FDA Moves to Make GRAS Notifications Mandatory, With Implications for Seafood Processors

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The US Food and Drug Administration has proposed a rule that would fundamentally change how food companies, including seafood processors, handle ingredients and processing aids that have long been used without formal FDA review.

Published in the Federal Register on August 11, the proposal would make notification to FDA mandatory for substances currently marketed under the "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) designation. Under the existing system, companies can independently conclude that a substance is safe for a particular use and introduce it into commerce without ever notifying FDA...

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ANALYSIS: Canada H1 Lobster Export Volumes Decline Amid Tight Supply

According to the latest data from Statistics Canada, overall lobster export volumes from Canada to the rest of the world declined year‑on‑year (YOY) in the first half of the year. Total exports amounted to 37,428 MT between January and June, 5.6% below the same period last year. This total includes four HS codes describing frozen, live and preserved Homarus Americanus lobster. By value, the decline was smaller: year‑to‑date export receipts reached 1.38 million CAD, a 2.7% slip YOY.

Seasonal timing and weather...

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FDA Moves to Make GRAS Notifications Mandatory, With Implications for Seafood Processors

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Ecuador Shrimp Sector Faces Mounting Losses as Metabisulfite Dispute With China Drags On

Ecuador's National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) says it has secured a commitment from Chinese authorities for technical-level dialogue to address ongoing restrictions on Ecuadorian shrimp exporters, offering a cautious sign of progress in a dispute that has cost the sector tens of millions of dollars since late June.

The CNA posted an August 7 update on its website noting that Ecuador's government and industry have been coordinating to respond to observations from China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) related to sodium metabisulfite — a widely used preservative...

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Founder, Management Team and Industrial Investors Acquire Norway’s First Seafood from Insula

Norway’s First Seafood is shifting into a new ownership chapter after a decade with Insula AS as its majority shareholder. Founder Andreas Sundnes, the company’s executive management team, and a group of industrial investors have acquired ownership of First Seafood, according to a company release.

"Together, we have built an international seafood company with skilled employees, modern production facilities, strong customer relationships, and a broad market position," the company said. The new ownership group added that it is taking over "with great...

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ASMI Welcomes Jeff Welbourn to Board of Directors

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) has appointed Jeff Welbourn, president of Trident USA, to its Board of Directors, adding a seasoned seafood executive with deep, end-to-end experience in Alaska’s seafood sector.

Welbourn leads Trident Seafoods’ North America and Latin America businesses and oversees a wide portfolio that includes value-added operations, domestic sales, commercial strategy, R&D, product management and sales operations. In the role, he works across harvesting, processing, sales and operations with a focus on sustainable growth and valu...

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BioMar's Q2 Revenue Rises 4.8%

Today, BioMar released its first quarterly report as a publicly listed company. Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty and raw material supply challenges, the company reports volume growth of 5% compared with the year-to-date period last year.

While the feed business continues to perform strongly, the overall first-half results were partly impacted, as expected and planned, by transformation costs related to the strategic development of the technology business towards more direct sales and recurring revenue. In parallel, the recently completed IPO implied higher cost during the period.

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Chile’s Sernapesca Seizes Nearly 540 Pounds of Undocumented Seafood in Maule Road Checks

Sernapesca Maule, and Chile’s Carabineros, carried out regionwide road checks in Chanco, Cauquenes and Lomas Las Tortillas that ended with the seizure of 245 kilograms (about 540 lb) of hydrobiological resources lacking an Accreditation of Legal Origin (AOL).

Officials first intercepted a vehicle in the Margarita sector of Chanco carrying 54.3 kg (120 lb) of red conger eel and 35.5 kg (78 lb) of black conger eel without documentation. In Cauquenes, inspectors found 57 kg (126 lb) of horse...

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Fishwife Partners With Sweetgreen for First National Restaurant Menu Launch

Tinned seafood brand Fishwife is partnering with Sweetgreen on its latest retail and foodservice collaboration, bringing the brand to a national restaurant menu for the first time.

Sweetgreen announced the partnership Tuesday with the launch of Sweetgreen X Fishwife Summer Niçoise, a limited-time offering running Aug. 11 through Aug. 24. The Niçoise-inspired salad features a custom co-branded tin of Fishwife Albacore Tuna with Spanish Lemon, which guests open and add to the salad themselves.

“Our mission with Fishwife is to bring high-quality...

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Shan Distribution Recalls More than 5,000 Pounds of Breaded Swai Products

Shan Distribution is recalling 5,084 pounds of breaded swai fish fillet and fish stick products after regulators found the items were produced in the United Arab Emirates, a country not eligible to export Siluriformes fish to the United States.

According to the notice, the affected products were produced in December 2025, carry a “use before” date of June 2027, and do not bear a USDA mark of inspection.

The recalled items were distributed to retail locations in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa...

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Taylor Farms Recalls Products Containing Jalapeños Over Salmonella Risk

Taylor Fresh Foods, whose products are sold under the Taylor Farms brand, is recalling a range of prepared foods containing fresh jalapeños supplied by Coast Citrus Distributors, which recalled the peppers over concerns about possible Salmonella contamination.

The Taylor Farms recall affects dips, salsas, prepared sandwiches and salads distributed to retailers including Whole Foods, Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Target, Stop & Shop, Kroger and Hannaford stores across the United States.

Among the 20 recalled products is Trader Joe’s Fiesta Style Salad with Shrimp, sold in 11.11-ounce packages. The affected...

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Salmon Harvest Levels Inch Up in Early August But Missed Forecasts Are the Concern

Bristol Bay sockeye landings have reached 29.75 million salmon, still shy of the pre-season forecast of 32.2 million.

Statewide chum salmon (keta) landings are down 61% from 2025, at 7.35 million fish.

Statewide pink salmon harvests stand at 10.65 million — comprised of 4.5 million from Southeast Alaska, where the pre-season forecast called for 19 million; just 500,000 from Southcentral (Prince William Sound's modest prediction remains significantly above current landings); and over 5.5 million from the Western Region, mostly from...

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ANALYSIS: Chilean Salmon Exports Climb 20.7% YTD Despite Harvest Slowdown in June

Chilean Atlantic salmon harvest trends indicate a strong overall performance. According to SUBPESCA, accumulated harvest volumes from January to June were 7.85% higher year-to-date *YTD) at 376,385 metric tons (mt) (Figure 1). However, a slowdown has more recently been observed, with June harvest levels reaching 57,017 mt — a decrease of 7.89% month-on-month (MOM) and 15.72% year-on-year (YOY). According to market participants, this positive harvest momentum may not be sustained, as current live biomass is unlikely to support harvest levels above those recorded...

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Climate Resilience Critical to US Seafood Growth, Study Finds

Expanding US seafood production will require greater resilience to climate-driven disruptions, according to a new University of Miami study.

Published July 6 in Fish and Fisheries, the study uses Gulf Coast fisheries to examine how hurricanes can disrupt seafood harvests, infrastructure and supply chains. The researchers say the same risks apply to other climate-related threats, including marine heatwaves and harmful algal blooms.

"For fisheries, competitiveness isn't just about producing more seafood—it's about producing it consistently," said Juan Carlos Villaseñor-Derbez...

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Guangdong Haid Malaysian Subsidiary Breaks Ground on Aquaculture Feed Plant

Sheng Long Aqua Technology (M) Sdn. Bhd., a subsidiary of Guangdong Haid Group Co. of China, has held a ground-breaking ceremony for its first aquaculture feed manufacturing facility in Malaysia.

The facility, scheduled to commence operations in 2028, represents a first-phase investment of approximately RM140 million (approximately $34.2 million) and will feature two shrimp feed production lines and two fish feed production lines with annual production capacity of 150,000 MT, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority said.

Mr. Chuang Jie Cheng

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C.P. Vietnam Opens New Shrimp Feed Mill

C.P. Vietnam inaugurated its fourth aquafeed production facility in Ca Mau on August 7, 2026, expanding its total annual shrimp feed capacity to more than 650,000 tons, the company announced.

The Ca Mau factory represents a VND 1.725 trillion (approximately $68 million) investment and sits on an 18-hectare site in Khanh An Industrial Park, Khanh An Commune.

The facility produces 124,800 tons annually, specializing in premium shrimp feed lines including Blanca, CP, Hi-Po, Hi-Gro, Lotus, and Nasa.

The company noted that these

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Red Robin Launches Value Dinner Deal, Names Scott Hudler CMO

Red Robin is adding a new value-focused dinner promotion with the launch of its Dinner Double Feature. Priced at $17.99, the offer lets guests mix and match two half-portion entrées, along with coleslaw, a Bottomless Side and a choice of select appetizer or dessert.

The promotion spans chicken, shrimp and ribs, giving diners 180 possible meal combinations. In announcing the offer, President and CEO Dave Pace said the company is looking to deliver both variety and value as consumers continue to seek...

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CFS Sues Pacific Seafood Over Hood Canal Hatchery Pollution; Company Vows to Fight Back

The Center for Food Safety has filed a federal lawsuit against Pacific Seafood Group alleging more than 400 Clean Water Act permit violations at a shellfish hatchery on Hood Canal — and Pacific Seafood is pushing back, calling the litigation a cash-motivated attack that ignores its ongoing work with state regulators.

The suit, filed August 4 in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington (Case No. 3:26-cv-5877), names Dulcich, Incorporated and Pacific Shellfish – Quilcene, LLC as defendants. The complaint targets...

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Trump Ends NOAA Funding for Annual Arctic Report Card, But Says Data Will Still Be Collected

The Trump administration has announced it is withdrawing federal support for the Arctic Report Card at a time when the Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth.

Kim Doster, communications director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), issued a statement saying the agency would no longer coordinate the annual report, without explaining the decision. "Coordination of the 2026 Arctic Report Card will not be facilitated through NOAA," Doster told the New York Times...

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Russia Increases Total Allowable Catch of Kamchatka Crab in Barents Sea

Russia has increased the total allowable catch (TAC) of Kamchatka crab in the Barents Sea for the current year, while also expanding scientific survey work on the species.

Under a recent order from the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, the TAC was raised from 12,690 MT to 13,960 MT — an increase of roughly 10%. Most of the catch is expected to be directed toward export markets, with China identified as the priority destination.

This month, Russian fisheries scientists launched a comprehensive trawl survey of Kamchatka crab in the Barents Sea...

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Canada, US Shadow Chinese Snow Dragon Research Vessels in Alaskan Arctic

Late last month a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 surveillance plane joined American Coast Guard and Army personnel shadowing two Chinese research vessels Xue Long and Xue Long 2 as they transited the northern Bering Sea. It was the first time this year that China’s well-equipped research vessels, known as Snow Dragon and Snow Dragon 2, entered the area.

Defense and monitoring capabilities are ramping up in both countries as awareness...

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ANALYSIS: US Shrimp Imports Beat June Forecast; July Could Approach 2021 Volume Levels

June official US shrimp imports came in at 164.2 million lbs, above Expana's model midpoint of 158.5 million lbs and within the upper range. Most product forms tracked close to the estimate. The exception was peeled, which at 86.6 million lbs came in above the upper bound of 83.2 million lbs. The most likely explanation is timing — Ecuador running peeling lines at capacity combined with India purchasing decisions, delayed earlier in the year by tariff and seasonal constraints, clearing customs in June. Check out Expana's full breakdown of June imports here.

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Norwegian Cod Farmer Ode Becomes World's First Producer of ASC-Certified Farmed Cod

Norwegian cod farming company Ode has become the world's first producer of ASC-certified farmed cod, the company announced August 7 — coming just one week after it became the first major cod farmer in history to deliver a profitable full year.

The certification was awarded under the ASC Salmon and Cod Standard v1.5, which ASC introduced in 2025 when it formally opened Atlantic cod for certification following a stakeholder consultation. Ode is the first company to have completed a full audit and received a certificate under the...

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Canada Offers $40,000 Buyout to Wild Oyster Harvesters as MSX, Dermo Spread Through Atlantic Stocks

The Canadian government has launched a voluntary license retirement program for wild oyster harvesters in Atlantic Canada, offering $40,000 per license in exchange for permanent exit from the fishery as two devastating diseases continue to spread through oyster populations.

Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson announced the Oyster License Retirement Grant Program on August 10 in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. The program targets harvesters in PEI, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick who are most heavily dependent on wild oyster harvesting...

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SSP Adds Three New Associate Members

The Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) has welcomed three new Associate Members: Aker QRILL Company, EDISA, and MILANPLASTIC. This move expands SSP's network of companies working to support sustainability and responsible shrimp production.

SSP said the new members bring expertise in aquaculture nutrition, digital traceability and food packaging, strengthening collaboration across the shrimp value chain.

"We are pleased to welcome Aker QRILL Company, EDISA, and MILANPLASTIC to SSP," said Pamela Nath, Director of SSP. "The incorporation of new Associate Members allows us to bring together additional capabilities, experience, and new perspectives to continue...

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Les Hodges: The Market Has the Crab. Now It Needs the Buyers.

The global crab market has moved from concern over supply availability to the more difficult question of demand. Strong Canadian snow crab shipments have substantially improved U.S. availability, while recovering Alaska resources and increased availability of Santolla from Argentina and Chile have changed the supply outlook. Norway remains constrained by its sharply reduced red king crab quota, while sanctions continue to exclude Russian crab from the U.S. market. The question for the second half of 2026 is increasingly not whether crab is available, but whether demand is strong...

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Senate Agriculture Committee Adds Seafood Labeling Overhaul to Farm Bill

A Senate committee has advanced legislation that would require more prominent country-of-origin and harvest method disclosures on seafood sold in US grocery stores, folding the measure into the broader Farm Bill now moving through Congress.

The Senate Agriculture Committee adopted an amendment from Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) during an August 6 markup of the Agricultural Act of 2026 — commonly referred to as Farm Bill 2.0. The amendment is based on the bipartisan LABEL Act (S. 3065)...

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National Fisheries Institute Statement on the Passing of Lee Weddig

Reston, VA – August 10, 2026– The seafood community has lost a giant. Lee Weddig ran the National Fisheries Institute for three decades, retiring in 1997. Trade press referred to him as the “Godfather of NFI” and his tenure was marked by a steadfast focus on the future. During a fiftieth anniversary celebration, Weddig did not rest on the association’s accomplishments but rather insisted it was, “imperative that the NFI build on its technological and political capabilities because the questions [were] getting more complicated and more difficult with the passing years...

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ASMI, Alzheimer’s Resource Alaska Partner to Put Brain Health on the Seafood Menu

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) is partnering with Alzheimer’s Resource Alaska to bring science-based nutrition information about seafood and brain health to Alaskans. The collaboration connects Alaska’s wild seafood resource with trusted health and wellness organizations to reinforce a single, practical message for consumers: growing research shows that regularly eating wild Alaska seafood can support long-term brain health.

One of the first public examples of the partnership is an article by Alzheimer’s Resource Alaska CEO Lisa Sauder, “Caring for...

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Norway Targets Lost Fishing Gear in Annual Ocean Cleanup

The Directorate of Fisheries in Norway has carried out annual ocean cleanups for more than 40 years, targeting lost or abandoned fishing gear — often called ghost gear.

The cleanup vessel "M/S Vikingbank" set out from Ålesund and will work its way along the fishing grounds to Kirkenes under the leadership of Gjermund Langedal, a project manager and expedition manager with the Directorate of Fisheries.

Marked ropes and other recovered gear will be returned where possible; other items will be handled through approved waste reception centers or...

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ANALYSIS: Tariff Relief Eases Prices, But Higher Input Costs Keep a Floor Under the Market

Arctic char has generally been regarded as one of the more stable categories within the imported finfish complex. Sourced from Icelandic farm-raised operations, whole fish and fillet quotations have tended to move within relatively narrow ranges, with values holding fairly steady across successive quotation periods. Char has often appeared as a comparatively calm line item within the broader seafood market.

The current downward adjustment traces back to trade policy rather than any shift in supply or demand fundamentals. Char pricing initially moved...

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