The Winding Glass: Alaska Fisheries Face Crisis due to Gov’t Shutdown

December is the most important meeting of the year for the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Quotas are set for all Alaskan species under federal management, with the pollock and cod fisheries beginning the following month. Federal staff are furloughed, data work has stopped, and NMFS warns that a shutdown lasting more than two weeks could force precautionary quotas or missed deadlines for next year’s TACs. The shutdown is now approaching 30 days.

This disruption comes on top of the already severe erosion of NOAA personnel...

2025 Alaska Symphony of Seafood Announces Award Winners

Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF) hosted the 2025 Alaska Symphony of Seafood, its annual competition highlighting creativity and excellence in product development and innovation.

"It’s inspiring to see the creativity and innovation shown by this year’s winners,” Kristy Clement, CEO of AFDF, said. “Each product carries the spirit of Alaska — one built on community, pride and excellence."

The event reflects the organization’s commitment to quality and sustainability and was made possible by sponsors including: Captain Sponsor Marine Stewardship Council; Spotlight Sponsor Holland America Line; and Highliner Sponsors Alaska...

Russian PCA Exported 500 MT of Pollock Roe to China Under MOU with China’s CAPPMA

The Russian Pollock Fishermen's Association recently announced that this year's exports of pollock roe to China have exceeded 500 tons. Since China has virtually no culture of eating pollock, the association is actively working to develop the Chinese market, Minato Shimbun reported.

According to the Hokkaido Trawl Fisheries Cooperative Federation, the 2024 export volume of Russian pollock roe is approximately 37,000 tons, roughly the same level as the previous year. The majority is destined for Japan and South Korea...

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...

ANALYSIS: Stone Crab Markets Launch Slightly Higher but Within Historical Range

The 2025-2026 Florida stone crab season has begun, and market participants are navigating this year's supply and demand dynamics. Pricing appears relatively on track with previous season openings, though with some variations by size category.

Large sizes opened at an average price around $30.00 per pound, approximately...

Thailand to Host 25th Global Seafood Alliance Responsible Seafood Summit

The Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) is set to host its 25th annual Responsible Seafood Summit at the prestigious Shangri-La Bangkok, a 5-star luxury hotel in Thailand, known as one of the world's leading regions for shrimp production.

Scheduled for the week of September 21, 2026, the summit marks a significant collaboration with The Center for Responsible Seafood (TCRS), infusing the event with the TCRS Shrimp Summit content.

Mike Kocsis, CEO of GSA, expressed enthusiasm for the strategic partnership, highlighting the unique opportunity...

Menhaden Fisheries Coalition Applauds Science-Based Review of Chesapeake Bay Menhaden Harvest Cap

The Menhaden Fisheries Coalition today welcomed a newly funded Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCEMFIS) project to produce a research roadmap for Atlantic menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay as a long-overdue opportunity to replace political compromise with sound science.

For nearly twenty years, the Chesapeake Bay menhaden harvest cap, a harvest limit that applies only to the reduction fishery, has been managed without biological justification. Regulators and scientists have repeatedly acknowledged this fact...

Kodiak, Chignik, and South Peninsula Remain Closed for Tanner Crab This Winter

The tanner crab season for the Kodiak, Chignik, and South Peninsula Districts will remain closed this year and for the first part of 2026 due to low abundance thresholds in each area. 

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has established male crab abundance levels needed to open each fishery. Based on the 2025 survey results, only two of the six sections — the Southeast and Southwest — met the thresholds, but surplus abundance was not sufficient to meet the 100,000-pound minimum guideline harvest level (GHL) requirement in either...

VARPE, VASEP Pact Aims to Expand Russian Seafood Exports to Vietnam 

Russia and Vietnam have agreed to significantly expand joint fish trade under a memorandum signed by the Russian fish association VARPE and the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) during an international forum in St. Petersburg.

The memorandum commits both sides to expand trade volumes, simplify cross-border procedures, and develop scientific cooperation in the fisheries sector. For Russia, the agreement opens greater access for Russian fishermen and processors to Vietnam’s large and growing seafood market.

Herman Zverev, head of VARPE, said Vietnam...

Sysco Posts Mixed Q1 Results, Reiterates Full-Year Guidance

Today, Sysco Corp. posted mixed results in the first quarter of fiscal 2026. Its report showed an increase in sales while several GAAP profitability measures slipped and adjusted results improved.

For the 13 weeks ended Sept. 27, 2025, sales increased 3.2% to $21.1 billion. Gross profit rose 3.9% to $3.9 billion and gross margin widened 13 basis points to 18.5%. Sysco said product cost inflation was about 3.4%, driven largely by meat and seafood.

GAAP operating income fell 1.0% to $800 million, while adjusted operating...

Global Maritime Leaders Gather in Seattle for Inaugural One Ocean Week

Maritime Blue and its partners hosted One Ocean Week Seattle, an inaugural series of summits, cultural and community events, and workforce development programs focused on the Blue Economy.

The weeklong gathering, held Oct. 20–26, brought together hundreds of industry leaders, researchers, innovators, artists, educators, and policymakers to discuss sustainability, technology, and equity in aquadic related industries.

Washington Lt. Gov. Denny Heck opened the event, praising the state’s maritime economy but warning that plastic pollution, undersea noise, and environmental degradation threaten its long-term...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana’s Weekly Rundown #32

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read: "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #32."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text.

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This week, the US administration has continued to pressure trading partners like India to curb imports of Russian oil as to sanction the country during its war with Ukraine, cited Expana...

Fishermen, Processors, Managers Prep for 2025-2026 Dungeness Crab Fishery Seasons on the West Coast 

When the Pacific Ocean turns stormy in the fall, the Dungeness crab season can’t be far behind. 

All three West Coast states are engaged in quality and biotoxin testing to prepare for commercial season openings in December, if possible. 

The Central California season has historically opened in mid-November, but the hope of that happening again may be a thing of the past, as that fishery hasn’t opened in mid-November for several of the past...

Grieg Seafood Elevates Piotr Wingaard to Chief Commercial Officer

Grieg Seafood appointed Piotr Wingaard as its new Chief Commercial Officer, the company announced on October 27.

Wingaard brings over 16 years of experience to the role, recently working as a “central part” of the company’s sales organization since 2020. He previously served as Grieg’s Business Controller and Development Director, overseeing the development of Oslo Salmon Processing in Gardermoen.

He will lead the commercial team in strengthening Grieg Seafood's market position, building relationships with customers and partners, and contributing to the company's ambitions for sustainable and profitable growth, the company said...

ANALYSIS: Update on Norwegian Farmed Atlantic Salmon Production

The total biomass of farmed Atlantic salmon at sea in Norway has been lower than in 2024 for two consecutive months, August and September. According to the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, the final biomass in September 2025 showed a modest year-on-year reduction of 0.6%. This decline in live fish stock may be linked to a marked increase in harvest volumes from June through August 2025. As a result, harvest intensity during those months rose by roughly 13.5%...

Russia Clears Chilean Seafood for Import Following Forum Talks

Russian and Chilean authorities confirmed that Chilean seafood will be allowed to enter Russia after talks during the VIII International Fishery Forum and the Fish Industry, Seafood, and Technology Exhibition in St. Petersburg.

The deputy head of Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision (Rosselkhoznadzor), Konstantin Savenkov, met with María Soledad Tapia Almonacid, Head of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service of Chile (Sernapesca), on October 23. The fallout of the meeting saw 34 companies land authorization to ship products to Russia...

Cousins Maine Lobster Expands Southwest Footprint Through Multi-Unit Deal

Cousins Maine Lobster (CML), the industry-leading fast-casual lobster roll brand, signed an agreement to bring four new trucks to New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. This deal meets the growing demand for more high-quality seafood across the Southwest region. It will offer local seafood lovers the opportunity to enjoy CML's world-famous Maine Lobster rolls, mouthwatering lobster tacos, savory lobster grilled cheese, and delicious whoopie pies.

Entrepreneurs and longtime friends Chris Wilson and Gary Andrews are leading the expansion, building on their...