Les Hodges: Canadian Snow Crab is Open for Business

As the first quarter of 2025 concludes, early indicators offer insights into market direction for the remainder of the year. Despite high crab prices in various segments, market conditions remain generally favorable. Norwegian red king crab is currently the only red king crab listed on the Urner Barry Price-Current, as inventories of Alaska red and golden king crab are limited and held by only a few hands. 

Total red king crab quotas for 2025 across the U.S. and Norway stand at 5.408 million pounds, while Alaska’s golden king crab adds...

Norway Announces Harmful Algal Bloom in Production Areas 9 and 10

Today, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA) and the Directorate of Fisheries reported a new microalgal bloom related to the genus Phaeocystis and Chrysochromulina in Norwegian production areas 9 and 10.

According to the Norwegian government, the first mortalities caused by the algal bloom were reported from Øksfjorden at the end of April before spreading to Raftsundet and Kanstadfjorden in area 9 and moving north to Astafjorden in area 10.  

As evidenced by modeling data compiled by the Institute of Marine Research (IMR), many locations continue to show...

ANALYSIS: Q1 Frozen Tuna Imports Climb While Prices Defy Upward Trend

Total frozen yellowfin tuna imports in Q1 2025 climbed to 22.62 million pounds, a 33.6% increase over Q1 2024 and 12.96% above the five-year Q1 average. Importers accelerated shipments ahead of the April 2nd tariff announcement, continuing a pattern of precautionary buying shaped by President Trump’s tariff-focused trade policies since his first day in office. The move reflects persistent uncertainty surrounding future tariff actions and their potential to disrupt supply chains, driving buyers to secure inventory before costs or availability are further impacted...

California Closes Sardine Harvests Below Point Conception Due to Biotoxin

As summer approaches and ocean water temps start to rise, so do the risks of harmful algal blooms, such as domoic acid, a naturally occurring toxin produced by the Pseudo-nitzschia alga. 

This time, state officials found high levels of domoic acid in Pacific sardines in Southern California.   

State health agencies determined that Pacific sardines sampled off Southern California contained elevated levels of domoic acid and recommended a fishery restriction for Southern California for the commercial and recreational take of sardines for human consumption in the area...

Gulf Shrimp Season Closes May 15

AUSTIN -- Commercial shrimp season for both Texas and federal waters in the Gulf of America will close 30 minutes after sunset May 15, reopening on a still-to-be determined date in July.

While July 15 is the statutory opening date for the gulf season, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Coastal Fisheries Division will sample shrimp populations this summer to determine the optimum opening date. The Texas shrimp fishery is closed annually to allow brown shrimp to reach a larger and more valuable size prior to harvest...

ANALYSIS: Illex Squid Market Update for Q1 2025

In the first quarter of 2025, both Argentine and international fishing fleets recorded adequate captures within Argentina's exclusive economic zone and international waters, leading to a decline in prices for Illex squid (Illex argentinus) through March. However, new catch conditions informed by market participants resulted in...

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...

ANALYSIS: Farmed Salmon Market Sees Early Downturn Leading up to Mother’s Day 2025

Traditionally, the farmed salmon market experiences strong demand from December through Mother’s Day, after which it begins to slow as the U.S. approaches the unofficial start of summer with Memorial Day weekend. However, the 2025 market is showing signs of softening earlier than usual.

Both the fresh Chilean and European fillet markets have begun to slip, with supplies readily available and prices trending lower. Over the past week...

Scottish Salmon Farmer Loch Duart Creates New Standard for Small-Scale, Transparent Farming

Loch Duart Salmon (LDS) recently launched the ‘Loch Duart Standard,’ a new assessment process that is reflective of the Scottish company’s small-scale, low-density pens and welfare-led approach to salmon aquaculture.

Through this roll-out, the salmon company—who has its headquarters at Badcall Bay, Scourie—has created a new benchmark standard for salmon farming, highlighting transparency and sustainability throughout salmon farming operations like those of LDS.

According Loch Duart’s recent press release on the process, the ‘Loch Duart Standard’ is indicative of the company’s...

ANALYSIS: Vannamei Shrimp Seasonal Price Decline Meets Strong Ecuadorian Exports in Early 2025

The price of 40-50 head-on shell-on vannamei prawns exported from Latin America to Europe has seen a moderate decline, falling 1.1% year-on-year (- USD $0.06/kg) and 9.9% quarter-on-quarter (- USD $0.53/kg). A notable 14.5% drop occurred over 16 weeks following mid-December, with prices decreasing from USD $5.67/kg on December 16, 2024, to USD $4.85/kg by April 7, 2025. This trend reflects a typical seasonal dip in demand after the Christmas holidays, observed not...

Maruha Nichiro Acquires VDL Group for €40 million

Japanese seafood company Maruha Nichiro Corporation (MNC) recently acquired Netherlands-based seafood company Van der Lee Seafish Beheer B.V. (VDL Group) for €40 million (USD $44.36 million).

The decision to acquire the VDL Group was announced at MNC’s Board of Directors meeting on May 12, where the Board resolved on a capital injection in the amount of €40 million for MNC’s consolidated subsidiary Maruha Nichiro Europe Holding B.V (MNEH) to acquire a majority stake in Van der Lee Seafish Beheer B.V. (VDL Group), and for MNEH’s subsidiary Seafood...

Russia Actively Increases Exports of Pollock Fillets and Minced Meat

Russia is actively increasing its exports of pollock fillets and minced pollock meat as the demand for such products remains high.

According to Russian newswire Fishnews, the Russian Federal Center stated that exports between January and March 2025 increased by 72% year-on-year, exceeding USD $140 million, with the bulk of supplies accounting for pollock fillets and minced meat. In terms of volume, exports increased by 61%, amounting to 50,000 tons.

Among the largest buyers of Russian fish fillets are the Republic of Korea and China, where the...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #8

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #8."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text...

Northline Seafoods Pays More Than $1.37M Bond to Release Seized Salmon Vessel

On May 6, Sayak Logistics (d.b.a. Northline Seafoods) paid more than $1.37 million for the release of its seized vessel, the Hannah, which had been confiscated by federal authorities due to outstanding welding bills owed to Leo’s Welding and Fabrication, LLC, in excess of $1.2 million.

This development comes after a federal judge in Washington state issued a warrant on April 30 for the arrest of the vessel, given its outstanding debt with Leo’s Welding. The Washington-based welding company performed work on the Hannah...

ANALYSIS: Balancing Growth Opportunities Against Inventory Risks for US Shrimp Imports

Total Imports by Country: Strong Growth Continues

Total shrimp imports in March 2025 reached 154.4 million lbs, a robust 10.7% increase year-over-year, surpassing our estimate range of 151.6-172.9 million lbs. This growth appears to be significantly impacted by importers frontloading ahead of the April 2nd tariff announcement. Indonesia showed the most dramatic growth at +32.0% to 27.7 million lbs, while India maintained its market leadership position with 55.0 million lbs (+7.0%). Thailand's volumes surged by 60.6% to 4.7 million lbs, though...

Gov. Newsom, CDFW Make Moves to Boost Salmon Production in California

Upgrading salmon hatcheries and releasing juvenile Chinook directly into the Sacramento River are integral to helping California’s ailing salmonid populations, according to state officials.

Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this week announced that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is upgrading 21 fish hatcheries to boost the state’s salmon and trout populations and to protect hatcheries from the impacts of climate change.

The project helps build the California salmon and trout supply, which are important to indigenous peoples, communities, and the state’s multimillion-dollar fishing industry, according to...

Hokkaido’s March Surimi Production Doubled, Reaching 490 Tons

According to member reports compiled by the National Surimi Manufacturers Association, frozen surimi production in Hokkaido in March 2025 increased 2.1 times compared to the same month last year, with the main product, Alaska pollock, increasing due to increased fish landings. Thus, frozen surimi production totaled 490 tons.

However, considering that the previous two years were sluggish and that the total production volume was 800 tons three years ago, a major manufacturer said, "it is by no means a large amount."

Alaska pollock landings were 2.7 times higher at 426 tons...