ANALYSIS: Temporary Price Dip Masks Potential Supply Constraints in New Scallop Season

With the 2026-2027 scallop season now underway, early Open Area landings and Northern Gulf of Maine product are bolstering supply levels. Initial demand appears somewhat quiet, leading to lower prices across many domestic product categories, marking the first notable price relief in quite some time. However, market participants widely anticipate this easing could prove short-lived as...

Canadian Fishermen Face Fuel Cost Surge Amid Start to Lobster, Snow Crab Seasons

Canadian fishermen are grappling with soaring fuel costs as snow crab and lobster seasons get underway, with operating expenses jumping nearly 30% according to Quebec harvesters.

A recent Canadian Broadcasting Corporation report highlighted the diesel price burden on Quebec fishermen, prompting calls for government assistance similar to the aid recently provided to the province's farmers.

"Whether you drive a tractor or a boat, the costs associated with the increase in diesel fuel costs are the same," said Joel Arseneau, member of Quebec's National Assembly...

Coast Guard Removes Press Release on American Seafoods Pollock Roe Seizure

The US Coast Guard removed a press release from its website detailing the seizure of $65,000 worth of Alaska pollock roe from American Seafoods' catcher-processor Northern Eagle.

The Coast Guard told Alaska's NBC-2 KTUU that it removed the posts to prevent "unintended consequences, distractions from NOAA's ongoing investigation, or confusion about the compliance record within the Alaska pollock fishery."

The USCG said it pushed back on the case's conclusions, noting the issue shouldn't be viewed as evidence of illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing in one...

Lithuanian Vičiūnai, French Frais Embal Win Top 2026 Seafood Excellence Awards

Vičiūnai Group of Lithuania and Frais Embal of France captured the top prizes at the 2026 Seafood Excellence Global Awards during Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, beating 35 finalists from 16 countries.

Vičiūnai Group took the Best Retail Product award for its Smoked Herring Slices – Natural Flavor, a ready-to-eat product featuring simple ingredients and a smoky taste. Judges praised the well-balanced herring and smoke flavors, precise slicing and packing, and eye-catching packaging design.

Expana caught up with Vičiūnai at Seafood Expo North America last month...

West Coast Processors Partner on Electronic Monitoring Pilot to Cut Compliance Costs

The West Coast Seafood Processors Association has partnered with AIS Inc. on a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation-funded project to test electronic monitoring systems at processing facilities, potentially reducing the "significant cost drivers" associated with current 100% shoreside monitoring requirements.

The pilot will deploy camera systems, AI-assisted species identification, and automated data capture at participating groundfish and Pacific hake processing plants in Washington, Oregon, and California.

"For processors, monitoring isn't optional—we're effectively operating under 200% monitoring in the groundfish fishery...

FDA Warns Against Recalled Washington Oysters Tied to Norovirus-Like Illnesses

The Washington State Department of Health notified the FDA on April 10, 2026, of a recall involving certain shellfish linked to norovirus-like illnesses associated with raw oyster consumption, according to the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference.

The recall covers all shellstock from Gomez Shellfish, LLC (WA-1724-SS) harvested between March 22 and April 9, 2026, from a portion of Hammersley Inlet in Washington.

The FDA is advising consumers, retailers, and foodservice operators not to eat, serve, or sell the affected...

Russian Crab Exports Grow 10% by Volume but Value Stagnates

Official statistics show Russian crab exports grew 10% by volume to 45,800 tons in 2025, but remained virtually unchanged in value at US$1.23 billion. Analysts say this indicates prices for Russian crab declined in some key export markets, particularly China.

Due to limited sales outlets for Russian crab, the Chinese market has become a top priority destination for producers from both the Far East and northern regions of Russia. Northern producers previously focused primarily on the US market, where revenue was significantly higher...

Natural Grocers Expands Private Label Seafood Line with Wild Smoked Salmon Launch

Natural Grocers is expanding its private-label seafood lineup with the launch of Natural Grocers Brand Wild Smoked Salmon, now available in stores in both sockeye and coho varieties.

The new product is made with wild-caught Alaskan salmon and positioned as an everyday option for a range of meal occasions—from bagels and brunch boards to sandwiches, pasta and snacking. The retailer said the salmon is sustainably harvested, MSC-certified and cold-smoked in small batches at a longtime seaside smokehouse, delivering a silky texture...

ANALYSIS: Downward Pressure on Norwegian Atlantic Salmon Prices Through Week 15

The Norwegian Atlantic farm salmon price reached its highest point in week 11 (March 16) of 2026 to date and has since been moving downward. According to market participants, the demand remained irregular and somewhat fair. More recently, week 15 (April 13) closed with a weak market undertone, following the pattern seen in previous weeks. On the supply side, market participants reported that supplies were fully adequate to meet current lackluster buying interest, contributing to further downward pressure on Norwegian prices...

Alaska's 2026 Salmon Forecast Falls 36% on Lower Pink Salmon Returns

The most recent forecast from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game was released April 21 with a total predicted harvest of 125.5 million salmon, a 36 percent drop from last year’s harvest of 197.4 million fish.

ADF&G’s final report for the coming season, “Run Forecasts and Harvest Projects for 2026 Alaska Salmon Fisheries and Review of the 2025 Season,” provides context for how fisheries managers develop forecasts, including a comparison of actual returns and harvests against forecasts over several years...

NOAA Says Venezuela's MMPA Comparability for Blue Crab Fishery Still Pending

After Venezuela's fisheries and aquaculture ministry said its blue crab fishery completed the registration process for an MMPA comparability finding, NOAA said the country is still in the process of applying for a finding.

Venezuela's Ministry of Popular Power for Fisheries and Aquaculture announced on April 16 that it had "successfully completed" the Marine Mammal Protection Act comparability registration process with NOAA Fisheries, claiming the process began on March 27 and was completed in less than three weeks.

However, NOAA Fisheries spokesperson...

US House Moves the FISH Act Out of Natural Resources, Along with Seven Other Bills

On Tuesday, the House Committee on Natural Resources reported the FISH Act, a bill that will strengthen efforts against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. 

“House Committee on Natural Resources members are dedicated to enacting commonsense policies to support rural communities across America,” remarked Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.)  

“Today’s markup advanced legislation that will ….combat illegal fishing activities… I look forward to working with the sponsors to advance these bills through the House,” said Westerman...

Japan's Black Cod Imports up 4% in 2025, Price Increased by 13%

According to a report by Minato Shimbun, Japan's imports of frozen black cod in 2025 increased by 4% year-on-year to 11,188 tons. The import price rose 13% from 1,133 yen/kg ($7.10/kg) the previous year to 1,280 yen/kg ($8.03/kg). The total import value reached a record high of 14.3 billion yen ($89.65 million). This year, due to the global surge in prices for fatty fish species in general, fatigue from low prices in the main producing region, the United States...

Canada Pushes Seafood Export Growth in Europe at Seafood Expo Global

Canada is stepping up efforts to grow and diversify its fish and seafood exports, with a strong focus on expanding its presence in Europe.

At this year’s Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson met with Canadian exporters, European buyers, and senior officials from Spain, the European Union, and the United Kingdom to discuss strong European demand for Canadian seafood, particularly frozen and value-added products.

Thompson also pointed to growing momentum in Spain, where the Sabores de Canada (or Flavours from...

New UMaine Study Examines Cunner’s Possible Impact on Maine Lobster

University of Maine researchers are launching a new study to investigate whether cunner, a common Gulf of Maine fish predator, may be preying on lobster in a way not previously documented.

Michelle Staudinger, associate professor of fisheries science at the University of Maine, is leading the project following reports from the Maine Department of Marine Resources and commercial lobstermen of increased numbers of cunner appearing in lobster traps. Some fishermen have also shared photos showing cunner with lobster eggs in their mouths, raising concerns about potential impacts...

ANALYSIS: Exchange Rate Relief Cushions US Shrimp Farmgate Costs Despite Tariff Pressures

Farmgate shrimp prices adjusted for yield and exchange rates present a more stable picture than replacement cost headlines suggest, but the story shifts dramatically once tariffs enter the equation. While origin-level costs in India track near mid-2022 levels even with current tariffs included, US importers face significantly compressed margins as replacement costs squeeze profitability across product forms...

Governor Appoints Three to Alaska Board of Fish While State Legislators Express Escalating Concern

For most of his two terms, Alaska’s Governor Mike Dunleavy has issued a press release in late March or early April on appointments to the state’s Board of Fisheries, which, along with the Board of Game, oversees the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. 

Not this year. Almost a month ago, Dunleavy penned an identical letter to two new appointees and one incumbent, thanking them for accepting the appointment to the seven-member board. 

The two new appointments, Josh Hayes and Blair Hickson, are replacing...