Chris Chase

Eight years ago, BlueTrace CEO Chip Terry was invited to tour his friend’s oyster farm in Maine. Terry told SeafoodSource his friend was trying to tempt him into starting his own oyster operation, and wanted to give him a look at what it’s like. “I went out there for a day and realized ‘eh, maybe not, not going to be a great oyster farmer,’” Terry said. “But in the process, I began to learn a little bit about what he was dealing… Read More

Norwegian halibut farming company Nordic Halibut said construction of its Tingvoll facility is on track to receive fish this month. In an operational update, the company said construction on the Torjulvågen, Tingvoll-based production facility was on schedule throughout Q2 2026. Nordic Halibut is targeting an annual production level of 10,350 metric tons (MT) of halibut by 2031, and the facility will be a key part of that by producing juvenile… Read More

Land-based salmon-farming firm Nordic Aqua Partners has hit another milestone in Q2 2026 as it operated under full run-rate on both Stage 1 and Stage 2. In an operational update, the company said its recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) achieved a commercial harvest of 1,362 metric tons (MT) of head-on gutted (HOG) salmon, with most of that harvest toward the end of the quarter. The harvest had an average weight of 4.4 kilograms HOG,… Read More

New cod fishing regulations in New England will make life more complicated for the region’s groundfish fleet during a period already impacted by high fuel costs. The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) recently approved a new multispecies fishery management plan that split the management areas for cod in the Northeast U.S. into four separate areas, an increase from the two areas it was previously. That rule, Amendment 25, set… Read More

Kuehnle AgroSystems said it has secured multi-million dollar Series B financing to begin a shift toward industrial-level production of astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is a necessary nutrient in salmon aquaculture, providing both the pink coloration and an essential nutrient that supports healthy salmon growth. Kuehnle said it has demonstrated a method of manufacturing astaxanthin at an industrially relevant scale using fermentation. The company said… Read More

U.S. President Donald Trump has renewed threats to cut all trade between the U.S. and Spain during the NATO summit, currently being held in Ankara, Türkiye.  During a press conference, Trump called Spain a “terrible partner” over its defense spending and refusal to allow the U.S. to use its airspace or military bases for its war in Iran. “Spain is a wasted cause,” Trump said. “We don’t want to do any trade business with Spain… Read More

Norwegian salmon-farming company Salmar has entered into an agreement to acquire 70 percent of Måsøval in a deal worth NOK 3.4 billion (USD 348 million, EUR 304 million). SalMar announced on the Oslo Børs that it will acquire 85,727,553 shares of Måsøval from Heimstø, giving it 70 percent of the existing 122,508,455 shares outstanding on 8 July. The purchase price will be at NOK 39.50 (USD 4.04, EUR 3.53) per share, and the consideration… Read More

Norwegian private equity firm Bluefront Equity has acquired 55 percent of aquaculture cleaning solution provider Meox, continuing its streak of acquisitions. Meox is a provider of underwater robotic systems that can perform maintenance in aquaculture applications. Its robots can be used for net clearing, clearing of mooring lines and ropes, lice skirts, cage collars, vessel hulls, and land-based aquaculture facilities. The company also provides… Read More

Bayou Best Foods, a manufacturer of plant-based shrimp analogs, has acquired BettaF!ish, a developer of plant-based fish analog products. Berlin, Germany-based BettaF!sh is a leading seaweed company creating a range of different seafood analogs, including “Sal-Nom,” its smoked salmon analog, and “Tu-Nah,” a plant-based tuna analog. Bayou Best Foods said the company’s offerings complement its own plant-based shrimp analogs. "Our goal… Read More

Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has announced an increase in the total allowable catch (TAC) of both Atlantic mackerel and Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence fall herring. Canada Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson announced the increases, which for Atlantic mackerel amounts to tripling the TAC from 500 metric tons (MT) to 1,500 MT, including 1,400 MT for personal-use bait, 60 MT for bycatch, 20 MT for scientific sampling, and… Read More