Chris Chase

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and the Groundfish Forum – a trade group representing trawl catcher-processors in Alaska  – are pushing back against claims by a coalition of NGOs that the recent recertification of an Alaska flatfish fishery amounts to “greenwashing.” A coalition of several NGOs, including SalmonState, the Bering Sea Fishermen’s Association, and Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association, claimed the recent… Read More

Despite delays that forced Russia to heavily postpone the deadline of its investment quota program, the country said new processing facilities and vessels stemming from the program are benefiting the industry. Russia’s investment quota programs got their start in the country’s crab industry in 2018, which saw the government auction off 50 percent of available quotas via auctions that came with additional investment requirements for… Read More

The Fish, Food, and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) said it will be “boots on the ground” by 13 January if the provincial government in Newfoundland and Labrador doesn’t take steps regarding the conflict over a recent decision made on crab rebates.  An auditor recently determined a contractual rebate that is given to harvesters should be CAD 0.28 (USD 0.20, EUR 0.17) per pound of snow crab, an amount the FFAW said is unacceptable based on the… Read More

Over 700 attendees gathered in Portland, Maine, for the largest-ever Northeast Aquaculture Conference and Exposition, which ran from 7 to 9 January, and event organizers said the growth of the gathering reflects the increasing importance of aquaculture in the region. Founded in 1998, the Northeast Aquaculture Conference (NACE) was created by the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center (MAIC) to bring together multiple facets of the industry,… Read More

U.S. imports saw a slight uptick in early January over December due to the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday in Asia, but continued to be down year-over-year with analysts predicting it will remain that way.   National Retail Federation’s (NRF) recently released Global Port Tracker report said trade volumes are predicted to remain low through Spring. Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett said the declines are in part related to “chronic… Read More

The Fish, Food, and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, is calling for action after auditing firm Deloitte determined a final rebate amount of CAD 0.28 (USD 0.20, EUR 0.17) per pound of snow crab.  Newfoundland sets a minimum price for snow crab via the Newfoundland and Labrador Standing Fish Price Setting Panel, which in April 2025 determined harvesters would get a minimum of CAD 4.97 (USD 3.57, EUR 3.07) per… Read More

Aquaculture welfare research and development company Food Animal Initiative (FAI) has launched a “Shrimp Hub” as a means of assisting shrimp aquaculture companies with establishing better welfare practices.  FAI has worked to improve animal welfare in multiple regions around the globe, including through its Tilapia Welfare Egypt Project and through partnerships with companies like Spring Genetics. The company hosts online learning platforms… Read More

Nordic Aqua Partners, in a Q4 and FY 2025 update, said it has continued to successfully transfer fish into its Stage 2 grow-out tanks at its Ningbo, China-based salmon recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility. Nordic Aqua Partners completed Stage 1 of its salmon RAS in 2024 and began harvesting salmon in April 2024. The company said it transferred fish into the first grow-out RAS unit of Stage 2 throughout Q4 2025 and plans to continue… Read More

Icelandic fishing company Samherji has acquired 49 percent of Norwegian fish oil production firm Berg LipidTech. Berg LipidTech, based in Ålesund, was founded in 1993 and produces a range of fish oil products including cod liver oil, salmon and trout oil, and marine omega-3 products. According to both companies, the purchase agreement has already been signed and finalized, and Samherji has also acquired an option to buy the remaining share… Read More

Waldoboro, Maine, U.S.A.-based eel aquaculture company American Unagi has reached a potential asset purchase agreement with Maine Community Bank following its filing for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. American Unagi filed for Chapter 11 protection in September 2025, just four years after breaking ground on its eel recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility. The company opened its operations in 2023, and American Unagi Founder… Read More