Seafoodnews.com Summary Tuesday, October 27

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News Summary October 27, 2026

The Winding Glass: Cod Prices Top Out Ahead of Lent 2027, but Retail Customers Are Still Missing

John Sackton's Winding Glass column finds cod prices topping out ahead of Lent 2027 even as retail customers remain missing, with Lent 2026 posting the worst retail cod performance on record and volume continuing to fall through October despite rising supply from a rebounding Northern cod stock. Pollock, meanwhile, has become the tighter whitefish this winter on production shortfalls in Alaska and reduced Russian exports to Europe, limiting retailers' ability to promote cheaper alternatives, while Canadian cod supply remains mismatched with the product forms US Lent programs need...

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The Winding Glass: Cod Prices Top Out Ahead of Lent 2027, but Retail Customers Are Still Missing

Thirty-five years after the Northern cod collapse in Canada, the stock has rebounded to become the largest Atlantic cod spawning stock in the world, now larger than the Barents Sea stock, according to Norwegian scientists at the Groundfish Forum. The Northern cod quota has risen from 18,000 tonnes to 59,000 tonnes in two years. The Forum projects Canadian and US cod landings of 65,000 tonnes in 2027, up from 30,000 tonnes in 2025. MSC certification of Northern cod is now...

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Honduras Shrimp Output Falls Short as Drought Shuts 214 Farms

Drought in southern Honduras has pushed the country's shrimp sector below its 2026 targets, with 214 farms unable to finish their harvests, according to the National Association of Aquaculture Producers of Honduras (ANDAH).

ANDAH President Juan Carlos Javier told La Prensa that the dry season ran about two months longer than the sector had planned for, cutting harvests in the south. He said the 214 closed farms could not harvest because of the drought. HCH and Infobae report the same figure...

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Three Groups Join Forces to Protect Whales and Support California’s Dungeness Crab Fishery

Last week, three influential groups announced a new collaboration to protect whales and Dungeness crab gear while supporting California's Dungeness crab fishing fleet.

The partnership between the Marine Mammal Center, the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA), and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) inked on October 22 is called the Dungeness Crab and Whale Conservation Collaborative. Supported by a three-year grant from the Clean Break Fund, the trio will bring together scientists, commercial fishing, and conservationists to protect whales and support a sustainable...

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No Injuries In Sunday’s Catastrophic Fire at Newport, OR Processing Facility

A massive fire consumed much of the Pacific Seafood Group’s processing plant in Newport’s historic Bayfront district on Sunday, evacuating residents and shopkeepers in an area larger than a square mile from the plant. The threat of leaks from two tanks of ammonia inside the freezer building prompted the “Go now” order. Residents went to a nearby school to shelter and many of the towns business and tourist attractions along the Bayfront closed down. By mid-afternoon, the risk posed by the tanks had...

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Affordability and Processing Concerns Reshape Grocery Carts, Report Finds

Perceptions of food processing, ingredient preferences and affordability are shaping US grocery buying decisions, according to FoodMinds’ 2026 Conscious Consumption Index.

The survey of 1,000 US adults responsible for household grocery shopping found that 54% said they started buying or increased purchases of a food or beverage over the past year because it appeared less processed, contained fewer additives or included preferred ingredients. Meanwhile, 46% said they stopped buying or reduced purchases for reasons tied to processing, additives or ingredients they wanted...

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Channel Fish to Debut Three Value-Added Seafood Products at PLMA 2026

Channel Fish will debut three value-added seafood products at the Private Label Manufacturers Association’s (PLMA) 2026 Store Brands Marketplace, taking place Nov. 15-17 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.

The launch coincides with the family-owned seafood manufacturer’s 80th anniversary and highlights its continued focus on product development for retail and club store customers.

The new products are Mini Salmon Arepas, Chicken Fried Wild Alaska Sole Tenders and Jalapeño Popper Shrimp. All three will be featured in the...

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Prince Rupert Man Fined $7,500 for Illegal Possession of 10 Endangered Northern Abalone

A Prince Rupert, B.C., man has been fined $7,500 after being convicted of illegally possessing 10 Northern Abalone, an endangered marine species protected under Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA).

Caylin James Holland was convicted on Aug. 5, 2026, following an investigation launched after Metlakatla Fishery Guardians alerted Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to suspected illegal harvesting in nearby waters on Sept. 8, 2025.

The Guardians, who work closely with DFO Conservation and Protection fishery officers, suspected Northern Abalone were...

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ANALYSIS: El Niño Weakens Humboldt Current, Squeezing Anchovy Supply and Lifting Fishmeal Prices

The Humboldt Current

The Humboldt Current, off the coasts of Peru and Chile, is subject to permanent and seasonal upwelling. In this oceanographic process, deep, cold water rises to the surface and replaces the nutrient-depleted surface water. According to The Nature Conservancy, the area covers only 0.1% of the ocean's surface but provides up to 15% of the world's fish catch.

Over the past 10 years (2015–2025), Peruvian anchovy landings averaged 4,077,763 mt, according to the Peruvian Ministry of...

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Umios to Acquire High Liner Foods for CAD 804 Million

Umios said in a press release Monday that it has agreed to acquire High Liner Foods for CAD 27 per share (about USD $19.22), valuing the Canadian processor at roughly CAD 804 million (about USD 573 million). The companies expect the transaction to close in January 2027, in the fourth quarter of Umios’ fiscal year ending March 2027.

The deal pairs Umios’ marine resource access and global procurement network with High Liner Foods’ value‑added processing capabilities, established brands and retail and foodservice...

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MSC's New Model Says Well-Managed Fisheries are Twice as Valuable

The Marine Stewardship Council has launched a prototype fishery financial model, giving banks and financiers insight into risk and resilience within the seafood sector. The model suggests a well-managed fishery — MSC-certified, that is — is better for the ocean and supports a more resilient long-term economic model, making it roughly twice as valuable as the same fishery that is not well-managed.

With over a third of fish stocks currently exploited at unsustainable levels, MSC says it’s even more important to “steer capital towards resilient...

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First Seafood Names Trine Sæther Romuld CEO

In a LinkedIn post on Friday, First Seafood announced the appointment of Trine Sæther Romuld as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

A seasoned industry veteran, Romuld has held several leadership roles in the sector. Most recently, she served as First Seafood’s Chief Financial Officer. Founder Andreas Sundnes will remain Chairman while also taking on an operational role as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), a move that will allow him to work even more closely with customers and the company’s commercial operations.

“Trine is one of the most capable...

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Hokkaido Fall Chum Catch Down 40% as Peak Season Passes

On October 16, the Hokkaido Joint Fisheries Adjustment Commission released preliminary data on the current coastal fall chum salmon catch. As of October 10, the number of salmon caught stood at 2,309,877, down 41% from the same period last year, with a total catch value of 12.01 billion yen ($76.57 million), down 20% from the previous year, Minato Shimbun reported.

According to daily landing reports from the Hokkaido Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations, the cumulative catch as of October 18 reached 5,108 tons...

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US Revises Canada Tariff List: Some Produce Packaging Lines Dropped, Cocoa Powder Added, and More

On October 23, US tariff reductions on certain Canadian imports were anticipated after Senator Collins (R-ME) took to social media ahead of an upcoming election.

Later the same day, the tariff schedule was amended for Canadian goods subject to the US 50% Section 338 tariff, according to a White House action. For example, 22 products were deleted from the tariff list: Seaweed and other algae, polypropylene sheets, plastic boxes and polyethylene bags, thin plywood, plastic-coated paperboard, corrugated cartons, paper sacks and bags...

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Trump Announces $8 Billion for Farmers and Fishermen to Offset Soaring Diesel Costs

On a campaign swing through Kansas last Monday, President Donald Trump announced a new program to offset high diesel costs incurred by farmers across the country amidst competitive political races in areas like Kansas where voters have not sent a Democrat to Congress since 1932. Trump attributed the plan, called Harvest Fuel Relief program, to Kansas’s incumbent, Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, who won his seat by more than 11 percentage points in 2020 but now is locked in a close race with...

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Expana's Weekly Top 10

From trade policy and supply chain disruption to shifting retail demand and commodity market pressure, this week’s top 10 stories offer a snapshot of the key developments influencing food, agriculture and commodity trade. Explore Expana’s latest coverage spanning regulation, logistics, proteins, seafood, crop weather and key input markets below.

Find archived Top 10's here.

Trade, Tariffs and Regulation

10. Trump signed an executive order authorizing steep tariffs on Russian goods and major buyers of Russian oil, but a pause clause kept them from taking effect, leaving USTR to monitor conditions as trade talks...

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Australis Aquaculture Expands Vietnam Barramundi Capacity With New Farm Leases and Processing Plant

Australis Aquaculture has secured 16 ocean‑farming leases in Vietnam’s An Giang Province, adding permitted production capacity of up to 30,000 metric tons annually as the company looks to expand barramundi supply for global whitefish markets. Stocking is underway at the first farm, with initial harvests expected to begin in mid‑2027.

The 30‑year leases, issued by the An Giang Provincial People’s Committee, more than double Australis’ total permitted capacity. The company also said Blue Loop, its new seafood processing...

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New York Adds $6.5 Million to Islip Regional Shellfish Hatchery, Bringing State Total to $16.5M

Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced an additional $6.5 million in state capital funding for the Town of Islip Regional Shellfish Hatchery, bringing New York's total commitment to $16.5 million for construction of a new facility. The governor's office announced the funding on Oct. 20.

The state's earlier commitment was $10 million, announced in 2024. Construction costs have since risen, pushing the total project cost to $16.5 million, and the new money is meant to cover that gap and advance...

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More Featured Stories »

Japan's August Surimi Product Output Rose 6.7% to 27,695 Tons

According to a report by the Minato Shimbun, the Food Marketing Research & Information Center, a Japanese research organization, recently released preliminary August production estimates for surimi products, showing a 6.7% increase from the same month last year to 27,695 tons. All product categories rose, led by the "other kamaboko" category—which includes crab-flavored kamaboko—up 8.6% to 7,909 tons.

Although "other kamaboko" recorded the second-highest growth rate among all categories, its production volume fell below the 8,000-ton mark, a level...

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Hilton Seachill Proposes Up to 90 Job Cuts in Grimsby

Hilton Food Group has proposed changes to the organizational structure of its Seachill site in Grimsby and has begun a consultation, per The Grocer. The proposal could cut up to 90 roles across frontline and office positions, or 9% of the site's workforce of around 1,000. All affected employees have been informed. The company said it will explore suitable alternative roles where available and will consider all feedback before making final decisions. The consultation is expected to conclude by the end of December...

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Uber Eats Partners with Key Food to Expand Grocery Delivery

Uber Technologies has partnered with Key Food Stores Co-Operative to offer grocery delivery from more than 300 member stores across the Northeast and Florida through the Uber Eats platform.

The partnership expands access to Key Food’s Family of Supermarkets, including Key Food, Food Universe, SuperFresh, The Food Emporium and Food Dynasty. Customers can order fresh produce, meat, seafood, pantry staples and household essentials through the Uber Eats app, with on-demand and scheduled delivery options.

“Key Food’s stores understand the neighborhoods they serve, and...

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Mowi: Chefs Get First-Hand View of Scottish Salmon Farming

Six chefs from Master Chefs of Great Britain joined the Mowi Scotland team in September for the second Mowi Salmon Experience tour, following the first in 2025. The group toured the Inchmore Hatchery, the Scalpay farm, the Isle of Skye Smokehouse, the Mowi farms office in Fort William, and the Remote Operations Centre, where fish across the west coast are monitored remotely. The tour ended with a product demonstration by Mowi Consumer Products UK...

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New America-First Seafood Strategy to Increase US Production and Consumption, Lower Imports

Last Friday, President Trump released a 33-page America First Seafood Strategy, a key directive under the President’s Executive Order Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.

The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will execute the plan, which includes strategies to expand domestic seafood production, modernize infrastructure, improve market access for fishermen and processors, and ensure fair competition in domestic and global markets.

Five are identified as priorities:

Labeling, Marketing, and Market Access
Rebuilding America’s Seafood Infrastructure & Processing Capacity...

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Norway, Russia Boost 2027 Barents Sea Cod Quota 14% to 325,000 Metric Tons

Norway and Russia have agreed to increase their shared Northeast Arctic cod quota by 14% for 2027, setting the total allowable catch (TAC) at 325,000 metric tons as the stock shows early signs of recovery. The agreement, reached Oct. 23 following negotiations in Istanbul, Turkey, also raises the haddock TAC by 18% and the Greenland halibut TAC by 11%. The beaked redfish quota will decline 3%, while capelin fishing will remain closed for another year.

“For the first time in six years, we...

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Norwegian Scientists Advise 35% Snow Crab Increase for 2027

Norwegian scientists recommend that snow crab catches on the Norwegian shelf not exceed 16,594 tonnes in 2027, a 35% increase on the 2026 advice, according to the Institute of Marine Research (HI). The 2026 advice and the final 2026 quota were both 12,336 tonnes.

Stock assessment lead Ann Merete Hjelset said the advice rises because every survey index in the assessment is higher in 2026 than in 2025. "It indicates the stock has grown and that there is room for higher catches in 2027," she said...

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Norcod Reaches 98% Cod Utilization as Fish Oil Plant Starts Up

Norwegian cod farmer Norcod says it has reached 98% utilization of its harvested cod after starting fish oil production at its Kråkøy harvesting facility. The company announced the milestone on Oct. 22.

In its first two weeks, the factory produced more than 14 tonnes of fish oil. Norcod says the plant can use nearly all offcuts from cod harvesting, including parts that were previously sent to ensilage. The oil is aimed at the nutritional supplements market, giving the company a new revenue stream from existing production...

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Vital Role of Pelagic Sector Highlighted at Inaugural Meeting in London

Seafish, the UK’s seafood industry organization, held the first meeting of their Pelagic Sector Issues Group recently at the Fishmongers’ Hall in London. The group brought together representatives from across the seafood supply chain, including harvesting, processing, retailers, alongside government policy and science advisors, to discuss issues affecting the sector...

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ANALYSIS: Frozen Whiting-Record Prices and Tight Whitefish Supplies Heighten Concerns Ahead of Lent

Frozen whiting prices have continued their upward trajectory, reaching record levels as constrained supplies and elevated replacement costs lend support to the market. Since May, imported whiting fillet prices have advanced from approximately $2.35/lb to $2.70/lb in October, an increase of nearly 15%. Current values are also 14.9% above year-ago levels and approximately 20% above the five-year October average, highlighting the extent of the market's strength despite a generally cautious buying...

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Russia and Norway Agree on a 14% Barents Sea Cod Quota Increase for 2027

Russia and Norway have agreed to raise the 2027 Barents Sea cod quota by 14%, Russia's fisheries agency Rosrybolovstvo said. Speaking to journalists in Istanbul on Oct. 22, Rosrybolovstvo head Ilya Shestakov said the joint Russian-Norwegian Fisheries Commission had decided on the increase for next year. The increase marks the first rise after five years of continuous cuts.

The 2026 total allowable catch was set at 285,000 tonnes, the lowest since 1991. A 14% increase would take the 2027 TAC to roughly...

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NOAA Allocates $15.8 Million in Fishery Disaster Funding to Florida, California and Makah Tribe

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the US Department of Commerce (DOC) has announced $15.8 million in fishery disaster funds for Florida, California and Washington, for disasters previously declared.

In Florida, the funds cover Hurricane Ian in 2022, which was declared by Governor DeSantis. In Washington State, the allocation recognizes the Makah Tribe's ocean treaty troll fishery in 2020 and 2021, as well as the Fraser sockeye salmon fisheries in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023. California's red sea urchin fishery received...

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Canadian Seafood Farmers Names 2026-2027 Executive Committee, Chaired by Cooke's Joel Richardson

Canadian Seafood Farmers has named its 2026-2027 Executive Committee, elected by the board on Oct. 16. Joel Richardson of family-owned Cooke Aquaculture in New Brunswick will chair the committee. The group, which announced the appointments on Oct. 22, brings together leaders from Canada's finfish, shellfish and aquaculture supply sectors.

Jennifer Woodland of Cermaq Canada is vice-chair, Cyr Couturier is treasurer, and Mia Parker of Mowi Canada is secretary. Executive members at large are Elizabeth Barlow of Cermaq Canada...

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