Atlantic Sapphire Posts Improved Harvests in Q1 2026
Atlantic Sapphire reported a 27% jump in Q1 2026 harvests, pulling in 1,504 metric tons of gutted‑weight salmon, up from 1,183 MT in Q4 2025 and 1,319 MT a year earlier. The average fish weight rose to 3.2 kg, the highest level this year, while net biomass gain climbed to 1,859 MT. Standing biomass steadied at 3,420 MT, and the firm secured fresh financing to support its turnaround and a 7,000 MT harvest target for 2026.
Canada Expanding Marking of Hatchery Pacific Chinook in Bid to Support Conservation
Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced an expansion of adipose‑fin marking for hatchery‑origin Pacific Chinook salmon, aiming to differentiate them from wild stocks. Currently only about 40% of hatchery fish are marked, lagging behind U.S. practices that clip fins...
Chilean Authorities Meet with Salmon Sector to Coordinate Algal Bloom Response
Heterosigma akashiwo, a harmful algal species, has surfaced in Chile's southern waters, affecting 11 salmon farms in the Reloncaví Sound. The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) convened meetings with industry players, the navy, and Subpesca to coordinate a response...
Higher Gas Prices Starting to Impact Spending, Foot Traffic at US Restaurants
U.S. gasoline prices climbed to $4.16 per gallon in early April, prompting consumers to curb restaurant outings. Black Box Intelligence data shows foot traffic falls 2.4% once gas exceeds $3.50 and 2.9% above $3.80, with family and casual dining hit...
Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation Announces Third Cohort of Funded Innovation Projects
The Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF) announced its third cohort of Joint Innovation Projects, allocating $377,775 to nine Alaska‑based initiatives. Funded by the Alaska Mariculture Cluster, which draws money from the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge,...
Norway Court Sides with Directorate of Fisheries on Escape Case, Fines Aller Aqua NOK 5 Million
A Norwegian court of appeals upheld the Directorate of Fisheries' ruling that Aller Aqua must pay a NOK 5 million fine (about $529,000) for a 2022 salmon escape at its Vadheim facility. Approximately 35,000 salmon fled through a 4‑by‑4‑meter net hole, prompting...
UK Government Report Shows Mixed Outlook for Ocean Ecosystem, Health of Commercial Fisheries
The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs released the first phase of its Marine Strategy, revealing that only two of fifteen environmental metrics meet Good Environmental Status (GES). While commercial fisheries and some species show modest gains—42% of...
With Aldi Süd Commitment, All Major UK Supermarkets Have Set Time-Bound Shrimp Welfare Standards
Aldi Süd announced a global shrimp‑welfare policy to eliminate eyestalk ablation by 2030 and to require electrical stunning for all farmed shrimp by 2035. With this pledge, every one of the UK’s 11 major supermarket chains now has a time‑bound commitment...
MCS Downgrades Cod, Langoustine, Mackerel Ratings in Its Latest Good Fish Guide
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has downgraded UK‑caught cod, langoustine and mackerel to its red category in the latest Good Fish Guide, signaling serious sustainability concerns. Cod is now deemed unsafe for domestic consumption, with MCS urging shoppers to buy...
EU Aquaculture Group Calls for Bloc to Refine Its Planned Plastics Regulations
The Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) is urging the European Commission to separate aquaculture from traditional fishing in the upcoming revisions of the Single‑Use Plastics Directive. FEAP argues that classifying nets, pens, buoys and ropes as “fishing gear” misrepresents...
Trident Seafoods Sues City of Tacoma for Alleged Improper Fire Containment that Destroyed Fishing Vessel
Trident Seafoods has filed a lawsuit against the city of Tacoma seeking at least $100 million in damages, alleging that the fire department’s decision to use positive pressure ventilation caused a six‑day blaze that destroyed the $56.6 million Kodiak Enterprise fishing vessel....
Op-Ed: Is MSC Certifying Sustainability or Endorsing Risk?
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has recertified the Antarctic krill fishery as sustainable, even though the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) shut the season three months early after reaching its 620,000‑ton catch limit. Scientists warn...
Aquaculture Representative Group Drops Lawsuit Against Washington Net-Pen Ban
The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) has withdrawn its lawsuit challenging Washington State’s ban on commercial net‑pen aquaculture. The ban, finalized in January 2025 after a rulemaking process by the State Board of Natural Resources, follows a decade of litigation sparked by...
Tilapia Imports From Vietnam Surpass Brazilian Export Totals for the First Time, Alarming Local Industry
Brazil’s February imports of Vietnamese tilapia fillets topped 1,300 metric tons, outpacing the country’s own exports for the first time. The imports, valued at roughly $8 million, represent about 56% of Vietnam’s monthly tilapia revenue and are driven by a preferential trade...
Mersey Seafoods Acquiring Comeau Sea Foods
Mersey Seafoods announced an agreement to acquire Comeau Sea Foods, a family‑run Nova Scotia processor with an 80‑year history. The deal, pending Competition Bureau approval, will keep the Comeau brand and operations unchanged while integrating its fleet that harvests North...
Key Milestones Passed in France, Japan Help Pure Salmon Advance Its Global RAS Ambitions
Pure Salmon Technology cleared a key regulatory hurdle for its 10,000‑metric‑ton RAS salmon facility in Le Verdon‑sur‑Mer, France, keeping the 2030 commercial launch on track. The French plant, backed by a €275 million ($321 million) investment, will create roughly 250 jobs and...
Avanti Feeds Invests USD 3 Million in Thai Union Feedmill Ecuador
Avanti Feeds announced a $3 million investment to acquire a 10 percent stake in Thai Union Feedmill Ecuador, marking its entry into the Ecuadorian market. The deal follows Thai Union Feedmill’s plan to invest up to $55 million in a new aquaculture facility...
Deep Dive Podcast: James Sibley Says Now Is the Time for Seafood to Invest in Social Media
James Sibley, a 26‑year‑old aquaculture content creator, has amassed roughly 550,000 followers across TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and X, positioning him as the seafood industry’s leading influencer. Starting with short TikTok clips during the COVID‑19 pandemic, he now produces...
US Sushi Industry Soars to USD 22 Billion Valuation with Little Signs of Slowing, NFI Sushi Council Report Finds
The National Fisheries Institute’s Sushi Council reports the U.S. sushi market has ballooned to a $22 billion valuation, propelled by Gen Z and millennial demand for health‑focused, convenient meals. Restaurants generate $16 billion of that volume, with more than 16,000 dedicated sushi venues...
While Whole Fish Prices Tumble, Atlantic Salmon Fillets From Norway Hit NOK 177 Entering Week 15
The Sitagri Salmon Index reported that Norway’s whole, headed, gutted Atlantic salmon for the 3‑to‑6 kg segment fell to NOK 87.55 per kilogram in Week 14, equivalent to about $9.20. This marks a NOK 3.46 (≈$0.36) drop from the Week 13 average of NOK 91.01 ($9.56)....
Increased Salmon Volumes for SalMar in Q1; Grieg Warns Biological Challenges Will Cost USD 7 Million
SalMar reported a Q1 2026 harvest of 60,300 gutted weight tons (GWT) of Atlantic salmon, a 29% increase over the same period last year, driven primarily by strong growth in its Central Norway segment. The company’s total expected 2026 harvest now sits...
Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association Opposes Government Funding Atlantic Salmon Federation
The Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association (ACFFA) is urging the Canadian government to withdraw CAD 81.7 million (about US$59.1 million) earmarked for the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) as part of a wild Atlantic salmon restoration program. ACFFA argues the ASF’s anti‑aquaculture campaigns, such...
NOAA Fisheries, NFWF Announce USD 3.4 Million in Fishing Data Modernization Grants
NOAA Fisheries and the National Fish and Wildlife Service announced $3.4 million in grants to modernize fisheries data collection through electronic monitoring and AI. The funding, part of the Electronic Monitoring and Reporting (EMR) Grant Program, will be spread across 13...
AlaSkins Founder Sara Erickson Built Sustainable Pet Treat Company to Boost Alaskan Seafood Industry
Sara Erickson launched AlaSkins in 2016 to convert discarded fish skins from Alaska’s commercial fisheries into premium pet treats. Starting with a $7,000 credit‑card investment, she persuaded processing plants to save skins, eventually scaling to a dedicated plant that purchases...
Alaskan Legislators Pass Resolution Urging Continued Ban on Russian Seafood Imports
Alaska’s Senate passed a resolution urging the federal government to keep and strengthen the ban on Russian seafood imports that President Biden first imposed in 2022 and expanded in 2023. Lawmakers argue Russian subsidies and lax environmental standards keep fish...
AKVA Launches Strategic Review, Floats Potential Sale
Norwegian aquaculture technology firm AKVA announced a strategic review that could culminate in a sale, aiming to maximize shareholder value. The review, supported by majority shareholder Egersund Group (51%) and Israel Corporation (18%), will be overseen by DNB Carnegie and...
Chinese City's Bid to Become High Seas Treaty Secretariat Sparks Influence-Gathering Fears
The United Nations’ High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) entered into force in January 2025, creating a framework to protect two‑thirds of the ocean beyond national jurisdiction. Three cities—Brussels, Valparaíso, and Xiamen—are competing to host the treaty’s secretariat, which will coordinate...
Ghana Launches Blue Food Innovation Hub, Aiming to Drive Innovation, Spur Private Investment in Aquaculture
Ghana has inaugurated Africa’s first Blue Food Innovation Hub in Accra, partnering with the World Economic Forum and overseen by the Ghanaian Chamber of Aquaculture. The hub will convene researchers, investors, policymakers and startups to share best practices, cut post‑harvest...
Mississippi Judge Rules Private Oyster Lease Scheme Is Unconstitutional
A Mississippi chancery court ruled that the state’s on‑bottom oyster lease program violates the state constitution, issuing a permanent injunction that bars new private leases on natural reefs. The 2024 law had allowed the Department of Marine Resources to lease...
Oceana: Nearly 40 Percent of Fish Sold in Mexico Has Been Substituted for Cheaper Species
A new Oceana report reveals that 38% of fish sold in Mexico are mislabeled, substituting cheaper species for premium ones. Genetic testing of 1,262 market and restaurant samples showed mislabeling rates far above the 20% global average reported by the...
Sysco, Restaurant Depot Deal Poses Risks, Opportunities for Seafood
Sysco announced a $29.1 billion acquisition of wholesale chain Restaurant Depot, paying $21.6 billion in cash and issuing 91.5 million shares. The deal adds 166 large‑format warehouses across 35 states, giving Sysco deeper access to independent restaurants that currently rely on Depot’s cash‑and‑carry...
New York Governor Seeks Federal Aid for State’s Oyster Industry
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has asked the USDA to issue a disaster declaration for the state’s oyster industry after an unprecedented cold snap damaged equipment and halted harvests. State officials estimate $2.4 million in damages and a 30% drop in...
Finalists Announced for 2026 Seafood Excellence Global Awards
Seafood Excellence Global Awards have named 38 finalists from 17 countries for the 2026 competition, which will be presented at Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona from April 21‑23. The finalists compete in two main categories—Best Retail Product and Best HORECA...
ColdTrack’s National Logistics Network Helping US Seafood Companies Widen E-Commerce Reach, Save on Shipping Costs
ColdTrack, a New Jersey‑based e‑commerce logistics firm, has built a national perishable‑goods network that delivers seafood to U.S. consumers within two days. The company leverages proprietary route‑planning software and carrier partnerships across hubs in New Jersey, Indiana and California. After...
Bakkafrost Continuing Scottish De-Risking Strategy as Overall Harvests Lag Behind Earlier Stated Goals
Bakkafrost’s 2026 harvest outlook has been revised down to 112,000 metric tons, falling short of the 150,000‑ton target set in its 2022 plan. The company’s Scottish operations, acquired in 2019, continue to underperform, with a projected 20,000‑ton harvest for 2026...
EJF Warns Southeast Pacific Squid Fishery Near Crisis as Investigation Finds Labor Abuse, IUU, and Lack of Oversight
The Environmental Justice Foundation warns that the Southeast Pacific jumbo flying squid fishery – the world’s largest, supplying 42% of global squid in 2023 – is nearing ecological and social collapse. Weak oversight by the SPRFMO has allowed China’s distant‑water...
US Government Asks Industry What to Call Rockfish
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has opened a request for information to determine a new market name for the Sebastes group, commonly known as rockfish. The move follows industry petitions for a more consumer‑friendly label to raise the species’...
Quinlan Brothers Announces USD 5 Million Fish Waste Project
Quinlan Brothers of Canada has teamed with Norway’s NutriShell on a $5 million project to convert fish processing waste into marketable products. The joint venture will build a waste‑processing plant near Quinlan’s Eastern Newfoundland facility, targeting up to 3,000 metric tons of...
China Rapidly Accelerating Offshore Aquaculture Push, Exceeding 100 Installations
China has surpassed 100 offshore aquaculture platforms and vessels, marking a rapid expansion driven by stricter near‑shore regulations and a new fisheries law emphasizing intensive, environmentally friendly practices. The government has elevated deep‑sea aquaculture to a strategic growth area, encouraging...
Bluefront Equity Purchases Majority Stake in Aquaculture Software Firm Anteo
Norwegian private equity firm Bluefront Equity has taken a 54% majority stake in Anteo, a Norwegian software provider for the aquaculture sector. Anteo reported roughly NOK 27 million (US$2.8 million) in revenue for 2025, marking about 20% year‑over‑year growth. The acquisition is aimed...
MSC, MarinTrust Seek Feedback on Revisions to Chain of Custody Standards
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has launched a 60‑day public consultation, running until 30 May 2026, to revise its Chain of Custody Standard. The overhaul will merge the three existing versions into a single, clearer document, tighten audit consistency, and introduce mandatory...
US Department of Commerce Launches More Antidumping and Countervailing Investigations Into Foreign Shrimp
The U.S. Department of Commerce has opened a new round of antidumping and countervailing investigations covering shrimp exporters from India, Vietnam, Thailand and China. The review will examine over 1,000 companies—394 from India, 299 from Vietnam, and 199 each from...
Australian Prawn Giant A Raptis and Sons Closing Doors After More than Six Decades
A. Raptis and Sons, one of Australia’s largest privately owned, vertically integrated prawn producers, announced it will shut down after nearly 70 years of operation. The company entered voluntary administration in March, citing a weak banana prawn return, oversupply and rising production...
EU Commissioner Stands Behind Fisheries Control Regulation Requirements, Despite Pushback From Members and Industry
The EU adopted a new Fisheries Control Regulation in 2023 that obliges all commercial vessels to use electronic tracking, digitised catch reporting and onboard cameras. Commissioner Costas Kadis defended the rule despite member states and fishing groups warning that precise weight‑matching...
Investments in Tunisian Aquaculture Projects Increase over 200 Percent
Tunisia reported a 239% surge in new aquaculture investments in 2025, reaching TND 88.1 million (≈USD 30.2 million). The sector captured 17% of all agriculture‑fisheries private investments, amounting to TND 515.3 million across 2,862 projects. Government incentives, including subsidies up to 25% and tax breaks, aim...
International Atomic Energy Agency Launches Five-Year Project to Address Seafood Fraud
The International Atomic Energy Agency has launched a five‑year research initiative to combat seafood fraud using nuclear and related technologies. The project will develop isotopic and molecular fingerprint databases that enable participating nations to verify species, origin, and processing claims....
EU Officials Push to Transition Fishing Fleets Away From Fossil Fuels Amid Elevated Fuel Prices
European Fisheries Commissioner Costas Kadis called for a swift shift of EU commercial fishing fleets away from fossil fuels as global fuel prices surge amid the Iran conflict. Spain pledged €25 million and France offered a €0.20‑per‑liter fuel rebate to ease...
Newfoundland Price-Setting Panel Declares Minimum Snow Crab Price, Outlines Turmoil Leading to Decision
The Newfoundland and Labrador Standing Fish Price‑Setting Panel announced a minimum snow crab price of CAD 5.30 per pound for the 2026 season, up from CAD 4.97 in 2025. The decision proceeded despite the Fish Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) abandoning...
Atlantic Sapphire Secures Financing Amid Cashflow Crunch
Atlantic Sapphire, a land‑based salmon farmer, secured a $10 million bridge loan split into two $5 million tranches to alleviate a cash‑flow crunch. The company continues to pursue EBITDA breakeven, targeting its first positive EBITDA by the end of 2026 and a...
Appeals Court Eliminates Gulf Council’s Pocket Veto, but Keeps Amberjack Regulations in Place
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s pocket‑veto authority is unconstitutional, but it left Amendment 54 – which sharply reduces commercial amberjack quotas in favor of recreational anglers – intact. The decision follows...