NOAA Finalizes Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in Gulf and California Under Trump Mandate

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has designated 13 Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) totaling more than 21,000 acres in federal waters of the Gulf of America and off the coast of Southern California.

NOAA said the latest AOAs fulfill President Donald Trump’s 2020 Executive Order, ‘Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth,’ and his more recent 2025 Executive Order,  'Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.’

“These areas will strengthen the nation’s seafood industry, reduce reliance on foreign imports, and create high-quality American jobs,” NOAA Fisheries said in its...

Record Prices and Tariff Pressures Challenge the US Scallop Complex

The scallop market in the US has faced continued challenges in 2025. Low domestic landings continue providing upward pricing pressure, while potentially constrained availability from Canada adds to tight North American supply. A similar scenario played out in 2024, when many market participants turned to Japanese product as a quality substitute for domestic shortfalls.

However, several factors have complicated Japanese product as a supply solution this year. Fishing effort along with overall offers from Japan have been reported as light due in part to lower landings and smaller sizing...

AquaStar Expands Cs-137 Shrimp Recall; About 85,000 Bags of Shrimp Impacted

AquaStar announced it has recalled about 85,000 bags of shrimp products over potential cesium-137 (Cs-137) contamination.

The recall focused on Kroger raw and cooked products, along with AquaStar branded shrimp skewers products sold at Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Foodsco, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, Jay C, King Soopers, Kroger, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pay Less Supermarkets, Pick ‘n Save, Ralphs, Smith’s and QFC locations in over 30 states.

Specifically, approximately 49,920 bags (net wt. 2lbs) of Kroger Raw Colossal EZ Peel Shrimp, approximately 18,000 bags...

Western Pacific Council Pushes for Tougher Standards on Seafood Imports

Western Pacific fishery managers are pressing federal regulators to crack down on seafood imports that don’t meet US standards for protecting marine mammals. 

At its meeting last week, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council urged NOAA to strengthen newly finalized Marine Mammal Protection Act Import Provisions, which were published earlier this month in the Federal Register. The Council called for stricter benchmarks when reviewing foreign fisheries and requested a transparent process that allows for public and stakeholder input...

Horizon Organic's Patricia Stroup Says Influence, Branding Key to Leadership - WFA

Patricia Stroup, Chief Operating Officer of Horizon Organic and former Chief Procurement Officer at Nestlé SA, said at Expana's Women in Food and Agriculture (WFA) conference in Chicago today that effective leadership hinges on influence, personal branding and stakeholder diplomacy, not rank or authority alone. Stroup outlined a framework that can help advance through a mix of practical tactics and relationship-building within the workplace.   

Stroup told attendees she begins with a straightforward question to her teams: “What do you want?” She said the

Inclusive Culture and Building Teams that Endure - Women in Food & Agriculture

Expana’s Women in Food & Agriculture event in Chicago brought together industry leaders to discuss diversity, inclusion, and culture within the sector. Today (September 22) the event's delegates attended a panel on belonging by design explored building teams and cultures that endure.   

Panelists included moderator Denitresse Ferrell, Founder & CEO of Culture Refinery; Christopher Bylone van Sandwyk, Global Belonging Strategist at Innovation Unbiased and former Global Head of Belonging, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Accessibility at Krispy Kreme; Annie Ryu, CEO of The Jackfruit Company and Jack & Annie's; Rosalind Fox   

Pacific Halibut Landings At 58 Percent of Quota With 3 Months Left in Season

Two-thirds of the way through the Pacific Halibut season, coastwide landings — from Alaska through British Columbia and the US West Coast — as of September 15 are only 57% of the annual quota. 

The 2025 quota for commercial, recreational, and tribal limit was 23.8 million pounds, some 15.8% less than the annual quota for 2024.  

Even at that reduced limit, only 13.71 million pounds have been landed as of September 15, or 57.6% of the annual quota...

Japan: North American Bluefins Sees Better Prices at Toyosu Market in August

According to a Jiji Press survey, the number of imported tuna arriving at the tuna section of Tokyo's Toyosu Market in August was 2,251, a 26.8% decrease from the same month last year. While bigeye tuna increased, wild bluefin tuna remained at the same level as the previous year, and southern bluefin tuna decreased. 

Minato Shimbun analyzed that the total number of bluefin tuna was 386 compared with 381 in the same month last year. Canadian bluefin tuna was the mainstay, increasing to 265 from 211 in the same month last year, while Boston tuna halved to 59 from 116. Canadian tuna experienced unexpected issues, including flight cancellations due to an airline strike and "packages bound...

Shinkei Systems Moves into 15,000‑Sq‑Ft El Segundo Facility to Scale Robotic Seafood Tech

Shinkei Systems, a company focused on robotics for use in the seafood industry and owner of Seremoni, said it will more than double its corporate footprint with a new headquarters in El Segundo, California.

The company moved into a 15,000-square-foot facility at El Segundo’s Standard Works campus that will be used to “engineer, test, and manufacture the company’s robotic systems.” The space will also house corporate offices for its premium seafood brand, Seremoni...

SE Alaska Economy "Relatively Strong" but Leaders "Losing Confidence" In Federal Government

The Southeast Conference is a three-day conference where business and government leaders see newly compiled data from the year prior, updates on current economic indicators, and a look ahead at what residents of the Alaska Panhandle can expect given current economic dynamics. 

The report was not optimistic about the future. 

“Recent policy changes have weakened the capacity to provide scientific and regulatory expertise to sectors like seafood and timber, created concerns about the impact of tariffs, and raised questions...

Annasea Foods Recalls Costco Fresh Ahi Wasabi Poke Over Listeria Concerns

Western United, doing business as Annasea Foods Group, recalled its Fresh Ahi Wasabi Poke sold at Costco stores on September 18 due to potential Listeria monocytogenes concerns linked to the green onions used in the product.

The affected Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke product is packaged in clear plastic clamshell containers and bears the Kirkland Signature brand label with a Pack Date of 9/18/2025 and a Sell By Date of 9/22/2025, as per a notice published on the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website...

Lawmakers Introduce QUAHOGS Act to Study Eastern Seaboard Shellfish Declines

A pair of US Senators introduced a bill focused on understanding the decline of quahogs (hard shell clams) and other shellfish species along the East Coast of the country.

The Quantifying Uncertainty and Action to Help Optimize Growth of Shellfish (QUAHOGS) Act, introduced by US Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), would develop a research task force comprised of federal agency representatives, fishery management councils, state agency representatives, industry leaders, scientists, and other stakeholders to better understand what is fueling the shellfish population decreases...

Haifa Smoked Fish Recalls Smoked Salmon and Seabass Over Listeria Contamination

Haifa Smoked Fish of Jamaica, Queens, New York, recalled smoked salmon and smoked seabass products because the products may be contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes.

According to a notice published on the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website, Haifa’s COLD SMOKED SALMON” 8 OZ., LOT # 219 and “COLD SMOKED SEABASS” 8 OZ., LOT # 212 were distributed nationwide through direct delivery to retailers and distributors. The products are vacuum-packed on a paperboard with flexible plastic.

As of September 17, no illnesses have been reported...

ANALYSIS: Shrimp Wholesale Momentum Slows as Retail Pass-Through Remains Uncertain

The recent uptrend in US wholesale shrimp prices has lost momentum over the past few weeks. Several offers have retracted from the initial spike — a pattern similar to what happened after the April hike, when wholesale levels slowed sharply from mid‑May through June. Replacement costs, however, remain high and are unlikely to fall in the near term; if retailers do not pass those costs to consumers, we should expect further margin compression...

Oregon Pink Shrimp Allies Tell USTR to Open UK Market, End 20% Tariff

The Oregon Trawl Commission (OTC), the Shrimp Producers Marketing Cooperative (SPMC) and the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) penned a letter to the US Trade Representative (USTR), urging the Trump administration to secure reliable access to the United Kingdom market for Oregon pink shrimp harvesters.

“The UK is one of the major global markets for coldwater shrimp, and UK consumers place great value on quality and sustainability, making it an ideal market for the MSC-certified Oregon pink shrimp...

ASC Launches 60-Day Consultation on Adding Catfish to Certification Program

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) launched a 60-day consultation period on September 17 to include catfish in the ASC program.

This specifically includes the catfish genera Clarias, Heterobranchus, Ictalurus, Ameiurus, and Silurus, as stated in a news release by ASC.

The ASC is seeking feedback on the overall sustainability of its Farm Standard in addressing the impacts of catfish farming, as well as species-specific metrics and indicators.

Based on various inputs from experts and technical working groups, ASC believes that most existing indicators within the ASC...

MarinTrust and SFP Sign MoU to Strengthen Marine Ingredient Sustainability Collaboration

MarinTrust and the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize and strengthen their collaboration in promoting responsible practices throughout the marine ingredient value chain.

Both parties stated that they are focused on several shared goals, including governance, joint support for initiatives, Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) ratings, and sharing insights and information.

Libby Woodhatch, Executive Chair of MarinTrust, commented:

“This MoU marks a significant step forward in our longstanding relationship with SFP. By aligning our efforts, we can more...