ANALYSIS: Illex Squid Supply Surges While Prices Face Downward Pressure

The Illex squid (Illex argentinus) season began on Feb. 2, 2026. After just a few weeks of fishing, market participants reported adequate catch levels.

According to Argentina’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, cumulative landings from Jan. 1 to Feb. 3 totaled 48,987 MT, up 197% from 16,473 MT in the same period in 2025 (Figure 1), aligning with market participants’ reports of very strong catches, similar to those heard a year ago.

Even though catches appear robust, there are concerns about size, with the majority of the catch grading...

Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun Signals More Restaurant Closures Amid Brand Turnaround

Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun said the company may close additional restaurant locations as it works to recover from its 2024 bankruptcy.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Adamolekun cited third-party data showing improved consumer sentiment, higher visits, and a 10% increase in sales compared with last year. “There’s a lot of positive signs, but we inherited a very damaged brand, so there’s still work to do to repair all of that,” he told the publication...

Sernapesca Says Invermar Mass Mortality Tied to Oxygen Depletion in Quinchao, Chile

Last Thursday, Chilean salmon farmer and processor Invermar S.A. activated its emergency response to a mass mortality event due to low oxygen levels in the ocean at their Traiguén 2 farming center at Quinchao near Chiloé Island.  

Inspectors from the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) are on the ground, confirming that all activities outlined in the contingency action plan are being adequately addressed. 

So far, 283 tons of salmon have been reported affected, equivalent to 10% of the biomass at the farming facility...

Hokkaido Herring Fishery Opened Well, up 53% Year-On-Year at the End of January

As of the end of January, herring fishing along Hokkaido's Sea of ​​Japan coast reached 498 tons, a 53% increase over the same period last year. Although it's still early in the season, it's off to a good start compared to last year. 

This season, gillnet fishing operations began around January 20th, primarily in the Ishikari and Shiribeshi regions, with the Ishikari Bay Fisheries Cooperative and the Otaru City Fisheries Cooperative. However, a strong cold wave immediately after the fishing season opened...

Canada Recalls TS Brand Sushi EBI Frozen Cooked Shrimp Due to Chemical Contaminants

Last Friday, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued a recall of TS brand Sushi EBI frozen cooked shrimp distributed in Quebec to hotels, restaurants and institutional foodservice operations.  

“Do not use, sell, serve or distribute the affected product,” their online notice warned. The product is in 155g packages with a UPC number of 8 16553 00490 3 and the code number: 2027 JN 02; VN499VIO29CAN. 

The TS brand Sushi EBI Frozen Cooked Shrimp was recalled due to 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone, commonly referred...

AquaVision 2026 – Guiding Aquaculture Through Change

The 16th edition of AquaVision will take place in Stavanger, Norway from 8-10 June 2026. Hosted by Skretting and its parent company Nutreco, the biennial aquaculture business conference brings together global leaders to discuss the role of sustainable blue food in feeding a growing world population.

About AquaVision 2026

The two key themes that will be explored at AquaVision 2026 are:

- Navigating the global geopolitical landscape: Impacts and opportunities for the aquaculture industry

- Beyond tomorrow: Pioneering innovations shaping the future of the industry...

NPFMC Sets New Measures to Reduce Western Alaska Chum Bycatch During Pollock B Season

History was made at last week’s North Pacific Fisheries Management Council meeting convened to address the chum salmon bycatch in the pollock trawl fleets during the summer “B” season.

First, Western Alaska residents who rely on chum salmon as a keystone food in their culture and way of life described their loss to the Council and industry stakeholders who attended the meeting or listened online. Over 200 individuals submitted written comments, testified orally before the 11-member panel, and spoke...

Slade Gorton Recalls Wellsley Farms Salmon Sold at BJ’s Over Listeria Concerns

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Slade Gorton & Co is recalling Wellsley Farms Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

The affected items are packaged in two-pound bags and were sold at BJ's Wholesale Club from January 31 through February 7. The packaging bears UPC code 888670025963, with the Wellsley Farms logo and "Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon" printed on the front, per a February 12 notice from the FDA.

This recall pertains to lot number 3896...

Broad Coalition Urges Congress to Reject Offshore Aquaculture Bill

More than 420 organizations, businesses and community leaders this month sent a joint letter to Congress urging lawmakers to reject the Marine Aquaculture Research for America Act of 2025 (MARA Act). The signatories include commercial fishing groups, conservation and advocacy organizations, farmers and local community leaders.

Critics say the bill’s emphasis on “research” would effectively open the door to industrial‑scale fish farms in US federal waters. “MARA creates a one‑way road to permanent, large‑scale offshore fish farms, with no off‑ramps,” said Don’t Cage Our Oceans (DCO2)...

Foodservice Chains Roll Out Lent Seafood Push: AYCE Shrimp, Pollock Tacos and Lobster Sandwiches

As Lent begins tomorrow, the foodservice industry is diving into the seafood wave, introducing fresh options to captivate patrons. Numerous specials and limited-time offers have emerged, as reported by Expana last week, while new promotions continue to surface. We remain committed to keeping the industry informed about the latest seafood innovations and trends throughout this season.

Golden Corral is reintroducing its All-You-Can-Eat Butterfly Shrimp & Steak, featuring tender Signature Carved Sirloin and crispy jumbo Butterfly Shrimp, available for a limited time...

FDA Issues Warning Letter to Maui Seafood Over Listeria Contamination, HACCP Violations

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning letter to Maui Seafood LLC of Las Vegas, NV, citing the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in its ready‑to‑eat (RTE) seafood processing facility and multiple violations of federal seafood HACCP regulations.

The inspection, conducted from April 28 to May 16, 2025, found L. monocytogenes on several food contact surfaces, including salmon cutting boards, staging area curtains, and processing room drains. Whole-genome sequencing linked the strain detected at the facility to clinical cases from previous years...

PanaPesca Adds Retail Head Gary Wooten and Veteran Squid Expert Noah Clark to Sales Team

Massachusetts-based PanaPesca USA announced additions to its sales team on LinkedIn last week. The frozen seafood supplier welcomed Gary Wooten as its new director of retail and Noah Clark as its regional sales manager.

Wooten brings 17 years of sales and business development experience with national CPG seafood brands, including leadership roles at Walmart and Sam’s Club. PanaPesca said Wooten has expanded branded distribution and launched new products, leveraging his background in category management, forecasting, trade execution, and private-label retail...

Long John Silver's Brings Back $6 Shrimp Basket for Lent

Long John Silver's, a leading quick-service seafood restaurant, is bringing back its $6 Shrimp Basket for a limited time. Now available in a new Sweet Chili flavor, this offering arrives just in time for Lent.

This initiative aligns with the chain's broader commitment to providing full, flavorful meals at a $6 price point, featuring a variety of rotating basket options planned throughout the year.

"Even as someone who's still fairly new to the brand, I've been...

Arbitrator Upholds ASP on 2025 Snow Crab Settlement Price; FFAW Grievance Denied

An arbitrator has rejected a grievance from FFAW‑Unifor and upheld the Association of Seafood Producers’ (ASP) handling of the 2025 snow crab settlement price, affirming the province’s Standing Fish Price‑Setting Panel outcome and the minimum price paid to harvesters of $5.25/lb, ASP said Friday.

The ruling supports ASP’s position that the settlement should be based on sales of 5–8oz sections in 30‑lb wholesale boxes and that processors follow the FFAW‑agreed formula used by independent auditor Deloitte...

Wild Alaskan Company Acquires Kasilof Buying Station, Moves to Improve Alaska’s Working Waterfronts

Wild Alaskan Company, an industry leader in direct-to-consumer sales, announced its acquisition of the Kasilof Buying Station yesterday, noting that it gives vessels a direct offload point during the summer salmon season.  

Located just upriver from the mouth of the Kasilof River, the station is on Alaska’s road system, enabling seamless integration into Wild Alaskan Company’s national DTC supply chain and improving speed, coordination, and market connectivity. The investment reflects the company’s long-term commitment to improving Alaska’s working waterfronts and seafood infrastructure...

FAO Report Flags Widespread Seafood Fraud Across Global Supply Chains

The United Nations’ (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has released a new report warning that seafood fraud remains widespread across global supply chains, with economic incentives driving much of the deception.

According to the report, at least 20% of seafood trade may be affected by some form of fraud. One common example is selling farmed Atlantic salmon as typically higher-priced wild-caught Pacific salmon, generating an estimated $10 per kilogram in added value.

Mislabeling is also prevalent in foodservice. Studies cited in the report...

Expana's Weekly Top 10: Seafood Fraud, Coffee Slumps, and Valentine’s Trends Lead the Week

Seafood fraud concerns, falling coffee exports, and renewed tariff tensions headline this week’s top stories in global food and agriculture. From a new warning by the Food and Agriculture Organization on widespread seafood mislabeling to Valentine’s Day protein promotions and shifting trade dynamics, the latest developments highlight continued volatility across supply chains, pricing, and policy worldwide. Here are the stories to make the list- in no particular order.

10. The Retail Rundown: Beef Leads Valentine’s Protein Features as Lobster...