April 13, 2026
NFWF Announces $3.4 Million in Grants to Modernize Data Collection in US Fisheries
Collecting, sharing, and analyzing fishery data is the single most important factor in the sustainability of a resource and the management of the U.S.’s $5 billion seafood industry. How data is gathered and applied to real-world challenges changes as technology improves.
One of the engines of this change is the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and NOAA Fisheries, which annually fund matching-grant support for data collection. Their partnership for this financial support is the Electronic Monitoring and Reporting Grant Program...
To read the rest of NFWF Announces $3.4 Million in Grants to Modernize Data Collection in US Fisheries, Please Login Below:
NFWF Announces $3.4 Million in Grants to Modernize Data Collection in US Fisheries
Collecting, sharing, and analyzing fishery data is the single most important factor in the sustainability of a resource and the management of the U.S.’s $5 billion seafood industry. How data is gathered and applied to real-world challenges changes as technology improves.
One of the engines of this change is the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and NOAA Fisheries, which annually fund matching-grant support for data collection. Their partnership for this financial support is the Electronic Monitoring and Reporting Grant Program...
To Read Full Story Login Below.
ANALYSIS: Chilean Frozen Salmon at 52-Week Highs as Summer Correction Fails to Materialize
The Chilean frozen salmon market is firmly supported across both fillets and portions, with values currently sitting at or near 52-week highs and showing little willingness to ease. What makes this year's market particularly notable is not just where prices are, it is how they got here and what is driving the scarcity of spot supply that now defines the...
Full Story »NOAA Prioritizes Policy Changes Resulting From EO to Restore American Seafood Competitiveness
Two months ago, Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries, announced region-specific actions in support of Executive Order 14276, Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. His letters to each of the eight fishery management councils gave them some of what they wanted, then encouraged each to do more, all in the name of a common theme. Soler described it as: "Fishermen just want to fish, and they are asking for our support in overcoming the barriers preventing them from doing so...
Full Story »Commerce Raises Indian Shrimp Antidumping Rates in 20th Review Final Results
The US Department of Commerce has released the final results of its 20th antidumping duty administrative review of certain frozen warmwater shrimp from India, covering the period of February 1, 2024 through January 31, 2025 — and every company subject to the review saw its rate climb significantly from the preliminary results published in May.
Those rates represent increases of 2.71, 2.20, and 1.68 percentage points, respectively, from the preliminary margins of 4.30%, 3.33%, and 2.36% set in May. The final rates...
Full Story »House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Delay New Right Whale Regulations for Lobster Industry Until 2035
Maine lobstermen moved closer to a near-decade-long reprieve from new federal regulations as the House passed the Northeast Lobstermen Protection Act (H.R. 9436) on Sept. 1, extending the current moratorium on new North Atlantic right whale gear rules from 2028 through 2035.
The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and now heads to the Senate. It passed the House Natural Resources Committee on a 22-13 bipartisan vote in July before advancing to...
Full Story »Hilton Food Group Posts Mixed H1 Results as Seafood Unit Drags on Profit
Hilton Food Group reported a challenging first half of 2026 for its seafood operations, even as the broader business delivered volumes and revenue ahead of the prior year, according to interim results published Sept. 3.
Group revenue from continuing operations rose 15.3% to £2,289.1m (H1 2025: £1,986.1m), driven primarily by higher raw material prices across all markets. Volumes from continuing operations were up 2.1% to 258,729 tonnes. However, adjusted profit before tax from continuing operations fell 5.2% to £32.8m (H1 2025: £34.6m)...
Full Story »Eastern Fisheries Appoints Nigel McGinn as CEO
Eastern Fisheries has appointed Nigel McGinn as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), according to a post from McGinn on LinkedIn.
He succeeds Joe Furtado, who has retired after more than three decades with the company, according to industry reports. Eastern Fisheries had been searching for a new CEO for approximately six months.
McGinn brings more than 30 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, with a career spanning operations, engineering and business development. Most recently, he served as senior vice president of corporate operations at Blount Fine Foods. He joined the company in 2020 as corporate operations executive before moving into the senior vice president role.
Full Story »Center for Biological Diversity Wins Appeal to Uphold NMFS Rule for TEDs in Shrimp Trawls
A federal appeals court has affirmed a lower court ruling upholding a 2019 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) rule requiring skimmer trawl shrimp vessels 40 feet and longer to use turtle excluder devices (TEDs), according to a press release issued by the Center for Biological Diversity.
The unanimous Aug. 28 decision by the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals found that NMFS provided a rational, evidence-backed explanation for the rule's requirements, citing federal observer data and post-interaction mortality studies...
Full Story »Kroger Names Mark Ibbotson EVP, Chief Store Operations Officer
The Kroger Co. is bringing in veteran retail executive Mark Ibbotson as Executive Vice President and Chief Store Operations Officer, effective Sept. 14.
Ibbotson brings decades of experience across large-format and grocery retail, including leadership roles at Walmart, Asda and Sainsbury’s. He has held positions spanning loss prevention, productivity, retail and operations, ultimately serving as chief operating officer.
Most recently, Ibbotson spent more than a decade with Walmart US, joining in 2015 as senior vice president of innovation. In that role, he was tasked with simplifying store...
Full Story »California Wildlife Conservation Board Approves $44M for Tribes, Salmon, and Desert Wildlife
California's Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) approved $43,868,000 in grants for 15 projects across 11 counties at its quarterly meeting on Aug. 27. The funded projects support Tribal land acquisition, native fish habitat restoration, public access expansion, and desert wildlife corridor protection.
The grants advance Governor Gavin Newsom's 30x30 goal of conserving 30% of California's lands and coastal waters by 2030.
Key projects with seafood and fisheries relevance include...
Full Story »Norcod Detects Francisella Bacteria at Norwegian Cod Farm, Says Operations Unaffected
Norwegian cod farmer Norcod has confirmed the detection of Francisella noatunensis at its Mausund farm site, marking the first time the bacteria have been identified at a Norcod facility.
The presence of the bacteria was discovered during routine testing carried out ahead of planned harvesting at the site. Mausund operates four pens in total, and the bacteria were detected in individual fish from one pen currently under harvest. Norcod said it has not observed any significant increase in mortality and does not expect the detection to affect planned operations...
Full Story »NOAA Opens 60-Day Scoping Period on Potential Changes to Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan
Maine lobster fishermen have until Oct. 16, 2026, to submit public comments as NOAA Fisheries launches a scoping period for potential modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP), according to an advisory from the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) Commissioner issued Sept. 1.
NOAA's announcement is not a notice of proposed rulemaking — rather, it is a request for public input on the scope of potential regulations. Comments gathered during the scoping period will inform discussions in 2026...
Full Story »Marine Stewardship Council Launches New Sustainable Seafood Awards for Canada and US
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has announced the MSC Sustainable Seafood Awards, a new annual series recognizing Canadian and US companies and individuals who go above and beyond to protect the sustainability of seafood resources.
Applications and nominations are open through Oct. 31, 2026. Winners will be announced in January 2027, with an awards ceremony planned for Seafood Expo North America in March 2027.
MSC has established six award categories...
Full Story »Malaysia's SBH Marine Returns to Profit in Q2 as Shrimp Supply Stabilizes
Malaysian vertically integrated shrimp producer SBH Marine Holdings Berhad swung back to profitability in the second quarter of its 2026 financial year, reversing a loss-making Q1 as operating conditions improved and foreign exchange headwinds faded.
The Kuala Lumpur-listed company posted profit before tax of RM0.63 million and profit after tax of RM0.51 million for Q2 FY2026, compared with a loss before tax of RM2.38 million in Q1. Revenue rose 9.49% quarter-on-quarter to RM42.94 million, supported by a 32.76% jump in merchant trade revenue...
Full Story »ASMI Showcases Wild Alaska Seafood at SproutsCon in Nashville
The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) recently brought wild Alaska seafood to the floor at Sprouts Farmers Market’s annual convention, SproutsCon, in Nashville, Tennessee.
The event brings together key players from across the Sprouts organization, including store and department managers, corporate leadership, and vendor partners. Along with a vendor showcase, SproutsCon gives attendees a chance to take part in training, networking and education sessions while gaining insight into company priorities for the year ahead.
For ASMI, the convention offered a valuable opportunity to connect directly with the retail teams...
Full Story »Ace Aquatec Debuts AI A-HARVESTCAM for Real-Time Harvest Weight and Quality Data
Ace Aquatec has rolled out an AI-enabled harvest monitoring system it says gives fish processors real-time visibility into incoming fish weight, quality and yield, while also generating “ground-truth” data to improve in-pen biomass estimates ahead of future harvests.
The company’s A-HARVESTCAM uses computer vision to automatically count and weigh fish and assess weight distribution, quality and harvest performance. Ace Aquatec said earlier insight into stock variation can help plants adjust production, optimize yield and allocate product...
Full Story »Ninth Circuit Rejects Oceana's Gulf of Alaska Seafloor Habitat Challenge, Finding No Legal Standing
The US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against Oceana's challenge to federal management of seafloor habitats in the Gulf of Alaska, finding the conservation group lacked the legal standing necessary to pursue its claims.
In a ruling issued last Thursday in Anchorage, a three-judge panel found that Oceana, represented by Earthjustice, "failed to show that any injury to the organization's members is traceable to the challenged [NMFS management plan] amendments." As one example, the court rejected Oceana's contention that, if required to redo...
Full Story »The 2026 Alaska Symphony of Seafood Product Entry is Now Open!
The time is now for seafood innovators who want to debut their products this year. The Alaska Symphony of Seafood, a premier platform for showcasing innovative, market-ready products made with Alaska seafood, starts now.
Submissions for the contest are now open and the deadline is October 16th to enter your best ever offerings.
The Alaska Symphony of Seafood is a series of events that bring national and international media coverage, feedback from expert judges on each product, and multiple opportunities to connect with industry professionals at the Seattle event.
Full Story »
SeafoodNews.com is the most widely read seafood industry news in North America, with subscribers in over 50 countries. We provide a quick daily snapshot of the global seafood industry. Published in partnership with Urner Barry, the leading provider of seafood price, foreign trade and import data, we focus on the business side of the industry, plus everything that affects it. Our largest reader category is seafood buyers, followed by producers, importers and exporters, then distributors. Try us and you will be hooked.
Subscription: There are two options the free subscription which you can find here. this will give you access to updates every 72 hours or you can upgrade to premium access learn more here.
New Bill Prohibits Chinese Seafood From Being Served at Any Dining Facility in the Capitol Building
Introduced by Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) last week, H.R.10176, the “No PRC Seafood in Congress Act,” will prohibit Chinese seafood from being served in any of the congressional dining facilities in the nation’s Capitol Building.
The legislation is driven by information released in a series of congressional hearings that forced labor is widespread in the Chinese seafood supply chain. The lack of transparency there makes it impossible to ensure the seafood was ethically sourced...
Full Story »Louisiana Shrimp Assoc. Petitions Trump Administration for Import Relief, Targets 10,000 Signatures
The Louisiana Shrimp Association (LSA) has launched a petition urging the Trump administration to take immediate action to protect domestic shrimp producers against what the group calls an unsustainable influx of imported product, according to reporting by the Houston Chronicle.
The petition, authored by LSA's Marla Cooper, cites US shrimp imports of approximately 1.75 billion pounds in 2025, valued at more than $7 billion — a volume the group says has driven dockside prices below the cost of operations for Gulf Coast harvesters...
Full Story »Vinh Hoan Wins Seafood Excellence Asia Award for Cured Panga Croquette
Vinh Hoan Corporation took home the Best New Product award at the fourth annual Seafood Excellence Asia awards, held Wednesday during Seafood Expo Asia and Seafood Processing Asia in Singapore.
The Vietnamese seafood company was recognized for its Cured Panga Croquette, a retail product. Singapore-based Lam Kee Fisheries placed second with its Japanese Curry Cod Cube, while Hai Sia Seafood took third for Kami No Ebi.
Products were judged by seafood industry buyers on criteria including eating experience, packaging, market potential, originality...
Full Story »Esther Luiten Named Executive Director of Global Shrimp Council
The Global Shrimp Council (GSC) has appointed Esther Luiten as its new executive director, as the organization looks to expand its global platform and boost consumer-facing demand for shrimp.
Luiten brings more than 20 years of experience spanning international seafood, aquaculture and sustainability. Most recently, she spent more than 12 years with the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). She has also held leadership roles at IDH and the North Sea Foundation, and has been closely involved in the development of the Global Shrimp...
Full Story »Louisiana Wildlife Agents Cite Three Houma Residents in Illegal Seafood Sales Scheme
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents cited three Houma residents on July 21 for alleged illegal seafood sales across south Louisiana, primarily in Terrebonne Parish, according to a notice issued Aug. 31 by the agency.
Agents cited Ana Reyna Beiza Lopez, 46, and Juan Rebollar Aguilar, 42, on multiple charges including the illegal sale of oysters, blue crabs, and various species of raw fish; exporting crab products without a wholesale/retail crab shipping license; violating interstate commerce regulations; selling fish without a wholesale...
Full Story »ANALYSIS: US Groundfish Market Holds Full Steady Amid Tightening Supply and Shifting Trade Dynamics
The US frozen groundfish market continues to hold a steady-to-firm tone, with supply-side constraints providing a durable price floor even as an evolving trade policy backdrop adds uncertainty. Sellers are well-supported by high replacement costs and limited raw material availability, while buyers are largely purchasing to cover immediate needs rather than building forward...
Full Story »Bumble Bee Foods to Shutter Santa Fe Springs Plant by 2027, Cutting More Than 230 Jobs
Bumble Bee Foods is closing its fish canning facility in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., with the plant expected to shut down "sometime in 2027, most likely in late March 2027," according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification letter the company filed with the state, as first reported by the Los Angeles Times.
The San Diego-based canned seafood giant will lay off 197 workers on Nov. 19, 2026, with an additional 36 positions eliminated when the facility finally closes...
Full Story »The Retail Rundown: The 2026 Labor Day Grill Balances Value and Variety
Labor Day weekend is nearly here, and retailers are putting grilling favorites front and center for one last major cookout of summer. The 2026 holiday protein mix offers plenty of variety, but pricing is influencing how shoppers build their menus, with value particularly important across meat and poultry.
Despite higher prices, beef remains a centerpiece of the backyard cookout, with retailers featuring ground beef alongside strip, sirloin, porterhouse, and other steaks, as well as roast cuts such as top round.
Recent Circana data highlights the continued price pressure...
Full Story »Canada, Gitanyow Sign 10-Year Fisheries Agreement
Pact supports salmon recovery, fisheries stewardship and commercial fishing opportunities in northwestern B.C.
The Government of Canada and the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs have signed a 10-year Incremental Fisheries Reconciliation Agreement supporting salmon recovery, fisheries stewardship and Gitanyow participation in commercial fishing opportunities. The agreement, signed in Gitanyow, B.C., by Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson and Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty, will strengthen the capacity of the Gitanyow Fisheries Authority to deliver stewardship initiatives, including the Kitwanga Sockeye Recovery Program. It also establishes a framework for collaborative fisheries...
Full Story »Multi X Adds Chile’s Largest Wellboat to Operations Under Five-Year Deal
Multi X has signed a five-year agreement to take exclusive use of the 4,000-cubic-meter wellboat Grip Discovery, which the companies described as Chile’s largest wellboat.
The vessel is owned by Gripship SpA, part of Trident Aqua Services, and will operate across Multi X’s farming regions in Los Lagos, Aysén and Magallanes. Multi X said the Grip Discovery has roughly twice the capacity of the vessels it has previously used, which should reduce vessel movements during harvests and provide greater flexibility...
Full Story »Chile Brings Fisheries Sector into Early Talks on High Seas Treaty Implementation
Chile’s fisheries authority is taking part in the country’s early discussions on implementing the BBNJ Agreement, or High Seas Treaty, signaling that fisheries governance will be a key part of how the pact is rolled out domestically.
The Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca) recently participated in a national workshop tied to the treaty’s ratification and implementation. For seafood industry stakeholders, the main takeaway is that Chile is aiming to integrate the agreement with existing fisheries management systems, including regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), rather than build a separate framework around it.
Full Story »Aquamar Brings New Convenience Seafood Lineup to Retail
Aquamar is moving its latest seafood push from the trade show floor to supermarket shelves, rolling out a refreshed brand identity and a lineup of convenient products aimed at making seafood an easier choice for everyday meals.
The rollout is underway in the Southeast, with West Coast and Midwest distribution expected to follow in the coming weeks. The products were first introduced earlier this year at Seafood Expo North America and include Pan-Seared Pacific Cod varieties, Crispy Scallop Bites and Salmon Wellington with Cheddar...
Full Story »Fortune International Expands Boston Footprint With Steve Connolly Seafood Acquisition
Fortune International is expanding its presence in the Northeast through the acquisition of Boston-based Steve Connolly Seafood Company, adding an established seafood customer base to its national importing, processing and distribution operation.
Beginning Aug. 31, customers previously served by Steve Connolly Seafood will transition to Boston Sword & Tuna, the Fortune International company based in Boston. Fortune said the integration is designed to maintain continuity in supply and service while giving customers access to its broader sourcing network, logistics capabilities and product...
Full Story »