SENA 2026: Boston Day 1 Show Floor Highlights

This story is part of Expana's live coverage from Seafood Expo North America 2026 in Boston. View all SENA 2026 coverage here.

Seafood Expo North America 2026 kicked off in Boston with fresh booth designs, rebranding efforts, and companies using the show floor to signal broader strategic shifts to buyers across retail and foodservice...

SENA 2026: Keyport Eyes Next Growth Phase as Crab Specialist Approaches 30-Year Milestone

Keyport is using its approaching 30th anniversary as an inflection point to scale operations and expand beyond its current platform, which handles a significant portion of king crab and snow crab from Alaska. In an interview with Expana, CEO Mark Pedersen said the company has experienced steady growth and is positioning for its next phase of expansion.

"We think we've got one of the best brands in the industry right now," Pedersen said. "It's just how do we keep leveraging it and growing it from here...

ANALYSIS: Salmon and Pollock Dominate EU‑US Seafood Flows as Trade Balance Shifts

At a time when US tariff policy reflects both commercial and geopolitical considerations of its partners, and given the temporary halt to the US‑EU trade agreement reached last summer, it is especially relevant to review the seafood trade relationship between the United States and the European Union...

ANALYSIS: January US Shrimp Imports Come in Near 148M lbs as Q1 Outlook Takes Shape

Preliminary January customs and country‑of‑origin data landed very near our model's baseline, with total warm‑water imports around 148 million pounds.

Estimates vs official

Total warm‑water shrimp imports for January landed very close to our model: we modeled a lower bound near 145 million pounds and the official by‑type figure came in at about 148.4 million pounds. That closeness validates the model’s baseline, though product‑form splits revealed compositional surprises.

- Peeled: our band of 72–81 million pounds captured the outcome...

Channel Fish Launches Six Value-Added Products at Seafood Expo, Marking 80th Anniversary

Massachusetts-based Channel Fish is celebrating its 80th anniversary by launching six new value-added seafood products at this year's Seafood Expo North America, as the family-owned processor seeks to attract new consumers with globally inspired flavors and innovative formats.

The company will showcase Mini Salmon Arepas, Mango Habanero Shrimp, and Chicken Fried Wild Alaska Sole Tenders for both retail and foodservice channels, alongside a new branded retail line featuring Jalapeno Popper Shrimp, Panko Breaded Salmon Nuggets, and Super Fish Sticks. Product samples...

Jane Smernicki Appointed as Chair of Global Seafood Communicators

Just ahead of the weekend, Global Seafood Communicators announced its new Chair, Jane Smernicki, who is the head of Public Relations and Communications for the United Kingdom's Seafish. She succeeds Fiona MacMillan, the former General Manager of Communications and Marketing at Seafood New Zealand.

Since its inauguration in 2018, the Global Seafood Communicators has evolved from an ad hoc assembly of 6 associations into a 26-member organization representing 11 countries.

Ivan López Van der Veen, Chair of the group's sister organization, International Coalition of Fisheries Associations (ICFA)...

Culinary Delights Featuring Alpine King Salmon at Kura Sushi USA

US revolving sushi restaurant pioneer, Kura Sushi USA, has unveiled four exclusive Kura Reserve menu options that spotlight the delicate umami flavors of Alpine King Salmon, sourced from the natural currents of New Zealand’s Southern Alps.

Kura Reserve offers a limited-time culinary experience platform featuring seasonally inspired creations alongside Kura Sushi’s regular menu. These unique dishes are available for dine-in only starting March 13, while supplies last.

US revolving sushi restaurant pioneer, Kura Sushi USA, has unveiled four exclusive Kura Reserve menu...

Importers Face Long Wait for Tariff Refunds

Importers across industries, expecting refunds of roughly $166 billion collected under now-invalidated emergency tariffs instituted by Trump, face a prolonged and uncertain wait. That is according to a government filing that estimated more than 4.4 million hours of manual processing to handle the claims.

After the Supreme Court struck down the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs last month, UW Customs and Border Protection (CBP) told the Court of International Trade that refunding duties from more than 53 million import entries, of which 20.1 million remain unliquidated, presents an unprecedented logistical...

Sun Coast Calamari Expands Fleet with Two Purse Seine Vessels, Names New General Manager

The Reichle family's Sun Coast Calamari has added two purse seine vessels to its fleet and appointed industry veteran Luis Lara as general manager, the company announced in a joint statement with sister company Lund's Fisheries.

The addition of F/V Anduril and F/V Taylor Brooks brings the Reichle family's total fleet to seven fishing vessels and reinforces the company's commitment to the California market squid fishery. Sun Coast said the expansion will increase its footprint in the fishery and boost harvest volumes...

SENA 2026: Cox's Seafood's Bedi Says Value-Added Key to Gulf Shrimp Future

Cox's Seafood is betting on value-added products and bold flavors to drive the next phase of growth for Gulf shrimp, with Senior Vice President Vinay Bedi positioning convenience and innovation as essential for the domestic wild-caught sector.

Speaking at SENA 2026, Bedi said Cox's is "reimagining what Gulf shrimp, what you could do with it" through new retail products that pair chemical-free, wild-caught Gulf shrimp with chef-inspired flavors in a ready-to-cook format...

SENA 2026: Trident Seafoods and Icy Waters Claim Top Honors at Seafood Excellence Awards

Trident Seafoods and Icy Waters took home the top prizes at the 2026 Seafood Excellence Awards on Sunday, with products that judges said exemplified innovation, market relevance and culinary versatility in their respective foodservice and retail categories.

Trident Seafoods captured the Best New Foodservice Product award for its Crispy Battered Sauceable Wild Alaska Pollock Nuggets, while Icy Waters won Best New Retail Product for The Good Fish Co. Coconut Margarita Haddock. Both winners were selected from more than 100 entries in the New Product Showcase...

Japan: January Surimi Production in Hokkaido Increased 11%

According to member reports compiled by the National Surimi Manufacturers Association, Hokkaido's frozen surimi production in January increased by 11% year-on-year (YOY) to 887 tons, marking the second consecutive month of year-on-year growth, driven by increased production of the main product, Alaska pollock. The Minato Shimbun reported this.

The breakdown shows that Alaska pollock surimi increased by 11% to 880 tons, marking the second consecutive month of growth. According to manufacturers, while the Okhotsk region saw a 60% decrease in...

Shoreline Freezers Expands Southern New Jersey Site by 128,000 sq ft, Adds 20,000 Pallet Positions

Mid-Atlantic cold storage provider Shoreline Freezers announced a significant expansion at its Southern New Jersey facility, adding 128,000 square feet of warehouse space, bringing the total to 27,000 pallet positions.

Shoreline is operated by the Reichle family and has a strong rapport with fellow Reichle-owned company Lund's Fisheries. The company's ownership remains actively involved in day-to-day operations, ensuring responsive decision-making and a customer-first culture, the company shared in its news release...

The International Fish Feed Company is World’s First BAP-Certified Feed Mill in Oman

The International Fish Feed Company (IFFC) is the first feed mill in Oman to attain Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification, Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) has announced.

IFFC was established in 2023 with a state-of-the-art facility and boasts an annual production capacity of 31,200 metric tons of high-quality aquafeed, supporting responsible growth in the aquaculture sector in Oman and the region.

Said Ajit Jacob, Chief Operating Officer of International Fish Feed Company, “Achieving the Best Aquaculture Practices...

ANALYSIS: US Fresh Imported Seafood Supply Constraints Continue to Drive Market Direction

Fresh imported seafood supplies remain constrained across much of the complex, with 2025 import volumes for several key species — including mahi, snapper, swordfish, and grouper — all trending below year-ago levels. Although January and February 2026 Census data have not yet been released, market participants continue to report lighter arrivals and reduced product availability, suggesting that tight supply conditions have persisted into the new year. Replacement costs have also moved higher, leaving the market increasingly sensitive to even small changes in availability...

Day 14 of Iran War: US Temporarily Eases Russian Oil Sanctions; Shipping Risks Mount 

Israeli airstrikes have hit Tehran on the 14^th day of the Iran war as Iran and its allies launch retaliatory attacks across Gulf states, sharply escalating tensions across the region and disrupting global energy markets.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route linking the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, remains severely disrupted.

On Friday, the US issued a 30-day license for countries to buy Russian oil and petroleum products currently stranded at sea. Oil prices eased following the announcement, though prices are...

Expana's Weekly Top Ten: From Middle East Tensions to Tariff Refund Challenges

Welcome to this week's Top 10. In this edition, we've compiled original content pinpointing key developments affecting global markets and industries following the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

This recap highlights ripple effects on oil prices and amino acid markets to impactful changes in US seafood consumption and tariff refunds. Additionally, explore shifts in dietary guidelines and new investments aimed at enhancing sustainability and traceability in the seafood sector. This list is in no particular order.

10. Stay informed with Expana's comprehensive coverage on global markets as...