Despite Court Rulings, Trump Administration Moves to Gut Core Protections for Endangered Species

Last March, a federal court struck down President Trump's attempts to weaken the Endangered Species Act (ESA), restoring core provisions of the bedrock environmental law — including a requirement that agencies use the best available science when assessing harm to species or their habitat, and that agencies named in the law commit to regulations that reduce harm.

The ruling from the US District Court for the Northern District of California followed seven years of litigation and found that a series of regulations issued in 2019 and 2024...

Icelandair Mechanics Strike Threatens Iceland's Fresh Seafood Export Pipeline

A last-ditch mediation session between Icelandair and its aircraft mechanics collapsed Sept. 19, leaving an indefinite strike set to begin at 12:01 a.m. on Sept. 23 — a disruption that could ripple into Iceland's fresh seafood export chain just as flight cancellations begin piling up.

The Icelandic Aircraft Mechanics Association (FVFI) has called the strike after months of failed contract talks. According to Iceland Monitor, the formal mediation meeting lasted only around 90 minutes before negotiations were formally broken off...

Sernapesca Ramps Up Public-Private Coordination in Chile as Strong El Niño Threatens Salmon Farming

Chile's national fisheries service, Sernapesca, is intensifying coordination with industry and other government agencies ahead of an El Niño event that NOAA now projects has better than a 90% chance of reaching very strong intensity in the southern hemisphere spring-summer of 2026-2027, with a 69% probability the October-December quarter registers an intensity exceeding any event recorded since 1950.

According to Chile's Instituto de Fomento Pesquero (IFOP), rising sea surface temperatures and weakened coastal upwelling associated with El Niño can alter nutrient availability...

Long John Silver's Brings Shrimp and Wings Together on New Game Day Platter

Long John Silver's is staking a claim on football season with a new menu built around its first bone-in wing, and a platter that puts fried shrimp on the same tray as chicken.

Beginning Sept. 21, the chain is rolling out Crispy Battered Wings, priced at $1.99 for three, alongside a new Game Day Platter that combines the wings with the brand's core seafood offerings.

The Game Day Platter puts six Crispy Battered Wings alongside six golden-fried shrimp and freshly battered Fried Pickles, plus...

Seafood Nutrition Partnership Marks 10th 'Fall in Love with Seafood' Campaign, Eyes National Push

Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) is preparing to launch its 10th "Fall in Love with Seafood" campaign this October, a milestone for the retailer-focused promotion that began as a pilot in 2024 and has since grown into one of the seafood category's most consistent consumer marketing efforts.

Across the nine campaigns completed to date, SNP said the program has generated an average $4.50 return for every $1 invested in promotion, translating into $4.50 of incremental seafood sales per promotional dollar spent...

Report: Salmon Farming Could Lift Atlantic Canada's GDP by 1% by 2035

A new report from the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association (ACFFA) says the region's salmon farming industry could grow Atlantic Canada's GDP by 1% by 2035, while creating jobs, attracting investment and producing more food domestically.

The report, Farming our Future: A Roadmap for Responsible Growth in Atlantic Canada's Finfish Sector, argues the region has the coastline, expertise, infrastructure and workforce needed to responsibly expand the sector — but regulatory delays, uncertainty and investment barriers are holding it back. The report calls specifically for policy changes to...

Seafood Industry Faces New Tariff Risk as Graham Russia Bill Nears Trump's Signature

The US House of Representatives passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 on September 16. The bill now heads to President Trump's desk after clearing the Senate in early August.

Named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who negotiated the legislation before his death in July, the bill is aimed at cutting off Russia's oil and gas revenue over its war in Ukraine.

The legislation directs the president to raise the duty rate on all goods...

Senators Collins, King Push Senate Commerce Committee to Fast-Track Right Whale Regulation Pause

US Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) are urging the Senate Commerce Committee to move quickly on legislation extending the current pause on new North Atlantic right whale fishing regulations through 2035, following the House's passage of the bill earlier this month.

In a letter to Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Collins and King pressed the committee to advance the Northeast Lobstermen Protection Act (H.R. 9436) as soon as possible...

Circana Tells Advertisers to Start Holiday 2026 Planning Earlier

Advertisers should start planning for the 2026 holidays earlier as shoppers increasingly discover products through social platforms, creators and AI tools, according to new guidance from Circana.

In its report, How Advertisers Should Prepare for Holiday 2026, the market research firm recommends that brands and media teams begin holiday activity ahead of traditional peak periods, build social and creator discovery into media plans, optimize product data for AI-assisted shopping and measure results across channels.

The case for an earlier start is reflected in Circana’s 2025...

ASC, MSC Team With Erewhon on Certified Seafood Push Ahead of National Seafood Month

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) partnered with Los Angeles-based retailer Erewhon this August on a month-long in-store and digital campaign aimed at helping shoppers identify and trust certified seafood, as new consumer research from both organizations points to a persistent gap between shopper interest in sustainability and actual label recognition.

The "Seafood to Enjoy. Labels to Trust." campaign brought ASC- and MSC-certified products to Erewhon's now 15 Southern California locations through in-store education...

Russia Aims to Boost Value of Fish Exports in Coming Years

Russia plans to increase the value of its fish exports over the next several years, aiming to improve profitability across its fisheries sector and generate additional revenue for domestic fishermen.

Speaking at the International Fisheries Forum, Alexander Panin, chairman of the Russian Fisheries Union, said Russia currently ranks fourth in the world by volume of fish exports but only 14th by value. Closing that gap is now a stated goal for both Russian fishermen and the state in the coming years.

"And this is a real reserve for growth...

EU Proposes Changes to Fisheries Fund to Boost Fleet Investment, Small-Scale Fisheries

The European Commission is proposing changes to the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) aimed at making funding more accessible to fishers and aquaculture producers while supporting fleet modernization, generational renewal and the sector’s energy transition.

The targeted amendment would provide greater flexibility around engine replacement and modernization, while creating clearer definitions for “energy transition” and “pilot projects” to facilitate testing of new technologies. It would also allow support for pilot and research projects, as well as port and infrastructure investments tied...

Bioguto Becomes Lithuania’s First Friend of the Sea® Certified Omega-3 Brand

MB Pilnas šaukštas becomes the first Lithuanian company to achieve Friend of the Sea certification for an omega-3 product, reinforcing its commitment to responsible sourcing and traceability

Friend of the Sea®, the international certification programme of the World Sustainability Organization (WSO), is pleased to announce that Lithuanian company MB Pilnas šaukštas has obtained certification for its Bioguto Omega-3 Premium product line. The certification covers Bioguto Omega-3 Premium Natural and Bioguto Omega-3 Premium Lemon, two liquid food supplements made with...

Cermaq Reshapes Global Management as Grieg Integration Continues

Cermaq has appointed a new CFO and created a new COO role as it restructures its global management team following the integration of Grieg Seafood's operations in Finnmark, Norway, and Canada — a deal reported at roughly £738 million that reshaped Cermaq's footprint across both regions.

Silvia Segnini has been named Chief Financial Officer. She joined Cermaq in 2007 and has worked across treasury, tax, accounting, insurance, M&A and post-merger integration over nearly two decades with the company...

ANALYSIS: EU-UK Shrimp Imports Rebound Seasonally in July, But Remain Below Last Year

According to Eurostat, EU-UK shrimp imports reached 64,186 MT worth USD 472.0 million in July, across all shrimp categories. Volumes rose 9.7% month-on-month, consistent with the usual seasonal pattern: Asian and Latin American producers ramp up to full capacity as raw material availability improves, while European importers stock up to meet summer holiday demand, which reliably lifts seafood consumption each year...

Sullivan's Bycatch Bill Passes Out of Committee and Trawl Groups Take Issue With Section 2

Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan’s S.4938, the Bycatch Reduction Act, had just passed out of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation after markup when a statement of concern was released by a coalition of three trawl associations — At-Sea Processors Association (APA), Midwater Trawlers Cooperative (MTC) and United Catcher Boats (UCB). 

“We are not asking anyone to accept the status quo: we are always looking to raise the bar even further,” the group said in its September 16 statement...

Emma Hernan's Coast to Coast Kitchen Expands Target Lineup With Lobster Empanadas, Crab Rangoon

Coast to Coast Kitchen, the seafood brand founded by third-generation food entrepreneur and Selling Sunset cast member Emma Hernan, has launched new empanadas and a Crab Rangoon at Target, expanding a partnership that began with the brand's seafood appetizer debut at the retailer in February 2026.

The new lineup includes two flavors developed exclusively for Target — Lobster Empanada and Sweet Chili Shrimp Empanada — alongside a new Crab Rangoon. All three products are rolling out nationwide, including Alaska and Hawaii...