ANALYSIS: Scallop Markets Navigate Supply Challenges as Domestic Shortcomings Meet Import Declines

The domestic scallop sector continues navigating a challenging supply landscape, despite recent Gulf of Maine landings providing temporary market relief. While these increased landings have offered some larger sizing availability that had been particularly scarce, industry participants view this boost as short-lived against broader domestic harvesting shortcomings that have characterized much of the current season. Market observers suggest that domestic landings, now reaching approximately 97% of the APL...

US Department of Commerce Issues Preliminary CVD Results for Ecuadorian Shrimp

The US Department of Commerce (Commerce) has released preliminary results in its expedited countervailing duty (CVD) review for frozen warmwater shrimp from Ecuador, covering the period January 1–December 31, 2022.

The review followed requests from six Ecuadorian producers/exporters, but was rescinded for Natluk and Total Seafood after both companies withdrew their review requests within the required 60-day window.

The expedited CVD review continues for the remaining four companies. Preliminary subsidy rates announced in the March 10 Federal Register notice are as follows...

Ryan Reynolds Deadpans on 'Endless Shrimp' in New Red Lobster MNTN Campaign

Actor Ryan Reynolds appeared with Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun in a new spot for MNTN, the performance marketing TV platform, using ‘Endless shrimp’ humor to sell targeted advertising.

In the short ad, Reynolds deadpans, “That’s enough shrimp, though. We get it, endless shrimp.” The pair trade barbs before Adamolekun pushes back, clarifying that Red Lobster’s current offer is a SPENDLess shrimp promotion, not its former infamous “endless” deal.

The tongue‑in‑cheek clip riffs on the long‑running cultural conversation...

Captain Fresh Scores $31M Deal With Blue Earth to Fund Traceability and Waste Reduction

Blue Earth Capital, a global impact investment firm, has agreed to provide €27 million in sustainability-linked financing to India-based Captain Fresh, a fast-growing global packaged seafood company. The deal is aimed at boosting seafood traceability, reducing waste and driving sustainable growth across global seafood value chains.

Founded in 2020 by CMD & Group CEO Utham Gowda, Captain Fresh has built a portfolio of multi-species seafood brands distributed in key consumer markets, including the US, Europe and the UAE. Its strategy focuses...

Mowi Consumer Products to Unveil Redesigned Booth, New Packaging at SENA 2026

Mowi Consumer Products (Mowi CP) of Americas, a subsidiary of salmon farming giant Mowi, said its presence at Seafood Expo North America (SENA) 2026 will be its most ambitious yet (Booth #217). The company is gearing up to showcase its redesigned booth, new innovations, and to preview its major packaging transformation across its MOWI, Ducktrap, and Marine Harvest by Mowi brands.

“The new space brings Mowi's brand vision to life with interactive features to explore, expanded seating for deeper conversations, and dedicated areas highlighting retail...

Japan-UAE Trade Pact to Eliminate Japanese Seafood Tariffs

On March 5, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced the conclusion of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Within 10 years of the agreement's entry into force, Japan will raise its duty-free import rate from 98.7% to 99.9%, while the UAE will raise it from 11.5% to 96.4%. In addition to eliminating tariffs on seafood exports from Japan, Japan will also eliminate tariffs on shrimp imports from the UAE, reported Minato Shimbun...

Applebee's Reintroduces the Big Easy Menu featuring New Bayou Shrimp Bowl and Big Easy Burger

Applebee's has reintroduced its Big Easy Menu, capturing the bold Bayou flavors of New Orleans. Specials start at $11.99 and are available for a limited time.

This year, Applebee's has unveiled its NEW Big Easy Burger and NEW Bayou Shrimp Bowl. The menu also includes fan favorites like Applebee’s Bourbon Street Chicken & Shrimp Skillet, Bourbon Street Steak, and the Bourbon Street Mushroom Swiss Burger.

The NEW Bayou Shrimp Bowl features blackened shrimp, smoky Andouille sausage, Spanish rice, garlicky green...

Seaweed Market to Nearly Double by 2033, Driven by Food Demand

A new report pegs the current global seaweed market value at US$10.3 billion in 2026 and projects growth by 2033 to US$19.7 billion. The 91% increase will be driven by consumer demand and the rising use of seaweed products in food, cosmetics, and sustainable bioproducts. 

Seaweed has long been used in traditional Asian cuisines and pharmaceuticals, but its global demand is expanding rapidly, the report says,  due to rising interest in sustainable food sources, plant-based nutrition, and bio-based industrial materials...

ANALYSIS: Canadian Whole Fish Influx Creates Ripple Effects Throughout US Salmon Markets

Over the past few weeks, an influx of Canadian whole fish has made its way to US markets. This development appears notable, as typically at this time of year some farms are not harvesting fish and have limited availability from certain sites or regions.

However, the start of this year appears different, with most Canadian producers and sites on both the East Coast and West Coast reportedly having availability and offering product to the US market. With increased supply, competition looks intense, and lower prices...

Mowi to Acquire Torghatten Aqua’s Seawater Salmon Assets in Northern Norway

Mowi has embarked on a strategic expansion by entering into a Transaction Agreement to acquire the entirety of Torghatten Aqua AS's salmon farming seawater business situated in production area 8 in Northern Norway. This business currently focuses on leasing salmon licenses and seawater sites, contributing to educational activities and offering consulting for land-based salmon farming.

Under this agreement, Mowi will obtain a total of 3.37 licenses, encompassing a maximum allowed biomass of 2,628 tonnes. The portfolio includes 1.37 commercial licenses, 1 exhibition license...

Day 11: Trump Says Iran War Could End “Very Soon,” But Not This Week

On the 11th day of the US–Israel war on Iran, Tehran endured what officials described as some of the heaviest overnight bombardments so far.

Speaking on Monday, US President Donald Trump commented that the war could end “very soon,” but noted that it would not be over this week. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded that Iran would continue fighting for as long as necessary, casting doubt on Trump’s claim that the war may cease in the near future.

Crude oil prices fell more than 10% Tuesday...

US Interior Department Wants Industry Input on Adding Cephalopods to Definition of Shellfish

The Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior is proposing to change the definition of “shellfish” by replacing the phrase “having a shell” with specific names of species, such as Mollusca, which would include oysters, clams, squid, octopus, or cuttlefish; and Order Decapoda, including lobsters, crabs, crayfish, shrimp or other crustaceans. 

USF&W says the action reduces regulatory burden.  

“The purpose of this proposed rule is to modernize and clarify the definition of ‘‘shellfish...

United Natural Foods Reports Strong Profit Growth Amid Strategic Transitions in Q2

United Natural Foods (UNFI) has announced its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, revealing both challenges and opportunities ahead.

The company reported a 2.6% decline in net sales, bringing the total to $7.9 billion. This decrease was largely attributed to optimization actions, which impacted sales by nearly 500 basis points. A noteable factor in this shift was the transition out of the Allentown, Pennsylvania distribution center during the first quarter of fiscal 2026, leading to an anticipated drop...

Russia’s Per‑Capita Fish Consumption Falls to 24 kg as Exports Rise

Per‑capita fish consumption in Russia remains below government targets and shows little sign of near‑term recovery. State plans set a target of 28 kg per person for 2025, but consumption fell to about 24 kg in 2025 — a 2.4% decline year‑on‑year and roughly 11% below 2023 levels. Industry analysts say producers still find it more profitable to export catch than to supply the domestic market.

Retail demand softened in 2025. Analytics firm NTech estimates retail fish sales fell about 1% by volume...

Import Cargo Volume Expected to Be Down in First Half of 2026, But Too Soon to Tell Impact from Iran

Imports at major U.S. container ports are expected to remain below last year’s levels for the first half of 2026 amid ongoing tariff uncertainty, but it is too soon to gauge the impact of the conflict in Iran, according to the Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“The Supreme Court has struck down IEEPA tariffs but other tariffs have already been announced and others will be coming, so uncertainty continues for retailers...

Shaping Responsible Aquaculture in and Around Protected Areas

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is launching a stakeholder consultation focused on how aquaculture can operate responsibly within and around Protected Areas. Running from 9 March to 9 April, the 30-day consultation will gather input from key stakeholders and forms part of ASC’s broader work to address environmental risks to biodiversity, habitats, and ecosystem processes in protected areas.

ASC Environmental Standards Coordinator Dan Auwkit says, “As aquaculture becomes central to feeding a growing global population and protected areas continue to expand, there is a clear opportunity...

Global Crab Trade is Repricing Power - Here's Where It's Concentrating

The global crab market now operates on two pricing centers: frozen in the United States, live in China.

As outlined in last month's report, the global crab trade is becoming increasingly concentrated. The central question for 2026 is how that concentration reshapes pricing power across the major markets.

Full-year 2025 data across all major producing and consuming regions confirm a meaningful expansion in global trade flows. The United States imported 140 million pounds of frozen king and snow crab, reinforcing its role as the dominant pricing center...