Japan's Seafood Imports in May Decreased by 5% YOY in Volume and 3% YOY in Value

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on June 27, Japan’s May seafood imports (with preliminary figures including fish and shellfish, their preparations, fish meal, and seaweed) decreased by 5% in volume from the same month last year, totaling 181,942 tons. In addition, the value of these imports decreased by 3% to 165.412 billion yen ($1.154 billion), as reported by Japanese news outlet Minato Shimbun.

Fresh and frozen tuna imports rose by 13% to 17,417 tons, including the following tuna...

Trump Announces US Trade Deal With Vietnam, Including 20% Import Tariff

President Trump announced that the United States has agreed to a new trade deal with Vietnam on July 2.

Trump stated that Vietnam will pay the US a 20% tariff on all goods exported to the U.S. and a 40% tariff on transshipped goods. The higher 40% tariff targets products that are not originally made in Vietnam but are routed through the country to bypass higher tariffs. This move is significant, as many countries have used Vietnam as a transit point to avoid stricter trade penalties aimed at Chinese...

StarKist Launches Summer Campaign Promoting Protein Pouches 

StarKist is kicking off the summer with a new campaign. Fueled by the brand’s protein pouches, the StarKist Summer initiative promotes an active, on-the-go lifestyle.  

Each fully cooked, ready-to-eat StarKist Creations pouch has up to 17 grams of protein. With more than 25 options available, including tuna and salmon, this on-the-go snack is a perfect choice for busy summer days.  

"StarKist Summer is about making the most of the season by staying active, getting outside, and enjoying real food that fits your lifestyle," said...

Japan's April Household Expenditure Survey: Seafood Spending up 3%, Tuna Purchases up 20%

According to the April household survey released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on June 6, total food expenditures increased 7% year-on-year to 89,487 yen ($615.30). Expenditures on seafood increased 3% to 5,889 yen ($40.49). Fresh seafood, salted and dried seafood, and surimi products all increased compared to the same month last year.

According to a report in the Minato Shimbun, fresh seafood increased 1% to 3,196 yen ($21.97). Tuna, skipjack, and sashimi platters...

Thai Union Releases 2024 Sustainability Report  

Thai Union released its 2024 Sustainability Report this week, detailing its role over the last year in protecting marine ecosystems and building transparency across global seafood supply chains.  

The seafood producer kicked off 2024 with the launch of its Lower Carbon Shrimp Program in Thailand, which aims to decarbonize shrimp production and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Thai Union also achieved zero waste to landfill status at 23 of its 32 manufacturing and distribution sites.  

Another big takeaway from the report is the company’s progress when it comes to tuna. Thai Union sourced...

Maruha Nichiro and UMAMI Bioworks Launch Project to Develop Cell-Cultivated Bluefin Tuna 

Japanese seafood company Maruha Nichiro Corporation (MNC) and Singapore-based Umami Bioworks have joined forces to develop cell-cultivated bluefin tuna.  

The latest venture advances their joint development agreement on cell cultivation technology — which has been in place since 2023. 

Cell-cultivated seafood is attracting attention as a way to supply next-generation fish protein. And Umami Bioworks is no stranger to these prototypes. Just last month, the Singapore-based company launched its cultivated seafood protein platform to tackle key challenges in...

Wild Bluefin Sales at Toyosu Market Surged by 70% in April

According to a Jiji Press survey, the number of domestic tunas arriving at the fresh tuna section of Toyosu Market in April was 2,407 fish, up 40.8% from the same month last year. Wild and farmed bluefin tuna increased, but the number of bigeye and yellowfin tuna was lower than the previous year.

Minato Shimbun reported that the total number of bluefin tuna that arrived was 2,228 fish, up 67.3% from the same month last year, of which 2,021 were wild, up 69.3%. The majority of tuna was...

Ocean Outcomes Announces $3M Push for Tuna Fleet Transparency in Northeast Asia

At this year’s Our Ocean Conference in Busan, South Korea, all eyes were on Northeast Asia’s distant water tuna fleets — the largest in the world, operating across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Yet despite their vast reach, these fleets remain among the least transparent, with average observer coverage hovering below 10%. For the remaining 90% of the thousands of vessels catching tuna on the high seas, little is known.

Ocean Outcomes (O2) and Global Fishing Watch (GFW) are leading the charge to modernize this high-risk...

Chicken of the Sea Reveals New Ghost Pepper Tuna Packet

Chicken of the Sea just announced the newest addition to its shelf-stable tuna packet line: Wild Caught Light Tuna with Ghost Pepper.

The spicy 90-calorie tuna product is available for a limited time only at retail locations where Chicken of the Sea tuna packets are sold. The company recommends trying it on its own, scooped with a tortilla chip, over rice, or paired with your favorite recipe.

The debut marks Chicken of the Sea’s hottest flavor offering.

"At Chicken of the Sea, we keep a close eye on..."

StarKist Brings Back Nostalgic “Sorry Charlie” Marketing Campaign

Earlier this month, StarKist Co. revived its 1961 slogan “Sorry Charlie” by incorporating it into the company’s new marketing campaign, StarKist® – The First Name in Tuna.

The campaign will roll out throughout the year and showcase three ads, each of which will include 15-second ad spots and shorter cuts, appearing across Connected TV (CTV), Online Video (OLV), paid social, and other digital channels.

The original 1961 slogan gave voice to Charlie the Tuna, who wore a red beret and glasses and who endearingly hoped to be the next tuna chosen...

Indonesian Fishermen Sue Bumble Bee Foods Over Forced Labor Allegations

A group of Indonesian fishermen filed a lawsuit against tuna canner Bumble Bee Foods, alleging forced labor and human trafficking violations while onboard vessels that caught tuna which was eventually sold within the US.

The suit was filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of California on March 12 and alleges that San Diego-based company infringed on the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). This law allows foreigners who suffered from human trafficking to sue US companies linked to forced labor...

Canada Sees 582% Sales Increase for MSC Labeled Tuna

Recently, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) released its first-ever Canada Tuna Report, illustrating immense growth in Canada’s demand and sales for MSC-certified tuna products over the last two years.

Most significantly, the North American country saw a 582% increase in tuna volume sold between 2022 and 2024 — 99.5% of which was sold in cans. This volume grew from 1,907 MT in 2022 to more than 13,000 MT in 2024.

According to the MSC, tuna represents 60% of all MSC labeled seafood sold by weight in Canada, while tuna represents...

Senate Committee Advances Bill to Combat Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Imports

US Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) announced that the Senate Commerce Committee advanced the Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act. The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

Britt led the bipartisan legislation, along with Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii).

The bill would direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop a standard...

Japan’s 2024 Fishery Product Imports Up Slightly by 1% at 2.09 Million MT

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on January 30, the import volume of fishery products (preliminary figures, fish and shellfish and their preparations, fishmeal, and seaweed) in 2024 was 2,093,112 tons, up 1% from the previous year. The import value was 1,947.8 billion yen ($12.71 billion), up 2%.

According to the Minato Shimbun report, Fresh and frozen tuna increased 7% to 175,088 tons, fresh and frozen salmon and trout increased 9% to 219,750 tons, and fresh and frozen shrimp increased 10%...

StarKist Teams up with TikTok Celebrity Chef to Unveil the ‘StarKist Mashup Challenge’

StarKist unveiled its “StarKist Mashup Challenge,” which challenges consumers to mix and match different StarKist Creations pouches and flavors to showcase the variety and inventiveness of healthy snacks and meals.

To help bring its challenge to the masses, StarKist has partnered with Celebrity Chef Nick DiGiovanni.

"We at StarKist are thrilled to partner with Celebrity Chef Nick DiGiovanni, whose culinary creativity and adventurous approach to food perfectly align with our mission to inspire bold flavor exploration," said Michael Merritt, Jr., Director of Marketing at StarKist...

The Year’s First Tuna Auction Topped at JPY 750,000 per Kilo at Toyosu Market

The annual first auctions of the new year took place on the morning of January 5 at wholesale markets in major Japanese cities. In particular, the bluefin tuna auction at Toyosu Market in Tokyo was highlighted on TV and online news media. According to Minato Shimbun, a fresh bluefin tuna from Oma, Aomori Prefecture, weighing 276 kilos, was sold for 207 million yen ($1.31 million), the second highest value following 333.6 million yen ($2.12 million) recorded in 2019...

ANALYSIS: Thai Tuna Exports by Country and the Factors Influencing Prices

The Expana Benchmark Prices (EBP) for Thai skipjack tuna saw a decline of around $150 per metric ton (mt) in May, accounting for a decrease of 8.8% month-on-month. The whole frozen skipjack tuna market saw a notable drop in May as canning factories reduced their purchasing activities due to uncertainties surrounding potential tariffs on tuna exports to the US. In addition to enhanced landing levels in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, these have contributed to overall downward price pressure.

Recent shifts in...

Seafood Supplier Culimer USA Becomes Oddisea SuperFrozen Amid Sustainability Push

Culimer USA, a company specializing in sushi-grade seafood products, announced that it has rebranded as Oddisea SuperFrozen, LLC.

The company said the rebrand reflects its “ongoing investment in a better seafood future.” It added that the move responds to growing US consumer concerns surrounding the health of oceans, origins of seafood and the purity with which seafood arrives on their plates.

“Launched from the experience and success of Culimer USA, Oddisea is here to set a new industry standard for clean tuna,” the company wrote on its LinkedIn page...

New Research Reveals 26 of 30 Largest Tuna Companies Don't Disclose Accurate Catch Data

Nonprofit financial think tank Planet Tracker just released a research report revealing that only four of the world's 30 largest tuna fishing companies disclose accurate catch data for their fishing operations.

The report, entitled “Tuna Turner: Investors Must Turn Up Transparency in the Tuna Industry,” refers to the 30 largest tuna companies as “the Tuna 30." These companies account for 46% of the total global tuna catch, which amounts to 5.2 million tonnes worldwide, with 1.6 million tonnes accounting for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified catch...

ANALYSIS: Ecuadorian Government Ends Diesel Subsidies for Fishing Fleet and Current Tuna Market Trends

A statement published by The National Chamber of Fisheries (CNP) and the Ecuadorian Tuna Association (ATUNEC) on June 2 had expressed concern over the government’s plan to eliminate the diesel subsidy for the tuna sector. Both organizations explain that this will raise operational costs, reduce international competitiveness, and harm a key national industry. According to this document - which states that the Ecuadorian tuna fleet uses only 2.8% of Ecuador’s diesel - the subsidy’s removal would save $14.4 million annually. The statement reads in part, “...

Tokyo Seafoods Purchases Increase by 40% in 2025 With a Focus on Spanish Set-net Tuna  

Food trading company Tokyo Seafoods will continue to promote wild bluefin tuna from Spain this year. Its buyer arrived in the country at the end of April and purchased approximately 500 tons — 40% more than 2024. While farmed Atlantic bluefin tuna is popular in the Mediterranean, Minato Shimbun reports that Tokyo Seafoods will market wild bluefins as a rare setnet-caught fish. And as sales destinations expand, purchases will be made from a total of three companies, with Crespo Family at the...

Russia to Increase Fish Exports to Vietnam

Russia plans to increase its fish exports to Vietnam this year thanks to the ever-growing demand from local processors.

According to German Zverev, President of the All-Russian Association of Fish Producers, Vietnam is actively expanding its processing capacities and becoming a key player in the global market. In 2024, the country almost liquidated its gap with China in terms of fish exports.

At present, Vietnamese processors mainly work with local raw materials, such as pangasius and tilapia, but its taste is inferior to wild fish. Thus, Russia can become an important...

Russia Reduces Imports of Fish Products from “Unfriendly” States

Lately, Russia has been reducing its imports of fish products from so-called “unfriendly” states, according to recent statements from local fishermen and Russian media reports.

According to earlier data provided by the All-Russian Association of Fishery Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters (VARPE), which cites statistics from Trademap, Russia only imported 2.28%, or less than 6,500 tons, of frozen, smoked, and dried fish and seafood from “unfriendly” countries in 2024 was 2.28%.

Most of these imports were delivered from South Korea along with Taiwan and some other countries...

Presidential Proclamation Breathes New Life into Western Pacific Fisheries

Hammered by at least six presidential proclamations since President Bush in 2006 created the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, Hawaiian and other Western Pacific fishermen have found themselves closed out of productive fishing grounds that account for more than half of the U.S. EEZ waters in the region.  

That changed last week.  

President Trump signed the “Unleashing American commercial fishing in the Pacific” proclamation on April 17, surrounded by Western Pacific dignitaries. 

“By doing this, we are giving you back your lives,” Trump said as he signed the document designed to restore...

Japanese Shipments of Farmed Bluefin Tuna Increased by 11% in 2024

According to a March 24 announcement by the Fisheries Agency of Japan, based on preliminary figures, farmed bluefin tuna shipments in 2024 increased 11% from the previous year, totaling 18,687 tons.

In addition, shipments derived from wild seedlings (including short-term farming) increased by 14% to 18,282 tons. Shipments derived from artificial seedlings decreased by 46% to 405 tons. With the recovery of wild resources, major trading companies have shifted from complete farming to short-term farming to raise larger wild seedlings, which is thought to have led to...

Japan: January Frozen Sockeye Imports Increased 40% While Bluefin Tuna Fillet Volume Doubled

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on February 27, Japan’s January fishery product imports (including preliminary figures, fish and shellfish and their preparations, fishmeal, and seaweed) increased 5% from last year, amounting to 181,946 tons. The following species exceeded their import levels from January 2023: fresh and chilled tuna, salmon, trout, herring, octopus, and sea urchin. According to Minato Shimbun, Japan’s total import value reached 184.04 billion yen ($1.22 billion), which marks an increase of 19% compared to same time last year...

ANALYSIS: 2024 Frozen Tuna Fillet Imports Reach Second Highest Levels on Record

In 2024, total imports of frozen tuna fillets amounted to 95.11 million pounds, making it the second-highest import volume on record. The record was set in 2022 with 105.49 million pounds, while 2019 ranks third with imports totaling 90 million pounds.  Since 2007, tuna imports have been on an upward trajectory, tripling in volume. Throughout most of this period, Indonesia was the predominant exporter, consistently maintaining a lead over Vietnam...

Tri-Union Seafoods Issues Recall of Select Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s Tuna Cans

On Thursday, February 7, Tri-Union Seafoods issued a voluntary recall of select Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s canned tuna products due to a potential clostridium botulinum contamination.

According to the seafood producer, the recall was issued out of an abundance of caution following the notification from Tri-Union Seafoods’ supplier about a manufacturing defect that had occurred with the "easy open" pull tab can lid on certain tuna products. As a result, the defective lids compromised the...

US Senate Committee Introduces Anti-IUU Fishing Bill for Tuna and Red Snapper Imports

On January 28, 2025, Senator Ted Cruz (Chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee), Senator Brian Schatz, Senator Katie Britt, and Senator Tommy Tuberville introduced the Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act.

The bipartisan bill focuses on the development of a field test kit that can accurately test the geographic origin of red snapper and certain tuna species in order to determine if fish were caught in U.S. waters or foreign waters.

Sen. Schatz stated that the bill will help combat the efforts of pirate...

Chicken of the Sea Partners with McCormick for New Tuna Products and OLD BAY Collaboration

Seafood company Chicken of the Sea recently partnered up with food company McCormick to incorporate OLD BAY Seafood Seasoning into two of its new tuna packet offerings. Together, the two powerhouses have a combined industry presence of more than 230 years.

The seafood company added the following two items to its on-the-go lineup: Chicken of the Sea Wild Caught Light Tuna Packet with OLD BAY(R) Seasoning and Chicken of the Sea Wild Caught Light Tuna Packet with McCormick(R) Chili Lime...