ASP and FFAW Reach Deal on Newfoundland Snow Crab Season After Price Dispute

The Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) and the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union-Unifor (FFAW) have reached an agreement on the 2026 Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab season, ending a dispute that had stalled the province's largest crab fishery.

The groups said in a joint statement that the deal creates a system that will adjust in-season snow crab prices based on market conditions, moving away from traditional post-season settlements.

The agreement confirms that the current collective agreement remains in place...

The Winding Glass: Diesel Prices Tip of the Iceberg for Seafood Industry as Impacts Multiply Downstream

The disastrous US and Israeli attack on Iran has led to the completely predictable closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for around 20% of global oil consumption. The International Energy Agency (IEA) called it the largest supply disruption in the history of the world oil market. 

Diesel prices at fishing ports worldwide rose 40 to 70 percent in a matter of weeks. In Rhode Island, dockside diesel hit $5.75 a gallon, up nearly 50 percent since February...

Walmart Launches Major Store Investment Push with 650+ Remodels, Great Value Brand Refresh

US retail giant Walmart announced on April 16 that it will make "significant" investments across its stores to create jobs, strengthen local communities, and deliver faster, more convenient shopping experiences. The company also unveiled a comprehensive redesign of its flagship private label 'Great Value' brand.

For 2026, Walmart has scheduled over 650 remodels to its Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets, alongside approximately 20 new store openings planned through early 2027. The company has already opened several new locations this year, including Supercenters in Eastvale, California...

Japan's Pollock Exports Spiked by 42％ to over 62,000 MT

Frozen Alaska pollock exports in 2025 increased by 42% year-on-year to 6,671 tons, driven by strong growth in exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and Africa, including Nigeria. This marks a halt to the two-year decline following China's import ban on Japanese seafood following the release of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The Minato Shimbun reported this.

Exports to Vietnam increased steadily by 27% to 1,682 tons, and to Thailand by 38% to 531 tons. Exports to Africa showed particularly significant...

GSA Appoints Libby Woodhatch and Jeremy Woodrow to its Board of Directors

The Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) has appointed Libby Woodhatch, Executive Chair of MarinTrust, and Jeremy Woodrow, Executive Director of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), to its Board of Directors.

“We are thrilled to welcome Libby and Jeremy to the GSA Board of Directors,” said GSA CEO Mike Kocsis. “Both bring deep expertise and leadership across critical areas of the seafood value chain—from responsible sourcing and certification to global marketing and market development.”

Together, Woodhatch and Woodrow bring nearly three decades of industry...

Record DFO Survey Highlights Deep Importance of Newfoundland and Labrador Food Fishery

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has released its What We Heard document summarizing feedback from the 2025 Food Fishery survey, underscoring the fishery’s deep cultural importance in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The food fishery remains closely tied to the province’s identity, reflecting Newfoundlanders’ and Labradorians’ long-standing connection to cod and the sea. The survey, launched by the Honorable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, drew more than 9,500 responses and over 100 written submissions — the highest participation ever recorded for a DFO...

WHOI Sea Grant Funds $1.6M Research Targeting Massachusetts Aquaculture, Fisheries Challenges

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Sea Grant has committed $1.6 million over two years to fund four research projects addressing critical challenges facing Massachusetts' aquaculture and commercial fishing sectors, with studies focusing on oyster cultivation, soft-shell clam contamination, and the expanding black sea bass fishery.

The funding, awarded through WHOI Sea Grant's 2026-2027 biennial competition, reflects industry-driven priorities as operators seek solutions to regulatory closures, species migration patterns, and production optimization...

Pokeworks Posts Record First Quarter as Expansion and Menu Innovation Fuel Growth

Pokeworks said it posted the strongest first quarter in brand history to start 2026, fueled by expansion, menu innovation, and continued investment in franchisee support.

The fast-casual poke chain opened new locations in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, during the quarter, and also reopened its Somerville, Massachusetts, restaurant in March. On the development side, the brand signed a multi-unit deal in Boulder, Colorado, and said several locations are in the pipeline, including The Woodlands, El Paso, and San...

ANALYSIS: Ecuador's Shrimp Value-Added Capacity Constraints Drive HLSO Flows to China, Europe

Ecuador's limited capacity for value-added processing remains a significant concern, particularly as replacement costs in the country are now reportedly considerably higher than those in Asia. This cost differential appears rational, given the comprehensive expense structure from farming through processing. However, this dynamic represents a supply-and-demand imbalance rather than necessarily indicating a competitive disadvantage.

Ecuador has demonstrated for years its ability to produce peeled product lines at competitive prices relative to Asian counterparts. The challenge lies not in competitiveness per se, but in Ecuador's...

Venezuela Says MMPA Blue Crab Process Complete, Eyes US Market Return

Venezuela's Ministry of Fisheries announced on April 16 that it has successfully completed the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) comparability registration process with NOAA Fisheries, potentially clearing the way for resumed blue crab exports to the US market after a three-month embargo that devastated the country's fishing industry.

The Venezuelan government claims the registration "ensures that Venezuelan seafood products meet the rigorous quality and sustainability standards required for export to the North American market," according to an April 16 statement from the Ministry of...

BC's Walcan Quinsam River Pink Salmon Fishery Becomes Province's Only MSC-Certified Salmon Operation

The Walcan Quinsam River Pink Salmon Fishery has earned Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, making it the only salmon fishery in British Columbia to feature the blue label.

The April 15 announcement was hailed by Cameron Pirie, President of Walcan Seafood, who said the certification reflected decades of stewardship and collaboration.

"Working alongside the We Wai Kai and Wei Wai Kum Nations to harvest only surplus salmon, we're able to protect the resource while bringing a premium product to market," Pirie said...

Hybrid Models Improve Harmful Algal Bloom Forecasts in Chile

Global warming is making harmful algal blooms (HABs) more frequent and severe, while also complicating efforts to predict them. Traditional computer models often struggle to account for the wide range of algae species and the ways they interact under changing environmental conditions.

A research team led by Fumito Maruyama at Hiroshima University has found that combining multiple modeling approaches can significantly improve prediction accuracy. The team’s findings, published in Ecological Informatics, show that integrating physical, ecological, and machine learning models offers a more reliable...

Alaska to Homeport First Two Arctic Security Cutters, USCG Scales Back Seattle’s Expansion

Although the announcement was made yesterday, the U.S. Coast Guard decided on March 11 that the first two Arctic Security Cutters will be homeported in the State of Alaska. Delivery is expected by the end of 2028, and the USCG is planning for the necessary infrastructure and support to receive the two icebreakers.

“Ensuring these vessels are supported by trained and ready crews, and ready homeport facilities including housing, will be essential to delivering full, enduring operational capability required to meet emerging Arctic security challenges...

Russia Eyes Antarctic Expansion as Toothfish Research Wraps Up

Russia plans to continue active research and fishing operations in the Antarctic region in the coming years, citing significant potential for domestic fishermen.

Russian scientists from the All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography recently completed monitoring of toothfish fisheries in Antarctica. The data will be used to assess existing stocks and set future catch plans.

Russian fishermen have participated in the Antarctic toothfish fishery since 2004 and have experience in the sector.

Beyond toothfish, Russian fishermen will focus particularly on increasing krill catch in Antarctica...

Alaska Yellowfin Sole Gets the Spotlight in French Campaign With Herve and Cite Marine

Alaska yellowfin sole’s versatility and flavor became the focus of an advertising campaign in France led by well-known French influencer Hervé and the largest trader of Alaska Yellowfin Sole in France, Cité Marine. 

Hervé has over one million followers on YouTube and nearly a million followers on Instagram.  

He launched one of France’s first cooking channels in 2007 and is known for his social media presence and YouTube Channel. His recipes are easy, fast, and accessible, ranging from traditional French cuisine to international dishes...

USDA Establishes First-Ever Office of Seafood to Support American Fishermen

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) unveiled the creation of the Office of Seafood within the department on April 15, marking what officials described as a "new era of seafood policy" that recognizes American fishermen as a key part of the US food supply.

The "first of its kind" office will prioritize customer service for American seafood cultivators, producers, and processors seeking to access USDA programs, addressing longstanding navigation challenges that have hindered industry participation in federal support programs...

Newfoundland Snow Crab Processors File $2.5M Lawsuit Against FFAW Leaders

The Association of Seafood Producers and five major Newfoundland processing companies have filed a CAD 2.5 million lawsuit against Fish, Food & Allied Workers union executives, alleging an "unlawful conspiracy" involving threats and intimidation.

The Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador action, filed April 10, targets FFAW inshore vice-president Jason Sullivan and union president Dwan Street, claiming their actions have caused significant financial damage to processors unable to purchase crab for processing and sales.

The lawsuit, which was first reported by allNewfoundlandandLabrador...