Chris Chase

The U.S. and India are still working out the details on a trade deal over a year after negotiations began.  The U.S. and India launched bilateral trade talks in February 2025 following a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and India Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Since that time, the two countries have engaged in smaller trade actions, such as a trade deal in February 2026 that lowered U.S. tariffs on Indian goods. India was hit by 25… Read More

Aker BioMarine and Aker have announced a proposed merger between the two companies after attempts to sell it fell flat. Aker BioMarine announced on 12 February that the company appointed financial advisors Jefferies and Houlihan Lokey to support exploring alternatives for its Human Health Ingredient business. Following that announcement, the company and its advisors conducted pre-marketing efforts and began exploring options.  In its latest… Read More

Portland, Oregon-based Pacific Seafood has confirmed the acquisition of Ocean Beauty Seafoods’ distribution business. Ocean Beauty Seafoods announced it was planning to sell off its distribution business in December 2023, which included its distribution operations in Astoria and Portland, Oregon; Boise, Idaho; Dallas, Texas; Helena, Montana; Renton, Washington; and Salt Lake City, Utah. The move was part of a long term business strategy of… Read More

The Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico is home to the largest octopus fishery in North America and one of the largest in the world, and Instinción Trading Founder Fabrizio Mata wants more people to know about it.  Maya octopus, also known as Yucatán octopus, pulpo Maya, or the four-eyed octopus, is caught in the region of Mexico that gave it its name. According to data from Mexico’s National Aquaculture and Fisheries Commission, the average catch… Read More

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) is calling on the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to ban seafood caught or processed by China, citing concerns over forced labor.  CECC Chair Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Co-Chair Representative Christopher Smith (R-New Jersey), along with commissioners Representative Dale Strong (R-Alabama) and Representative Tom Suozzi (D-New York)  wrote a letter to Trump calling… Read More

The European Union has failed to finalize new sanctions against Russia after three days of negotiations, with further discussion on the matter slated for 22 July. The E.U. unveiled a sanction package in June that would have placed restrictions on a new swath of goods from Russia. Included among the proposal was a complete ban on all Russian cod and restrictions on a number of other seafood species.  That initial suggestion has reportedly begun… Read More

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has announced new tariffs on Brazil, with several exceptions for certain seafood items. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced new 25 percent tariffs on imports from Brazil following a Section 301 investigation. The USTR said the tariff action follows an investigation it started in 2025, just days after Trump threatened 50 percent tariffs on the country claiming it… Read More

The United Kingdom Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has begun installing Nemo I-VMS devices on the fishing fleet as part of its efforts to finally have monitoring for its under-12-meter fishing fleet. MMO announced new guidance on the I-VMS rollout in June, granting eligible fishermen the ability to register for a Nemo device from CLS UK (previously Fulcrum Maritime Systems) to replace existing Succorfish SC2 devices. Those devices needed to… Read More

Insula Seafood has sold its stake in First Seafood to the company’s management. In a post on its LinkedIn, Insula said the sale will be to First Seafoods’ management and to some external industrial investors. Insula has been the majority owner for ten years, owning 90.1 percent stake in the company. "First Seafood has developed into a strong and international seafood company during the ten years Insula has been the owner,” Insula CEO… Read More

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded USD 15 million (EUR 13 million) to a program designed to bolster the maritime economy in New England. The NSF’s “Seafood Engine” is one of many of the foundation’s “Regional Innovation Engine” awards, which grants funding to teams that will build and scale innovation clusters to develop technology and prepare people for emerging jobs. This year, the NSF granted funding to 12… Read More