ANALYSIS: Snow Crab Market Faces Mixed Supply Landscape as Canadian Quotas are Set

The snow crab market is entering a pivotal time of the year as new-season supplies approach, and market participants analyze quotas, inventory positions, and needs for the coming year. With a few snow crab quotas set or biological information posted, the expectation across major producing regions is a mixed supply landscape that will likely influence pricing and availability throughout 2026.

Norway's 2026 snow crab quota is set at 27.2 million pounds (12,336 MT), representing a 3% decrease from 2025 levels...

ANALYSIS: Live Lobster Market Remains Firm as Tight Supply and Shifting Canadian Season Shape Outlook

As the market approaches the Canadian spring season, pricing remains firm during what is typically one of the tightest supply periods of the year. Seasonally limited net supply continues to support both shore prices and wholesale market values. However, the current firmness appears to be driven more by supply constraints than by demand strength. With the holiday pull behind the market, buyer participation remains subdued, and the overall trading tone remains cautious despite limited availability.

This firm supply backdrop is reflected in New England...

Sysco to Acquire Jetro Restaurant Depot for $29.1 Billion

Sysco, the largest broadline food distributor in the US, has agreed to acquire Jetro Restaurant Depot, a leading cash-and-carry food wholesaler, for $29.1 billion, a deal the companies described as "transformative" for both organizations.

The March 30 announcement will see Sysco enter the "high-margin, growing, and resilient" cash-and-carry sector, creating a combined entity with nearly $100 billion in annual revenue and significant expansion opportunities.

Restaurant Depot operates 166 warehouse stores across 35 states, serving over 725,000 independent restaurants...

SalmonChile and Fisheries Undersecretary Tour Suppliers to Advance Sustainable Salmon Farming

President of SalmonChile Patricio Melero and Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture Osvaldo Urrutia visited two national suppliers, Compas Marine and GripShip, to review technological advances and projects that are strengthening sustainability across the sector.

These visits are part of SalmonChile's broader efforts to strengthen public–private dialogue and create shared learning spaces that support the sustainable development of Chilean salmon farming, a key economic engine for the country’s southern regions.

At Compas Marine, the delegation was welcomed by founder Jorge Pacheco and his...

Legal Challenges, Changing Demand and Wage Pressures in Foodservice

The foodservice industry continues to navigate a complex mix of legal scrutiny, evolving consumer preferences and ongoing labor challenges. Recent lawsuits targeting major brands underscore heightened expectations around transparency and worker protections, while new data reveals how even small factors like cooking oil are increasingly shaping dining decisions, particularly among younger consumers.

At the same time, global traffic trends show cautious but steady recovery, with quick-service restaurants leading the way despite economic headwinds. Layered onto this are mounting wage debates...

Scotia Harvest Diversifies Portfolio With Acquisition of Established Clam Specialist IFP

Nova Scotia-based seafood company Scotia Harvest announced March 23 that it has acquired Innovative Fishery Products Inc. (IFP), an established player in the province's clam sector.

Scotia Harvest said the acquisition represents an "important opportunity to diversify its seafood portfolio," with IFP's clam harvesting, processing and exporting capabilities complementing its existing operations.

"Innovative Fishery Products has built an impressive business, and we see an opportunity to grow this business alongside our existing operations," said Alain d'Entremont, President of Scotia Harvest Inc...

DMV Senators Introduce Bill to Reauthorize NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office

Four senators from Virginia and Maryland introduced legislation this week to reauthorize NOAA's Chesapeake Bay Office, a key federal partner in Bay restoration efforts and fishery management across the nation's largest estuary.

The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Advancement for Training, Education, Restoration, and Science (WATERS) Act was introduced February 26 by Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), with companion House legislation from Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA), Rob Wittman (R-VA), Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA), and Sarah...

Proximar Seafood Appoints Martin Vestergaard as COO to Lead Japan RAS Operations

Proximar Seafood has appointed Martin Vestergaard as Chief Operating Officer, bringing more than 20 years of RAS fish farming experience to lead the company's land-based Atlantic salmon operations in Japan.

Vestergaard will oversee day-to-day operations at Proximar's Oyama facility as the company transitions from initial production to stable, full-scale commercial operations. His appointment comes as Japan's first producer of locally farmed Atlantic salmon projects harvest volumes of 3,500-4,000 tonnes in 2026, nearly triple its 2025 production of 1,338 tonnes...

Government of Canada Announces Management Measures for the 2026 Elver Fishing Season

The Government of Canada is committed to sustainable and orderly fisheries that support rural, coastal, and Indigenous communities. These fisheries rely on the best available science advice. In Southwest Nova Scotia, Cape Breton and Southwest New Brunswick, the elver fishery is an important source of income for commercial licence holders, and First Nations communities.

Today, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, announced the 2026 elver fishing season will open around April 1 with an increased total allowable catch (TAC). This season, licence holders can harvest...

Canada Announces 2026 Snow Crab Quotas: Newfoundland Down 3%, Gulf Faces Steeper 11% Cut

Canadian Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson announced coordinated quota decisions for the country's major snow crab fisheries today, setting Newfoundland and Labrador's 2026 Total Allowable Catch (TAC) at 61,004 tonnes and the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence at 16,267.90 tonnes.

While Newfoundland faces a modest 3% decrease from 2025 levels, the Gulf region received significantly steeper reductions with an 11% cut, marking the third consecutive year of quota decreases for Canada's second-largest crab fishery.

Despite the overall reduction...

Despite 20% Volume Drop, Japan’s Feb Fishery Export Value Rises 6% to ¥30.6B

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance, February exports of marine products (fish and shellfish and their preparations, and fishmeal) were down 22% year-on-year (YOY) to 35,730 tons in volume, but up 6% in value to 30.642 billion yen ($191.16 million). Scallop exports increased by 59% to 3,527 tons and 10% to 7.643 billion yen ($47.68 million). Frozen scallops in their shells saw significant increases in both volume and value. Yellowtail exports were down 14% to 2,758 tons but increased 30% to 5.839 billion yen ($36.43 million). Frozen fillets increased in value due to higher unit prices. The Minato Shimbun reported this.

Record Harvest for Mowi in 2025, But Canadian Operations Hit by Market and Regulatory Pressures

Mowi posted record global harvest volumes of 559,000 tonnes in 2025, though the world's largest Atlantic salmon farmer faced significant headwinds in its Canadian operations as regulatory uncertainty in British Columbia and challenging North American market conditions weighed on profitability.

Operational EBIT for salmon of Canadian origin plunged to negative €39.8 million in 2025 from positive €3.4 million in 2024, according to the company's annual report released this week. The company attributed the decline to reduced spot prices from "more challenging market...

Council Votes to Expand Commercial Fishing in Pacific Marine Monuments

At its 206th meeting March 24-26 at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council voted to expand commercial fishing in four Pacific marine national monuments, balancing conservation with local economic needs.

“This is not about removing monument protections – it’s about restoring sustainable fishing in limited areas under fishery regulations the Council has developed over decades,” said Council Executive Director Kitty Simonds. “Those regulations were built to balance access and conservation, and that remains the Council’s guiding principle under the Magnuson-Stevens...

Harvester Union Fires Back at Newfoundland Processors Over Snow Crab Export Allegations

The Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) has fired back at seafood processors' criticism over snow crab exports, calling the Association of Seafood Producers' (ASP) public letter to the premier "inaccurate and misleading."

In a March 25 media release responding to ASP's letter to Premier Tony Wakeham, FFAW disputed key allegations about harvesters refusing to fish and plans to ship large volumes of unprocessed crab out of province.

"ASP's assertion that harvesters are refusing to fish is incorrect," said FFAW President Dwan Street. "Harvesters are prepared to...

Vietnamese Pangasius Producer Unveils Value-Added Innovations at Seafood Expo Global

Vietnam's Vinh Hoan Corporation will unveil two new value-added pangasius products at Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, Spain, April 21-23.

The company plans to showcase its Pink Banh Mi and Cured Panga Croquette innovations at the trade show, highlighting continued investment in research and development and responsible aquaculture practices.

"These new products showcase the company's continued investment in R&D, responsible aquaculture and its commitment to meeting the demands of the seafood marketplace," Vinh Hoan said.

Founded in 1997...

Japan's Mackerel Export Increased 1.8-fold Year-on-Year amid Norway's Sluggish Production 

According to a report by Minato Shimbun, Japan's frozen mackerel exports in January reached 5,786 tons, a 1.8-fold increase from the same month last year. This surge was driven by exports to Thailand, the top destination, and Vietnam, the second largest. The average export price soared to 250 yen/kg ($1.56/kg), a 46% increase. This surpasses the previous record of 218 yen/kg ($1.36/kg) in December 2025, marking a new record high for the second consecutive month...

Catch Limit Changes for Two Rock Lobster Fisheries

Catch limits for spiny rock lobster have been reduced for Gisborne, and increased for Otago following a regular sustainability review, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says.

“These are both highly valued fisheries, and my decisions aim to ensure their sustainability for the benefit of fishers today and in the future.

“The Gisborne spiny rock lobster fishery (CRA 3), which extends from East Cape around the Māhia Peninsula to the Wairoa River, remains under pressure despite commercial catch and recreational daily limit...