Alaska Seafood Gains Expanded QSR Visibility During Lent 2026 Promotions

Alaska seafood saw expanded menu penetration and brand visibility during Lent 2026 promotions, with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) reporting strong participation from national and regional quick-service and fast-casual chains across the US.

The Alaska seafood logo was featured prominently throughout seasonal promotions, reflecting continued operator interest in seafood-driven limited-time offers and value positioning during the Lenten period.

New partner Burger King drove broad consumer reach through a direct mail coupon campaign distributed across its 6,400...

USDA Seeks 192,000 Pounds of Catfish Products for Government Food Programs

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting bids for nearly 192,000 pounds of catfish products through its domestic commodity procurement program, marking the agency's second major seafood purchase solicitation this month.

The May 7 solicitation seeks 152,000 pounds of unbreaded raw catfish fillets and 40,000 pounds of breaded oven-ready catfish strips for delivery between July 1 and November 30, 2026. Bids are due May 14 at 1:00 PM Central Time, with acceptances announced by May 22...

Russia Eyes Busan as Distribution Hub for Southeast Asian Fish Exports

Russia plans to use the South Korean port of Busan as a hub for distributing Russian fish products to Southeast Asia as well as supplying fish directly to the South Korean market.

These plans were recently confirmed by German Zverev, president of the All-Russian Association of Fishery Producers (VARPE).

According to Zverev, Russian fish exports to South Korea increased 5% in 2025 compared to 2024, reaching US$1 billion. However, South Korean customs statistics show that not all products remain in the country...

Today's Top Story: Alaska Rep. Begich Offers Bill to Add Four Seats to North Pacific Fishery Management Council

In today's top story, Alaska's sole House representative introduced legislation to add four seats to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, expanding voting membership from 11 to potentially 15. The bill would require "balanced representation," including recreational, small-scale commercial, rural subsistence, and urban subsistence user groups...

Court Rejects Conagra Bid to Dismiss Seafood Mislabeling Lawsuit

A federal judge in Illinois has denied Conagra Brands' motion to dismiss a proposed class action lawsuit challenging the company's labeling of frozen fish products as "100% Whole Fish Fillets," despite the addition of sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) and water during processing.

The April 29 ruling by US District Judge John J. Tharp Jr. allows consumers from California, New York, Massachusetts, and potentially nationwide to proceed with claims that Conagra's Van de Kamp and Mrs. Paul's branded products constitute deceptive labeling under various state consumer protection laws...

Coast Guard Removes Press Release on American Seafoods Pollock Roe Seizure

The US Coast Guard removed a press release from its website detailing the seizure of $65,000 worth of Alaska pollock roe from American Seafoods' catcher-processor Northern Eagle.

The Coast Guard told Alaska's NBC-2 KTUU that it removed the posts to prevent "unintended consequences, distractions from NOAA's ongoing investigation, or confusion about the compliance record within the Alaska pollock fishery."

The USCG said it pushed back on the case's conclusions, noting the issue shouldn't be viewed as evidence of illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing in one...

Japan's Pollock Exports Spiked by 42％ to over 62,000 MT

Frozen Alaska pollock exports in 2025 increased by 42% year-on-year to 6,671 tons, driven by strong growth in exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and Africa, including Nigeria. This marks a halt to the two-year decline following China's import ban on Japanese seafood following the release of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The Minato Shimbun reported this.

Exports to Vietnam increased steadily by 27% to 1,682 tons, and to Thailand by 38% to 531 tons. Exports to Africa showed particularly significant...

Sea of Okhotsk Pollock Catch Down 3.5% but Revenue Hopes High on Pricing

Russian pollock fishermen have completed the winter-spring pollock fishing season in the Sea of Okhotsk, the center of Russian pollock production.

According to the Russian Pollock Association, the total catch in all Far East areas during the first part of Russia's pollock fishing season reached 1.021 million tons. The result is 3.5% below 2025 levels but 6% higher than the five-year average.

Alexey Buglak, head of the association, told Russian media that unfavorable weather conditions were the main reason...

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...

Today's Top Story: Supreme Court Halts NL Snow Crab Tie-Up; Sackton Warns of Market Risk

In today's top story, the Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court granted an injunction against the Fish Food and Allied Workers Union-Unifor (FFAW), ordering the union to halt its snow crab fishery tie-up over the province's CAD 5.30/lb minimum price. Seafood analyst John Sackton warned that the repeated disputes are damaging Newfoundland's snow crab brand, making buyers reluctant to commit due to delivery and volume uncertainty...

Today's Top Story: American Seafoods Refutes Federal Seizure of Pollock Roe, Calling it a Paperwork Discrepancy

In today's top story, American Seafoods is challenging US Coast Guard citations over alleged production reporting discrepancies aboard its vessels, calling the enforcement action "flawed calculations using antiquated regulatory standards from over 40 years ago...

Mersey Seafoods Acquires Nova Scotia's Comeau's Sea Foods

Nova Scotia-based Mersey Seafoods has struck a deal to acquire fellow provincial seafood firm Comeau's Sea Foods, the companies announced April 8.

Comeau's said day-to-day operations will remain unchanged, and the company will continue operating from its Southwest Nova Scotia locations under the same name. The scallop and herring processor serves foodservice and retail sectors and also handles Atlantic salmon, haddock, halibut, and Alaska pollock.

"We have a strong foundation in the Clare community and have been a staple employer in the region," Comeau's stated. "We believe this...

Russian Pollock Roe Auction Bid Prices Around $5.00 Per Kilo in Busan, Korea

According to the Minato Shimbun, the auction for this season's new harvest of Russian pollock roe, which began in earnest in Busan, South Korea, in March, has seen contracted quantities of approximately 12,600 tons as of the first week of April, according to sources, falling below the same period last year at approximately 15,000 tons. This is believed to be due to delays in transport vessels and to production delays in January and February.

Auction prices so far have been around $5/kg..

Coast Guard Seizes $65K in Unreported Pollock Roe from American Seafoods Vessel

In a collaboration between the US Coast Guard and NOAA Fisheries office of Law Enforcement (OLE), federal officers seized 5.4 metric tons of unreported pollock roe, valued at over $65,000, from the catcher-processor Northern Eagle, owned by American Seafoods, in late March. 

The Northern Eagle was approximately 15 nautical miles north of Dutch Harbor, AK on Thursday, March 26, when the crew of the US Coast Guard Cutter Waesche boarded the trawler/processor. 

In a statement yesterday, the Coast Guard described the boarding as being...

AK, WA Governors Tap Two for NPFMC While NOAA Head Urges More Industry Members on Councils

Amid comments from NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Eugenio Piñeiro Soler for “better council members” at the regional fisheries management councils, both Governors Mike Dunleavy of Alaska and Bob Ferguson of Washington submitted their preferred nominations for two seats on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC).  

That council oversees 26 federally-managed species caught in Alaskan waters, including the nation’s largest fishery, Alaska pollock. Taken together, about 30% of the nation’s total seafood production is managed by the 11-member NPFMC...

Alaska Pollock Fishery Recertified as Sustainable by Marine Stewardship Council For Next Five Years

The nation’s largest fishery, and the second largest volume fishery in the world, Alaska pollock was certified for the fifth time by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) yesterday. Alaska pollock, caught primarily in the eastern Bering Sea, was first certified in 2005 and has now been recertified until 2031, following a comprehensive, independent assessment. 

“We are proud that the Alaska pollock fishery continues to meet the rigorous, science-based standards of the Marine Stewardship Council,” Matt Tinning, CEO of the At-sea Processors Association (APA), which...

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...

Middle East Conflict Drives Surimi Price Hikes for 93% of Japanese Kamaboko Makers

According to a survey released on April 7th by the Japan Kamaboko Association, when member surimi product manufacturers were asked about the impact of the Middle East conflict on raw material procurement, 42 out of 45 companies (93%) responded that they had been asked to raise prices for frozen surimi sourced from Southeast Asia and other overseas regions, excluding Alaska pollock. 

According to a report by the Minato Shimbun, the impact of the conflict in the Middle East, a major oil-producing region, is spreading to the...

USDA Solicits Bids for Major 2.3 Million-Pound Alaska Pollock Purchase

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking bids to purchase over 2.3 million pounds of Alaska pollock products, according to a May 4 solicitation notice.

The government procurement covers frozen Alaska pollock products, including fillets, sticks, breaded sticks and bulk containers for domestic food distribution programs. The solicitation also seeks roughly 1,800 cases of frozen haddock fillets. Bids are due May 15, with acceptances announced May 22.

If awarded, this would mark the first government seafood purchase of 2026, according to the USDA's procurement website...

Today's Top Story: Temporary Price Dip Masks Potential Supply Constraints in New Scallop Season

In today's top story, the 2026-2027 scallop season opened with temporary price relief as early Open Area landings and Northern Gulf of Maine product bolster supply levels, marking the first notable easing in some time. However, market participants anticipate this relief will prove short-lived as another constrained season unfolds...

Alaska Seafood Industry Seeks Extension of EU CATCH Deadline Amid Trade Disruption Concerns

A coalition of US and European seafood trade groups is urging the European Union to extend the July 10, 2026, deadline for compliance with updated EU CATCH certification requirements, warning that current traceability demands could effectively ban Alaska seafood from EU markets.

The coalition includes Seafood Europe, Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), At-Sea Processors Association (APA), National Fisheries Institute (NFI), and Pacific Seafood Processors Association (PSPA).

The groups cite a "core challenge" in requirements that each imported shipment provide traceability of each harvest vessel's...

US Celebrates 50 Years of the Law of Fisheries Management — the Magnuson-Stevens Act

This week, fisheries managers, conservation activists, harvesters, processors and those who love seafood have cause to thank the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Act (MSA), keystone legislation to sustainably manage the nation's fishery resources, which turned 50 on Monday.

Led by the late US Senators Warren Magnuson (D-WA) and Ted Stevens (R-AK) in the Senate and Representatives Gerry Studds (D-MA) and Don Young (R-AK) in the House, Congress outlined a road map to expel foreign fleets from our waters...

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...

Center for Biological Diversity Sues NOAA Over Northern Fur Seal Protection, Targets Pollock Fleet

In late 2024, NOAA Fisheries finalized the Conservation Plan for the Eastern Pacific Stock of Northern Fur Seal in an effort to conserve and restore the stock to its optimum sustainable population. The Eastern Pacific (formerly Pribilof) stock of northern fur seals was designated as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act on June 17, 1988, because the population had declined by over 50 percent from the highest population levels of the 1950s. NMFS first published a Conservation Plan in 1993, followed by a revised version...

Alaskan Seafood Takes Center Stage on MasterChef Indonesia

Alaskan seafood took center stage on one of Indonesia's most popular cooking shows, MasterChef Indonesia, in a high-stakes culinary competition.

During the season finale, which aired March 15, finalists were challenged to create a dish showcasing their culinary expertise using a variety of wild-caught Alaskan seafood, including sockeye, coho, and keta salmon, sablefish, Alaska pollock, yellowfin sole, and halibut presented by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI).

US Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke J. Lindberg appeared as a judge and...

American Seafoods Refutes Federal Seizure of Pollock Roe, Calling it a Paperwork Discrepancy

American Seafoods is taking issue with the US Coast Guard and the Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) of the NOAA Fisheries Service within the Department of Commerce. In response to a USCG press release last Monday, the Seattle-based owner of seven vessels, some of which harvest and process pollock in the Bering Sea, issued a press release the next day saying the investigation of, as the Coast Guard press release said “major discrepancies between the vessel’s production reports and electronic logbook” is nothing more...

Seafood Expo Global Reveals 38 Award Finalists from 17 Countries Ahead of Barcelona Show

Seafood Expo Global has announced 38 finalists for its 2026 Seafood Excellence Global Awards, representing 17 countries in a competition that highlights innovation trends across retail and foodservice segments ahead of the industry's flagship trade show in Barcelona.

The finalists span an expanded geographic footprint, with two additional countries represented compared to 2025, underscoring the global reach of seafood product development. Winners will be revealed April 21 during the opening day of Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global at Fira de Barcelona's Gran Via venue...

Today's Top Story: Coast Guard Seizes $65K in Unreported Pollock Roe from American Seafoods Vessel

In today's top story, the US Coast Guard and NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement seized 5.4 metric tons of unreported pollock roe valued at over $65,000 from American Seafoods' catcher-processor Northern Eagle in late March near Dutch Harbor...

Fishery Product Imports Surged 20% in Japan to 156,000 MT in February, 31% to JPY 169.1 Billion

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on March 27, imports of marine products in February (preliminary figures, including fish and shellfish, fishmeal, and seaweed) increased by 20% year-on-year to 156,079 tons, and their value increased by 31% to 169.136 billion yen ($1.06 billion). Imports increased for most fish species, with fresh and frozen salmon and trout increasing by 18% to 24,987 tons, frozen tuna by 25% to 18,262 tons...

Today's Top Story: Fuel Surcharges Impact Fresh Salmon Supply Chain

In today’s top story, fresh farmed salmon from Norway, Chile, and Canada may face rising transportation costs as fuel surcharges roll out across trucking, air freight, and container shipping amid Middle East tensions disrupting global fuel supplies...