Coast Guard Rescues Nine Crew of Crab Vessel Arctic Sea Near St. George Island, Alaska

Early in the morning of Monday, January 5, the 134-foot crab vessel Arctic Sea lost power and began drifting toward the shallow north shore of St. George Island, part of the Pribilof Islands in the central Bering Sea.  

At 4:11 a.m., watchstanders at the Coast Guard Arctic District Command Center in Juneau received a call that the vessel was taking on water and had run aground with nine people aboard.  

At the same time, Eric Deakin, CEO of Coastal Villages Region Fund...

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Raw Oysters Reported Across 22 States, Growers Frustrated

On December 23, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released a report on a recent outbreak of a strain of Salmonella likely linked to raw oysters and initiated an investigation with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to find the source. 

The report identified 64 cases of Salmonella Telelkebir infection across 22 states, with 20 hospitalizations. Since then, another two cases have been reported in Maryland by state officials, according to the Baltimore Sun. That brings the total number of cases in Maryland to three, up from... 

Japan's Ministry Targets JPY5 Trillion Food Exports by 2030

Atsushi Suginaka, Director-General of the Export and International Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, expressed "2026 New Year's Thoughts" to Minato Shimbun.

The government has set a goal of increasing agricultural, forestry, and fisheries products and food exports to JPY5 trillion ($31.97 billion) by 2030. To achieve this goal, relevant ministries and agencies are working together to promote exports. From January to October 2025, agricultural, forestry, and fishery product and food exports totaled approximately JPY1.3 trillion ($8.31 billion), of which...

Winding Glass: Trump Policies of Tariff and Weak Dollar Damaged Seafood in 2025, Likely to Continue 

Tariffs and a weak dollar created artificial seafood supply shortages in the US in 2025. The result: higher prices for consumers, reduced consumption, and a reorientation of global trade flows away from America.

Supply is the ultimate driver of seafood pricing, as any boat captain landing in New Bedford, Gloucester or Maine will tell you. On days with more boats, prices are down.

The same dynamic holds at the stock level. When a population expands or contracts, it changes the...

Whole Foods Market’s Top Food Trends to Watch in 2026

Whole Foods Market has released its annual forecast of the top food and beverage trends expected to shape shopping carts, kitchens, and consumer preferences in 2026. Developed by the retailer’s Trends Council, a group of buyers, culinary experts, and industry scouts, the list reflects emerging patterns in health, convenience, sustainability, and food culture.

One notable shift is the resurgence of beef tallow, a traditional cooking fat prized for its rich flavor and high smoke point. Once a staple of classic kitchens, tallow is being rediscovered by consumers interested in...

ANALYSIS: US Scallop Import Disconnect as Modest Declines Reveal Deeper Market Pressures

The 2025 scallop import story presents a nuanced picture that demonstrates how monthly volatility can obscure underlying market trends. While year-to-date imports through September totaled 39.7 million lbs, down 3.0% compared to 2024, this modest decline masks significant supply disruptions that have characterized much of the year...

ANALYSIS: YTD Canadian Lobster Exports to EU-UK See Double‑Digit Growth

This year, Europe has emerged as a growing destination for live and frozen lobster from Canada. According to Eurostat, year-to-date imports of Homarus americanus from Canada to the EU and the UK rose 18.2% in volume to 8,947 MT (January–October). While Canadian lobster sales to China have declined due to China’s 25% tariff on Canadian seafood, industry contacts reported an increased focus on the EU–UK, which could present an opportunity for the sector...

ANALYSIS: Argentina Sets Early January Start for 2026 Illex Squid Season

According to the Chamber of Argentine Potero Shipowners (CAPA), an early opening of the squid fishing season south of the 44° South parallel has been agreed, following a request from CAPA to the Federal Fisheries Council (CFP).

The CFP has decided to commence the 2026 squid (Illex argentinus) fishing season south of the 44° South Latitude parallel at 00:00 hours on January 9, 2026, for vessels that have not operated south of the 49° South parallel.

Additional staggered opening...

No 2026 Deal as Russia–Japan Fisheries Talks Stall

Russia and Japan have failed to reach an agreement on fisheries for 2026. The two countries hold annual negotiations to set quotas, identify target species, and establish catch conditions. These arrangements have governed operations in the Southern Kuril Islands since 1984.

Japanese Minister Norikazu Suzuki said the prospects for further dialogue remain unclear, with Tokyo seeking a solution that protects national interests.

Contacts between the parties may continue. For Russia, the Japanese market is relatively minor in terms of imports. According to Kommersant, citing industry sources, Japanese seafood...

Norwegian Seafood Council Flags US Tariffs Impact, Highlights China and Salmon as Growth Drivers

The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) reported that US tariffs weighed on seafood exports in the second half of 2025 but emphasized that the United States remains a vital market with strong growth potential for Norwegian seafood.

“The USA's new tariffs created a lot of noise and turmoil for Norwegian seafood exports. From being a market with record growth and an almost insatiable appetite for salmon and crab from Norway in the first half of 2025, US trade throughout the year was characterized by tariffs...

A Year of Change, Value, and Growth in Foodservice

As we closed the month of December and ushered out the year 2025, we look back at some of the most memorable moments in foodservice. From corporate controversy to shifting consumer behavior, the year delivered no shortage of headlines.

Controversy erupted when a popular chain restaurant walked back a logo redesign that ultimately spilled into the political arena. "Value" emerged as the buzzword of the year as restaurants competed to give consumers more for their money. Meanwhile, beef prices climbed to historic highs, pushing chicken into the spotlight as diners...

Russia Continues Supplies of its Cod and Pollock to EU Despite the Existing Restrictions and Duties

Russia continues the supplies of its cod and pollock to the EU despite the existing restrictions and duties although this does not lead to decline of fish prices in the European market.

In fact, the European Union banned imports of caviar from Russia after the beginning of Russian-Ukranian war, but other fish products, including cod, still remained on the market being not a subject of bans. In 2024, the EU revoked Russian fisherman their tariff exemptions, but purchases of Russian

Midcoast Lobsterman was a Thoughtful and Persuasive Advocate for Industry

Chris McIntire was content. He had made goals — to live on Orr’s Island, to fish for a living, to raise a family — and by working hard, he had achieved them. Maybe more than anything else, he wanted to make sure his children could also have the life that satisfied him so much, if they wanted it.

McIntire, an emerging voice in the community and in Maine’s lobster fishery, died unexpectedly on Nov. 24 at the age of 32.

McIntire followed paths worn in by his parents...

2025: A Pivotal Year Reordering Global Seafood Trade and Policy

The year 2025 marked a watershed in seafood trade and policy with transformative impacts felt across international supply chains, domestic regulations, and industry competitiveness. At the center was President Trump’s sweeping reciprocal tariff regime, reshaping sourcing and pricing dynamics from shrimp to crab, while high-profile regulatory actions, from the FDA's radioactive shrimp recalls to NOAA’s Marine Mammal Protection Act import bans, reverberated through global markets. Domestically, the Trump administration launched bold initiatives, including an executive order to cut regulatory burdens and a strategic roundtable...

Expana to Observe New Year Holiday on January 1, 2026

Expana will be observing the New Year holiday on Thursday, January 1, 2026.

As previously announced, Market Insights and Market Updates were suspended beginning December 22 through January 2 with normal publishing to resume Monday January 5, 2026.

See the publication schedule for the 2025 Holiday Period here. 

Additionally, the Editorial Department will not be publishing news on Thursday, January 1 and will resume normal publishing on Friday, January 2, 2026. 

Happy New Year to all from everyone at Expana.

Cermaq Completes $1 Billion Acquisition of Grieg's Finnmark and Canadian Salmon Farming Operations

Grieg Seafood has finalized the sale of its Finnmark, Norway, and Canadian operations to Cermaq for NOK 10.2 billion (USD 1 billion) on a cash- and debt-free basis, with a normalized working capital assumption.

First announced in July 2025, Mitsubishi Corporation–owned Cermaq said the acquisition will strengthen its competitiveness in salmon farming and drive significant growth. Last week, Expana reported that Cermaq would inject fresh equity into three of its holding companies to finance the purchase...

Long John Silver’s Brings Back $6 Fish & Chicken Basket

Long John Silver’s is bringing back its popular fish baskets, harmonizing flavors from both sea and land while delivering the value customers seek. This revival features the $6 Fish & Chicken Basket for a limited time. 

"Guests have been telling us for years that our chicken is a best-kept secret," said Christopher Caudill, Long John Silver's senior vice president of marketing and innovation. "Our hand-battered chicken strips—known as Chicken Planks—are every bit as crave-worthy as our legendary fish. It's time we let that secret...