ANALYSIS: Front-Loaded Shrimp Inventories Set Stage for Market Shifts Under New Import Tariffs

Our June shrimp import forecasts performed well, with peeled and cooked imports landing within our expected confidence intervals. Peeled imports, in particular, reached unprecedented first-half levels of around 465 million pounds, surpassing the previous high of approximately 417 million pounds set in 2022. This surge aligns with our expectations of front-loading ahead of new tariff deadlines, as importers built inventory in anticipation of significant cost changes. This inventory buildup closely mirrors the pattern seen in 2022...

ANALYSIS: Chilean Salmon Supply Climbs As Export Patterns Shift And Prices Ease

The Chilean salmon supply showed continued strength in June. The Undersecretariat for Fisheries and Aquaculture (SUBPESCA) reported that the accumulated Atlantic salmon harvest from January through June reached 348,989 metric tons (mt), a 10.0% increase year to date (YTD) versus the same period in 2024. Monthly harvest volume rose 12.3% month-on-month (m-o-m) in June, consistent with seasonal patterns. Chile typically reaches peak harvest levels around August...

Bloomin’ Brands Names New SVP of Bonefish Grill as Brand Seeks Turnaround

Casual dining company Bloomin’ Brands announced a leadership change for its Bonefish Grill brand after the seafood chain faced lower sales and traffic in the second quarter of 2025.

John Bettin was tapped to lead Bonefish Grill as he will join Bloomin’ Brands on September 2 as Senior Vice President and President of the chain. Bettin joins the company with over three decades of leadership experience in the restaurant sector.  He most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Miller’s Ale House, and was CEO of The Palm...

Samherji Reports Lower Profits In 2024, Maintains Strong Investment in Operations

Icelandic seafood company Samherji hf. reported a decrease in operating and net profit in 2024. Still, CEO Baldvin Thorsteinsson said the company would continue to invest in its fishing, processing, and land-based aquaculture operations.

The company said it saw its operating profit drop year-on-year by EUR 12 million ($14 million) to EUR 42.4 million ($49 million). Net profit, including the share of profit from associated companies and financial items, amounted to EUR 45.6 million after taxes, compared to EUR 58.7 million in 2023...

ANALYSIS: US Sockeye Prices Hold Firm as Bristol Bay Surges, Copper River Landings Drop

 

Sockeye salmon remains a focal point in the U.S. wild salmon market during the 2025 season, as stakeholders pay close attention to shifting dynamics across major production areas. The Copper River run, which is sought after as some of the first sockeye of the season and typically garners a premium in price, fell well short of elevated pre-season expectations this year. Initial forecasts had projected a harvest of 1.92 million fish—an “excellent"...

Record Survival Rates for Scottish Farmed Salmon Drive Export and Domestic Sales Growth

Salmon Scotland, a body representing the Scottish farmed salmon sector, said survival rates of farm-raised salmon in the country have hit record highs.

The increased survival rates follow a significant technological investment from producers.

New figures show monthly survival averaged 99.12% between January and June – the best start to a year since data was first voluntarily published in 2018, per Salmon Scotland. The group said the sector has invested over £1 billion since 2018 in veterinary care, technology and stock management...

USCG  Suspends Search for Missing Man on F/V Das Bug Near Newport, Ore.; Boat Capsized 

The US Coast Guard suspended its search for a missing fisherman near Newport, Oregon, at 10:15 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 11.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received a report at approximately 4 p.m., Sunday, reporting that the 40-foot fishing vessel Das Bug, a crab vessel with four people onboard, had taken on water and capsized while transiting inbound through the Yaquina Bay Jetty.

Three individuals – the captain and two crewmen, as reported by the Lincoln County Chronicle...

Normex Secures Breakthrough Deal with South Korea’s Mirae Aquafarm for RAS Technology

Norwegian aquaculture technology firm Normex has signed a large supply contract with Mirae Aquafarm, a South Korean land-based aquaculture company.

Normex called the agreement a “breakthrough” as it marks the company’s first venture into the Asian market.

The contract includes the delivery and installation of the Razone water treatment system throughout the facility. Once completed, the farm will have a production capacity of 10,000 tons of salmon annually, Normex shared in an update.

“This is a strategic milestone for us...

High Liner Foods Q2 Performance Boosted by Later Lent, Retail Strength

Canada-based High Liner Foods reported higher sales volumes and adjusted EBITDA in its second quarter financial results on August 7.

"In the second quarter, we delivered higher volumes, sales and Adjusted EBITDA compared to the prior year," said Paul Jewer, President and Chief Executive Officer of High Liner Foods. "Retail sales were up year-over-year and foodservice volumes improved compared to the last three quarters, supported by a later Lent this year. We will build on our strong start to the year by leveraging our diversified...

The Retail Rundown: Beef Tops Retail Ads as Grocers Prepare for Labor Day

With Labor Day just under three weeks away, grocers are preparing for summer’s last big grilling rush. Most holiday orders have already been locked in, and meat and prepared food departments are expected to see strong traffic as shoppers savor the last days of summer.

Beef has overtaken seafood as the most advertised protein this week, representing 27.0% of retail buying opportunities. Pork is close behind at 26.6%, while seafood has eased to 23.3%. Chicken remains steady at 18%, and turkey ads inched up to 3%...

Kingfish Company Announces CEO Transition as Vincent Erenst to Step Down in December

The Kingfish Company announced on August 12 that Chief Executive Officer Vincent Erenst will retire and step down from his role at the end of the year.

Since his appointment in 2023, the company said he has played a critical role in its expansion phase.

“After three years at the helm of The Kingfish Company, I believe the time is right for me to pass the baton to new leadership,” said Vincent Erenst. “It has been a privilege to work alongside such a talented and dedicated team...

Sernapesca, Chilean Navy Seize 66 Tons of Illegally Caught Anchovy

Chile’s National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca), along with the Chilean Navy, discovered illegal anchovy harvesting in a restricted area off the coast of the Tarapacá Region. Authorities were able to seize 66.8 tons of anchovies.

Individuals were fishing with purse seine nets within the first nautical mile, a protected area. Once detected, Sernapesca and naval personnel intercepted and inspected a vessel once it arrived at the Port of Iquique.

Following the corresponding inspection, the illegality of the fishing operation was confirmed, leading to the...

SEAS Act Returns to Congress, Seeking Parity for US Seafood Producers in USDA Programs

Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) reintroduced the Supporting Equity for Aquaculture and Seafood (SEAS) Act, a bipartisan bill that would ensure seafood producers get “equal treatment” under US Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs.

The bill would also spark new investments in US aquaculture.

Pallone, who is the Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, explained that the SEAS Act would direct the USDA to treat aquaculture and seafood producers with the same consideration as livestock and crop farmers for grant and assistance...

NOAA Adds to Scientific Armada with New Mapping Ship Bound for Alaska

This Thursday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will host a keel-laying ceremony in Houma, Louisiana marking the beginning of construction for an ocean-floor mapping vessel that will be home-ported in Ketchikan when finished. 

The new NOAA ships, the Surveyor and its sister ship, the Navigator, will be built by Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors under a $624.6 million contract that would allow NOAA to construct two more ships if funding is available...

Record Return of Hatchery Chinook Expected to Whatcom Creek

More than 7,000 Chinook salmon are expected to return to Whatcom Creek in downtown Bellingham this season thanks to an ongoing collaboration between Bellingham Technical College, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission and the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe. 

A few thousand fish may not seem like a lot in the grand scheme of Puget Sound and the West Coast, but successful returns of hatchery fish across multiple creeks could alleviate some concern over prey species for Southern Resident orcas and boost populations for tribal...

Ready Seafood Settles Lobster Industry Lawsuit with Former Employees, Packers Pride

Ready Seafood, a Maine-based lobster company, and its former employees, Andrew Daughan and Robert Kragh, along with their new venture, Packers Pride USA, have agreed to settle a lawsuit over competitive business practices per a notice filed in court on August 8.

The litigation centered on Ready Seafood’s allegations that Daughan and Kragh violated employment agreements and misused confidential information to launch Packers Pride as a direct competitor, as Expana reported last month.

Daughan and Kragh fired back in court, denying the claims, as Expana also reported...

Russian Fish And Seafood Exports Surge 13% Through Seven Months

Russian fish and seafood exports increased by 13% in value terms in the first seven months (Jan-July) of the year, exceeding $3 billion. The increase in shipments is observed after a steep decline caused by sanctions. Positive changes are explained by the growth of production in the Far East and the expansion of the geography of deliveries.  

According to official data of the Russian analytical center "Agroexport," Russian fishermen in January-July exported 1.2 million tons of fish and seafood for a total of $3.1 billion, which...