NFI, Major Seafood Firms Sue NOAA Over MMPA Import Bans

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) and a group of US seafood companies filed suit Friday, challenging the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s implementation of recent Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)‑related import bans.

The plaintiffs say the Commerce Department and NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) improperly blocked or restricted imports from certain foreign fisheries by denying or withholding “comparability” findings that those companies need to import specific seafood products. They allege NMFS failed to follow statutory requirements and acted arbitrarily and capriciously in violation of the Administrative...

Indonesia Orders Shrimp Firms to Halt Shipments Amid FDA's New Import Certification Rules

The Indonesian government has issued a formal notice instructing shrimp packers in affected areas to halt shipments to the United States, a move prompted by multiple US detections of cesium‑137 (Cs‑137) and coming as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s new import certification requirements and Import Alert 99-52 take effect.

Market sources confirmed the notice to Expana, with suppliers from the Island of Java and Province of Lampung, on the Island of Sumatra, impacted. Sources indicated that multiple suppliers in the affected...

SeafoodNews Closed on Monday, October 13

Navigating the Trump Tariff Turbulence: A Comprehensive Timeline

US President Donald Trump and his administration have paused reciprocal tariffs on most countries.

“Based on the lack of respect that China has shown... I am hereby raising the [tariff] charged to China by the [USA] to 125%, effective immediately,” wrote Trump on Truth Social at 1:18 pm ET. 

It’s not clear if this 125% is in addition to the 20% imposed on Chinese imports to the US. In early March, Trump noted that he would add another 10% tariff on Chinese goods...

From Shore to Show Floor: Atlantic Canadian Seafood Goes Global

Atlantic Canadian seafood exporters are seizing global opportunities, expanding into new markets, and showcasing the region’s reputation for sustainable, high-quality products on the international stage.

From October 7-9, a delegation of 12 Atlantic Canadian companies took part in the Conxemar International Frozen Seafood Trade Show in Vigo, Spain. Led by the Food and Beverage Atlantic Association, the mission helped companies build valuable business relationships, diversify exports, and strengthen Atlantic Canada’s position as a trusted supplier of premium, sustainable seafood.

While in Spain, the delegation...

New Brunswick’s Bolero Shellfish Hit with Record Fine; Barred a Decade from Temporary Worker Program

New Brunswick seafood company, Bolero Shellfish Processing, will pay a CAD 1 million ($716,000) fine for non-compliance with Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The punishment also includes a 10-year ban from the program, making it the largest penalty ever issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

ESDC said the fine was put in place in September. While the statement from the department didn’t specifically mention Bolero Shellfish Processing, a government registry cited the company along with the historic penalty...

Four September Storms Batter Farms, Fields Across Philippines, Vietnam, and South China

Four storms — Typhoons Ragasa (Nando) and Bualoi (Opong) and Tropical Storm Mitag (Mirasol) in the Philippine Sea, and Typhoon Tapah (Lannie) in the South China Sea — swept through the region in September, damaging rice, corn, coconut, and strawberry crops, as well as fish and livestock farms, while disrupting supply chains and transport routes, said Demelza Knight, Weather and Crop Researcher at Expana.   

Knight highlighted that Typhoon Ragasa, the strongest of the storms, formed in the Philippine Sea on September 18

Tough Conditions in Tasmania Meet Ace Aquatec Biomass Tech, Petuna Signs Multi-Camera Deal

Ace Aquatec’s groundbreaking underwater camera, A-BIOMASS®, has beat the competition in low light conditions and is set to transform the way salmon is farmed in Tasmania, according to salmonid producer, Petuna.

Petuna, one of Australia's major salmon and ocean trout farmers, operates in the Tamar River estuary at Rowella and in Macquarie Harbour. Both sites present challenges for any technology, from highly conditioned fish adapted to local environments to tannin rich waters with low light levels...

Bering Sea Snow and Tanner Crab Quotas Nearly Double Due to Increasing Biomass

New crab quotas in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands have risen for the third year in a row after the two-year closure in 2021 and 2022. For Bering Sea snow crab, the annual quota for this season is 9.3 million pounds (lbs), up 97% from last year’s 4.7 million pounds.  

Bering Sea bairdi Tanner crab quota is up 79% to 11.25 million pounds, compared to 6.2 million pounds last year.  

The Bristol Bay red king crab quota took a modest 16% jump to 2.68 million...

Ready Seafood Teases Full Retail Line Ahead of Launch

Maine lobster producer Ready Seafood has begun showcasing some of its retail products as it nears the launch of a full retail product line.

“We’ve been deep in development, from packaging and production to building relationships with brokers and retailers. Now, we’re ready to start sharing what’s been cooking,” the company shared in a LinkedIn post.

The company said it would introduce its retail lineup in the coming weeks. It began with the unveiling of its popular Mini Lobster Grilled Cheeses.

“Each sandwich is handcrafted in-house with North...

NOAA Identifies Three Gulf of America Areas for Potential Aquaculture Development

Toward the end of President Trump’s last term, he signed Executive Order 13921, “Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth,” which included a push for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA’s) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to identify Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in US waters.  

In mid-September, two final environmental impact statements for the Gulf of America and Southern California identified prime locations suitable for developing multiple commercial aquaculture projects. 

In the Gulf of America, three locations off the coast of Texas were identified, each ranging in size...

GSA Honors the Career Achievements of Jeff Regnart

The Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) is proud to announce that Jeff Regnart is the latest recipient of the Wallace R. Stevens Lifetime Achievement Award. Regnart accepted the award during GSA’s Responsible Seafood Summit, held last week in Cartagena, Colombia.

A champion of sustainably managed fisheries resources, Regnart was instrumental in GSA’s transformation from the aquaculture-focused organization Global Aquaculture Alliance into the Global Seafood Alliance, a transition completed in 2021. With GSA’s expanded focus, its products and services became more readily available to both the farmed and wild-capture seafood sectors...

Norwegian Exports Climb in September as China Buoys Salmon Demand, US Fresh Sales Slip

Norwegian seafood exports posted robust numbers in September, buoyed by both rising prices and strong demand, particularly for salmon shipped to China, according to the latest figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Christian Chramer, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council, credited higher prices for mackerel, cod, saithe and king crab to go along with the strong growth in the Chinese market.

"The EU is still our largest overall market, but Norway is now taking an increasing share of the growing Chinese salmon and prawn market...

Hokkaido Scallop Landings Anticipated to Decrease by 17% to 336,400 Tons Amid Slowing US Exports

According to the Hokkaido Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations, the planned scallop catch for the production year 2025 (April 2025 to March 2026) in Hokkaido is expected to fall below the 400,000 ton mark for the first time in six years, down 17% from the previous year to 336,400 tons, due to significant production declines in the Funka Bay region (Muroran and Hakodate) and the Okhotsk region (Wakkanai and Kitami), the Minato Shimbun reported.

New scallop adductor production falls; large sizes are scarce...

Marine Carbon Removal, a Key Process to Reduce Ocean Acidification, Launches in Port Angeles, WA

Ocean acidification (OA) is caused as more of the rising atmospheric carbon dioxide is dissolved into seawater, shifting the chemical make up of the ocean and threatening marine economies, ecosystems, and organisms from shellfish to coral reefs. 

OA has hit Washington State particularly hard. Nearly 30% of species in Puget Sound are vulnerable to its effects. The state’s shellfish industry — worth more than $270 million annually and supporting 3,200+ jobs — faces real risks as increasing acidity makes it harder for oysters, clams...

Onda Expands Tenacibaculum Study Models to Better Support Aquaculture Health Worldwide

In March 2024, Onda was first to market with their Tenacibaculosis Challenge Model, providing groundbreaking research models to impact real-world outcomes. Today, Onda, the largest aquatic containment facility in aquaculture research, announced the launch of two new disease study models to their extensive suite of models for Tenacibaculum dicentrarchi and Tenacibaculum finnmarkense. These additions compliment Onda’s challenge model offerings, providing reliable, science-driven tools to address Tenacibaculum, one of the most pressing bacterial challenges in global aquaculture...

Gorton's Opens New Factory as Nissui Expands North American Seafood Footprint

Gorton's, a leading North American seafood brand and subsidiary of Japan's Nissui Group, has opened a new factory in Lebanon, Indiana, marking a significant expansion of Nissui's North American operations and reinforcing its global growth strategy.

Gorton's Gloucester, Massachusetts, facility will remain its primary production site, while the Indiana factory will increase its capacity to meet growing demand. The new facility will also allow the company to produce further value-added products and improve production lines, allowing for increased "supply chain flexibility...