Peru’s Second Season Anchovy Quota Slashed From 2024’s 2.5Mmt to 500,000mt

Peru’s Ministry of Production (PRODUCE) set a total allowable catch (TAC) of 500,000 metric tons (mt) for the second 2025 anchovy season.

The announcement follows the Peruvian Sea Institute (IMARPE)’s report that showed the Peruvian sea has experienced an increase in thermal anomalies, fluctuations in coastal wind intensity and more saline Subtropical Surface Waters (SSW) since late autumn. Due to these factors, a redistribution of anchovies from the North-Central stock occurred, per PRODUCE.

“As a result of this shift, the acoustic biomass observed in the North...

Thai Union Q3 Sales Slip 1% as FX Headwinds, Softer US Private-Label Demand Bite

Thai Union Group saw its sales decline by 1% compared to the third quarter of 2025, when compared to the same period a year ago, citing foreign exchange headwinds and softer demand from US private label retailers.

Still, the company said its organic sales returned to growth after consecutive quarter declines, led by pet care and frozen categories.

“Our Q3 results show that Thai Union is exceptionally resilient and regaining momentum,” said Thiraphong Chansiri, CEO of Thai Union Group. “Despite macroeconomic challenges, we...

Nova Scotia Fisher Fined CAD 76,000, Gets One-Year Ban for Illegal Atlantic Halibut Catch

A Nova Scotia resident was sentenced in Provincial Court to a total fine of CAD 76,561.35 ($54,315) for illegal Atlantic halibut fishing.

An announcement from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) stated that Grant William Cameron pleaded guilty in a previous court appearance, where he was fined $40,000 for setting fishing gear during a closed period and failing to provide the correct position of a vessel at the request of a DFO-designated at-sea observer...

Japan: September Exports Surged 82% to 60,243 MT; Scallops Fall by 23%

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance, Japan's exports of fishery products (fish and shellfish and their preparations, fishmeal, and fish oil) in September totaled 60,243 tons, an 82% increase compared to the same month last year, and amounted to 31.91 billion yen ($207.21 million), a 22% increase. Scallop exports saw a 23% decrease in volume but a 10% increase in value. While shell-off scallops increased in both volume and value, scallops with shells decreased in volume but increased in value. Yellowtail exports...

Court Orders NMFS Reconsideration of Crab Import Ban, Giving Importers Temporary Reprieve

The development is a lifeline for US crab meat importers and processors that were facing immediate supply disruptions.

The stipulation also resolves a lawsuit filed by the National Fisheries...

ANALYSIS: Seasonal Patterns Persist within Pacific Halibut Market as Fishing Window Narrows

As October comes to a close, halibut fishermen have faced persistent challenges due to stormy weather and increasingly limited fishing opportunities. As a result, catch levels have remained light. According to the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), cumulative landings through week 40 (ending September 28) totaled 14.25 million pounds, down 11.7% from the same period last year and nearly 24% below the five-year year-to-date average. This volume accounts for 76.3% of the season’s commercial quota, highlighting the difficulty in making substantial progress toward quota fulfillment...

Increasing US Shipbuilding Capacity Gains Traction in the US Senate

Last April, Democratic Senator Mark Kelly introduced the SHIPS for America Act 2025 with bipartisan support. On April 30, when Kelly introduced the bill, there were five co-sponsors — three Republicans and two Democrats. Since then, another six senators have signed on, evenly mixed between the two parties. 

The bipartisan support for this bill, which would bring manufacturing back to the U.S. after decades of decline, has continued to gain support from more lawmakers and now the industry. The hearing came just before the Trump Administration releases...

ANALYSIS: MMPA and Its Implications for US Crab Meat Supply and Pricing

Regulatory uncertainty and shifting supply dynamics are reshaping the US seafood market, with the blue and red swimming crab meat segments at the forefront. NOAA Fisheries’ comparability findings under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), paired with an upcoming enforcement window for January 1, 2026, have created a near-term regulatory backdrop that could materially affect access to foreign crab meat supplies. The ruling requires foreign fisheries to meet US marine mammal protection standards or risk losing export access. That framework places significant pressure on exporters to demonstrate...

Rapid Biomass Drop Triggers Interim TAC Cut for Georges Bank Scallops

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)’s stock assessment for sea scallops in Scallop Fishing Area 27A (Georges Bank) paints a cautious picture for one of the region’s higher‑value shellfish resources.

The species has shown signs of decline due to natural predators (sea stars and crabs), with the species' fully-recruited biomass at 13,570 metric tons (mt) in 2024, down by over half of 2023’s 31,095mt.

The assessment, therefore, places the stock in the “healthy” zone on the reference point scale; however, the rapid single-year decline...

New LABEL Act Seeks Bigger, Clearer Country‑of‑Origin and Production Labels for Seafood

Another bill focused on seafood labeling was introduced in Congress last week, as Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) unveiled the “Let Americans Buy with Explicit Labeling (LABEL) Act on October 29.

Tuberville’s office stated that the legislation would ensure all seafood, whether wild-caught or farm-raised, is clearly labeled with its country of origin and method of production at retail locations.

The LABEL Act (S. 3065) would require labeling of country of origin and production information...

US Bankruptcy Court Clears Sale of Cozy Harbor, Casco Bay and Art’s Lobster to Aquashell for $6.5M

A US bankruptcy judge in Maine has approved the sale of Cozy Harbor Seafood, Casco Bay Lobster and Art’s Lobster to Aquashell USA, LLC — an entity tied to Hal Harlan/Harlan Development — clearing the way for a roughly $6.5 million acquisition of processing assets, inventory and certain leases.

As Expana previously reported, the deal includes the price of $2,015,099 for Cozy Harbor's accounts receivable, $2,738,920 in Inventory and $1,750,000 in property.

Expana covered Cozy Harbor’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy...

Rosrybolovstvo Forecasts 5% Decline in Catch; Exports Still Eye US$6 Billion in 2025

Russia expects fish catch to fall up to 5% this year, mainly because Iwashi sardine migrations bypassed traditional fishing grounds, Rosrybolovstvo head Ilya Shestakov said.

VARPE (All‑Russian Association of Fishery Producers) earlier reported that oceanographic conditions in the northwest Pacific in late spring and summer 2025 caused Iwashi sardines to move away from customary Russian fishing areas.

“Right now, three trawlers—our research vessels—are searching for Iwashi. If we find them, the catch will be about...

ANALYSIS: India’s Shrimp Exports Show Strong Yearly Growth Despite August Decline

Just as was observed in the previous year, India’s exports of warm water shrimp experienced a marked downturn in August, declining by 18.1% compared to July. Nevertheless, August export volumes remained steady year-over-year, just 0.7% lower. Cumulatively, India has exported 517,643 metric tons of shrimp so far this year—a year-on-year growth of 9.9%. These shipments equated to $3,640 million in export earnings, an impressive increase of 18.5% over the January to August period last year...

PODCAST: Agri-Food for Thought Ep. 35 - Discussing Evolution of Procurement, Feat. Janet Standing

Expana presents Agri-Food for Thought, the podcast series for agriculture and food professionals.

Today we discuss the role of procurement, and how procurement decisions turn market insight into business advantage.

This is a complex issue, a lot more than one may think. Procurement professionals operate in a high-pressure environment characterized by aggressive goals, tight deadlines, and complex supply chains. But there are ways to stay ahead of the game. 

On today's episode, we welcome Janet Lung Standing.

Navigating the Trump Tariff Turbulence: A Comprehensive Timeline

US President Donald Trump and his administration have paused reciprocal tariffs on most countries.

“Based on the lack of respect that China has shown... I am hereby raising the [tariff] charged to China by the [USA] to 125%, effective immediately,” wrote Trump on Truth Social at 1:18 pm ET. 

It’s not clear if this 125% is in addition to the 20% imposed on Chinese imports to the US. In early March, Trump noted that he would add another 10% tariff on Chinese goods...

FISH Act Passes in Senate, Will Strengthen US Policy Against Illegal Foreign Seafood Harvests

Last Tuesday, Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) saw their legislation against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing pass the full Senate as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) introduced last July.

The Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvest (FISH) Act, co-sponsored by Sens. Murkowski (R-AK), Wicker (R-MS), Graham (R-SC), Merkley (D-OR), Blunt (D-DE), Coons (D-DE), and Kennedy (R-LA), would combat foreign illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing...

ASMFC Lobster Stock Assessment: Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank Not Depleted but Overfishing Rising

A stock assessment found that the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank (GOM/GBK) is not depleted but has dipped 34% since peak levels in 2018, and overfishing is taking place. Meanwhile, the Southern New England (SNE) stock remains “significantly depleted,” with record-low abundances for all life stages in recent years.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC)’s American Lobster Management Board received the results this week.

“The Benchmark Stock Assessment is a considerable advancement in our understanding US American lobster resource...