Fishing Industry on the Brink: FCC Calls for Urgent Government Action

The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) called China’s 25% tariff on Canadian seafood exports an “existential threat” to fishing operations across the country, especially as it follows US tariffs.

The FCC has pushed to sound the alarm on the impact of the China tariffs, with the March 20 deadline approaching. The double tariff situation could impact 83% of Canada’s seafood export markets within a span of days. The US and China represent roughly CA$6.6 billion ($4.6 billion) of Canada’s CA$8.1 billion in fish...

Russia Increases its Live Crab Exports to China in 2025

This year, Russia is increasing its exports of live crab to China—an uptick which coincides with a stable local demand and high export profits.

As a rule, live crabs account for 80% of Russia’s overall crab exports to China, with the majority of crab entering through the ports of Primorye and transported by road to the city of Hunchun before being distributed throughout China.

According to Russian research agency Agroexport, China imported a total value of US $1.3 billion in crab and shrimp from the Russian Federation during...

Trade Tensions Ignite as Canada and China Hit Back at US Tariffs

Canada and China have announced retaliatory tariffs in response to new US tariffs that went into effect today, igniting trade tensions between the world’s largest economies. After a 30-day pause, the US administration imposed a broad 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico on March 4, Expana's Ryan Doyle reported.

One minute past midnight, the US administration imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian exports and 10% tariffs on Canadian energy. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the decision had “no justification” and emphasized Canada’s efforts to combat...

Trump Signs Memo to Advance Reciprocal Tariffs, Aims to Balance Trade

President Trump signed a memorandum that could lead to the implementation of reciprocal tariffs on the trading partners of the United States.

“The ‘Fair and Reciprocal Plan’ will seek to correct longstanding imbalances in international trade and ensure fairness across the board,” per a fact sheet from the White House. “Gone are the days of America being taken advantage of: this plan will put the American worker first, improve our competitiveness in every area of industry, reduce our trade deficit, and bolster our economic and national security...

Trump Slaps Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China: Seafood Industry Braces for Impact, Latest Updates

After weeks of nonstop speculation, the White House confirmed that President Donald Trump would be implementing tariffs on various US trading partners, including Canada, Mexico and China.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reports on January 31 that Trump will implement 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico and a 10% duty on China starting on February 1.

NBC News reported that the details of how tariffs will be distributed remained unclear, but the plan will be available for public inspection on February 1. No comments were...

China's Russian Live Crab Imports Hit Record High in 2024, Up 17% to 35,000 MT

China's imports of live crab from Russia in 2024 set a new record for the fifth consecutive year. According to statistics from the General Administration of Customs of China, the quantity was 35,108 MT, up 17% or 5,000 MT, from the previous year. This trend is because live crabs are more expensive than frozen crabs, and Russian producers are focusing on exporting live crabs to China. A Japanese trading company said, "Not only land transport but also air transport has increased," Minato Shimbun reported...

Zhanjiang Guolian Aquatic Products Signs Exclusive Shrimp Sales Contract with Ecuador's AQUAGOLD

According to Minato Shimbun, AQUAGOLD in Guayaquil, a major Ecuadorian vannamei producer, has signed a three-year exclusive agency contract with Zhanjiang Guolian Fisheries for the Chinese market, according to reports from multiple Chinese media outlets on January 8, 2025.

Ecuador is a major producer of farmed vannamei, with more than half of its exports going to China. The largest vannamei producer in Ecuador is Industrial Pesquera Santa Priscilla (IPSP), followed by Sociedad Nacional Galapagos (SONGA) and AQUAGOLD...

China Announces 2025 Tariff Increases on Key Seafood Imports

China’s State Council announced adjustments for tariff rates in 2025, with some of the adjustments leading to rate increases for key imported seafood items like shrimp, whitefish and abalone.

Some key seafood items will see increased tariff rates from 2% to 5% in 2025. Specifically, the tax rate for frozen shrimp will see a 3% tariff jump, along with frozen Arctic shrimp, while fresh abalone will jump from 7% to 10%.

EU SME Centre highlighted the following species with increased tariffs (all impacted items are frozen product): Greenland halibut, flounder...

GSA Study Shows Chinese Consumers Prefer Seafood, Specifically BAP-Certified Products

In a recent survey conducted by Global Seafood Alliance (GSA), Chinese consumers reported that they preferred seafood over other types of protein, especially consumers who reside in coastal areas.

Utilizing a third party surveyor, GSA was able to collect consumer purchasing data on 3,079 Chinese residents, as well as gage consumer awareness of GSA’s Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) label. The BAP certification program has over 330 certified hatcheries, 2300+ certified farms, 150+ feed mills, and 490+ plants showcasing the BAP label.

Of those surveyed, more than...

FDA Releases Testing Results for PFAS in Clams

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just shared its most recent testing results for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in clams.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PFAS are chemical contaminants that are found in various consumer, commercial, and industrial products and which have been linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals. There are thousands of types of PFAS and can be found in water, air, fish, and soil worldwide.

The results follow the FDA’s 2022 findings, which presented information on eight of the National Fisheries Institute’s...

China Opens Market for Live Norwegian Snow Crab

Chinese authorities have approved the import of live snow crab from Norway. The news comes shortly after Norway’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Marianne Sivertsen Næss, met with the Minister of Chinese Customs and Veterinary Authorities, Yu Jianhua, in Beijing last month.

"The fact that China is opening up imports of live snow crab from Norway so quickly after I had political talks in China is very positive, and shows the importance of visits to promote Norway's interests,” Sivertsen Næss said.

“Live snow crab is of increasing interest in Asian markets...

DOC Rescinds Antidumping Review on Chinese Shrimp Imports

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) rescinded the administrative review of the antidumping duty (AD) order on certain frozen warmwater shrimp from China for the period of review from February 1, 2023, through January 31, 2024, according to a notice published in the Federal Register.

In 2005, the DOC published an AD order on shrimp from China. This sparked the DOC to initiate an administrative review with respect to Chinese shrimp imports in April 2024. The following month, the DOC notified all interested parties of its intent to rescind the...

Australia’s $700M Rock Lobster Trade with China Set to Resume

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that the country will resume exports of live rock lobsters to China before the end of the year.

The deal is massive news for Australia’s rock lobster industry, along with Chinese consumers who will again have access to the product for the upcoming Lunar New Year celebrations.

Since 2020, Australian rock lobsters have been effectively prevented from entering China’s market, which was worth over AU$700 million in 2019, per the Australian government...

Chinese Consumers Get a Taste of Norwegian Seafood Alongside Prime Minister

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre attended an event where Chinese consumers got a taste of the country’s seafood. Norway is working to solidify one of its key markets.

“The people of China appreciate good fish and seafood. China is Norway’s second most important market for Norwegian seafood after the EU. It was wonderful to see how much the Chinese customers enjoyed the seafood that was being served,” said Prime Minister Støre...

Nordic Aqua Partners Reports “Off-Flavor” In Salmon; Not Selling For Human Consumption

Land-based Atlantic salmon farming company, Nordic Aqua, revealed this week that, due to overloading of the purging unit at its farm in Ningbo, China, the company has detected high concentrations of the off-flavor compound geosmin.

It’s not unusual to find geosmin in farmed fish as it's a naturally occurring compound that has been known to be absorbed by fish in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). While considered to be harmless, elevated concentrations of geosmin can negatively impact the taste of the fish...

Chinese Seafood Labeled As New High Priority Sector For Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

On Tuesday the Department of Homeland Security released an update to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Strategy to Prevent the Importation of Goods Mined, Produced, or Manufactured with Forced Labor in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The Strategy has been in place since 2022 and was updated last August. But the latest update identifies seafood as a “new high priority sector for enforcement.” 

“Forced labor is a form of modern slavery, and the Department of Homeland Security is committed to...

‘The Tariffs Are All Set’: Trump Imposes 25% Tariffs on Canada and Mexico

It’s official. The US will implement a broad 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico on March 4. Trump also noted that he would add another 10% tariff on Chinese goods, on top of the initial 10% tariff he placed on the country in February.

“No room left for Mexico or Canada (to make a deal),” Trump told reporters at the White House. “The tariffs are all set. They go into effect tomorrow.

Trump said the neighboring countries had no chance for a last-minute deal that would...

Nordic Aqua Resumes Sale of Atlantic Salmon at Facility in Ningbo, China

On February 13, 2025, salmon aquaculture company Nordic Aqua announced the resumption of Atlantic Salmon sales at its facility in Ningbo, China.

This marks a big step in the land-based salmon farmer’s Chinese market presence, as Nordic Aqua is once again capable of producing Atlantic salmon for China. With a population of more than 1.4 billion people, China remains a significant salmon customer with a robust growth potential, according to Nordic Aqua.

Nordic Aqua went on to explain that its Ningbo facility is situated within five hours...

Congressman Urges Trump to Crack Down on Seafood Imports from China, India, and Others 

US Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) wrote a letter to President Trump requesting tariffs be placed on seafood imports from China, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam, some of the country’s largest trading partners.

“Domestic shrimpers, fishermen, and crawfish producers in Louisiana and across the country face significant challenges competing against foreign seafood industries that are heavily subsidized and engage in illegal dumping into the United States,” Congressman Higgins wrote. “These unrighteous trade practices artificially drive down prices, disrupt fair market conditions, and threaten...

Russia Hits Record Crab Exports to China in 2024 Amid Shift to Asia

In 2024, Russia supplied China with a record-high value of crustaceans, mainly crabs, as part of its strategy to shift exports from the EU and the US to the Asia-Pacific region.

According to data from the Russian research agency Agroexport, crustacean exports from Russia to China reached a historic record of US$1.3 billion, 7% more than in 2023.

As president of the All-Russian Association of Fishery Producers (VARPE), German Zverev told Forbes Russia...

Trump to Lay Out Trade Vision but Won't Impose New Tariffs Yet

President-elect Donald Trump is planning to issue a broad memorandum Monday that directs federal agencies to study trade policies and evaluate U.S. trade relationships with China and America's continental neighbors -- but stops short of imposing new tariffs on his first day in office, as many trading partners feared.

The presidential memo directs federal agencies to investigate and remedy persistent trade deficits and address unfair trade and currency policies by other nations, two longstanding Trump irritants. And it singles out China, Canada and Mexico for scrutiny, directing agencies...

Russie Eyeing Increase in Crab Exports to China in 2025

Russia hopes to increase its crab exports to China this year, as it has witnessed stable demand within the market, according to recent statements, made by representatives of local producers and some Russian media reports.

As Alexey Dakhnovsky, a Russian Trade Representative in China, recently told an interview with the Russian RIA Novosti newswire, the demand for Russian crabs in China is steadily growing, while Chinese customers are actively buying Russian crabs.

In recent months, Russia has significantly increased its...

Shrimp Alliance Urges US Crackdown on Chinese Firm Over Uyghur Labor Allegations 

The Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) renewed its request to add Rongcheng Sanyue Foodstuff Co., Ltd. to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act’s (UFLPA) Entity List via a letter to the Department of Homeland Security’s Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF). 

In July, the FLETF listed seafood as a high-priority sector for enforcement under the UFLPA, as Expana reported. That announcement came shortly after the addition of Shandong Meijia Group Co., Ltd. (a.k.a. Rizhao Meijia Group), a seafood processor based in Shandong province, to the UFLPA’s Entity List in... 

China Lifts Four-Year Ban on Australian Live Rock Lobster Trade, Boosting Industry

China notified Australia on December 20 that the live rock lobster trade between the two nations can resume after a four-year import ban, per Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. 

In October, Albanese announced that trade between the two nations would resume before the year ended.  

“This is a major win for our hard-hit live rock lobster industry and follows sustained engagement and advocacy by government and industry. We thank the Australian live rock lobster industry for its patience and resilience as we worked to reinstate...

Russian King Crab Takes Flight: Direct Barents Sea-to-China Shipments Slash Costs Amid US Embargo

King crab producers in the Barents Sea in northwestern Russia have focused on shipping live crab to China, and direct flights from the production area are likely to become established. Direct air transport from Murmansk, near the production area, to China began for the first time in July this year. According to Minato Shimbun, approximately 420 tons of live king crab were airlifted to China from Murmansk airport over five months from July to November—multiple Russian media outlets reported on December 10...

Russian Pollock Fishers’ Organization Develops Pollock Roe Market in China

According to Minato Shimbun, a group of Russian pollock fishers has begun an initiative to develop the Chinese market for Russian pollock. They exhibited at the China Fisheries and Seafood Expo 2024 in Qingdao, China, from October 30 to November 1. They offered a variety of pollock dishes to suit consumer tastes. The group estimates that China's potential demand for pollock is more than 5,000 tons. The Hokkaido Trawl Fisheries Cooperative Federation reported this.

The Russian Pollack Association is exhibiting at the Qingdao fair. Russia produces 35,000 tons of pollock...

Duty-Free Exports to China Spark Optimism for Bangladesh’s Shrimp Sector

According to a report from Seafood Network Bangladesh, the Bangladesh seafood industry, specifically its black tiger shrimp exporters, hopes to reap the benefits of the country’s upcoming zero tariff status with China.

Back in September, China decided to grant zero tariff treatment for all of Bangladesh’s exports to China, per an announcement from China’s Embassy in Bangladesh. The new tariff status will go into effect on December 1, 2024, and the Bangladesh shrimp industry is excited to have improved access to one of the world’s top markets for...

USCG Encounters Chinese Coast Guard, Russian Border Guard in Bering Sea Last Weekend

While patrolling the maritime boundary between the US and Russia on routine patrol in the Bering Sea, a HC-130J Super Hercules airplane crew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak observed two Russian Border Guard ships and two Chinese Coast Guard ships approximately 440 miles southwest of St. Lawrence Island.

This is the most recent evidence of military activity in waters close to the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone in the Bering Sea this year and was separate from the war game exercises observed earlier this year ... 

Ecuador Shrimp on Display to Top Customer at World Seafood Shanghai 

Ecuador’s National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) has a significant presence at World Seafood Shanghai, a key seafood fair in China. The fair takes place from August 28 through August 30. 

CNA led the charge with the industry presence as the group has represented the industry for over three decades. According to the CNA, Ecuador’s shrimp sector was represented with a pavilion that features 17 exporting companies : Aquagold, Ceaexport, Cofimar, Empagran, Expalsa, Exportquilsa, Expotuna, Frigolandia, Limbomar, Nirsa, Omarsa, Procamaronex, Proexpo, Promarisco, Santa Priscila, Songa and Total Seafood...

ANALYSIS: Brazil Shifts Lobster Trade Away from the U.S.

Shipments of lobster tails from Brazil to the United States have fallen close to 50 percent in the last two years. Census data reveals that between 2017 and 2021, U.S. importers sourced an average of 3.03 million pounds of lobster per year from Brazil. However, in the last two years (2022 and 2023), that number has fallen to 1.602 million pounds, which represents a 47 percent reduction.

This shift may not be due to any change in the appetite of the U.S. consumer but rather an increase in...