ANALYSIS: Scallop Markets Navigate Supply Challenges as Domestic Shortcomings Meet Import Declines

The domestic scallop sector continues navigating a challenging supply landscape, despite recent Gulf of Maine landings providing temporary market relief. While these increased landings have offered some larger sizing availability that had been particularly scarce, industry participants view this boost as short-lived against broader domestic harvesting shortcomings that have characterized much of the current season. Market observers suggest that domestic landings, now reaching approximately 97% of the APL...

US Department of Commerce Issues Preliminary CVD Results for Ecuadorian Shrimp

The US Department of Commerce (Commerce) has released preliminary results in its expedited countervailing duty (CVD) review for frozen warmwater shrimp from Ecuador, covering the period January 1–December 31, 2022.

The review followed requests from six Ecuadorian producers/exporters, but was rescinded for Natluk and Total Seafood after both companies withdrew their review requests within the required 60-day window.

The expedited CVD review continues for the remaining four companies. Preliminary subsidy rates announced in the March 10 Federal Register notice are as follows...

Mowi to Acquire Torghatten Aqua’s Seawater Salmon Assets in Northern Norway

Mowi has embarked on a strategic expansion by entering into a Transaction Agreement to acquire the entirety of Torghatten Aqua AS's salmon farming seawater business situated in production area 8 in Northern Norway. This business currently focuses on leasing salmon licenses and seawater sites, contributing to educational activities and offering consulting for land-based salmon farming.

Under this agreement, Mowi will obtain a total of 3.37 licenses, encompassing a maximum allowed biomass of 2,628 tonnes. The portfolio includes 1.37 commercial licenses, 1 exhibition license...

Ryan Reynolds Deadpans on 'Endless Shrimp' in New Red Lobster MNTN Campaign

Actor Ryan Reynolds appeared with Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun in a new spot for MNTN, the performance marketing TV platform, using ‘Endless shrimp’ humor to sell targeted advertising.

In the short ad, Reynolds deadpans, “That’s enough shrimp, though. We get it, endless shrimp.” The pair trade barbs before Adamolekun pushes back, clarifying that Red Lobster’s current offer is a SPENDLess shrimp promotion, not its former infamous “endless” deal.

The tongue‑in‑cheek clip riffs on the long‑running cultural conversation...

Day 11: Trump Says Iran War Could End “Very Soon,” But Not This Week

On the 11th day of the US–Israel war on Iran, Tehran endured what officials described as some of the heaviest overnight bombardments so far.

Speaking on Monday, US President Donald Trump commented that the war could end “very soon,” but noted that it would not be over this week. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded that Iran would continue fighting for as long as necessary, casting doubt on Trump’s claim that the war may cease in the near future.

Crude oil prices fell more than 10% Tuesday...

US Interior Department Wants Industry Input on Adding Cephalopods to Definition of Shellfish

The Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior is proposing to change the definition of “shellfish” by replacing the phrase “having a shell” with specific names of species, such as Mollusca, which would include oysters, clams, squid, octopus, or cuttlefish; and Order Decapoda, including lobsters, crabs, crayfish, shrimp or other crustaceans. 

USF&W says the action reduces regulatory burden.  

“The purpose of this proposed rule is to modernize and clarify the definition of ‘‘shellfish...

United Natural Foods Reports Strong Profit Growth Amid Strategic Transitions in Q2

United Natural Foods (UNFI) has announced its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, revealing both challenges and opportunities ahead.

The company reported a 2.6% decline in net sales, bringing the total to $7.9 billion. This decrease was largely attributed to optimization actions, which impacted sales by nearly 500 basis points. A noteable factor in this shift was the transition out of the Allentown, Pennsylvania distribution center during the first quarter of fiscal 2026, leading to an anticipated drop...

Russia’s Per‑Capita Fish Consumption Falls to 24 kg as Exports Rise

Per‑capita fish consumption in Russia remains below government targets and shows little sign of near‑term recovery. State plans set a target of 28 kg per person for 2025, but consumption fell to about 24 kg in 2025 — a 2.4% decline year‑on‑year and roughly 11% below 2023 levels. Industry analysts say producers still find it more profitable to export catch than to supply the domestic market.

Retail demand softened in 2025. Analytics firm NTech estimates retail fish sales fell about 1% by volume...

Import Cargo Volume Expected to Be Down in First Half of 2026, But Too Soon to Tell Impact from Iran

Imports at major U.S. container ports are expected to remain below last year’s levels for the first half of 2026 amid ongoing tariff uncertainty, but it is too soon to gauge the impact of the conflict in Iran, according to the Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“The Supreme Court has struck down IEEPA tariffs but other tariffs have already been announced and others will be coming, so uncertainty continues for retailers...

Shaping Responsible Aquaculture in and Around Protected Areas

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is launching a stakeholder consultation focused on how aquaculture can operate responsibly within and around Protected Areas. Running from 9 March to 9 April, the 30-day consultation will gather input from key stakeholders and forms part of ASC’s broader work to address environmental risks to biodiversity, habitats, and ecosystem processes in protected areas.

ASC Environmental Standards Coordinator Dan Auwkit says, “As aquaculture becomes central to feeding a growing global population and protected areas continue to expand, there is a clear opportunity...

Global Crab Trade is Repricing Power - Here's Where It's Concentrating

The global crab market now operates on two pricing centers: frozen in the United States, live in China.

As outlined in last month's report, the global crab trade is becoming increasingly concentrated. The central question for 2026 is how that concentration reshapes pricing power across the major markets.

Full-year 2025 data across all major producing and consuming regions confirm a meaningful expansion in global trade flows. The United States imported 140 million pounds of frozen king and snow crab, reinforcing its role as the dominant pricing center...

Regal Springs Launches King Tilapia as Whitefish Alternative Amid Supply Constraints

Regal Springs CEO Graham Ellis unveiled the company's new King Tilapia product at the North Atlantic Seafood Forum (NASF), calling it a “significant step forward” for the whitefish category.

The launch comes as Regal Springs positions tilapia as a key fill-in amid ongoing supply constraints and quota reductions for other whitefish species.

The firm said King Tilapia is part of a broader push to align the industry around a formal tilapia standard. The initiative includes size and grading specifications...

Crude Oil Set for Record Daily Surge as Iran War Enters Tenth Day

On Monday, the United States and Israel continued their attacks on Iran during the tenth day of the war, with Israeli strikes on oil facilities in Iran causing toxic smoke across Tehran. 

Meanwhile, Iranian forces sustained their retaliatory strikes on US military assets and other key infrastructure in Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The latest Iranian attacks on Bahrain have damaged a water desalination plant.

More than a week after the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes...

GCCA Joins Forces with Food Industry FSMA 204 Collaboration to Enhance Food Safety Awareness

The Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) has joined the Food Industry FSMA 204 Collaboration to increase awareness of the United States (US)  Food And Drug Administration's (FDA's) Food Traceability Rule, a key part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) focused on improving food tracking systems.

FSMA Rule 204 requires thorough tracking of high-risk foods on the FDA's Food Traceability List (FTL) to enhance outbreak response and supply chain transparency. With supply chains growing complex, the cold chain sector plays a vital role in ensuring not...

Shellfish Recall Initiated in Washington State Over Norovirus Concerns

In a proactive move, Washington State has initiated a recall of shellstock due to reports of Norovirus-like illnesses linked to the consumption of raw oysters.

This recall impacts all species of shellfish harvested by Drayton Harbor Oyster Company (WA-1723-SS) and Manila clams harvested by the Lummi Indian Business Council (WA-0098-SS).

The affected shellstock was distributed to several regions, including Arizona, California, Nevada, New York, Oregon, and even Canada.

Distributors have reported contacting retailers to mitigate further...

Seafood Excellence Award Finalists Unveiled for Seafood Expo North America 2026

The finalists for the Seafood Excellence Awards have been announced ahead of Seafood Expo North America in Boston.

Diversified, producer of the continent’s largest seafood trade show, said 12 finalists were chosen from the New Product Showcase long list of market‑ready products launched or due to launch in North America in the past 18 months. The finalists were selected from 108 entries and will compete for two honors: Best New Foodservice Product and Best New Retail Product.

An expert panel will evaluate entries on product uniqueness and market...

Save Our Shrimpers Act Clears Key House Committee, Aims to Block Fed Financing of Foreign Farms

The House Financial Services Committee passed Congressman Troy E. Nehl’s (R-TX) Save Our Shrimpers Act on March 4.

The bill would ban federal funds from being made available to international financial institutions to finance foreign shrimp farms, as Expana covered when it was first introduced in 2024. It was reintroduced in March 2025.

“Shrimpers across the country, including shrimpers in my district, are struggling to stay afloat due to an excess of foreign shrimp flooding our markets,” Nehls said...

Captain Fresh Scores $31M Deal With Blue Earth to Fund Traceability and Waste Reduction

Blue Earth Capital, a global impact investment firm, has agreed to provide €27 million in sustainability-linked financing to India-based Captain Fresh, a fast-growing global packaged seafood company. The deal is aimed at boosting seafood traceability, reducing waste and driving sustainable growth across global seafood value chains.

Founded in 2020 by CMD & Group CEO Utham Gowda, Captain Fresh has built a portfolio of multi-species seafood brands distributed in key consumer markets, including the US, Europe and the UAE. Its strategy focuses...

Mowi Consumer Products to Unveil Redesigned Booth, New Packaging at SENA 2026

Mowi Consumer Products (Mowi CP) of Americas, a subsidiary of salmon farming giant Mowi, said its presence at Seafood Expo North America (SENA) 2026 will be its most ambitious yet (Booth #217). The company is gearing up to showcase its redesigned booth, new innovations, and to preview its major packaging transformation across its MOWI, Ducktrap, and Marine Harvest by Mowi brands.

“The new space brings Mowi's brand vision to life with interactive features to explore, expanded seating for deeper conversations, and dedicated areas highlighting retail...

Japan-UAE Trade Pact to Eliminate Japanese Seafood Tariffs

On March 5, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced the conclusion of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Within 10 years of the agreement's entry into force, Japan will raise its duty-free import rate from 98.7% to 99.9%, while the UAE will raise it from 11.5% to 96.4%. In addition to eliminating tariffs on seafood exports from Japan, Japan will also eliminate tariffs on shrimp imports from the UAE, reported Minato Shimbun...

Applebee's Reintroduces the Big Easy Menu featuring New Bayou Shrimp Bowl and Big Easy Burger

Applebee's has reintroduced its Big Easy Menu, capturing the bold Bayou flavors of New Orleans. Specials start at $11.99 and are available for a limited time.

This year, Applebee's has unveiled its NEW Big Easy Burger and NEW Bayou Shrimp Bowl. The menu also includes fan favorites like Applebee’s Bourbon Street Chicken & Shrimp Skillet, Bourbon Street Steak, and the Bourbon Street Mushroom Swiss Burger.

The NEW Bayou Shrimp Bowl features blackened shrimp, smoky Andouille sausage, Spanish rice, garlicky green...

Seaweed Market to Nearly Double by 2033, Driven by Food Demand

A new report pegs the current global seaweed market value at US$10.3 billion in 2026 and projects growth by 2033 to US$19.7 billion. The 91% increase will be driven by consumer demand and the rising use of seaweed products in food, cosmetics, and sustainable bioproducts. 

Seaweed has long been used in traditional Asian cuisines and pharmaceuticals, but its global demand is expanding rapidly, the report says,  due to rising interest in sustainable food sources, plant-based nutrition, and bio-based industrial materials...

ANALYSIS: Canadian Whole Fish Influx Creates Ripple Effects Throughout US Salmon Markets

Over the past few weeks, an influx of Canadian whole fish has made its way to US markets. This development appears notable, as typically at this time of year some farms are not harvesting fish and have limited availability from certain sites or regions.

However, the start of this year appears different, with most Canadian producers and sites on both the East Coast and West Coast reportedly having availability and offering product to the US market. With increased supply, competition looks intense, and lower prices...

Maine Lobster Harvest Drops 8M Pounds in 2025, Value Down More Than $75M

Maine’s lobster fishery softened in 2025, with preliminary state data showing landings down by roughly 8 million pounds and total value falling by more than $75 million year‑over‑year.

The Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) reported lobstermen landed 78.8 million pounds last year, generating just over $461 million at the dock. The average boat price was $5.85 per pound — the third‑highest on record — but higher per‑pound returns did not offset the volume decline...

New Bill in AK Senate Bans Trawls or Dredge Gear; Kodiak Whitefish Trawlers Oppose 

A new bill, SB161, introduced by Tok, AK Republican Mike Cronk, would ban the use of  “…any trawl or dredge fishing gear that makes substantial bottom contact with the seafloor while in use, as determined by the department, in the water of the state.” 

The bill also calls for a comprehensive study to assess the “…health of seafloor ecosystems and fish habitat in state water.” That study, to be done by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, would be due by January 1, 2027...

Korea’s Japanese Seafood Imports Recover to Pre-nuclear Power Plant Accident Levels

According to import and export statistics from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of South Korea, imports of Japanese seafood reached $247 million in 2025, up 27% from the previous year. This increase was primarily driven by significant growth in live fish such as yellowtail and sea bream, which helped imports return to levels seen before the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in 2011. 

After the accident, South Korea continued to ban seafood from eight prefectures, including Fukushima. Imports stagnated at around $100 million from 2012...

Nomad Foods Introduces New Recipe and New Leadership

Nomad Foods' brand, Birds Eye, is relaunching its iconic Fish Finger product after consumer testing showed a preference for the new recipe. This updated recipe features a crunchier coating and flaky 100% white fish fillet. It will be rolled out across Birds Eye's Breaded Omega 3, Cod, and Haddock Fish Finger ranges, with a new packaging design aimed at capturing attention in the freezer aisle.

To celebrate this refresh, the company has launched a multi-million-pound marketing campaign featuring TV, outdoor...

ANALYSIS: Rising Middle East Tensions Cast Uncertainty Over Growing US Seafood Imports

Middle East and North African seafood exports to the United States totaled approximately 95.3 million lbs. in 2025, advancing from 91.3 million lbs in 2024. Normally, this steady growth would indicate healthy demand and resilient supply chains. Now, however, the numbers are being scrutinized in a new light as an intensifying regional conflict threatens to derail trade flows and disrupt maritime logistics. 

War threatens key shipping routes 

Israeli and US strikes on Iran, followed by Iranian retaliation, have forced shutdowns of oil and gas facilities across...

US-Israel War on Iran Enters Seventh Day Amid Ongoing Strikes and Regional Fallout

The US-Israel war on Iran has entered its seventh day, with strikes continuing across the Middle East. 

Regional impacts are mounting. In Kuwait and Bahrain, missile attacks from Iran were intercepted, with a fire contained at a Bahraini oil refinery. The UAE and Qatar faced multiple missile and drone strikes, while Tel Aviv was targeted in Iran’s attacks.

Israel intensified its bombardment in Lebanon, and Azerbaijan suspended cross-border traffic following drone attacks...

USTR, Mexican Economy Secretary Launch Initial USMCA Review Discussions

US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer and Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard launched an initial round of discussions ahead of the Joint Review of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) on March 5.

Greer said negotiators are expected to hold initial meetings the week of March 15 with regular meetings to follow.

“The ministers instructed negotiators to begin a scoping discussion on the necessary measures to ensure the benefits of the Agreement accrue primarily to the parties, including by reducing dependence on imports from outside the region...