Circle Seafoods Sets 2026 Alaska Seine Prices, Holds Pink Base at $0.61

Circle Seafoods announced its 2026 Southeast Alaska seine season base prices, setting pink salmon at $0.61 per pound, chum at $1.07 per pound, and sockeye at $2.50 per pound, with payments processed within weeks rather than months.

The company is maintaining its 2025 final pink price of $0.61 as the 2026 base, citing retail demand built through its Ultra Low Temp Pink Salmon Fillets, now available in 4,000 US stores, including Publix, Whole Foods, H-E-B, and Sprouts Farmers Market...

Federal Court Battle Erupts Over South Atlantic Red Snapper Permits

A federal lawsuit filed in Washington, D.C., has sparked a high-stakes legal battle over exempted fishing permits that dramatically extend recreational red snapper seasons in the South Atlantic, pitting commercial fishing interests against state fisheries agencies and NMFS.

Commercial fishing groups led by the Southeastern Fisheries Association filed suit May 5 against Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and NMFS, seeking to block exempted fishing permits (EFPs) issued May 1 that allow Florida a 39-day recreational red snapper season starting May 22, and Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina...

Red Lobster's Oldest Operating Restaurant to Close After 56 Years

Red Lobster will shutter its oldest continuously operating location on May 24, marking the end of a 54-year run for the Tallahassee, Florida, restaurant that opened in 1970.

The Tallahassee Democrat confirmed the closure on May 18 after speaking with the restaurant's manager and employees. Red Lobster verified the decision to ABC News the following day.

"This restaurant holds a special place in Red Lobster's history and has been a meaningful part of the community for decades," the company said in a statement...

Seafood Nutrition Partnership Launches Fourth Annual Summer Seafood Challenge

Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) is launching its Fourth Annual Summer Seafood Challenge, a 60-day push from June 20 to August 20 that asks participants to eat seafood at least three times a week which is the recommendation in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, while raising awareness and funds for SNP’s nutrition education work.

Individuals and teams can sign up and create fundraising pages through GiveLively, inviting friends, family and colleagues to join. New this year, SNP is encouraging “Progressive Parties” — virtual or in-person gatherings that...

Canada Launches New Funding Call to Tackle Ghost Fishing Gear

The Canadian government is expanding efforts to tackle abandoned and discarded fishing gear in the country’s waters, announcing a new round of funding aimed at preventing and removing “ghost gear” from the marine environment.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has launched a new call for proposals under the Ghost Gear Fund, Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson announced Wednesday. As outlined in Canada’s Strategy to Protect Nature, the federal government will invest $15 million over three years to strengthen efforts to prevent, locate, retrieve...

In-Store Grocery Shopping Remains Strong Despite Digital Shift, FMI Report

Americans continue to prefer in-person grocery shopping, even as digital tools become more embedded in the experience, according to a new report from The Food Industry Association (FMI) developed with The Hartman Group.

The US Grocery Shopper Trends 2026 report found that consumers visit an average of 5.4 different grocery store banners each month as they search for different types of value, from bargain shopping to specialty products and entertainment-style experiences.

“In an effort to fulfill their unique definitions of value...

Premier Lantz Announces Senior Staff Changes in Prince Edward Island Government

Premier Rob Lantz announced a series of changes to the senior management team within the Government of Prince Edward Island, naming new leadership for several key portfolios.

Brad Colwill has assumed the role of Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Rural Development, and Tourism, effective May 15, 2026.

In additional appointments, Jodi Zver has been named Deputy Minister of Finance and Affordability, while Jennifer Evans will serve as Chief Executive Officer of Innovation PEI. Both appointments are set to take effect...

Bakkafrost Raises Harvest Guidance as Faroe Islands Offset Weak Scotland Results

Bakkafrost reported stronger first-quarter earnings for 2026, driven by record harvest volumes and lower farming costs in the Faroe Islands, while its Scottish operations remained under pressure.

The salmon producer posted operational EBIT of DKK 544 million for the quarter, up from DKK 505 million a year earlier. Revenues in the Faroe Islands rose to DKK 1.67 billion from DKK 1.4 billion, with operational EBIT climbing to DKK 572 million. Scotland generated revenues of DKK 443 million and recorded an operational...

Icelandic Salmon Reports Near Break-Even Q1 as Operations Strengthen

Icelandic Salmon kept its 2026 harvest guidance unchanged at 21,300 tons after reporting a first-quarter result that was close to break-even, a clear improvement from the EUR 3 million loss recorded a year earlier.

The quarter was shaped by a difficult pricing environment and a harvest mix that weighed on margins. Achieved prices were EUR 0.69 per kg lower than in the first quarter of 2025, while smaller fish sizes dragged on price realization. The company also faced high costs on a large...

Hilton Foods Maintains 2026 Outlook Despite Seafood Headwinds

Hilton Food Group reported solid trading performance in its core meat and fresh prepared food businesses while Hilton Food Group reported solid trading performance in its core meat and fresh prepared food businesses while acknowledging continued challenges in its seafood, vegetarian, and vegan divisions ahead of its AGM today, extending struggles that prompted a strategic review earlier this year.

The UK-based food processor maintained its 2026 adjusted profit before tax guidance of £60-65 million despite ongoing pressures in its seafood operations, which became "marginally loss-making...

Alaska's Attorney General Voids 5 Board of Fish Regulations on Area M, Due to Ethics Violation 

Alaska's highest law enforcement authority sent a letter to Alaska's Lieutenant Governor, Nancy Dahlstrom, yesterday, “disapproving” of the Alaska Board of Fisheries' actions on five proposals that were adopted into regulation at its February 18 – 24, 2026, meeting.

The regulations, all affecting Area M salmon fisheries, would have taken effect on June 1, 2026. 

Acting Attorney General Cori Mills, a 14-year veteran of the AG's office, acted under the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act as a matter of state government accountability, independently...

Study Finds Juvenile Fraser River Chinook Exposed to Hundreds of Contaminants

A new study focused on juvenile Harrison River Chinook finds the fish are feeding and growing in a cocktail of contaminants including common medications, personal care items and industrial chemicals.

"We've shown there's a mixture of chemicals in the Lower Fraser, which not only presents potential risks to juvenile Chinook, but also other aquatic life," says Bonnie Lo, environmental scientist and lead author of the study.

Unveiled by Simon Fraser University, the research tested samples for more than 595 contaminants across up to...

Terra Medi Recalls Smoked Herring Over Botulism Risk

Terra Medi LLC of Long Island City, NY, is recalling all imported Hellas Meze Golden Smoked Whole Herring due to improper evisceration that poses a potential Clostridium botulinum contamination risk. The vacuum-packaged product was distributed to retail stores and wholesale distributors in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois, and New York.

The recall affects single whole smoked herring with production date 4/12/2025, best before 4/12/2026, lot code L120425F54. New York State Agriculture and Markets inspectors identified the violation during sampling, with subsequent analysis confirming the issue. Under New York...

Vancouver World Cup Matches to Anchor New BC Investment Initiative

British Columbia (BC) is using the global spotlight of the FIFA World Cup 2026 to court investment and promote local industries through a new initiative called BC Business House, a business networking hub timed to Vancouver’s World Cup matches.

The networking venue will host seven events in Vancouver between June 12 and July 7, 2026, bringing together investors, business leaders and government officials to spotlight key BC industries including tourism, energy, life sciences, mining, agriculture, technology and trade infrastructure.

“Major global events, like...

Kazakhstan Inks $50M Deal for 5,300-tonne Shrimp Farm, Location TBD

Between 2021 and 2024, Kazakhstan has increased its aquaculture and processing capacities for seafood, with total investments reaching US$43.5 million, according to Ministry of Agriculture estimates. The combined annual capacity of the newly launched facilities exceeds 20,000 tonnes of fish products.

Today, May 20, Kazakhstan’s Agriculture Ministry added a new project, larger than all of the earlier smaller projects. The ministry announced the government investment of approximately $50 million in a large-scale shrimp farming complex with annual capacity of...

SalMar Lifts 2026 Harvest Guidance after Strong First Quarter

SalMar raised its full-year 2026 harvest guidance after posting stronger first-quarter results, helped by higher harvest volumes, improved fish quality and lower costs across parts of the value chain.

The salmon farmer reported group operational EBIT of NOK 1.512 billion for the first quarter on harvest volumes of 60,300 tons, equal to NOK 25.1 per kg. In Norway, operational EBIT came to NOK 1.536 billion on harvest volumes of 56,300 tons, or NOK 27.3 per kg.

The company said performance in Norway...

New Study Shows Capelin is a Sea Canary for Ocean Heatwaves in North Pacific 

Twenty years ago, Dr. George Rose with Memorial University of Newfoundland called capelin "a sea canary for marine ecosystem change." A new study reinforces its role as an indicator of healthy marine ecosystems.

“Capelin Size, Condition, and Abundance Through Multiple Heatwaves in Alaska” shows that heatwaves can dramatically affect capelin populations and the fish, marine mammals, and seabirds that rely on them. Because capelin are not commercially fished in the northeast Pacific Ocean, studying them in Alaska gives scientists a chance to...