Snow Crab Collapse Linked to Energetic Limits Amid Marine Heatwave, NOAA Study Finds

NOAA Fisheries, also known as the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), highlighted a recent study focused on the massive collapse of the snow crab population in the eastern Bering Sea. Led by NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center biologist Erin Fedewa, the research sought to understand the causes of the 2018-2019 mortality event and the species’ potential for recovery.

A key aspect of the study was measuring snow crab energy reserves during and after the marine heatwave. Using biochemical assays of lipids and proteins in muscle and...

The Retail Rundown: A Preview of Christmas Favorites

Few protein items embody the year-end holiday spirit quite like the classic Christmas ham and the standing rib roast. These iconic centerpiece proteins often dominate holiday tables, shaping both wholesale market trends and retail advertising strategies.

This year, the wholesale beef rib market kicked off its seasonal rise in late July, climbing 32% between July 28 and Thanksgiving week. Since then, the market has shifted into typical year-end procurement mode with a generally steady undertone, and holiday buying is expected to wrap soon...

Hokkaido Fall Chum Catch Unprecedentedly Low at Under 15,000 Tons, Ikura Prices Double

This year's Hokkaido fall chum salmon fishery came to an end at the end of November. According to the Hokkaido Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations' Daily Report, the cumulative catch for this fishing season was 14,465 tons, down 67% from the previous season. While this is a preliminary figure, it ended with the poorest catch on record.

According to a report in the Minato Shimbun, Hokkaido fall chum fishery peaked at 206,000 tons in 2003, and remained at around 150,000 tons in...

Record Prices, Record Imports, Record Shifts — 2025 Crab Trade Turns Upside Down

The holiday period remains the most active stretch of the year for global king and snow crab, and this season is no different. Alaska red king crab has entered December holiday channels, while harvesters have now shifted to the largest Bairdi (Tanner) snow crab harvest seen in more than a decade. Prices for red and golden king crab remain at record highs and have shown little elasticity throughout the year despite broader economic uncertainty.

Attention across the industry has sharpened around the US...

Trump Admin Roundtable Discussion: Bridge Payments to Farmers, Soybean Purchases, Fair Trade, EUDR

On December 8, US President Trump held a roundtable meeting with members of the US farming community, Agriculture Secretary Rollins, Treasury Secretary Bessent, and others at the White House to announce monetary support to farmers impacted by the US trade policy. 

The administration announced plans to provide $12 billion in tariff income-fueled support for farmers, to address the high costs of farm equipment, and to examine anti-competitive behavior in the food supply chain...

Japan Kamaboko Association Seeks Support Amid Surimi Price Challenges

The Japan Kamaboko Association, an organization of kamaboko (surimi product) manufacturers, issued a press release on December 5th, calling attention to the plight of the kamaboko industry, which is being forced to adopt harsh management measures due to soaring production costs.

In an effort to improve the value and quality of surimi products:
The rapid rise in surimi product production costs has continued since last year and shows no signs of slowing. In particular, the price of surimi, a key ingredient, has been increasing since 2024...

Instacart App Launches in OpenAI ChatGPT 

Instacart (NASDAQ: CART), the leading grocery technology company in North America, today announced that it is the first grocery partner to launch an app on ChatGPT and the first to offer an embedded, end-to-end shopping and Instant Checkout -- all within the context of a ChatGPT conversation. This new integration makes it easier than ever for people to go from meal inspiration to doorstep delivery, using Instacart's real-time grocery network and fulfillment capabilities with the help of OpenAI frontier model capabilities.

"Instacart and ChatGPT are redefining what's possible in AI-powered shopping," said Anirban...

Oregon Opens Dungeness Crab Season Dec. 16, North Coast Still Delayed

In a move welcomed by holiday revelers anxious for crab before Christmas and many crab fishermen, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced a mid-December opening for Dungeness crab south of Cape Falcon, Ore., to the border with California.

The season will open at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 16, with a pre-soak period that starts at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13.

Pre-season testing showed all crab in Oregon was above the criteria for quality and clear...

US Trade Representative Pressed to Address Gray Zone Rules Amid USMCA Discussions

Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) sent a letter to US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer, urging updated rules for the Gray Zone, a 277-square-mile area of ocean near Machias Seal Island that is fished by both the US and Canada and remains one of America's only contested maritime borders.

Golden’s letter came amid testimony from two Maine fishermen to the International Trade Commission (ITC) last week. The meetings focused on potential changes to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)...

Senate Passes Save Our Seas 2.0 Act to Combat Marine Debris and Boost Water Infrastructure

US Senators Dan Sullivan and Sheldon Whitehouse, along with Representatives Buddy Carter and Suzanne Bonamici, celebrated the Senate's unanimous approval of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Marine Debris Infrastructure Programs Reauthorization Act (S. 3022).

This act will renew key EPA programs aimed at fighting ocean trash and microplastics. These programs were initially authorized by the 2020 Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, which marked a significant step by Congress to tackle marine debris. Representatives Carter and Bonamici have also introduced similar legislation...

Russia Eyes 3–4% Pollock Catch Increase in Major 2026 Sea of Okhotsk Season

Russia is optimistic about the forthcoming pollock fishing season in the Sea of Okhotsk, set to begin next month.

Alexey Buglak, president of the Russian Pollock Association, said at a recent Far Eastern Scientific and Commercial Council meeting that Russian fishermen plan to increase pollock catch by 3–4%, targeting 870,000–880,000 tons during the main fishing season.

The largest fishing season in Russia—the Sea of Okhotsk pollock run—starts January 1, 2026. Season "A" will last 100 days, ending April 10...

US Seafood Industry Calls to Protect USMCA Duty-Free Trade Framework

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI)’s Director of Public Policy, Morgan Bell, delivered testimony before the US International Trade Commission this week, underscoring the essential role of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) in supporting a thriving North American seafood trade.

Speaking on behalf of the entire commercial seafood value chain — from harvesters and processors to distributors and retailers — Bell highlighted the remarkable growth in seafood exports under the USMCA since its 2019 implementation. American seafood exports to Mexico have surged 65%...

Russia, India Set Ambitious Fisheries Cooperation Agenda Post-Putin Visit

Russia plans to expand cooperation with India in the fisheries sector, following agreements made during Russian President Putin's recent visit to India.

The plans include establishing joint ventures focused on maritime logistics, deep-sea fishing, and fishing port automation.

Russia is especially optimistic about increasing Indian seafood imports, with particular emphasis on shrimp supplies. According to Russia’s Agriculture Minister Oksana Luth, India remains a leading shrimp supplier to Russia and imports are expected to grow further in 2026.

“India is the world’s largest producer and exporter of shrimp...

United Kingdom: New Seafood Export Requirements Will Apply From January 2026

The UK will require seafood exporters to provide new information to generate IUU documentation through the Fish Export Service (FES) from the evening of 8 January. This change comes slightly earlier than the EU’s requirement, which takes effect on 10 January. We’ve chosen this earlier date to avoid launching changes over a weekend and to ensure we can provide the best possible support when the new rules go live.

From 17:00 on 8 January FES will be unavailable while the necessary updates are made...

2026 Pollock TAC Steady for Bering Sea, Aleutians, Bogoslof with Revised Regional Allocations

The 2026 total annual catch (TAC) for pollock has been set at the same level as last year — 1.394 million metric tons (mmt) in the Bering Sea (BS)/Aleutian Islands (AI) and Bogoslof area. The difference is how the TAC is allocated this year, with the biggest change in the AI, although at a much smaller scale than the Bering Sea's pollock TAC. 

In the Bering Sea, the 2026 TAC dropped from 1.389 mmt last year to 1.375 mmt in 2026...

FDA’s 30-Month Traceability Rule Extension Draws Spotlight as January Deadline Nears

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first proposed in August 2025 to extend the compliance deadline for its Food Traceability Rule (FTR) by 30 months—a move that, if finalized, would push the date from January 20, 2026, to July 20, 2028.

As of now, companies are still required to comply by January 2026, which is just over a month away. This looming deadline, coupled with the proposal’s uncertainty, has sharply heightened industry anxiety, with some warning of possible operational shutdowns or severe disruptions for those unable...

ANALYSIS: Farmed Salmon Market Hits Four-Year Low Amid Strong Retail Promotion

The farmed salmon fillet market has entered December at a striking benchmark – prices are at a 52-week low and, more notably, the lowest point seen in the past four years. Despite this depressed market level, retail advertising for 2025 continues to climb above 2024, maintaining a trend observed throughout the year.

Retail Promotions at Record Highs

Buying opportunities for farmed salmon are currently 6.4 percent higher than last year, and the total number of retail ad promotions is at the highest level recorded in all years tracked...