ANALYSIS: Latest EU-UK Shrimp Import Data Shows Record-high Volume for April

The European Union has just released trade volume data for April 2025, revealing that total shrimp imports in the EU-UK region reached 53,122 metric tons—a level not seen in the past five years. Although this figure represents a 4.1% decline compared to March, it marks a 3.6% increase year-over-year and an impressive 29.8% rise compared to two years ago. In fact, this is a record high for April, standing 24.6% above the 10-year average for the...

The Retail Rundown: Grocers Set Stage for Final Summer Push

With Father’s Day in the rearview, grocers are setting the stage for the final big buying event of the summer: the Fourth of July.

The upcoming holiday marks the last major retail push before Labor Day and serves as a key buying window for proteins like beef ahead of the mid-summer lull. To keep product moving, grocers are expected to lean heavily on promotions and feature aggressive pricing in the coming weeks.

Post-Father’s Day, pork and chicken are poised to capture more...

Expana Will be Observing the Juneteenth Holiday Thursday, June 19

Expana will be observing the Juneteenth holiday on Thursday, June 19, which will impact the publication of some Expana Benchmark Prices. All US offices will be closed on the day; daily reports will not be published, and the following weekly reports will be impacted: 
 

• US and EMEA Seafood assessments will be published on Wednesday, June 18
• US cage-free brown egg spot market assessments and graded loose index will be published on Wednesday, June 18th
• US Dairy and Almond assessments will be published on Wednesday, June 18...

Alaska’s Pre-Bristol Bay Salmon Landings Modest Compared to Pre-Season Forecasts 

As of last Saturday, landings of sockeye salmon in the Copper River District totaled 274,400 fish, delivered during the first seven fishing periods since the season opened May 22, 2025. That number is significantly less than the Alaska Department of Fish & Game’s anticipated harvest of 969,000 fish for that period. 

The trajectory of the fishing periods trace the path of a roller coaster. The first period’s harvest was 28,000 sockeye. The second period, which started May 26, netted 52,400 sockeye. Five days after that, the third...

North Pacific Council Delays Action on Bering Sea Chum Salmon Bycatch Due to Funding Uncertainty 

At the end of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council’s June meeting, the panel issued a two-paragraph statement titled “Budget Concerns and Effects on Future Council Meetings,” that described their critical funding situation. 

“To date, the Council has received only 46% of its operating grant funding from NOAA for 2025, which is not typical,” the June 9th statement read. “Although the Council anticipates receiving another installment of its grant in the coming weeks, that amount is uncertain and it may not be...

Sea-Trek Founders Step Down After 40 Years; Longtime Team Members Take the Helm

Sea-Trek Enterprises, a Rhode Island-based frozen seafood trading company, announced that its founders, Peter Coop and Mitchell Sarnoff, will step down from their roles at the company's helm.

The pair will remain involved in Sea-Trek as board members, but new ownership will take charge. The new owners are long-time employees Peter Bruno, Pieter “Dutch” Snoeren, Brian Cooper, and Ken Sullivan. All four of the new owners have been involved in the company’s growth over the past four decades...

New Study from European Commission Shows Landing Obligations for EU Fisheries is Wanting

Yesterday, the European Commission published an independent study that highlighted the challenges that European Union fisheries face in implementing the current landing obligation.

First introduced in 2015 and fully implemented in 2019, the landing obligation was created to encourage EU fishermen to fish more selectively and avoid unwanted catches.

The results of this recent study—which was first launched in 2024—focus on the ongoing evaluation the EU’s common fisheries policy regulation. The study was conducted by external experts and based on desk research, case...

Thai Union Releases 2024 Sustainability Report  

Thai Union released its 2024 Sustainability Report this week, detailing its role over the last year in protecting marine ecosystems and building transparency across global seafood supply chains.  

The seafood producer kicked off 2024 with the launch of its Lower Carbon Shrimp Program in Thailand, which aims to decarbonize shrimp production and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Thai Union also achieved zero waste to landfill status at 23 of its 32 manufacturing and distribution sites.  

Another big takeaway from the report is the company’s progress when it comes to tuna. Thai Union sourced...

California Seafood Exec Found Guilty of $2.7 Million Embezzlement Scheme

A woman was convicted of embezzling millions of dollars from San Francisco-based ABS Seafood on June 12. The stolen funds were used for travel, luxury goods and college tuition fees for a family member.

Antonietta Nguyen, 57, of Brisbane, California, was found guilty of multiple counts of wire fraud, aiding and abetting wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to transport monetary instruments for the purpose of laundering, and tax evasion, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California...

New Research Reveals 26 of 30 Largest Tuna Companies Don't Disclose Accurate Catch Data

Nonprofit financial think tank Planet Tracker just released a research report revealing that only four of the world's 30 largest tuna fishing companies disclose accurate catch data for their fishing operations.

The report, entitled “Tuna Turner: Investors Must Turn Up Transparency in the Tuna Industry,” refers to the 30 largest tuna companies as “the Tuna 30." These companies account for 46% of the total global tuna catch, which amounts to 5.2 million tonnes worldwide, with 1.6 million tonnes accounting for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified catch...

2025 West Coast Pacific Halibut Fishery Opens June 24 

The first of two halibut fishery openers begins next week in federal waters off the West Coast. The first opener starts on Tuesday, June 24 at 8 a.m. and ends on Thursday, June 26 at 6 p.m. The second opener begins on Tuesday, July 9 at 8 a.m. and ends on Thursday, July 10 at 6 p.m. 

This year’s quota for Pacific halibut for the Area 2A fishery is 259,515 pounds, net weight. If the quota is not met, a third fishing period will begin two weeks after...

DHS Reverses Pause on ICE Raids, Targeting Farms, Hotels, and Restaurants

Days after the Trump administration ordered a pause on immigration raids targeting the agriculture and hospitality industries, the Department of Homeland Security has reversed course, authorizing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to resume worksite enforcement at farms, hotels, and restaurants, according to the Washington Post.

The publication reported that ICE held a call on June 16 to direct agency leaders that raids could occur at farms, hotels, and restaurants. Representatives from 30 field offices across the US were informed of the new instructions via the call...

Maruha Nichiro Launches Frozen Dog Food Line, Establishes New Pet Food Promotional Office

Japanese seafood company Maruha Nichiro Corporation (MNC) recently announced the establishment of a new pet food business promotional office, which will allow the company to expand its value creation capabilities in the pet food market. This also coincides with MNC’s newest contribution to the pet food industry: frozen pet food for dogs.

According to MNC—which will soon take on the name “Umios Corporation” at the Board of Directors meeting later this month—entering this area of the pet food business is part of its long-term...

Senate Committee Addresses Threats from Chinese & Russian IUU Fishing

On June 12, 2025, Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska—also Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries—led a hearing on foreign illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and the threat it poses to global marine ecosystems, economies, sustainable fisheries, and food security.

“We're particularly focused on the fight for fisheries resources, geopolitical flashpoints where conflict is likely to arise, and the role of both state and non-state actors involved in conflict with criminal activity in the fishing sector. And..."

Russia to Cut Fish Exports to European Union in Half by 2030 

Russia will cut its fish exports to the European Union (EU) by twice the current amount by 2030, according to German Zverev, head of the All-Russian Association of Fish Producers (VARPE). 

Zverev recently commented that over the next five years, Russia will redirect exports to “friendly countries.” 

"The share of the European market in Russian exports in 2021-2022 was approximately 14%. During 2022-2025, we are gradually redirecting our exports to the markets of friendly countries,” said Zverev. “This is a rather complex process, as...

ANALYSIS: Price Spread Between Snow Crab Sizes Widens Amid Limited Availability of Larger Product

The snow crab market experienced a modest increase this week in Newfoundland, specifically for the 5-8 size category, while prices for other sizes held steady. The price spread between 5-8s and larger 8-up sizes remains a focal point of industry discussion. Typically, larger snow crab—classified as 8-up and 10-up—are less abundant than 5-8s. However, this season, market participants are noting even tighter availability, making procurement more challenging than in past years...

ICE Told to Pause Worksite Raids in Agriculture, Hospitality Sectors by Trump Administration

The Trump administration will reportedly direct US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to pause raids on businesses operating in the agricultural, restaurant, and hotel industries.

According to the New York Times, an internal email and three US officials confirmed the adjustment to President Trump’s deportation and immigration policies.

The email obtained by the publication directed ICE officials to “hold on all work site enforcement investigations/operations on agriculture (including aquaculture and meat packing plants), restaurants and operating hotels...