumer interest, according to Expana.

Within the seafood category, fresh and frozen fillets represent the largest share of advertised items at nearly 28%. Raw shrimp...

Norway Reports One Million Fish Mortalities in Production Areas 9 and 10

Today, the Norwegian government announced that the algal bloom in production areas 9 and 10 has led to approximately one million fish mortalities for several farms in Nordland and Troms. Of these mortalities, 250,000 are smolts.

The highest mortality was reported between May 10-12 in production area 10, particularly in the area around Astafjorden, with four companies being affected to varying degrees. However, fish mortalities decreased throughout the week after the peak mortality period.

This comes after the government announced the harmful algal bloom on May 13...

Wild Fish Conservancy Sues NMFS for Missing Deadline on Alaska Chinook ESA Decision

The Wild Fish Conservancy, an organization based in Duvall, Washington, filed a lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS, or NOAA Fisheries) on May 8, 2025, for missing a deadline under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to submit a full review on the status of Chinook salmon in the Gulf of Alaska.

The review, a massive endeavor, as the Gulf covers 600,000 square miles and includes Chinook salmon rivers from Southeast Alaska across to the Aleutian Chain, is ongoing.

National Marine Fisheries Service Assistant Administrator for...

Russia Able to Catch 312,000 Tons of Pacific Salmon in Far East This Year

Russian fisherman will be able to catch 312,000 tons of Pacific salmon in the Far East this year, which is a lower catch volume compared to the majority of past seasons.

During a recent meeting of the Far Eastern Scientific and Industrial Council, Kirill Kolonchin, Director of the All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO), stated that the decrease in catches is a result of the poor survival rate of fish, which is caused by global warming.

According to Kolonchin, the catch decrease will...

Northline Seafoods Pays More Than $1.37M Bond to Release Seized Salmon Vessel

On May 6, Sayak Logistics (d.b.a. Northline Seafoods) paid more than $1.37 million for the release of its seized vessel, the Hannah, which had been confiscated by federal authorities due to outstanding welding bills owed to Leo’s Welding and Fabrication, LLC, in excess of $1.2 million.

This development comes after a federal judge in Washington state issued a warrant on April 30 for the arrest of the vessel, given its outstanding debt with Leo’s Welding. The Washington-based welding company performed work on the Hannah...

Gov. Newsom, CDFW Make Moves to Boost Salmon Production in California

Upgrading salmon hatcheries and releasing juvenile Chinook directly into the Sacramento River are integral to helping California’s ailing salmonid populations, according to state officials.

Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this week announced that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is upgrading 21 fish hatcheries to boost the state’s salmon and trout populations and to protect hatcheries from the impacts of climate change.

The project helps build the California salmon and trout supply, which are important to indigenous peoples, communities, and the state’s multimillion-dollar fishing industry, according to...

BioMar Reports Volume Increase of 12% in Q1 2025

Aquaculture feed company BioMar recently released its first quarter results for 2025, showing record high volumes for the quarter, combined with solid earnings. 

According to the report, BioMar increased its volumes across all segments by 12% year-on-year. Regarding feed volumes, salmon increased by 7%, selected species went up by 13%, and shrimp increased by 24%, mainly driven by its business in Ecuador.

“I am pleased to conclude that every segment experienced growth in both volume and revenue. In 2024, we intensified our efforts on product mix and commercial excellence..."

Mowi Inks Deal for $2.9 Billion Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility

Mowi, the largest salmon farmer on the planet has signed a EUR 2.6 billion ($2.9 billion) five-year sustainability-linked multicurrency revolving credit facility agreement with DNB, Nordea, Rabobank, ABN AMRO, Danske Bank, SEB and Crédit Agricole.

Norway-based Mowi said the facility would be used to refinance existing bank debt and for general corporate purposes.

The principal financial covenant of the facility is a minimum equity ratio of 35%, and the facility includes an accordion increase option which provides flexibility for the parties...

Aquaticode Expands AI Sorting Tech with Major Chilean Salmon Farming Deals

Aquaticode, an AI-aquaculture firm focused on sorting technology, announced that major Chilean salmon producers, Australis and AquaChile have adopted its AI sorting products.

The company said the deals with the key salmon farmers would see 60 million fish sorted across both companies. Aquaticode said this will lead to both “improved operational efficiency and stronger biological performance.”

“Aquaticode’s AI-driven sorting technology allows us to make faster, more accurate decisions and to maximize the biological potential of every fish,” said Cristian Sauterel, Farming Manager at Australis...

ANALYSIS: Price Trends and Production Data for Norwegian Atlantic Salmon

According to the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, Norwegian Atlantic salmon harvest volume increased by 33.4% year over year (y-o-y) in April, leading to a softer market. Although there was some recovery in price in the first two weeks of May, primarily due to microalgae blooms from the genus Phaeocystis and Chrysochromulina, the abundant supply continues to exert downward pressure on prices.

ne of the main reasons for this incredible increase in supply is addressing challenges in salmon farming. Last year’s winter ulcer...

No Second Opener on Copper River This Week, But Prince William Sound Opens for Seiners 

Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) announced yesterday that the Copper River District will remain closed for the rest of this week to aid struggling Chinook salmon to move upriver to spawn.  

ADF&G has estimated that 21,000-31,000 Chinook must be allowed to reach the upper waters of the Copper for the population to remain sustainable.  

According to harvest data and in river abundance indicators, salmon managers say the return so far continues to be...

Russia Optimistic About 2025 Salmon Catch in Kamchatka Region

Kamchatka will become one of Russia's main salmon regions this year, with a catch of almost 200,000 tons of salmon expected this summer alone.  

As reported in the Russian business paper Kommersant, the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries cited June 1 as the season opening for the peninsula’s main fishing season.

According to forecasts by Russian scientists, 89,000 tons of salmon can be caught on the eastern coast of Kamchatka and about 110,000 tons on the western coast. Traditionally, the bulk of catch will account for pink salmon, amounting to approximately...

Russia Remains Major Salmon Producer in North Pacific Region

According to experts from the Russian Federal Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography, one of Russia’s leading research institutions in the field of fisheries, salmon landings in the North Pacific Ocean (NPO) amounted to 528,000 tonnes in 2024, with Russia leading fish catches in the region.  

This marks the largest share of Russian catch in the region, accounting for almost 48% of the NPO’s total catch last year. In second place was the United States with 42% and Japan in third place with 9%.  

According to experts from Russian newswire Fish News...

Mowi Unveils New Post-Smolt Facility in Norway

On May 21, 2025, Mowi cut the ribbon on its new post-smolt facility at its freshwater site in Haukå, Norway. This development comomes after several years of construction and NOK 600 million in investments.

“This is a large and strategically very important investment for Mowi. With this facility, we will be able to produce healthy and sustainable food in an even better and more efficient way” said Ivan Vindheim, CEO of Mowi.

The expansion more than doubles the number of facility employees, increasing it from 11 to 25 workers, including two...

New NOAA Research Suggests that Alaskan Salmon Sought Temporary Refuge During Marine Heatwaves

The NOAA Alaska Regional Office recently released new research indicating that Pacific salmon in the Gulf of Alaska used the inshore waters of the Icy Strait as a temporary buffer during marine heatwaves.

Researchers found that salmon likely gravitated towards the Icy Strait’s cold, low salinity waters, seeking refuge during these marine events, which occurred in 2014-2016 and 2019.

According to NOAA, prior studies also found connections between the survival and growth rates of juvenile Pacific salmon to oceanographic conditions and food availability in the marine...

Federal Purchases of US Seafood Products Have Increased More Than Five-Fold Over Past Decade

U.S. government purchases of seafood products have risen significantly since 2016, when about $70 million worth of salmon, catfish, and shrimp was purchased by the government for various federal food programs. In 2023, that total was $345 million, just under a five-fold increase in seven years. Estimates for 2024 show even more increases, currently predicted to be just over $360 million.

Purchases of fish and seafood also comprise a growing share of USDA purchases, up from 2% of procured foods...

Mowi Launches New Atlantic Salmon Product at the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show

Seafood giant MOWI recently launched its new product, “MOWI Signature” into the U.S. food service market at the 2025 National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show in Chicago, Illinois.

MOWI Signature offers 4-8 kg packages of fresh, premium, and accessible salmon sourced from Mowi’s farms in Norway and Scotland and tailored for the professional kitchen.

The new product is fresh, never frozen, and all trimmed, cleaned, de-scaled, and de-boned for easy preparation in high-paced kitchens.

“We're excited to bring the Mowi Signature line to market..."

Mowi Q1 Financial Results Indicate Strong Year So Far

Yesterday, Mowi ASA held its earnings call for the first quarter of 2025, noting another strong quarter for the company, both operationally and biologically.

According to Mowi CEO Ivan Vindheim, the salmon company stayed on track this quarter, working towards its annual farming volume target of 530,000 tonnes for the quarter. With Nova Sea now on board, he said the company aims to achieve a farming volume target of 600,000 tonnes in 2026 and 650,000 tonnes by 2029.

Vindheim offered some insights into the quarter that was, stating that Mowi’s harvest...

Norway Announces Harmful Algal Bloom in Production Areas 9 and 10

Today, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA) and the Directorate of Fisheries reported a new microalgal bloom related to the genus Phaeocystis and Chrysochromulina in Norwegian production areas 9 and 10.

According to the Norwegian government, the first mortalities caused by the algal bloom were reported from Øksfjorden at the end of April before spreading to Raftsundet and Kanstadfjorden in area 9 and moving north to Astafjorden in area 10.  

As evidenced by modeling data compiled by the Institute of Marine Research (IMR), many locations continue to show...

Russian Salmon Catch Not to Exceed 400,000 Tons, Says Russian Federal Fish Agency

According to Russia’s federal fish agency, Rosrybolovstvo, the country’s domestic salmon catch is not likely to exceed 400,000 tons this year. This expectation is in line with initial forecasts that were made by agency analysts alongside leading Russian fishery scientists.

Ilya Shestakov, the agency’s head, confirmed this, stating, “There are preliminary forecasts that our science is already providing. They will certainly be updated after the studies that will be held in May.”

At the end of November 2024, in an interview with the TV channel Russia-24...

Seafood Expo Global 2025: Seafood Excellence Global Awards Announced

The 2025 Seafood Excellence Global awards were announced yesterday evening during a reception in the Galleria of Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue at the 31st Seafood Expo Global (SEG), with finalists representing 15 different countries worldwide.

Of the 40 finalists that were selected this year, nine products were selected as finalists for Best Hotel/Restaurant/Catering (HORECA) Product, and 31 products were selected as finalists for Best Retail Product. Products were evaluated based on taste and overall eating experience, packaging, market potential, convenience, nutritional value, and innovation...