ANALYSIS: November US Shrimp Import Estimates Signal Sharp Monthly Drop

Estimated US imports for November show a pronounced month‑on‑month contraction, with a central forecast roughly 30% below November 2024 levels and a stated margin of error near 5%. On a year‑to‑date basis through November, imports are about 3.6% above last year; preliminary December projections based on export flows place full‑year imports between roughly 125–141 million pounds for December, a wide range that still implies 2025 could finish flat with or below 2024 totals. Under those outcomes...

ANALYSIS: Lighter Imports, Firmer Prices, Tariff Cost Pressure Define US Fresh Seafood Markets

Fresh imported seafood volumes remain compressed across several key species, resulting in a thinner replacement pipeline into major US distribution channels. According to US Census data through August 2025, cumulative arrivals of fresh mahi-mahi, swordfish, and grouper are all trailing their prior-year pace. This decline reflects not only persistently soft foodservice demand but also lingering impacts from El Niño, which has disrupted catch rates, migratory behavior, and harvest consistency in key production zones throughout Central and South America...

Norway’s November Seafood Exports Fall as Asia Gains Share While US, Europe Lose Ground

Norway saw its seafood exports fall from a value standpoint for the second month in a row, as US tariffs led to market shifts, and the increased value of the Norwegian krone has made the country’s seafood products more expensive, according to the latest update from the Norwegian Seafood Council.

“This is the second month in a row that seafood exports have fallen in value compared with the same month last year. In November, even historically high prices were unable to compensate...

Japan: Imports of Frozen Alaskan Salmon Roe Doubled to 3,184 Tons, Russian Roe Minimal

According to the Minato Shimbun report, imported frozen salmon roe is selling at unusually high prices this season. The domestic sales price for Russian pink and chum salmon roe has exceeded 10,000 yen/kg ($64.34/kg). This is even higher than last season's steep price hike, and there have been almost no imports up to September. Imports from the United States are on the rise. 

The domestic sales price for frozen Russian roe from the latest season in November was...

Russian Crab Exports to China Up 15% YTD; Competition Expected to Tighten

Russia expects a significant tightening of competition in the Chinese crab market in the coming years as demand rises with China’s expanding middle class, Alexander Dyplyakov, head of the Russian Far East Crab Association, said.

Dyplyakov noted that growing Chinese affluence is attracting interest from multiple producing countries, intensifying competition for market share. Despite the expected pressure, Russia posted solid results in the Chinese crab market this year.

Based on an analysis of Chinese customs data, the Russian Fish Union reports that Russia exported 32,000 tons...

The Winding Glass: Crab to Put a Damper on Holiday Retail Sales

Every aspect of the snow crab market this year has been impacted by the tariff turmoil of last April, just when the season was getting underway. 

The primary impact was to front-load exports from Canada to the US as much as possible, so most of the crab pack was imported by the end of July.  Crab followed its seasonal pattern of increasing prices after July as supplies tightened, but retail contracts were mostly made near the lowest price points of the year...

The Retail Rundown: Holiday Shopping Lifts Foodservice and Grocery Demand 

December is when most consumers fully embrace the holiday spirit—and start spending accordingly.

This year's holiday spending is off to a strong start, with record shopper turnout and a surge in online activity. Adobe Analytics reports that total online sales from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday amounted to $44.2 billion, up nearly 8% from last year.

Meanwhile, the National Retail Federation reports that a record 202.9 million people shopped over the Thanksgiving weekend, up from 197 million last year. Supermarkets were the most popular destination at 47%, followed closely by online shopping at 45%...

J-HOTATE Association Survey Finds Strong Interest in Japanese Scallops Among International Visitors

The Japan Scallop Export Promotion Association (“J-HOTATE Association”), which aims to expand the export of Japanese scallops, conducted a survey to understand awareness, purchase intent, and taste preferences among overseas consumers. The survey was carried out in Osaka during the 2025 Japan International Expo (Osaka–Kansai Expo), targeting 113 international visitors from 34 countries.

The results showed that awareness of Japanese scallops was 45.1%, below the halfway mark. However, 74.4% of respondents said they would purchase Japanese scallops if available in their home countries, indicating strong...

NOAA Fisheries Reopens Comment Period on Trump’s Seafood Competitiveness EO Amid Shutdown

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) reopened the comment period on President Trump’s ‘Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness' Executive Order.

NOAA Fisheries sought public comment on the EO initially on August 27, as Expana covered. It said the call for public comment was a key step in its work to make the US a global seafood leader.

The initial 45-day comment period wrapped up on October 14, 2025. However, NOAA Fisheries said that, due to the government shutdown...

Alaska Pollock Biomass Drops 30%, But Federal Shutdown Delays Stock Assessment Process

A summer survey of the eastern Bering Sea (EBS) showed a 30% drop in the biomass of Walleye pollock in the area compared to a 2024 survey. 

Results of the 2025 Eastern and Northern Bering Sea Bottom Trawl Survey, which were released to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council’s groundfish plan team in September, showed a drop from last year’s 5.5 million metric tons to a current 3.8 million metric tons of pollock in the area. 

Other species also showed drops in biomass: Pacific cod dropped...

NFI Set to Testify Before the USTR at the International Trade Commission on USMCA

Morgan Bell, Director of Public Policy at the National Fisheries Institute, will testify at the International Trade Commission on Friday December 5 at 11:15am as part of a hearing on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Bell will urge the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to reaffirm the Administration’s commitment to the agreement and preserve its existing market access for all fish and seafood products.

“In an era of global trade volatility, the USMCA provides a dependable framework that shields U.S. seafood...

Maruha Nichiro Completes Full Acquisition of Seafood Connection to Cement European Hub

Japanese seafood giant Maruha Nichiro fully acquired Seafood Connection (SCH), a Dutch seafood company, the company announced on December 3.

Currently, Maruha owns 81.96% of Seafood Connection and the move will now make Maruha the 100% owner. Maruha said the Netherlands-based firm serves as its sales base of for its seafood products in the European market.

“SCH is expected to continue achieving strong growth in Europe, which is an important hub in the Company’s overseas strategy,” Maruha Nichiro said in an announcement...

Government of Canada Commits to Adaptive Management Approach to Conserve and Protect American Eel

The Government of Canada is committed to protecting aquatic species while supporting the cultures, communities and industries that depend on them. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) recognizes that the American eel (Anguilla rostrata) is culturally and spiritually important for many Indigenous communities in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and Ontario, and that it also supports valuable fisheries on the East Coast.

After considering the best available scientific and socio-economic data, and comments received from Indigenous groups, provinces, partners, stakeholders and the Canadian public via...

140 Signatories Call on Lawmakers to Advance US Offshore Aquaculture Bill

US offshore aquaculture advocacy groups and 140 supporters, including some notable seafood companies, penned a letter to the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the US House Committee on Natural Resources, urging Congress to pass the Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act of 2025.

The letter was led by The Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) coalition and the Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture (CSA). The groups said the letter highlighted the bipartisan support for expanding aquaculture in US federal waters...

Japan's Seafood Exports Surged by 65% in Volume to 52,174 MT in October

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance, October's fishery products exports (fish and shellfish preparations, and fishmeal) increased 65% in quantity to 52,174 tons compared to the same month last year, and increased 18% in value to 30.869 billion yen ($197.8 million).

Scallop decreased 23% to 4,243 tons, and value increased 8% to 11.228 billion yen ($71.95 million). Frozen exports, both in shell and without, decreased in quantity but increased in value. Yellowtail increased 2% to 3,455 tons...

Seafood Nutrition Partnership Taps High Liner’s Sustainability Chief for Board Role

The Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) has appointed Bill DiMento, Corporate Vice President of Sustainability and Government Affairs at High Liner Foods, to its Board of Directors.

DiMento adds over 35 years of leadership in various areas, including sustainability, regulatory affairs, and seafood industry advancement, to SNP’s board.

Currently, he oversees corporate sustainability initiatives and government affairs. DiMentio ensures High Liner meets high standards in manufacturing, seafood procurement, and social compliance throughout its global supply chain.

“We’re excited to welcome Bill DiMento to the SNP Board of Directors...

Atlantic Sea Cucumber Ltd. Assets Up for Bids Following Court Order

Following an order by the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia on October 2,2025 , MSI Spergel Inc., as Trustee in Bankruptcy of Atlantic Sea Cucumber Ltd, has been authorized to undertake marketing and solicitation of bids for the assets, property, and undertakings of the company.

Among these assets are the parcel and improvements comprising ASC's seafood processing facilities located in Hackett's Cove, Nova Scotia, and, for the purposes of this Sales and Investment Solicitation Process (SISP), the company's fish processing and resale licenses issued by the Canada Food Inspection Agency and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.