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EXPO TODAY 2026
WELCOME LETTER
Avery St. Onge Content Specialist, SeafoodSource
High tides. Good vibes.
Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America is back in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. for its 44th edition, bringing together a dynamic mix of new and familiar faces, spaces, and opportunities.
The Wave Makers’ Zone returns for its third year featuring a wide range of activities, including the New and Featured Product Showcases, the Seafood Excellence Awards, the Oyster Shucking Competition, chef demonstrations, sampling opportunities, and a variety of networking events such as the Women in Seafood reception (Sunday, 15 March at 4:15 PM) and the new Processing Exchange reception (Monday, 16 March at 4:00 PM).
The exhibit hall offers countless opportunities to connect with companies from around the world, with this year’s exhibiting companies representing more than 48 countries, according to event organizer Diversified.
“In an industry where timing, relationships, and access to innovation drive competitive advantage, Seafood Expo North America continues to be a valuable meeting place,” Diversified Group Vice President of Seafood Wynter Courmont said. “Year after year, we witness companies accomplish in three days what would typically require months of travel and meetings. This event delivers efficiency and ROI for companies across the supply chain – from multinational corporations to emerging startups.”
Seafood startups and legacy companies will share the expo floor, presenting an array of fresh, frozen, canned, value-added, processed, and packaged seafood products. Returning exhibitors include Acme Smoked Fish Corp, Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods, Northern Wind, Lee Fish USA, Minh Dang Co., Ltd., Nissui, and many more.
Other companies, such as Canastra Fishing Company, Guarantee Liability Yun-lin County Ko-FWU Fishes Cooperation, Hero Foods, Liberty Seafood, Quanlian Aquatic Products Collection (Guangdong) Co., Ltd., and Southern Clams Ltd, will be joining the event this year.
Meanwhile, Seafood Processing North America will feature a robust lineup of processing equipment, packaging, and logistics companies offering innovative, sustainability-focused solutions, including The Ocean Foundation, Shingi Co Ltd., and Seawise Innovative Packaging.
As in previous years, the 2026 expo includes a full slate of educational conference sessions covering everything from consumer trends to traceability and labor rights. Macro-economist, geopolitical financial expert, best-selling author, and Prinsights Global Founder Nomi Prins will be returning for this year’s keynote on the economic and trade realities shaping the seafood industry’s outlook in 2026.
SeafoodSource editors will be out covering all the action on the expo floor and conference wing, so be sure to subscribe to all our free e-newsletters on SeafoodSource.com for daily coverage, exclusive interviews, and to keep on top of all the exciting expo scoops dropping this week. And don’t forget to visit the SeafoodSource team at Booth #1301 to introduce yourself, drop off business cards, and share your company’s story.
– Avery St. Onge Content Specialist, SeafoodSource
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Chris Chase cchase@divcom.com
CONTENT MANAGER Maddie Kearns mkearns@divcom.com
MANAGING EDITOR Nathan Strout nstrout@divcom.com
CONTENT SPECIALIST Avery St. Onge astonge@divcom.com
Despite price volatility, salmon’s brand remains strong with U.S. consumers
REGULATORY FEATURE
U.S. Congress continues exploring possible solutions for North Atlantic right whale, lobster fishery challenges INNOVATION
Boston booth guide: Check out these seafood and processing innovators at the 2026 expo
52 SEAFOOD2030
What seafood companies need to know about vessel-level due diligence
72 Convenience, innovation shine at 2025 Alaska Symphony of Seafood competition SUNDAY, 15 MARCH
Liner’s Paul Jewer predicts strong tailwinds for seafood
CATCHING UP WITH ICY WATERS,
the 2025 Best New Retail Product Award winner
BY AVERY ST. ONGE
LAST YEAR, ICY WATERS was recognized with the Best New Retail Product Award at the 2025 Seafood Excellence Awards, held at Seafood Expo North America in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
The Bedford, New Hampshire, U.S.A.-based company received the award for its Atlantic Salmon with a Guinness Sweet Honey Mustard Melt & Panko Crumb, created in collaboration with Good Fish Co. of Ireland.
“We entered this kind of at the last minute. We did it for visibility purposes and just being a credible supplier to our customers.” Randy Lavault, a partner at Icy Waters, told SeafoodSource at the time of their win. “We are honored. It’s a small company. We’re fortunate to have partners we trust. I’m honestly lost for words.”
A relatively new company, Icy Waters was founded in October 2023. According to Lavault, the company’s partnership with Good Fish Co. of Ireland has allowed it to bring new, creative flavor profiles to the U.S.
“We wanted to bring a little bit of a new twist to the seafood world and offer products that were convenience items and value-added items and do things a little bit differently with co-branding agreements and that sort of thing,” Lavault said in a podcast interview.
“We wanted to set ourselves apart and be unique with the products that we offer and stay true to the quality and consistency.”
– PADRAIG MURPHY, ICY WATERS
For its Atlantic salmon product, Icy Waters worked with Good Fish Co. and an Irish ingredient supplier to develop a Guinness-infused melt – combining Guinness, honey, mustard, Irish butter, and cream cheese – to coat a piece of Norwegian salmon, which is then topped with panko breadcrumbs.
“Once the product hit my mouth, I knew it was a winner,” Lavault said. “Thankfully, the judges agreed with me.”
In 2025, 68 products were entered into the Seafood Expo North America New Product Showcase, which highlights new products, condiments, and dishes launched within the last year. Of those, 11 were selected as finalists based on uniqueness, market fit, taste profile, market potential, convenience, nutritional value, and originality.
Judging of the finalists took place at Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America at Boston’s Thomas M. Menino Convention and Exhibition Center on 16 March, 2025. The judges included Stop and Shop Vice President Paul Chapman, C&S Wholesale Grocers Procurement Supervisor Kimberly Price, and The Cheesecake Factory Senior Procurement Category Manager Josue Avila.
After winning the Best New Retail Product Award, Icy Waters Co-Founder Padraig Murphy said the company has had over 60 different meetings with some of the biggest retailers in the U.S., eventually landing accounts at Harris Teeter and Stop and Shop.
“Entering into a contest has a lot of excitement, and winning has helped us
tremendously with moving forward and getting the meetings and people’s interest and excitement to see the product and taste the product,” Murphy said.
In addition to its Guinness sweet honey mustard salmon, Icy Waters has a whole product line focused on the Guinness flavor profile. The line includes haddock with Guinness savory butter cream and salmon marinated in a Guinness barbecue sauce, available in both retail and foodservice.
Icy Waters also collaborated with Sean’s Irish Whiskey to create a product line with three different flavor profiles and a shrimp bake.
“The concept for the business was always to come out with creative items that other people aren’t doing or are afraid to do,” Murphy told SeafoodSource in a recent interview. “We wanted to set ourselves apart and be unique with the products that we offer and stay true to the quality and consistency.”
Starting in Q1 2026, Murphy said Harris Teeter and Stop and Shop will roll out Icy Waters’ full Guinness product line.
This year, Icy Waters is hoping to impress the Seafood Excellence Award judges again with another new product – Haddock with Everything Seasoning and a Coconut Margarita Flavored Sauce Pack.
“It’s a two-step process; we’re seasoning the fish, and then we’re adding the sauce pack separate,” Murphy said. “It’s a much better finished product than marinating the product in the sauce and sealing it.”
According to Murphy, this process creates a better texture and keeps the flavor of the sauce consistent.
“Hopefully, we can come back this year and have the same results and keep the momentum going,” Murphy said. “We’re a young company. We got really great people involved in the business, so we’re excited about our future.”
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Ming Hong International is the industry’s leading supplier of high quality Sushi & Asian Fusion cuisine ingredients. We offer a wide range of products specifically for this sector. From sushi grade seafood products such as (Tuna Saku, Hamachi, Unagi), to Asian fusion appetizer products such as (Vegetable Spring Roll, Sesame Ball, Seaweed Salad), to dry ingredients such as (Sushi Nori, Sushi Ginger, Wasabi Powder), as well as non-food items such as (Disposable Bamboo Chopstick, Sushi Containers). From A-Z, and everything in between, our quality products and professional staff are always at your service.
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The Processing Exchange
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WITH ATLANTIC COD FLOUNDERING, OTHER WHITEFISH LOOK TO FILL THE GAP
BY NATHAN STROUT
Atlantic cod has long been seen as the
king of whitefish, commanding a dominant presence in the market for consumers looking for the idyllic mild, flaked fish experience.
However, cod prices and availability have been hard hit by dwindling supplies.
With cod harder to source – and more expensive in the places it is found – U.S. seafood suppliers believe now is the perfect time to educate consumers on alternative whitefish that can fill that cod-shaped hole in their hearts.
“The key is really educating the consumer. As we all know, our biggest challenge in seafood, regardless, is helping the consumer understand that there are options out there that can meet their need,” High Liner CEO Paul Jewer said at the 2026 Global Seafood Market Conference (GSMC), which took place 18 to 22 January, 2026 in Hollywood,
Florida, U.S.A. “If you want cod, we’re going to be there to sell you a lot of cod, but if you’re willing to consider – or you need to consider – an alternative that is more affordable, there are so many great alternatives out there.”
The main pressure impacting the cod market is decreased quotas in the Barents Sea, which accounts for most of the global cod supply.
Quotas continue to drop as regulators worry about the long-term sustainability of the species. In December 2025, Norway and Russia agreed to set a total cod quota of 285,000 metric tons (MT), a 16 percent decline over the prior year and the lowest since the 1990s, as regulators hope to let the stock rebound. However, the quota is 5.7 percent higher than the 269,550 MT recommended by the RussianNorwegian Arctic Fisheries Working Group.
The North American Atlantic cod sector has also struggled.
Canada has seen a small resurgence of Atlantic cod – enough for regulators to finally reopen the Northern cod fishery to allow for a small commercial harvest. Canada authorized 18,000 MT of harvest in 2024, resulting in a total landed value of CAD 37.5 million (USD 27.4 million, EUR 23.9 million), and doubled that total allowable catch for the 2025-2026 season. However, conservation groups have been critical of Canada’s approach to the fishery, warning
The main pressure impacting the cod market is decreased quotas in the Barents Sea, which accounts for most of the global cod supply.
that the species needs more time to recover before supporting a regular commercial harvest.
“Canada has already paid the price for overfishing this fragile stock, and now, [the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans] is at risk of repeating the mistake: ignoring science, exceeding stakeholder advice, and opening the door to increased fishing while cod remains weak and projected to decline,” Oceana Canada Fisheries Scientist Rebecca Schijns said in a statement. “This was a clear opportunity to rebuild the fishery for the long term. Instead, the government traded it away for short-term gain that benefits only a few – putting ecosystems, livelihoods, and public trust at serious risk.”
Canadian cod remains limited. A recent Department of Fisheries and Oceans assessment found that the cod fishery off the coast of Newfoundland remains in the critical zone. Still, Canadian consumers are hungry for whatever cod commercial fishers are allowed to harvest.
“Perhaps because we’re a Canadaheadquartered company, we’ve certainly seen increases in opportunities for Atlantic cod in the Canadian market. We’re selling as much as we possibly can into Canadian foodservice,” Jewer said. “Our fingers are crossed that we’ll now start to see an upward trend in Newfoundland cod to help offset [what’s happening in Europe].”
European consumers have also been more willing to pay a premium for North Atlantic cod while demanding a less processed product, putting more pressure on North American consumers to look at alternatives.
That high demand coupled with a tightening supply has pushed prices for Atlantic cod higher, but some customers will always be willing to pay a premium for cod, according to Christopher Caudill, the senior vice president of marketing and
innovation at seafood chain Long John Silvers.
“Cod continues to play a role for guests who are craving something specific. It’s almost acting like a brand identifier,” Caudill said. “If you see guests who come in and specifically ask for cod … they’re willing to pay that premium cost.”
But, for those who aren’t willing to pay that higher price – or who simply can’t find Atlantic cod in their market or on the menu – U.S. suppliers say there are plenty of good whitefish alternatives to wild-caught Atlantic cod, including Pacific cod. And as wild-caught suppliers dwindle, some companies – including High Liner – have looked to invest in cod farming.
10,018 MT
“The other area that we’ve looked at is cod farming. We’ve made a minority investment in Norcod, which is a top farming company in Norway, and we’re optimistic over time that we’ll see farmed cod help to fill some of that gap that we’re seeing in wild cod,” Jewer said.
It will take time to scale up the biomass of farmed cod operations, Jewer said, though the company has begun selling Norcod products in the U.S. market already. Norcod CEO Christian Riber said in November 2025 that the company was entering its growth phase, pursuing a path to
“Cod continues to play a role for guests who are craving something specific. It’s almost acting like a brand identifier. “
–
25,000 MT of annual production.
Fellow Norwegian cod-farming firm Ode has also made headway with production; in December, the company announced that it had become Norway’s largest producer of cod, beating out companies that harvest wild-caught fish. In total, Ode produced 10,018 MT of farmed cod in 2025, accounting for 65 percent of the nation’s farmed cod output and nearly 30 percent of the nation’s total fresh cod exports.
“Our 2025 results represent an important milestone, but they are far from the end goal. We
CHRISTOPHER CAUDILL, LONG JOHN SILVERS
CHICKEN’S
We already changed the game with surimi and the California roll. And since then, we’ve added even more Fuss-free seafood options to claim the title of top protein.
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WASHED UP.
have demonstrated that it is possible to deliver consistently high quality at scale while achieving low feed conversion, high survival rates, and strong growth performance. This is the result of long-term work and the dedication of a highly skilled and passionate organization,” Ode CEO Ola Kvalheim said.
The company continues to invest in farmed cod production, announcing plans to start production at three new sites in 2026.
For Mike Cusack, vice president of North American sales at the American Seafoods Company, the most obvious alternative to Atlantic cod is Alaska pollock.
“It is absolutely a great substitute and fits many applications. Consumers just are not aware of it as they are cod. You’re going to have cod consumers who are going to buy cod, and they’re going to pay just about any price for cod,” Cusack said. “Alaska pollock continues to grow, tied to cod.”
However, much of the pollock processed in Alaska is dedicated to surimi, though there has been a recent uptick in fillet production.
“Approximately 50 percent of the pollock produced in Alaska is produced in surimi form,” Cusack said. “Generally in Alaska, there’s not a lot of [headed and gutted formats] produced … and most H&G globally is sent to Asia (China primarily) where we cross with embargoes – not tariffs – on Russian pollock coming into the U.S. The raw material from Russia cannot flow through China to come into the U.S., so you’re seeing an uptick … in fillet production in Alaska. Surimi will remain pretty constant in terms of volume just because of the production efficiencies, and Asian markets remain strong.”
“Certainly, in our case at High Liner, we’ve seen pollock grow significantly over the last number of years. Most people know us as primarily a cod company, but pollock is actually now our largest single species, and that was accelerated by our acquisition of the Conagra brands earlier this year,” Jewer said.
In June 2025, High Liner purchased both the Mrs. Paul’s and Van de Kamp’s brands from Conagra Brands in a deal valued at USD 55 million (EUR 48 million). The agreement also included the purchase of roughly USD 36 million (EUR 31 million) in inventory.
In the U.S., there’s hope that the federal government can help support the commercial whitefish sector, especially pollock. The government bulk buys food products through Section 32 to support federal nutrition programs, and the seafood industry has pressured the U.S.
“You’re going to have cod consumers who are going to buy cod, and they’re going to pay just about any price for cod. Alaska pollock continues to grow, tied to cod.”
– MIKE CUSACK, AMERICAN SEAFOODS COMPANY
Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase its purchases of seafood.
“Section 32 is a surplus buy, essentially, and that’s where you see cheese and milk and other things that are in the government purchase programs,” Cusack said. “From a seafood industry [perspective], whether it’s Alaska pollock, catfish, salmon, shrimp – there’s even been some lake whitefish out of the Great Lakes – the idea is to have the government purchase a consistent volume.”
The USDA has become a major purchaser of Alaska pollock products. In August 2025, after having already purchased USD 60 million (EUR 52 million) worth of Alaska pollock products in fiscal year 2025, the department announced its intention to purchase USD 100 million (EUR 86.4 million) worth of the species. In September, the
USDA announced contracts for USD 84 million (EUR 72 million) worth of Alaska pollock.
“Seafood has always been a very small part of the overall government food purchases for these programs. So, the goal is to have a consistent government purchase, whatever that is as a percent of their protein buys for food banks, and pollock, due to its price point, takes a lion’s share of that,” Cusack said.
Overall, there are plenty of other alternatives to cod on the market to fill the supply gaps.
“It always drives me crazy when I hear people say, ‘I don’t like seafood,’” Jewer said. “My answer is often, ‘Have you tried all 100-plus species and you don’t like any of them?’ So, we’re going to work hard to try to make sure that there are other options available to customers.”
PAUL JEWER
High Liner’s Paul Jewer predicts strong tailwinds for seafood
BY CHRIS CHASE
Paul Jewer is the CEO of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada-based seafood firm High Liner Foods. Jewer has been with the firm since 2014, and before his time at High Liner, he served as the CFO of Canadian retail chain Sobeys.
Jewer sat down with SeafoodSource to discuss his start in the seafood industry, challenges High Liner has faced during his tenure as CEO, why High Liner has returned to exhibiting at Seafood Expo North America, and some near-term plans for the 126-year-old company.
SEAFOODSOURCE: Where did you get your start in the seafood industry, and what was your career path to becoming CEO of High Liner Foods?
JEWER: In some ways, I was born into seafood. I’m from Newfoundland originally, so seafood is kind of in the blood.
My first client when I started my career a long time ago was High Liner Foods, so I knew the company well back then. I then went off and did a bunch of different things on the CFO front – I got into food by joining Sobeys, which is Canada’s second-largest grocery store chain, and ultimately became the CFO.
Then, the opportunity to become the CFO of High Liner came along. It was something that I was really excited about. I knew the brand well, and I knew Henry Demone – who was the CEO at the time – because he was a former client and, ultimately, became a friend. I joined High Liner in 2014, was CFO for almost 10 years, and have been the CEO for the last couple of years.
I’ve been in the seafood industry now for a dozen years and in the food industry more like 23 or 24 years.
I know retail well, and one of the things I love about High Liner is its foodservice business, and while Sobeys is focused in Canada, High Liner has a lot of sales in the U.S. and suppliers from around the world. It’s a 126-year-old company with a wonderful brand, which is something that I certainly can be proud of.
SEAFOODSOURCE: High Liner has had its difficulties during your tenure with the company, and there were some challenging years where there were efforts to make a turnaround, which seems to have happened. Are you proud of the accomplishments the company has had in the last five years to see its financial metrics improve?
JEWER: We had gotten to a point where we really needed to fix the business, and we spent a good part of 18 months to two years doing that. That got us to where we are today with a much better base business generating stronger earnings and better cash flow, getting to a point where we can look toward future growth again on the top end.
We’re proud of what we accomplished in that regard, but now, there’s still a lot of hard work to do in terms of driving more seafood consumption in North America. That’s what we’re focused on.
SEAFOODSOURCE: High Liner is a multinational company with locations in both Canada and the U.S. Does that position the
firm well amid the current tariff challenges and fears of geopolitical turmoil?
JEWER: I think we’re fortunate to have operations on both sides of the border and to have plants on both sides of the border that largely serve their domestic markets. That positions us well within North America.
Obviously, we’ve seen rising raw material costs for seafood – particularly for important species to us like cod and haddock. Compound that with tariffs, and that’s been something we’ve had to manage. But, we’ve seen this many, many times in our past with seafood, so we’ll manage through it over time and stay focused on delivering value and convenience to customers so they can eat more seafood.
SEAFOODSOURCE: Is there any strategic focus, from a long-term perspective, you’re willing to share?
JEWER: There are a few things that I would call out for sure. One just came from the foodservice panel at the [2026] Global Seafood Market Conference.
We’ve launched a fully cooked line for seafood. We say that it is a good platform for growth because it’s addressing a number of pain points that customers have had in the industry, and it allows seafood to be consumed in more locations, so we’re excited about the growth opportunity there.
As you’ve heard us talk about for the last couple of years, we see growth opportunity in aquaculture species – shrimp and salmon in particular. So, we’ve increased our focus there.
We’ve made some investments in early-stage aquaculture companies because we see that as being an important part of our future supply chain. We just did the Conagra deal this year, [in which High Liner acquired the Mrs. Paul’s and Van de Kamp’s brands from Conagra in a deal worth USD 55 million (EUR 48 million)], and have those brands,
and I think we’re in a place again where M&A will be an accelerant for growth.
SEAFOODSOURCE: From what I understand, High Liner is exhibiting at Seafood Expo North America in 2026 for the first time in multiple years. When was the last time you exhibited, and why was it important to come back?
JEWER: We exhibited up until Covid, and then like everyone, we stopped. For us, we didn’t come back right away.
But, this year, you’re right. We’re back, and we’re happy to be back with a booth. One of the reasons for that is it gives us an opportunity to showcase some of our new product lineup like the fully cooked line.
The reality is, even in the last few years when we haven’t had a booth, we’ve had an important presence at the show. It’s an important industry gathering, and we’ve been able to participate in panels and meet with suppliers and customers. That won’t change. But, it will be nice to have a spot on the floor again where we can showcase some products.
SEAFOODSOURCE: In the near future, is High Liner mainly focusing on its core business and diversified supply chain as it always has?
JEWER: For now, we see opportunities for growth in our core business. We know seafood is underconsumed in North America. We think we have a role to play in changing that, and when we do, that’ll bring growth opportunities.
There are so many tailwinds supporting seafood right now – the desire for high-protein diets, for example. Seafood is a very sustainable protein for the planet, and we know it’s good for people. So, we’re working on trying to make sure that we take advantage of those trends.
Then, on top of supporting that growth of the organic business, we’re looking for ways we can scale up even more through M&A activity.
TAKING OUT THE PANIC WITH ECONOMIST AND RETURNING KEYNOTE SPEAKER DR. NOMI PRINS
BY MADDIE KEARNS
KEYNOTE IS FREE AND OPEN TO ALL BADGE
HOLDERS
FORK IN THE CURRENT: THE ECONOMIC AND TRADE REALITIES SHAPING SEAFOOD IN 2026
Dr. Nomi Prins
Macro-economist, geopolitical financial expert, and best-selling author
THE TENSION in the room was palpable when macro-economist, geopolitical finance expert, and best-selling author Nomi Prins took to the keynote stage at Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America last year.
A storm of tariffs, policy and regulatory hurdles, and high energy and food prices, among other challenges, loomed over the global seafood industry, who looked to Prins in March 2025 to put it all in perspective. To do that, Prins turned to none other than classic novelist Ernest Hemingway and Santiago – the protagonist of Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea” – for help.
“Last year, ‘The Old Man and the Sea’ was all about prepping for disaster, basically. And as disaster comes in, continuing to look forward and take all the pitfalls that Santiago was facing as this small-scale fisherman, and eventually coming home. Not having known exactly the timing of how things would calm down or what was going to happen in the overall world, it seems like that was really good prep for this year,” Prins told SeafoodSource in January when asked about her upcoming return to the SENA keynote stage in 2026, slated to take place on Sunday, 15 March at the expo.
Naturally, Prins scoured the library again for literary inspiration when crafting this year’s upcoming address to the industry, titled “Fork in the Current: The Economic and Trade Realities Shaping Seafood in 2026.” However, it’s an online story unfolding in real-time – “a North American story … happening in Calgary, Connecticut, and Dallas”– that’s been capturing her interest as of late.
“I was thinking about other books for 2026, and for example, I thought about ‘Moby Dick’ and
the bigger issues of turmoil. But I don’t think we’re in that same sort of turmoil. And so, when I was thinking about not using a book, I came across a Wall Street Journal article, which really struck me as kind of where we’re at,” Prins said. “The article is called ‘Parents are going broke from their kids’ sushi obsession,’ and yes, it went viral. But I think what was interesting about it was the forwardlooking nature of changing appetites, attitudes, and narratives around seafood, as well as this whole Gen Alpha demographic. There are kids under 12 that are choosing sushi over pizza at birthday parties, and whether that’s every birthday party or not, I think it’s significant.”
In light of this, and given how things have played out over the course of the past year, Prins plans to pick up where she left off in 2025: at the crossroads of opportunity.
“I left things last year on a hopeful note because I did not think that all of those tariffs were going to stay in place, and they didn’t,” she said. “There was a lot of worry in that room, though, and what I said was, ‘there’s going to be residue, there will be tariffs, there will be choices that are made geographically because of tariffs, because of supply chains, because of the sea – but a lot of that’s going to wash out.’ And we have seen that wash out. Some tariffs have been reduced, but some still linger and repositioning has occurred. Now I think we’re in this plateau, where it’s time to level-up with the knowledge that we have.”
With many tariffs fairly “embedded now,” Prins noted that the seafood industry worldwide “can look at them as structural costs and not shocks, and that’s much easier to incorporate into a balance sheet.”
“It’s not about fighting tariffs, but adapting around them,” Prins added. “Market diversification, going with the current, product pivots, leveraging trade agreements where they’re better and figuring
SUNDAY, 15 MARCH
11:00AM – 12:00PM / ROOM 153CB
out how to sort of monetize that – that’s a big lesson that’s carried over into 2026.”
Consequently, that lesson will echo throughout Prins’ sophomore address, wherein she’ll “explore how macro forces from U.S.-China trade tensions to E.U. regulatory shifts, energy price volatility, AI integration, and consumer price sensitivity are reshaping cost structures, sourcing strategies, and regional demand.”
“I call the talk ‘The Fork in the Current’ because it’s not about the turmoil anymore – it’s about where do you go and where do you stay now that we’re in positions. Now, we can plan,” she said.
Ultimately, Prins said she aims to help the seafood industry “take out the panic” and turmoil, to get a better sense of the bigger themes and trends that await it in 2026.
“I want to unpack what’s happening beneath the headlines. I want to unpack how a viral headline actually connects to so many different parts of the supply chain, whether it’s from frozen to fresh to marketing to repositioning seafood types of strategies to meet that demand and also be involved in growing that demand,” Prins said.
“Like last year – and I’m pretty much like this in general – I like to take out the panic and look at the bigger picture. I think that this year, there are so many positives evolving on the bigger picture, and that’s really what I want to bring to everyone there invested in the North American marketplaces – this ability to see through the noise and continue on with the trends that are really important to 2026 and to all the parts of the seafood supply chain,” she concluded.
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CONFERENCE TRACKS
Conference sessions, unless otherwise noted, require a conference registration. If you wish to upgrade your badge to include conference sessions, you can do so at the registration desk (Room 154).
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*Schedule subject to change.
SUNDAY, 15 MARCH, 2026
11:00am - 12:00pm / Room 153CB
Fork in the Current: The Economic and Trade Realities Shaping Seafood in 2026
With the impact of last year’s tariffs still playing out, volatile fuel costs, and slower-than-hoped inflation relief, North American and global seafood supply chains are entering another period of stress and opportunity. In this keynote, economist and geopolitical strategist Dr. Nomi Prins offers a pragmatic economic outlook for 2026, tailored to the North American seafood sector. She’ll explore how macro forces from U.S.-China trade tensions to E.U. regulatory shifts, energy price volatility, AI integration, and consumer price sensitivity are reshaping cost structures, sourcing strategies, and regional demand. Whether you’re exporting crab, farming salmon, or scaling cold-chain logistics, Prins will provide a grounded framework for how seafood leaders can adapt – and lead –through the realities of the year ahead.
Dr. Nomi Prins
Macro-economist, geopolitical financial expert, best-selling author, and founder of Prinsights Global
KEYNOTE IS FREE AND OPEN TO ALL BADGE HOLDERS
9:30am - 10:45am
Bridging Oceans: U.S.-East Asia Partnerships to Eliminate IUU Fishing in East Asia
Seafood2030/The Walton Family Foundation Programming: FREE AND OPEN TO ALL East Asia accounts for close to half of the production and consumption of seafood, which is one of the most traded food commodities in the world. But while other regions have made important strides in promoting sustainable seafood, East Asia is widely seen as lagging behind. Overfishing, distant-water fishing fleet transparency, harmful subsidies, labor rights violations, aquaculture’s growing ecological footprint, marginalization of small-scale fishing and aquaculture communities, and weak policy frameworks all hinder responsible seafood practices in the region. These challenges not only affect the region, but have profound global
consequences for marine biodiversity, seafood supply chains, and the blue economy. This session will zero in on IUU fishing specifically, exploring how we can drive improvement on eliminating IUU fishing products from East Asian markets and supply chains, both on voluntary traceability improvement in the private sector and mandatory import control regulation, and how U.S. buyers can put pressure on East Asian companies to focus more on sustainability and traceability.
12:45pm - 1:30pm
Certified Risk: Why Companies Must Move Beyond Certifications to Ensure Supply Chain Compliance
Moderator: Allie Brudney, Corporate Accountability Lab Panelists: Ahmad Mudzakir, FOSPI-PMFU; Allison Gill, Global Labor Justice; Jess Sparks, Tufts University Room 152
For many companies, certification has been the go-to approach for showing responsible sourcing and addressing risk in their supply chains. Yet across a wide array of sectors, certifications have repeatedly failed to protect workers, companies, and consumers.
This panel will examine the limitations of certification as a compliance tool and outline why continuing to rely on it exposes companies to unnecessary risk. Speakers will discuss labor violations documented in certified wild-capture fisheries and aquaculture, and highlight how proven alternative approaches from other sectors can offer stronger safeguards. The session will explore how companies can shift from voluntary certifications to enforceable agreements, direct worker engagement, and supply chain systems that deliver real protections for workers while strengthening compliance, mitigating risk, and ensuring companies are prepared for future regulatory and market expectations.
12:45pm - 1:30pm
Innovation Meets Tradition: Charting a Sustainable Future for U.S. Seafood Moderator: Alexandra Golub, Acme Smoked Fish Panelists: Nicole Ackerina, Fulton Fish Market Cooperative; Warren Kremin, Blue Ribbon Fish Company; Stephen Rhoads, Seafood Producers Cooperative; Charles Young, Euclid Fish Company; Room 153A
The U.S. seafood industry is in the middle of a sea change. From climate impacts and shifting consumer expectations, to new regulations, tariffs, and tangled supply chains – staying afloat means rethinking “business as usual.” But here’s the exciting part: stakeholders across the supply chain are stepping up with creative, forward-looking approaches to keep seafood sustainable, resilient, and thriving.
This panel brings together an all-star lineup of leaders from harvest to retail – each with a different vantage point on what sustainability looks like in today’s seafood landscape. We’ll hear how familyowned processors, pioneering producers, and multi-generational marketplaces are tackling the big question: How do we honor tradition while driving the innovation needed for a climate-smart, future-proof seafood industry?
From setting bold sustainability standards, to testing new business models, to preserving legacies while adapting to change, panelists will share their realworld experiences and visions for the road ahead. Attendees will walk away with a 360-degree view of how sustainability plays out across the supply chain – not as a one-size-fits-all formula, but as a dynamic ecosystem of solutions.
12:45pm - 1:30pm
Today’s Seafood Consumer: Pricing, Priorities, and Pathways for Growth
Speaker: Chris DuBois, Circana Room 153CB
In today’s uncertain economy, the North American seafood market faces both unique opportunities and new challenges. Decoding these factors is key to future growth. Pricing and financial pressures are top of mind for consumers, who are making tough trade-offs both in- and out-of-home. As consumers weigh the value of
seafood against other proteins, it is often perceived as a higher-priced option. Yet, current pricing dynamics reveal surprising advantages that position seafood competitively in today’s market.
Despite uncertainty in consumer spending, the seafood market is stabilizing and showing strong performance in key segments. Consumers are becoming more confident cooking fish at home. Finfish is rebounding and frozen shellfish is gaining traction, while higher-priced species like crab and lobster face more headwinds. Seafood’s steady performance signals its staying power and fresh pathways for growth.
During this presentation, Circana’s Chris DuBois will provide a complete industry performance update across both retail and foodservice sectors, analyzing the factors shaping the industry and exploring what’s next for the category in the coming years. He’ll highlight how value is being redefined in today’s market and how generational differences are transforming seafood consumption in distinct ways.
DuBois will share actionable strategies for retailers and manufacturers to capture market share in a challenging economic climate by optimizing inand out-of-home offerings, delivering exceptional experiences, and aligning with evolving consumer priorities.
1:15pm - 2:00pm
Exploring the Business Case for Accountability and Transparency in the Seafood Sector
Moderator: Meaghan Hudgins, Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions
Panelists: Michelle Beritzhoff-Law, FishWise; Sara Lewis, FishWise; Helen Packer, World Benchmarking Alliance; Leo Pradela, Walton Family Foundation; Robin Teets, NGO Tuna Forum Room 156A
Seafood2030/The Walton Family Foundation
Programming: FREE AND OPEN TO ALL
This session will explore how corporate accountability in the seafood sector can move beyond naming and shaming to create tangible business value and strengthen industry resilience. Drawing on WBA’s recent research, the session examines how company commitments, robust data collection, and transparent reporting can improve decision-making, build stakeholder trust, and support long-term success. Through an interactive panel and Q&A, participants will discuss how accountability can demonstrate leadership and integrity, foster learning within and across companies, reduce operational and legal risks, and increase attractiveness to employees. The session will also identify which elements of the current accountability landscape deliver value, where gaps remain, and how companies and stakeholders can work together to strengthen accountability in ways that support learning, trust, and sustainable business performance.
2:00pm - 2:45pm
Aquaculture in U.S. Federal Waters –Opportunities & Challenges
Moderator: Maddie Voorhees, Environmental Defense Fund
Panelists: Danielle Blacklock, NOAA Fisheries; Donna Lanzetta, Manna Fish Farms; Kerian Fennelly, Newport Mussels Room 153A
Offshore aquaculture in U.S. federal waters (3-200 nautical miles offshore) is moving from concept to reality. This panel will examine the current regulatory landscape, business opportunities, environmental safeguards, and stakeholder concerns – grounded in specific, real-world projects that are operating or moving through the permitting process.
The panel will represent current and proposed offshore aquaculture sites in U.S. federal waters, as well as regulatory agencies. Discussions will center on federal policy and permitting framework, including NOAA Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) and the Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act.
The panel will also evaluate how siting, scale, and species play a critical role in project development.
2:00pm - 2:45pm
Evolving Strategies for Human Rights Due Diligence
Moderator: Corey Peet, Aqua Star Panelists: Ashley Aarons, Oxfam; Lisa Rende Taylor, Issara Institute; Jack Scott, Nestlé Purina Room 152
The quest for Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) in seafood supply chains has been rapidly evolving and it is critical that the seafood industry gets it right. Managing HRDD effectively minimizes the risk of challenges that could affect consumer confidence and the options to grow seafood consumption in U.S. markets. As with any sustainability strategy, there is a need to evaluate and evolve to ensure maximize compliance as well as to minimize the cost.
Social responsibility is usually managed in seafood supply chains through social audits and is a core requirement for many retailers to manage the risk of this critical issue. However, many of the biggest processing companies overseas complain about “audit fatigue” and how some audits can require different, and in some cases, conflicting compliance points for the same issue. Furthermore, sometimes audits can be repeated four to six times in a calendar year for different end-users. While one may conclude that multiple audits result in better assurance, the opposite may be true. Effective grievance mechanisms, especially thirdparty worker voice tools, have been shown to be effective tools to ensure greater compliance, but their existence in HRDD is minimal to-date.
This panel will discuss the need for revisiting the social assurance equation and explore options to create win-win scenarios by allowing the use of worker voice tools to lower the total number of audits required.
2:00pm - 2:45pm
Future Trade Policy Scenarios and Growth Opportunities for North American Seafood Processors, Organized by High Liner Foods
Moderator: Chris Chase, SeafoodSource
Panelist: Paul Jewer, High Liner Foods Room 153CB
This session will tackle how expected tariff evolutions and trade policy shifts could impact North American seafood companies’ growth strategies, supply chains, operational opportunities, and investment decisions.
3:00pm - 3:45pm
Transforming Traceability from Compliance Burden to Competitive Advantage
Moderator: Chris Bradford, Trace Register
Panelists: Jonathan Lieberman, New York Customs Brokers Inc.; Christopher Steel, Raw Seafoods, Inc. Room 152
The seafood industry is undergoing a fundamental shift, transforming how successful companies approach traceability. Once viewed as a necessary regulatory burden, it is rapidly becoming the ultimate competitive differentiator and strategic business asset.
In this session, you’ll discover how progressive seafood companies are navigating this transformation by adopting a traceability mindset that turns compliance costs into profit centers – and turning an expense into an asset. This session will explore the shift from reactive data management to proactively managed transparency strategies, revealing how the right approach delivers measurable ROI through operational efficiency, consumer trust, and market positioning.
The panel will share real-life, practical strategies and insights on leveraging your data as a valuable business asset, why technology readiness is creating first-mover
advantages, and the human component that drives successful implementation. Most importantly, you’ll understand why the decisions you make today about traceability will determine whether you’re leading the market or struggling to catch up.
The time is now. The question isn’t whether traceability will transform your business – it’s whether you’ll navigate these waters to competitive advantage or get left behind by the tide.
3:00pm - 3:45pm
Sustainable Seafood and Global Food Security
Speakers: Jennifer McGuire, National Fisheries Institute Jason McLinton, Fisheries Council of Canada; Lisa Wallenda Picard, National Fisheries Institute; Room 153A
The world’s population continues to grow, and demand for nutritious, affordable protein is increasing as incomes rise. Yet millions of people in both developing and developed countries remain food insecure and face micronutrient deficiencies. As biodiversity and environmental constraints limit future food production, the global food system must become more sustainable while delivering healthier diets.
Through the International Coalition of Fisheries Associations (ICFA), the fishing industry has developed a nutrition toolkit to highlight seafood’s important role in global food security and healthy diets. Sustainably harvested fish and seafood can help address nutrition needs while supporting biodiversity and climateresilient food systems. Join industry leaders to hear their perspectives on these issues and how they are working together to advance the future of the seafood sector.
3:00pm - 4:00pm
Defining Corporate Duties in Seafood Supply Chains to Prevent IUU Fishing and Labor Rights Abuse on Industrial Fishing Vessels
Speakers: Judy Gearhart, American University;
MONDAY, 16 MARCH, 2026
9:00am - 10:15am
The Future of FIPs – Global Findings and On-the-Ground Realities
Speaker: Marah Hardt, CEA Consulting Room 156A
Seafood2030/The Walton Family Foundation
Programming: FREE AND OPEN TO ALL Fishery improvement projects (FIPs) play a critical
role in advancing sustainability, yet the landscape is evolving. This session will share high-level findings from CEA Consulting’s Global Landscape Review of FIPs (January release), highlighting key trends, barriers, and opportunities across regions. A diverse panel of industry and NGO representatives will share on how these challenges and advantages are playing out in their own operations and partnerships, discuss where FIPs are delivering value, and where new approaches or partnerships are needed to unlock greater impact.
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Heidi Schuttenberg, Blue Sanctuaries Room 156A
Seafood2030/The Walton Family Foundation
Programming: FREE AND OPEN TO ALL
The Fisheries Governance Project (FGP) is a funderpractitioner collaboration working to advance solutions that focus on the interconnected governance issues related to IUU fishing and labor rights in marine fisheries. FGP’s markets working group has developed a consolidated set of environmental and labor rights duties that seafood companies must uphold throughout their operations to identify, prevent, and address labor rights abuse and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in their seafood supply chains. A growing list of organizations have endorsed the framework, including the Ethical Trading Initiative, The Solidarity Center, Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, Oxfam America, International Transport Workers’ Federation, International Corporate Accountability Roundtable, and Serikat Buruh Migran Indonesia.
In this session, working group members will highlight the importance of addressing the interconnected issues related to IUU fishing and labor abuses together and provide an overview of the corporate duties outlined in the document.
3:15pm - 4:00pm
FMI Power of Seafood 2026
Moderator: Rick Stein, FMI - The Food Industry Association
Panelists: Jason Driskill, H-E-B, LP; Steve Markenson, FMI - The Food Industry Association; Jason Pride, Hy-Vee Room 153CB
Annually, FMI surveys consumers on their shopping and eating habits around seafood. We compare their answers with data provided by Circana. This report gives insights into consumer behaviors and how the industry can respond to consumers.
9:15am - 10:00am
FREE SPONSORED PRESENTATION : HPP Solutions for Premium Shellfish
FREE AND OPEN TO ALL: Premium lobster products are experiencing sustained demand in retail and food service channels, but processors face significant challenges in meeting expectations for consistency, food safety, and product quality. Manual shucking is labor-intensive, difficult to scale, and can result in variable yields and product attributes.
High Pressure Processing (HPP) offers shellfish processors a proven non-thermal solution to automate shucking, improve meat recovery, and inactivate Vibrio and Norovirus without compromising sensory characteristics. These advantages allow producers to deliver a cleaner, safer, and more consistent premium product to the market.
In this joint presentation, Hiperbaric will open with a technical overview of HPP for lobster and oyster applications. Greenhead Lobster will follow with a commercial perspective on how HPP supports their premium product strategy and operational objectives.
Attendees will learn how HPP can:
• Achieve required log reductions for key pathogens in seafood
• Support premium positioning in retail and foodservice channels
• Automate lobster and oyster shucking at commercial scale
• Maintain product texture and flavor profiles
• Extend shelf life without chemical preservatives
Join us to discover how HPP can transform your seafood products and help you meet growing market demands while ensuring the highest standards of food safety!
9:30am - 10:00am
State of Salmon Processing In North America
Speaker: Nils Rabe, BAADER North America Corp. Room 153CB
With Salmon being one of the top Seafood items in North America, let’s have a look into recent local success stories with processing equipment manufacturer BAADER. This session gives insides into the what and the why of some salmon projects along the US west and east coast in the past 2 years including their individual challenges and how they got tackled. Hear first hand what made the decision, how the implementation phase went and how processors think about their decision some time after implementation. Don’t let go this fantastic opportunity to learn more about salmon processing possibilities.
10:15am - 11:00am
Country of Origin Labeling in the Ever-Growing Transparent Landscape
Moderator: Dr. Sonja Jones, USDA-AMS Panelists: Fiona Pexton, USDA; Steven Bloodgood, FDA
Room 152
Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) is a labeling law that requires retailers such as grocery stores, supermarkets, and club warehouse stores to notify their customers of information about the source of certain foods. The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 was amended to define the commodities required to display origin information when sold by retailers. These covered commodities are fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, wild and farm raised fish and shellfish, muscle cut and ground chicken, lamb and goat meat, raw peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, and ginseng. COOL continues to play a vital role in providing information to consumers about the source of their food and, in the case of seafood, the methods of production. Providing this information assists consumers in making informed purchasing decisions. Transparency regarding the origin of seafood is of high importance for buyers. This session will cover the regulatory requirements of the COOL Law for the seafood industry and the successes of COOL since its implementation.
10:15am - 11:00am
The Future of Seafood, Building Trust in Every Bite
How can seafood retailers and suppliers work together to ensure the highest standards of quality and integrity from catch or farm to the consumer’s plate? This panel brings together leaders in sustainable sourcing and retail to explore the evolving expectations around compliance, certification, and transparency in today’s seafood marketplace.
Consumer demand for responsibly sourced seafood continues to grow within natural and specialty retail. According to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), 72 percent of consumers prefer sustainably sourced seafood, even if it costs more. Additionally, a 2024 MSC consumer insights study revealed that 48 percent were concerned about overfishing, and 67 percent wanted to protect the ocean. Notably, 27 percent said they’d eat more seafood if they knew it wasn’t harming the ocean.
The panel will share actionable strategies to build consumer trust through third party certifications, robust aquaculture standards that safeguard the environmental and animal welfare, and advanced traceability systems that ensure authenticity across the supply chain. Discussion will also explore how retailers are strengthening supply chains to tackle industryspecific challenges, such as human rights in fishing operations, while driving store-level compliance.
The session will highlight scalable best practices for preventing ecosystem degradation, monitoring water quality, eliminating prohibited substances, and
advancing selective catch methods. Attendees will gain practical insights into collaborative solutions that raise the bar on seafood quality, enhance transparency, and secure the future of sustainable sourcing.
10:15am - 11:00am
Re-Shoring American Seafood Processing: Alaska/China Costs Study
Speaker: Sam Friedman, McKinley Research Group Room 153CB
Chinese re-processing plants remain important to the supply chain of U.S. wild harvest seafood. As part of an initiative to make domestic processing more competitive, McKinley Research Group will present their recent analysis into the comparative costs of processing seafood in China as compared to Alaska or Washington state. This study analyzed processing costs across regions and across cost categories including labor, fish purchase, electricity, insurance, and tariffs.
10:15am - 11:00am
Cultivating a Resilient Supply Chain from the Bottom Up: Aligning Market and Farmer Needs through Collective Action Moderator: Kate O’Rourke, FishWise Panelists: Corey Peet, Aqua Star; Sarabpreet Singh, Devi Seafoods; Prashanth Venkataramana, Essmart Room 155
The U.S. market is the largest consumer of Indian shrimp in the world. Over 90 percent of shrimp farmers in India are small-scale farmers facing mounting challenges, including disease risk, price instability, debt cycles, and rising costs. The success of these small-scale shrimp farms is essential to meet U.S. market demand and crucial to local livelihoods, fueling the economy of Andhra Pradesh and its shrimp supply chains.
There are many top-down efforts in India focused on improving practices and establishing market expectations. There are few efforts, if any, that start by asking the small-scale farmers and their community where they struggle and what they need in order to improve livelihoods and create more stable supply chains.
In this plenary session, FishWise will lead a panel discussion with its collaborators in India, sharing their unique methodology and early results from their community-led initiative. You will hear straight from the local community and supply chain actors from Andhra Pradesh about efforts to convene small-scale farmers and community members alongside feed companies, processors and exporters, to craft shared solutions that benefit both communities and markets. You will also hear from a key buyer about why they support this effort and believe this unique approach can directly impact supply chain resilience.
11:30am - 12:15pm
Federal Policy, Regulatory, and Litigation Changes Impacting the Fisheries and Aquaculture Industries
Speakers: Darrell Conner, K&L Gates LLP; Tim Hobbs, K&L Gates LLP ; Robert Smith, K&L Gates LLP Room 155
With a new Congress, a new administration, and new precedents being set by the courts, there are numerous changes occurring in the U.S. that will have practical impacts on companies ranging from longstanding interpretations being overturned, regulations being repealed, and new policies and regulations being implemented. Combined with one of the largest turnovers of personnel at key agencies, regulatory challenges continue to grow. This presentation will consider the federal policy, regulatory, and litigation implications of changes being made by all three branches of the U.S. government – legislative, executive, and judicial – and how the fisheries and aquaculture industry should be prepared to respond accordingly.
11:30am - 12:15pm
Growing Salmon Demand in the U.S. Requires a New Playbook
Speaker: Henrik Vandvik Vedeler, Boston Consulting Group Room 153CB
The dynamics of U.S. salmon demand is changing. Growing the share of households that consume salmon is increasingly difficult. Growth must be on other proteins’ behalf. That requires a different playbook and go-to-market capabilities than what a fragmented industry currently possess, including new innovations. Grocery will be the key growth channel, but this new era of growth requires closer collaboration and support from retailers. From mid-2026, retailers’ incentives to prioritize salmon over other proteins will face headwinds, impacting demand outlook. In this session, we present findings from a larger market study on the U.S. market and what it means for the industry going forward.
11:30am - 12:15pm
Navigating Change: How the Seafood Value Chain Drives Lasting Sustainability Impact in Turbulent Times
Moderator: Sam Grimley, Sea Pact Panelists: Daisy Berg, New Seasons Market; Alexandra Golub, Acme Smoked Fish; Margaret Hancock, Pepper; Erik Velsko, Kaia Fisheries Room 152
From boat to plate, meaningful sustainability change requires collaboration across the entire seafood value chain, which can be particularly difficult to achieve
given market dynamics, regulatory change, and other transformative factors. This panel will bring together diverse stakeholders representing retail, mid-supply chain, harvesters, and technology providers to explore how lasting environmental and social improvements are addressed and what it takes to align market, regulatory, and industry priorities.
Panelists will discuss how shifting consumer trends and buyer expectations are reshaping seafood sourcing, how these demands cascade through supply chains all the way to producers, and how the mid-supply sector responds to an expanding set of regulatory and market-driven requirements. The conversation will focus on relevant sustainability areas, including transparency, social responsibility, and on-the-water fisheries improvements, that have transformed seafood supply chains in recent years and what the future holds for sustainability collaborations.
True sustainability change in the seafood sector does not happen in silos, requiring aligned action across the value chain. Retailers and foodservice companies are under increasing pressure to meet consumer and investor expectations for responsibly sourced seafood during uncertain market and regulatory landscapes. These pressures create ripple effects throughout supply chains, influencing requirements for mid-supply companies, technology adoption, and ultimately the practices of fishing vessels and farms.
This panel will explore how key stakeholders translate sustainability commitments into practical, enduring on-the-water improvements, and how collaborative approaches can balance environmental, social, and commercial priorities.
11:30am - 12:15pm
Practical Lessons on How to Align Seafood Purchasing Practices with Human Rights Commitments
Moderator: Ashley Aarons, Oxfam
Panelists: Sarah Eames, World Wise Foods Ltd.; Melissa Karadana, Ethical Trade Initiative; Richard Stavis, Stavis Consulting, LLC Room 153A
Seafood buyers are increasingly making important commitments to respect human rights in their operations and supply chains. However, recent reports have highlighted how purchasing practices can unintentionally contribute to abuses, such as pushing for supplier prices below cost, one-sided contracts, and over-reliance on spot markets. This session will zoom in on how businesses are enhancing their practices to ensure how they buy aligns with their human rights commitments. Oxfam will share topline lessons from its new report on good buyer practices on procurement and human rights, around areas such as contracting, buyer KPIs, and preferential sourcing. Leading seafood companies will share examples on how they are adapting their own purchasing practices to respect human rights, their challenges, and lessons. The Ethical Trade Initiative will share a promising new initiative to bring together large seafood buyers to enhance procurement practices to better respect human rights in shrimp production in Southeast Asia. Presentations will be followed by group discussion
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with the audience on where buyers should focus more, remaining challenges, and how to take the sector forward together.
12:45pm - 1:30pm
Murky Waters, Rough Seas, and More of Them: Navigating the New Trade Era
How can we make decision and deals in an unprecedented era of trade volatility, and in a U.S. market that is challenged by self-inflicted obstacles.
Outside disruptions to supply chains have moved from episodic to systemic. Ongoing geopolitical instability, climate-related shocks, trade policy shifts, and more are creating an unpredictable landscape that’s challenging even the most robust sourcing strategies and novel contrasting arrangements.
For the seafood industry, and the food industry overall, the stakes are high: compromised continuity, rising costs, and growing food safety and compliance risks.
We can speak about the problem, but what are the keys to sourcing and merchandise and menu selection in the new era? And what are the “silver linings” or at least consolation prizes… find out how to be a winner, or at least a better loser, in the challenging year ahead.
12:45pm - 1:30pm
Navigating Turbulent Times: Seafood Company Financing, Investing, and M&A
Moderator: Ignacio Kleiman, Antarctica Advisors
Panelist: Jason Brantley, Columbia Bank; John Doucette, Rockland Trust; Michael Richard, Wells Fargo Bank Room 153A
A panel of experienced North American finance professionals will provide attending seafood industry participants with updated insight into aspects of the impact of the economy’s volatility on the financing and selling of seafood companies.
The panel will be made up of a mix of commercial bankers, investment bankers, and private equity professionals with experience specifically in the seafood sector.
12:45pm - 1:30pm
Unlocking the Business Value of Electronic Monitoring
Electronic monitoring (EM) is increasingly recognized as a critical tool for advancing sustainable fisheries,
but its value to seafood companies goes far beyond sustainability. This panel will demonstrate how EM, when paired with other technologies, is delivering tangible business benefits across diverse supply chains. From strengthening traceability and compliance to improving product quality and market access, EM is proving to be a driver of both responsibility and market advantages.
This panel will bring together leaders from industry, technology, and conservation to share practical case studies of how EM is delivering business, environmental, and social benefits. Together, panelists will explore how EM adoption builds consumer trust, drives transparency, and creates shared value across the seafood supply chain. Panelists will highlight real-world initiatives, including a tuna EM project in Costa Rica, integration of EM data into digital traceability systems, and innovations in EM that support vessel-level social responsibility.
Perspectives from seafood companies, technology providers, and NGOs will illustrate how EM is scaling globally and creating new opportunities for collaboration. Rather than focusing solely on the technical aspects of EM adoption, this discussion will emphasize the broader value proposition of how EM and related technologies build trust with customers, enhance supply chain transparency, and create competitive advantages for companies and harvesters who adopt them. This session will explore how EM is not just a compliance tool, but a strategic business decision.
12:45pm - 1:30pm
NOAA Fisheries Update 2026: Bolstering Seafood Communities Through Policy and Practice
The United States is a global leader in responsibly managed fisheries and sustainable seafood production. Our fisheries are big business – supporting about 2 million jobs and generating billions of dollars in economic impacts. But in recent years, the U.S. seafood sector has faced increasing pressures from global competition, evolving market demands, and impacts from changing ocean conditions. Between 2019 and 2023, domestic landings declined by approximately 1 billion pounds.
12:45pm – 2:00pm
Indonesia in Dialogue: A Tuna Case Study Toward Sustainable and Traceable Seafood
Speakers: Andajani, Primo Indo Ikan; Ranitya Kusumadewi, U.S. Embassy of Indonesia; Michael McNicholas, Oddisea Superfrozen; Craig Turley, International Pole and Line Foundation Room 156A
Seafood2030/The Walton Family Foundation
Programming: FREE AND OPEN TO ALL
This dialogue will bring together representatives from the Indonesian government, industry, NGOs, and U.S. tuna
importers to discuss Indonesia’s tuna sector as a case study for promoting sustainable and traceable seafood. The session will examine how fisheries management, digital traceability, and enhancements in quality and coldchain systems are bolstering compliance, transparency, and long-term resource stewardship, especially within small-scale fisheries. Emphasis will be placed on Indonesia’s leadership in aligning its national traceability system with the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) standards, and how this alignment facilitates regulatory compliance, operational improvements, and influences trade and policy. The discussion will highlight Indonesia’s role as the world’s largest tuna producer and a key supplier to the U.S. market, showcasing how industryled initiatives and government engagement are working together to support coastal livelihoods while meeting international sustainability and traceability expectations.
Panelists will share practical lessons from on-theground implementation, buyer perspectives on data standards and compliance, and opportunities for continued collaboration between Indonesian seafood producers, U.S. buyers, and associations. The session is hosted by Seafood2030 in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, the Indonesia Tuna Consortium, and the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST).
2:00pm - 2:45pm
Sushi Roll Call: A Sushi Market Report, Presented by the NFI Sushi Council Speaker: Richard Barry, National Fisheries Institute Room 152
Sushi is on a roll. The seafood-forward cuisine is convenient, nutritious, and innovative. These winning attributes make sushi a driver for the entire seafood category. With the segment ever-increasing in popularity, value chain players need an understanding of sushi’s size and impact to best meet demand. Sushi Roll Call, a first of its kind market report, collects defining metrics on sushi’s size, growth, and consumer behavior.
The NFI Sushi Council is a pre-competitive stakeholder group working to enhance sushi product integrity and promote industry-led food safety. In an exclusive preview, the NFI Sushi Council will present key findings from their soon-to-be-released market report to provide a comprehensive assessment of the U.S. sushi market. The report draws on point-of-sale data, consumer research, and industry insight to quantify national sales at retail and foodservice, measure product form and species performance, and explain supply chain dynamics.
Join this session for a first look at the NFI Sushi Council’s Sushi Roll Call: A Sushi Market Report presented by key suppliers and operators.
2:00pm - 2:45pm
An A La Carte Menu for Publicly Sponsored Seafood Marketing
Moderator: Molly Ogren, RI Seafood Marketing Collaborative
Panelists: Emily Lane, Maine Seafood Promotional Council; Wendy Wills, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries;
Jeremy Woodrow, Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute Room 153A
This session will evaluate different state programs that provide seafood marketing, understand what works best for each state, and explore challenges and opportunities for future programs. Learn tips and tricks on how to work with state entities and expand opportunities for seafood marketing within your state. This session will focus on institutionalized seafood marketing and how to make it work as a community. We will evaluate the models used by various states and showcase best practices that have worked for each. Each state will provide insight on how to get programs funded, evaluate funding risks and opportunities with the changing federal landscape, and any return on investment evaluation that states have. We will also explore opportunities for future collaborations among states and what regional marketing could look like.
Further, this session will provide an opportunity for industry and marketing firms to find ways to bridge the gap between publicly sponsored marketing and private.
2:00pm - 2:45pm
Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement Update From FDA and CBP for Seafood Companies
Moderator: Peter Quinter, Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A. Panelists: Steven Bloodgood, US Food and Drug Administration; Sergio Lozano, Alpha Brokers Corp / L&L Trade Law; Shawn Meaney, Tampa Maid Foods Room 153CB
This presentation will include representatives from both primary federal law enforcement agencies, which regulate the sourcing, transportation, importation, and distribution of seafood –U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – along with a seafood importer, and an attorney whose practice is representing seafood companies.
Topics will include FDA detentions, FDA refusals, FDA import alerts, CBP demands for redelivery, CBP liquidated damages claims, C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism), FDA voluntary recalls, SIMP, transshipments, tariff rates, antidumping duties and investigations, and seafood fraud prevention priorities of FDA and CBP.
Seafood is a dynamic and evolving category, with both retail and foodservice channels offering fresh opportunities for growth. Consumers are experimenting
CONFERENCE PROGRAM
with new ways to enjoy seafood, whether through convenient formats, premium experiences, or sustainability-driven choices. At the same time, innovation across the value chain – from product development to channel strategies – is changing how seafood is positioned and consumed. This session will highlight where the momentum is strongest today and how industry players can capture it:
• Winning formats and product types: Which seafood products are resonating most with consumers across retail and foodservice, and why? We will highlight emerging success stories in ready-tocook, value-added, premium, and conveniencedriven seafood.
• Cross-channel learnings: Retail and foodservice each offer insights the other can apply, from menu design to in-store merchandising to consumer engagement. We will unpack what strategies are transferable and how businesses can adapt them.
• Pricing and innovation trends: While inflation pressures have eased, price sensitivity remains high. At the same time, innovation in seafood formats, claims, and sustainability continues to drive differentiation. We will examine key strategies and dynamics present in the market.
Let’s join together as a group to discuss the implications of these trends and the opportunities they present for industry participants.
2:00pm - 3:00pm
FREE SPONSORED PRESENTATION : All Tunas 2028: Desserts and Discussion SPONSORED BY THE OCEAN FOUNDATION
Moderator: Eric Walton, The Pew Charitable Trusts Panelists: Marina Colvee, Global Tuna Alliance; Nicole Condon, Oddisea SuperFrozen; Camille Jean Pierre Manel, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas - ICCAT; Shana Miller, The Ocean Foundation; Room 255
FREE AND OPEN TO ALL: Regional Fishery Management Organizations (RFMOs) manage some of the world’s most valuable fisheries, yet the seafood markets that make up the consumer end of the supply chain rarely participate in their management decisions. Market actors can play a critical role in RFMO management by advocating for policies like harvest strategies, which promote long-term sustainability for the fisheries that supply global markets. Currently, only 10 of the 23 RFMO managed commercially important tuna stocks are managed by a harvest strategy, leaving 13 stocks unprotected, including some of the world’s largest tuna stocks. 2028 represents a key milestone and opportunity for markets to engage with RFMOs and protect these remaining tuna stocks, as nearly all of
them have harvest strategies up for adoption over the next few years. By directly engaging with RFMO decision makers, market actors can help these policies get across the finish line. This panel will bring together harvest strategy, market, and RFMO experts to discuss the ways in which market voices can advocate for tuna harvest strategies and become a vital part of future international fisheries management. Food and drink will be provided.
3:15pm - 4:00pm
Vessel-Level Due Diligence: From Data Collection to Actionable Insights
Moderator: Michelle Beritzhoff-Law, FishWise Panelists: Caitlin Gilmour, Global Fishing Watch; Mark Kaplan, Wholechain; Renee Perry, Oddisea Superfrozen, LLC Room 152
Building on five years of collaborative efforts, this panel will delve into the critical evolution of vessel-level due diligence. We’ll move beyond the basics of data collection to explore how companies can effectively assess IUU fishing risks and take meaningful action in their supply chains. Drawing on lessons learned, our experts will discuss:
• The Practicalities of Data Collection: Learn how to overcome the challenges of gathering vesselspecific information and why this is now a standard practice, not the exception. We’ll share insights on the frequency and quality of vessel data currently moving through the supply chain.
• Actionable Risk Assessment: Discover how companies can turn raw data into valuable intelligence. This session will highlight the types of insights that can be gleaned from vessel risk assessments, from identifying potential IUU fishing to uncovering social and human rights risks.
• Responding to Risk: The most crucial step of due diligence is taking action. We’ll provide guidance on how companies can use risk assessments to reduce their overall supply chain risk and foster collaboration with suppliers
3:15pm - 4:00pm
Before You Let the Robots on Deck: Legal and Data Privacy Prep for AI in Seafood
Speakers: Jayson Berryhill, Wholechain; Harish Govindaraju, IDEABOXAI; Timothy Grotheer, Global Seafood Alliance; Eric Enno Tamm, ThisFish Inc. Room 153CB
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming seafood operations, processing, and supply chains – but diving in without legal and data safeguards can be costly. This panel brings together legal, technology, and seafood industry experts to unpack the key issues you must address before introducing AI into your business and sharing digital data. What happens to data that
is collected in a supply chain? Who owns it, how is it protected, and what risks should be anticipated? Panelists will explore these issues alongside intellectual property, liability, regulatory compliance, and supplier contracts. Using real-world examples from seafood and other sectors, the session will provide a roadmap for responsibly leveraging AI while protecting sensitive business information.
Panelists: Daniel Benetti, University of Miami; John Stieglitz, University of Miami - Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric & Earth Science; Philip Walsh, University of Miami - Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric & Earth Science Room 155
Enhanced food security, unfavorable trade deficits, advanced technologies, and newfound funding are breathing life into America’s anemic on- and offshore aquaculture industry. Currently under development are the growing of high-demand species in landbased recirculating aquaculture systems adjacent to city markets; the use of offshore submerged cages along America’s extensive coastlines for grow-outs; and feed formulas based on nutrient-rich, sustainable insect larvae.
Challenges to economic viability of aquaculture operations in the U.S. remain, and strategies to overcome such hurdles while capitalizing on current market opportunities will be examined. Join us as a distinguished panel of scientists and marketers examine the near-term future of America’s domestic aquaculture industry and how it promises to shape your business.
3:15pm - 4:00pm
Are Current Politics Changing Your Approach to Sustainability?
Moderator: Richard Stavis, Stavis Consulting, LLC
Panelists: Jenny Barker, FishWise; Daisy Berg, New Seasons Market; Damien Claire, Atlantic Sapphire; Joe Lasprogata, Samuels Seafood Co. Inc. Room 153A
U.S. policies and practices have made business as usual anything but usual. The government has contributed to this uncertainty. Some incentive has been eliminated for companies to pursue sustainable and socially responsible goals. Additionally, tariffs have made some imported products noncompetitive, removing supply chain leverage for beneficial activities by overseas producers. Domestic harvesters and producers could benefit from these policies. Would this allow them to better focus on sustainability?
TUESDAY, 17 MARCH, 2026
10:00am - 11:00am
A People-Centered Strategy: The Key to Future-Proofing Your Business and Ensuring a Successful Exit
The fragmented North American seafood industry has been built by family-owned businesses and long-time leaders who are nearing retirement. With industry consolidation continuing and many owners now considering a sale, the next generation’s reluctance to take over raises a pressing question: How do I prepare my company for my eventual exit?
Buyers are placing greater importance on having a competent, capable team in place with the right values to drive profit as part of measuring valuation and interest in a deal. They understand that strong leadership and talented people are what ultimately drive the company forward.
To maximize company attractiveness in the eyes of buyers, owners must implement a robust “People Strategy.” The People Strategy needs to evolve from being an HR function into a core strategic business initiative, requiring direct involvement of senior leadership to prepare for future events. The success of any business strategy fully depends on the people executing it.
This session will show how to prepare for an exit by integrating people and business into a cohesive strategy, identifying what needs to be in place to trigger interest, and discussing what buyers are truly looking for when assessing a company.
If you are contemplating selling or transitioning into a smaller role in the next couple of years, want to discover how to assess talent and culture to ensure you have the right team in place to drive profitable growth, or learn about steps you can take to strengthen your company’s position, we invite you to attend this hands-on engaging session.
10:00am - 11:00am
Integrated Strategies for Stakeholder Engagement and Supply Chain Leverage: A Roadmap for Landscape-Level Sustainability in Aquaculture
Speakers: Kathryn Novak, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership; Blake Stok, Thai Union
Jill Swasey, Aquaculture Stewardship Council; Roy Van Daatselaar, Aquaculture Stewardship Council Room 153CB
Much of global aquaculture depends on seafood from numerous small-scale producers. Yet, land rights and regulations are often unclear, and market incentives
to reward better practices by these producers are frequently lacking.
A landscape approach addresses these challenges by raising environmental and social standards across entire production areas, ensuring broad benefits from improvements in the primary sector. While such approaches are well-established in terrestrial commodities, aquaculture is only beginning this journey.
To help lead the way, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) have developed a “Roadmap for Landscape-Level Improvements in Aquaculture.” While the Roadmap includes applied insights from shrimp farming in Andhra Pradesh, India, it was developed to be applied in any aquaculture geography and commodity to create holistic, inclusive conditions that support longterm change.
In this session, ASC and SFP, together with supply chain partners, will look back on two years of collaboration and look forward at ways to build on the Roadmap’s foundation and capitalize on subsequent opportunities for improvements and the pathways available to implement a landscape initiative in Andhra Pradesh.
The panelists will address important questions, such as: Where should we begin, and which issues come first? How do we measure success and secure participation? And importantly, how do we connect and collaborate with others already driving progress in the region?
11:30am - 12:30pm
How to Tackle Your Carbon Emissions in Seafood – New Innovations in Addressing Carbon Hotspots
Moderator: Roxanne Nanninga, Blue Biome Advising Panelists: Kiff Gallagher, SCS Global Services, Global Heat Reduction; Alexandra Golub, Acme Smoked Fish; Vidar Gundersen, BioMar; Marcelo Hidalgo, Fishing Industry Association of Papua New Guinea Room 153A
This panel will feature a substantive discussion on the practical challenges, opportunities, and innovations in reducing carbon emissions, super pollutants, and other greenhouse gases across the seafood industry. Experts and thought leaders from the tuna, feed, shrimp, and processing/supply chain sectors will share best practices and case studies that demonstrate measurable progress.
The session will also delve into advanced tools and strategic approaches for prioritizing limited resources to maximize impact – benefiting both individual companies and broader global sustainability efforts. Panelists will highlight recent innovations in refrigerants, aquafeed manufacturing, and energy infrastructure, with a focus on how these advancements support regulatory compliance while also offering value to financial and insurance stakeholders.
11:30am - 12:30pm
Driving Sustainable Sourcing through Strategic Partnerships in Seafood Financing: Leveraging Proven Performance Data to Mitigate Risk
Moderator: Jill Swasey, Aquaculture Stewardship Council Panelists: Ray Dhirani, Marine Stewardship Council & Aquaculture Stewardship Council; Vasundhara Jolly, World Bank Group; Lauren Lynch, World Wildlife Fund; Emily Claire Mackey Faubel, Asset Management & Financial Services Sector Room 153CB
Sustainable financing offers an opportunity to advance uptake of certification through the delivery of transparent and verifiable metrics of performance. However, a gap exists between the data investors need, and the metrics sustainability provides. With global growth of aquaculture and continued reliance on capture fisheries, there’s a vital new role for certification bodies to provide investors with the data to demonstrate risk mitigation and deliver assurances –offering a unique opportunity to drive more responsible production at a broader scale.
The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) are partnering with Rockefeller Asset Management (RAM) to drive strategic information sharing in support of advancing sustainability under their Ocean Engagement Strategy. Representatives from both ASC/MSC and RAM will discuss the challenges of scaling responsible operations and share learnings on how these types of strategic partnerships expand organizational roles to leverage the use of performance data for meaningful engagement between financier and corporate.
Our collaboration helps companies reduce reporting burdens while securing investment. It provides financiers with the assurances they need, connecting sustainability improvements directly to investment and driving meaningful change in the industry.
Exhibit Sales Office: BOOTH #2053
Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, Seafood Expo Asia/Seafood Processing Asia, SeafoodSource, National Fisheries Institute and Seafood Industry Research Fund (SIRF)
FEATURED EXHIBITORS
FEATURED EXHIBITORS
EXHIBITOR LIST
3 Fish, Inc. ............................................ 549
3 Hands Oyster Company 1609
A.O. Kingdom International Co. Ltd. 2233
ABIPESCA 1745
Accelerated Freeze Drying Co Ltd 2840
ACERGA, Asociación de Armadores de Cerco de Galicia 2533
Achernar S.A.S 2005
Acme Smoked Fish Corp ................ 2705
ADONAI MARINE EXPORTS 2833
Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada 1254
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada ............................................... 1254
Della Mar LLC LTD .................................... 242
Keohane Seafood Ltd. 3333
Keyport LLC 2805
Are you ready to upgrade your packaging equipment, expand production capacity, or add complementary equipment to an existing production line? Whether you're looking to produce the perfect skin pack for your seafood, create the perfect portions, automate your processes, or add a simple chamber packaging solution, the MULTIVAC Group has the right equipment for your production. Visit our booth at the Seafood Expo North America in the Seafood Processing Hall to see our innovative solutions on display!
Contact our team to learn more about our range of solutions and get started today!
Khang An Foods 1033
Kildare Fisheries Ltd 3147
Kilic Deniz Urunleri Uretimi
Ihracat Ithalat ve Ticaret A.S. 1157
Killybegs Seafoods Ltd 3333
King & Prince Seafood Corp. 505
KINGSUN FOODS CO.,LIMITED 1833
KISEKI | HK Import Trading Inc 2885
KLT Global/Lipari Foods-Wholey Seafood 1457
Kochi Seafood Export Promotion Association 2333
Kogane Marine Foods Co., LTD. ............3250
Kohyo America Inc 2333
Kohyo Co., Ltd. 2333
Koral S.A. 833
Korea Asia Industrial Limited 2422
KRUSTAGROUP USA INC. 117
KUZUOGLU Su Ürünleri Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi 3422
Kvaroy Arctic 347
Kyokuyo America Group ........................2667
KyungYoung Fisheries Corp. 3005
Labrador Shrimp Company 1357
Lagoon Seafood Products 2613
Laguna Blanca 105
LaiWu Manhing Vegetables Fruits and Provisions Processing Co. Ltd. ..............1853
Techminds Group, LLC an Aptean Authorized Partner 1486
Technology Container Corp. ............... 1468
The Boston Solar Company 187 The Ocean Foundation 2272
Thermalite Packaging 1364
Thomas Precision, Inc.
DESPITE PRICE VOLATILITY, SALMON’S BRAND REMAINS STRONG WITH U.S. CONSUMERS
BY ERIN SPAMPINATO
The global salmon sector in 2025 had to contend with severe price
volatility, caused by both oversupply in key farming regions and U.S. tariffs.
THE YEAR STARTED with precipitous drops in the price of Atlantic farmed salmon from Norway. The Norwegian sector, which helps to set global price benchmarks, saw prices falling from around NOK 120 (USD 12.52, EUR 10.52) per kilogram for fresh Atlantic salmon in January 2025 to NOK 85 (USD 8.90, EUR 7.45) per kilogram in March, marking an unprecedented price decline.
Experts attributed the drops to extremely high export volumes, which left the supply chain with a glut of salmon. In May 2025, when volumes were especially high, the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) reported that the year-over-year price of salmon had fallen by more than NOK 40 (USD 4.17, EUR 3.50) from NOK 116.68 (USD 12.22, EUR 10.23) to NOK 75.78 (USD 7.93, EUR 6.65).
At that time, NSC Seafood Analyst Paul T. Aandahl said that “better production conditions,” including low sea lice levels, had produced both “record-high export volumes for the month of May” and a “record-breaking weakening of the salmon price this year.”
Salmon industry experts have said Norway’s overall harvest increased by about 11 percent last year. NSC data suggested that while salmon’s export value for Norway did increase slightly year-overyear in 2025, rising 2 percent, it was far outpaced by export volume.
Chile and Scotland, two other key salmonfarming locales, also saw increased export volumes in the first half of the year, adding to the global price pressure.
Like Norway, Chile saw an increase in production and contracted value. Biological conditions improved as the sector recovered from algal blooms and ISA outbreaks that it had experienced in 2024, and SalmonChile reported that total export volume for 2025 was 982,840 metric tons (MT), a 14 percent year-over-year increase.
That improved production, however, only produced a 3 percent year-over-year increase in export values, with the year’s total exports amounting to USD 6.55 billion (EUR 5.52 billion).
Scotland also experienced dramatically improved biological conditions in 2025, increasing
its salmon survival rate to 99.1 percent in the first half of 2025, its highest rate since 2018 and a significant improvement on the 2024 rate of 82.3 percent. Though data for all of 2025 is not yet available, data from the first half of the year saw a 22 percent year-over-year increase, to an export value of GBP 528 million (USD 723 million, EUR 607 million). Mass tonnages for 2025 have not yet been released by the organization.
While H1 price volatility was largely related to oversupply, H2 volatility was mainly due to the United States’ new tariff program, which saw key exporting regions facing new duties to bring salmon into the market. Norwegian salmon faced a 15 percent tariff, while Scotland and Chile faced 10 percent in tariffs.
Only Canada was spared from the first round of tariffs thanks to a trade deal between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, but the nation’s plan to ban net pen farming in British Columbia by 2029 meant that major salmon farmers had begun
withdrawing their investments in the region.
Tariff pressure triggered some salmon producers to diversify their export markets and many to reorganize their supply chains, causing continued price volatility throughout the second half of the year, though the dramatic declines seen in the first half were avoided.
This was the case with Norway, which has been turning increasingly to Asia.
Industry insiders gathered at the 2026 Global Seafood Market Conference said that the market should expect to see lower supply out of Norway in 2026, though they noted that there was currently high biomass in Norway’s net pens, but fewer individual fish. One possible reason for this is because China was one of the fastest growing markets for Norwegian salmon in 2025, and the focus on larger fish may be in response, as whole fish are culturally prized in the region.
At the same event, NSC CEO Christian Chramer said that, especially given uncertainty around tariffs, his organization was increasingly focused on addressing the demand of Asian countries that are becoming stronger markets for Norwegian salmon.
Despite the volatility, U.S. consumers continued to value salmon and pay high prices for it.
For instance, though the value of Chile’s exports was largely stagnant, the U.S. remained a stable market for Chilean salmon. U.S. consumers, SalmonChile reported, increased the amount of Chilean salmon they purchased by 6 percent in 2025, and value climbed by 1 percent year-over-year. The U.S. was also a particularly valuable market for Scottish salmon in 2025. In August, Salmon Scotland reported that salmon farmed in the country was fetching value in the U.S. that was 110 percent higher than at the same point in 2024, rising by GBP 99 million (USD 136 million, EUR 114 million) to GBP 190 million (USD 263 million, EUR 219 million).
The average NOK/kilogram prices for salmon products of all categories exported from Norway dropped in Q1 2025.
U.S. retail data also suggested that the forces that put pressure on the global salmon market in 2025 were not diminishing the strength of the salmon brand in the U.S.
Drawing on data from Circana, Integrated Fresh, Total US, and MULO+, market research firm 210 Analytics reported that salmon was the biggest fresh seafood seller for American retailers in 2025, with USD 4.1 billion (EUR 3.5 billion) in sales, which was up 4.4 percent year-over-year. It was particularly popular during the holidays, with salmon making up nearly 50 percent of all fresh and refrigerated seafood sales in December, bringing total sales to USD 206.8 million (EUR 174.3 million) in that month, a 5.8 percent year-over-year increase.
“With international sales approaching GBP 1 billion (USD 1.4 billion, EUR 1.2 billion), Scottish salmon continues to perform strongly on the world stage, especially in the U.S., where demand remains robust,” Salmon Scotland Chief Executive Tavish Scott said at the time.
salmon
Salmon was also, according to the same source, the second most popular frozen species in 2025 after shrimp. With USD 1.1 billion (EUR 927 million) in 2025 sales, frozen salmon was one of the fastest growing categories year-over-year, with 6.3 percent growth. Again, the holidays gave frozen salmon a significant boost, bringing in USD 74 million (EUR 62 million) in December, a significant 11.9 percent year-over-year increase.
BIGGEST FRESH SEAFOOD SELLER FOR AMERICAN RETAILERS
210 Analytics President Anne-Marie Roerink said in a 2025 U.S. retail performance review that salmon prices had seen far less inflation (3.3 percent) in the U.S. than other seafood products, making it a particularly competitive choice for consumers who
were increasingly worried about costs.
FMI – The Food Industry Association Vice President for Fresh Foods Rick Stein told SeafoodSource that salmon continued to succeed with U.S. consumers despite inflation because it “consistently delivers value on multiple fronts at once.”
“Shoppers view salmon as a high-quality, healthy option that offers a strong price-to-value equation, along with a positive and familiar shopping and eating experience,” he said.
While Roerink noted that there are “still a lot of consumers who believe preparing seafood is hard,” she agreed with Stein that salmon’s “versatility and ease of preparation add convenience, reinforcing [its] appeal and encouraging both new and repeat buyers to confidently add it to their carts.”
Additionally, salmon appealed to younger consumers in the U.S. in 2025, with Roerink noting that “salmon remains one of the most frequent searches in relation to the air fryer, a very popular cooking appliance among Gen Z and millennials in particular.”
“Salmon is also a frequent feature in readyto-cook dishes, typically displayed in the deli department. These dishes have done a terrific job providing solutions for a quick and relatively inexpensive lunch,” Roerink said.
Roerink added that salmon had been incredibly successful at building a brand for U.S. consumers, capitalizing on many of their needs at once. She pointed out salmon aligned perfectly with trends toward healthy eating of whole proteins in the U.S., which many believe are likely to continue to shape consumer behavior in 2026.
Salmon’s accessibility has also benefited from a years-long branding campaign, which has succeeded in giving salmon the nation’s “highest household penetration with restaurant foodservice, driving familiarity with the taste and texture of salmon,” Roerink said.
WHAT SEAFOOD COMPANIES NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VESSEL-LEVEL DUE DILIGENCE
BY NED DALY
Several organizations are playing an important role in designing a more responsible seafood industry.
For instance, organizations like California, U.S.A.-based FishWise are using data collection, reporting, and learning loops to identify the most efficient and effective ways to implement responsible practices in the sector.
MONDAY, 16 MARCH
3:15PM - 4:00PM Room 152
Vessel-Level Due Diligence: From Data Collection to Actionable Insights
The conference session “Vessel-Level Due Diligence: From Data Collection to Actionable Insights” taking place during this year’s Seafood Expo North America will help seafood companies understand the practicalities of data collection, how to develop a risk assessment program, and how to turn that data into valuable intelligence to derisk supply chains for IUU fishing or social and human rights challenges.
Panel participants include Mark Kaplan, the chief sustainability officer and co-founder of traceability software firm Wholechain; Renee Perry, the vice president of corporate social responsibility and environmental social governance for seafood wholesaler Oddisea SuperFrozen; and Michelle Beritzhoff-Law, a senior project director with FishWise.
Prior to the panel, the participants, along with Lindsay Ceron, another senior project director with FishWise, discussed why it’s essential to analyze supply chains from top to bottom, both to reduce risk and ensure responsible practices.
SEAFOODSOURCE: Why should a typical seafood company assess its supply chain for risk all the way down to vessel-level due diligence?
BERITZHOFF-LAW: Irrespective of where you are in the supply chain, fishing vessels carry risk, and as a company that is reliant on wild-caught products, you cannot manage nor mitigate what you don’t know or understand.
Historically, companies only looked “one step back” to their direct supplier. However, because many of the severe risks in
wild-caught seafood, such as forced labor and illegal fishing, occur at sea, assessing risks throughout the supply chain, down to the individual vessel, is the only way to truly mitigate these threats.
Put simply, three specific reasons a company should assess its supply chain at the vessel level are:
1. Mitigation of high-stakes legal and regulatory risks: For example, for U.S.-based companies, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issues withhold release orders (WROs) against fishing vessels. If your product was transshipped from a blacklisted vessel, your entire container can be seized, even if your direct suppliers are seen as ’clean.’
2. Financial and operational efficiency : Investments in granular data often lead to a more resilient business.
3. Brand reputation and consumer trust: Public exposés, investigative reports, and government action have publicly shown that human rights abuses, such as debt bondage or physical abuse, occur on distant-water vessels. Making an effort as a company to mitigate and address human rights risks, rather than ignore them, builds trust with consumers.
SEAFOODSOURCE: What does practical implementation look like for a seafood company?
BERITZHOFF-LAW: I’d break it into two initial steps:
STEP 1
Purposefully collect quality data. Companies should always be collecting data for a clear use. So, the first step for a company is to understand and establish the internal why, what, and how.
Mark Kaplan Chief Sustainability Officer, Co-founder of Wholechain
Renee Perry
Oddisea Superfrozen, LLC Vice President of Growth & Strategy
• The why needs to be embedded within the company so that senior leaders understand why this data is a critical part of a company’s due diligence. Even if the ‘why’ is to run a one-off risk assessment, it’s important to understand the activity or tool the company will use (e.g., GFW Vessel Viewer, FishWise’s Vessel Risk Dashboard, or an internal system) and any specific data requirements.
• The how relates to the process and tools. How will a company ask for, collect, and securely store data? What tools will they use to assess for risk?
• The what refers to specific key data elements. It is important to leverage industry standards, such as GDST, to ensure you receive high-quality, usable data that is easy to share. Companies should also consider scope. Which products will you start with, and how will you scale up from there?
• The data a company collects (what) and the process (how) should be informed by and enable a company to meet its why. Then, you are ready to start reaching out to suppliers to collect data and assess risks.
STEP 2
Act. Don’t just archive.
BERITZHOFF-LAW: Utilize risk assessment tools as part of a broader due diligence approach so the company has a process or framework to follow once it receives the assessment results. Don’t just look at a summary or outputs of vessel-level risk assessment and put it in a file. Use it, engage with your suppliers, and act strategically with it.
KAPLAN: Implementing traceability and vessel-level due diligence means moving from static paperwork to digital event-based data at a product level and monitoring. For a seafood company, it starts at the vessel with verified identity and applies key data elements like IMO number, geospatial data, and VMS/AIS monitoring and crew records, and then captures each event record at a lot or batch level as a digital event. The result is not more reporting but cleaner, more efficient data collection across the supply chain in a way that can be audited, shared, and trusted.
SEAFOODSOURCE: Is there a value to data collection beyond reporting out to external stakeholders?
PERRY: For us, data collection is not about checking a box for external reporting. It’s about building real supply chain intelligence. We use it to verify vessels against IUU and sanctions lists, confirm ISSF registry status, pressuretest our supply chain maps, and validate MSC Chain of Custody.
That work gives us early visibility into risk before it becomes a customer issue, a compliance issue, or a reputational issue. It strengthens internal controls, supports better procurement decisions, and protects the trust our retail and foodservice partners place in us.
In today’s environment, transparency isn’t retrospective. It’s both strategic and operational. The companies that lead will be the ones using data every day to make smarter, more responsible decisions, not just to publish reports.
SEAFOODSOURCE: Can you give some examples of what companies can learn by conducting vessel-level due diligence in their supply chain?
BERITZHOFF-LAW:
EXAMPLE 1: A spectrum of risk indicators by vessel: From the highest risk, such as the presence of blacklisted vessels, to other risks, such as time at sea, utilizing FishWise’s Vessel Risk Dashboard (VRD) or GFW Vessel Viewer can help you rank vessels within a group by specific risk indicators. You can also triangulate multiple indicators, such as low AIS coverage, a high-risk flag state, and multiple beneficial owners to understand how that vessel may be operating. Ultimately, you can get a prioritized list of high-risk vessels within
your supply chain and understand the specific characteristics or reasons why they are deemed high risk.
EXAMPLE 2: Transparency and strategic advocacy: A better understanding and characterization of vessels, including the ports they visit and whether they are on ISSF’s PVR or VOSI, can help companies better prioritize which types of advocacy or pre-competitive collaborations they should invest time in. Many of these risks can’t be effectively addressed by a single company, and understanding your supply chain not only helps identify risks but also clarifies where a company strategically needs collaborative support and what it should advocate for.
EXAMPLE 3: Supports iterative improvement: Through these exercises, you may find that you have a couple of suppliers doing an amazing job at collecting vessel information and managing vessel-level risk. Conversely, you may also find some companies aren’t able to collect this information at all, and you can identify opportunities to work with certain suppliers to make improvements.
SEAFOODSOURCE: Does this approach align with regulatory requirements, such as FSMA 204, and buyer procurement standards, or does it focus on a new set of issues?
CERON: Yes, this approach is strongly aligned with existing regulations, particularly SIMP, by documenting harvest-level and chain-of-custody data that importers need to demonstrate legal harvest.
While FSMA 204 doesn’t require entry filing like NOAA’s import programs and doesn’t go back to the vessel level, there is still complementarity here. A similar traceability infrastructure, using critical tracking events and key data elements, supports quick record retrieval. FSMA, while it focuses on food safety, has motivated companies to invest in more robust traceability systems and to improve transparency in their supply chains beyond one-up, one-down systems.
For MMPA import bans, there is alignment as the eligibility of products to enter the U.S. hinges on supply chain data, especially a vessel’s flag, name, and number. This regulatory requirement for first-mile information makes it easier and, at times, mandatory for companies to compile and report on their vessel information.
Overall, this approach aligns closely with leading private-sector expectations around responsible sourcing, traceability to the point of harvest, supplier engagement, and risk mitigation. The VRD, for example, helps companies meet today’s regulatory requirements while also positioning them ahead of the curve on emerging due diligence expectations, especially around IUU fishing and human rights.
U.S. CONGRESS CONTINUES EXPLORING POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS FOR NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE, LOBSTER FISHERY CHALLENGES
BY NATHAN STROUT
U.S. lawmakers in Congress are continuing to prioritize spending to address the ongoing issues between the New England lobster industry and the endangered North Atlantic right whale, a species whose habitat overlaps with valuable fishing grounds.
THE NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE population –which began experiencing an “unusual mortality event” in 2017 – hit a low in 2020, when researchers estimated their population at just 358 individuals. The declining population triggered regulatory efforts to save the species and help it recover, but those efforts have clashed with the commercial fishing industry in the region, which has come under fire for entanglements and vessel strikes.
The issue came to a head when NOAA Fisheries issued a biological opinion in 2021, which concluded that regulators needed to impose stringent new rules on the lobster industry in order to save the whales from extinction. However, many doubted whether the projections used in the biological opinion were accurate, and the issue quickly landed in court. A federal judge ultimately ruled in 2023 that the agency had acted wrongly by using worst-case scenarios in that 2021 biological opinion. The judge then vacated the document, killing the requirement for more stringent regulations.
Susan Collins U.S. Senator (R-Maine)
around North Atlantic right whale recovery.
Most notably, the bill includes USD 51 million (EUR 44 million) for right whale-related research, monitoring, and conservation efforts, marking an increase of USD 4 million (EUR 3.3 million) over the prior year’s spending.
“The Committee supports the use of supplementary funds previously provided to the agency for these purposes, including innovative gear research, acoustic monitoring, and satellite tracking. NOAA shall continue to support disentanglement, stranding response, and necropsy activities,” the Senate Appropriations Committee said in its report on the Senate version of the legislation, which provides direction on how NOAA Fisheries should spend the funding Congress has allocated.
“This funding will support Maine’s lobster industry by improving the
incomplete
and imprecise
science and research upon which the
federal government relies.”
– U.S. SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS
U.S. lawmakers have worked since then to block new regulations from being imposed on the lobster industry and have spent tens of millions of dollars to reduce entanglements, help the whales recover, and prevent vessel strikes.
Accordingly, lawmakers included several provisions in an appropriations package in January 2026 funding NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Department of Commerce more broadly to address the challenges
USD 30 million (EUR 26 million) of that funding is dedicated to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to spend on testing or voluntary implementation of innovative gear that can reduce entanglements. Funding can also be used for broad-scale monitoring of whale habitat use, dynamic management, and the development of alternative models for North Atlantic right whales.
“This funding will support Maine’s lobster industry by improving the incomplete and imprecise science and research upon which the federal government relies. The flawed data being used to inform regulations has created unnecessary, burdensome requirements for Maine lobstermen and women,” U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) said of the provision. “As chair of the Appropriations Committee, I worked hard to ensure this
REGULATORY FEATURE
funding was included in the final funding bill.”
The legislation also “encouraged” NOAA Fisheries to stop using worst-case scenarios and assumptions in evaluating the North Atlantic right whale population.
Collins has pressured the federal government to make sure the “worst-case scenario” analysis used for the 2021 biological opinion is not used again; in June 2025, Collins asked U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick whether U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order “Restoring Gold Standard Science” would preclude the use of worst-case scenarios.
“We think this capricious lack of rigor in our science has got to end, so the gold standard executive order saying only real science, not opinion-based science, has to be the rule,” Lutnick said. “We protect our fishermen; we protect our ranchers. These are key things that this administration is going to drive for.”
Elsewhere in the legislation, lawmakers invested funding in advancing whalemonitoring technology; the legislation included USD 5 million (EUR 4.3 million) for a pilot program that will provide near real-time monitoring of large whales to help avoid vessel strikes.
LAWMAKERS INVESTED USD 5 million (EUR 4.3 MILLION) in
advanced whale-monitoring technology
the waters of coastal Georgia. Investing in AIS technology helps to protect this incredible species and provides safeguards to the boating community and our coastal economy,” Georgia Conservancy President Katherine Moore said in a statement.
“Investing in AIS technology helps to protect this incredible species and provides safeguards to the boating community and our coastal economy.”
– KATHERINE MOORE, GEORGIA CONSERVANCY
“Using existing technology to monitor for right whales and protect mariners is a common-sense solution to a challenging coastal problem. Preserving this species does not have to come at the expense of boater safety or robust economic activity. With this funding, we are ensuring a bright future for coastal Georgians and the marine life that calls our waters home,” Carter added.
U.S. Representative Earl Carter (R-Georgia) also secured USD 500,000 (EUR 426,682) in earmarked funding for the Georgia Conservancy, which will transmit information about the whales’ seasonal management areas to vessels leveraging existing automatic identification system (AIS) technology.
“Vessel strikes pose a significant threat to the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, whose only known calving ground is in
There have been positive signs for the right whale population since reaching that low point in 2020, with the population slowly increasing over the last five years. In October 2025, a North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium estimate reported 384 individuals – an increase of 7 percent. Though the slight improvement is a positive sign for their eventual recovery, a 2023 NOAA analysis cautioned that the species will go extinct unless vessel strikes and entanglements are “significantly reduced.”
“
Translating innovative t ec hnology int o your f ish processing solution.”
BOSTON BOOTH GUIDE: CHECK OUT THESE SEAFOOD AND PROCESSING INNOVATORS AT THE 2026 EXPO
BY MADDIE KEARNS
Seafood Expo North America/ Seafood Processing North America is a one-stop shop for seafood stakeholders and innovators with a vested interest in this key continental marketplace.
CAMANCHACA
BOOTH #117
At Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America this year, global seafood supplier Camanchaca Inc. will be highlighting its core product portfolio, including Atlantic and coho salmon, mussels, shrimp, langostino, tuna, and more.
Additionally, the company will be featuring its Pier33 Gourmet brand at the Boston event, specifically its new product developments such as skin-pack salmon formats, prepared seafood meals, and flavored salmon portions. These offerings reflect the company’s “continued focus on innovation, convenience, and value-added seafood solutions aligned with current market demand,” it said.
“Camanchaca’s booth will serve as a meeting point for customers, partners, and industry stakeholders, who will also be sharing space to explore the company’s product range, discuss category opportunities, and learn more about how Camanchaca continues to support retail and foodservice growth through quality, consistency, and responsible sourcing,” the firm said.
Attendees curious about Camanchaca’s seafood portfolio, recent developments, and future opportunities for collaboration are invited to visit its booth, the company concluded.
“Camanchaca’s booth will serve as a meeting point for customers, partners, and industry stakeholders, who will also be sharing space to explore the company’s product range.”
From award-winning new food products to cutting-edge equipment and industry-altering technologies, you can find it all here at the expo – see what some exhibiting seafood suppliers, collectives, and processors have in store for the 2026 event in the pages ahead.
CLEAR OCEAN SEAFOOD
BOOTH #3419
Vancouver, Canada-based Clear Ocean Seafood will be debuting its “most innovative line of value-added scallop solutions” yet this week at Seafood Expo North America/ Seafood Processing North America 2026.
Powered by Clear Ocean Seafood’s manufacturing chain in Japan and China and “designed for maximum convenience and minimal prep time,” the valueadded scallop line includes premium breaded portions, surf-and-turf pairings, elegant half-shell presentations, and fully cooked ready-to-eat items.
“These solutions leverage [Clear Ocean’s] efficient, crosscontinental supply chain to deliver unparalleled quality and consistency to both retail and foodservice partners,” the company said.
“With 30 years’ dedication to just scallops, our goal is to effectively differentiate our product based on superior quality and innovative features to empower our customers to excel in their market.”
Clear Ocean Seafood Sales Director Tony Dong added that the scallop supplier has spent three decades dedicated to refining its processes and building partnerships throughout the supply chain.
“We take ownership of all the players along the supply chain, from aquaculture, processing, quality control, storage and wholesale, aftersales support, and product development, which enables us to offer stable supply and competitive prices,” Dong said. “With 30 years’ dedication to just scallops, our goal is to effectively differentiate our product based on superior quality and innovative features to empower our customers to excel in their market.”
COOKE INC.
BOOTH #1133
Blacks Harbor, New Brunswick, Canada-headquartered Cooke Inc. is focused on bringing “another elevated and memorable experience” to Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., during Seafood Expo North America 2026 this week.
The enterprise’s booth boasts a refreshed layout imbuing a “welcoming environment that encourages meaningful connections, along with areas for smaller meetings and conversations,” it said.
“As the seafood marketplace for North America, SENA is an important opportunity for connection, collaboration, and celebration.”
Among the booth’s features will be a “fully stocked retail aisle, providing a world of quality seafood at your fingertips” and “dynamic digital screens to inform and inspire,” according to Cooke. Furthermore, an interactive global map “highlighting Cooke’s international reach and vertically integrated operations focused on sustainability,” as well as a “world-class culinary experience” courtesy of Chef Chris Aerni and his team, will also be showcased at the booth.
“As the seafood marketplace for North America, SENA is an important opportunity for connection, collaboration, and celebration. Cooke is excited to participate and share our commitment to sustainable seafood,” according to the firm.
At the event, Cooke also plans to reveal its new skin pack line, “an exciting addition to our existing portfolio of Atlantic salmon, steelhead trout, and more,” the company said.
“Designed to improve store operations, reduce labor, and enable quick, effortless merchandising, this innovative packaging is an ideal solution for today’s retail and grocery setting,” the firm added.
ECHO FALLS BOOTH #1522
Monroe, Washington, U.S.A.-based Echo Falls Seafoods intends to make a splash at Seafood Expo North America 2026 with “an exciting lineup of new products for both retail and foodservice.”
Among the new products to explore at the company’s booth is Smoked Norwegian Atlantic Salmon Party Slices, a sampler item that contains three flavor varieties: Pepper, Traditional, and Dill. The offerings build off of the success of Echo Falls’ Wasabi-Flavored Salmon Caviar and refreshed caviar packaging, launched at retail in fall 2025, the firm said. The slices, which are “delicately smoked over beechwood,” are well-suited for appetizer applications, Echo Falls added.
Another product recently launched at retail, Smoked Atlantic Salmon Bites, is also on display at Echo Falls’ booth this year.
“These bites deliver everything today’s consumers crave: snacks that are packed with protein and flavor in convenient and portable packaging, making them the ultimate on-the-go option,” according to the company.
Echo Falls will feature an array of versatile, chef-friendly offerings for foodservice professionals at SENA26 as well, including: Nova Atlantic Salmon Sliced Side, Oak Smoked Yellowfin Tuna Coated with Black & White Sesame Seeds (16 ounces), Honey-Cured Hot Smoked Atlantic Salmon Side, Smoked Norwegian Atlantic Salmon Party Slices (Pepper, Traditional, and Dill Trio, 10 ounces), and Honey-Cured Smoked Atlantic Salmon Bites (2 pounds).
“Smoked seafood continues to rise in popularity, and we’re thrilled to introduce products that make it easy to serve with style – whether at home or in a professional kitchen,” Echo Falls President Alex Klein said.
ECUADOR FIRST CLASS SHRIMP
BOOTH #743
The premium quality of Ecuadorian shrimp is a key message Ecuador First Class Shrimp is looking to impart this week at Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America 2026.
The official brand of Ecuador’s National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA), Ecuador First Class Shrimp seeks to embody the South American country’s “commitment to elevating global standards across the shrimp industry.”
“Each Ecuadorian shrimp tells the story of generations devoted to perfecting a unique, world-class product,” according to the brand. “In 2024, more than 1.2 million metric tons of Ecuadorian shrimp reached over 60 countries worldwide with a premium offering. Beyond shrimp, Ecuador First Class Shrimp exemplifies how a united nation can transform a natural resource into a lasting legacy that connects Ecuador with consumers around the world.”
At the expo, “the Ecuador First Class Shrimp pavilion will bring together major Ecuadorian exporters showcasing the diversity, consistency, and premium positioning of Ecuador’s shrimp exports,” CNA said.
“Each Ecuadorian shrimp tells the story of generations devoted to perfecting a unique, world-class product.”
“This collective presence reinforces Ecuador’s commitment to expanding its footprint in strategic global markets and strengthening its reputation as a reliable supplier of high-quality shrimp worldwide,” the organization added. “Throughout the exhibition, attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about Ecuador’s unwavering commitment to quality, explore its premium shrimp offerings, and connect directly with leading Ecuadorian shrimp exporters.”
HARPAK-ULMA PACKAGING
Taunton, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-headquartered packaging company Harpak-ULMA is bringing “an integrated weighing and bagging solution engineered to control variability, protect yield, and deliver consistent seafood packaging across every product and every shift” to Seafood Processing North America this year.
The solution set to be featured by the firm is its ULMA VTC 840 Vertical Bagger, paired with a Cabinplant multi-head weigher with vibratory feeding. The ULMA VTC 840 innovation is designed “for precise portioning, stable throughput, and improved pack consistency,” while the vibratory feeding configuration works to “ensure smooth product distribution into the weighing heads, supporting tighter weight control while minimizing waste and overfill,” Harpak-ULMA said.
“With precise combination weighing, you reduce manual handling, improve food safety, and make portioning far more consistent.”
– JAKOB PLAUBORG, HARPAK-ULMA
“In fresh proteins, natural size variation makes it difficult to consistently hit fixed-weight targets without trimming or combining pieces,” according to Harpak-ULMA Applications
Engineer Jakob Plauborg. “With precise combination weighing, you reduce manual handling, improve food safety, and make portioning far more consistent.”
By integrating this kind of equipment, seafood processors can “dramatically reduce product giveaway by replacing manual packing with automation,” Plauborg added.
“Anything over target weight is essentially product you’re giving away,” he said. “With multi-head weighing, we typically see giveaway reduced to 0 to 2 percent, compared to 5 to 10 percent in many operations.”
HANDY SEAFOOD BOOTH #823
Make sure to stop by Salisbury, Maryland, U.S.A.-based Handy Seafood’s booth at Seafood Expo North America 2026 to partake in the launch of Terry Conway’s new book, “Business Is Simple: From a Family Cottage Business to World Processing and Marketing.”
Conway, the former CFO for Perdue Farms who went on to purchase Handy Seafood and spur its global expansion, will be stationed at the seafood supplier’s booth starting on 15 March to promote his book, dubbed “part memoir and part tactical manual” that offers “a rare, behind-the-curtain look at the four-decade journey that transformed a 130-year-old local operation on the Eastern Shore of Maryland into an international power in the specialty seafood market.”
“The book serves as a definitive account of the strategic framework that allowed [Handy] to thrive across generations,” according to the firm.
“This isn’t just a business book; it’s a blueprint forged in the fire of real-world risk and relentless transformation,” Conway added.
In addition to the book launch, attendees can “see the premium products that resulted from this disciplined approach to global marketing” at the Handy booth, the company said.
HIGH TEK USA BOOTH #1989
Rancho Cordova, California, U.S.A.-based global weighing and packaging equipment manufacturer High Tek USA will make its Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America debut in 2026. The company will feature a selection of its multi-head combination weighers and bagging machines, which are “designed to support the unique challenges of seafood processors, including fresh, frozen, and value-added products,” according to High Tek USA.
The company, which has been working with food producers for over 20 years, offers a portfolio of complete weighing and packaging solutions such as baggers, combination weighers, conveying systems, inspection equipment, and automation. The firm said all of its systems are “supported by 24/7 service and technical support, a robust parts department, and a team of experienced technicians dedicated to minimizing downtime.”
“Seafood Expo North America is an important opportunity for us to connect directly with seafood processors and introduce High Tek USA’s capabilities to this market,” High Tek USA Business Development Officer Greg Power said. “We’re excited to present how our weighing and bagging solutions can help improve efficiency, accuracy, and overall production performance.”
OXYGUARD BOOTH #2072
Madison, New Jersey, U.S.A.-based equipment developer OxyGuard North America is spotlighting its Marlin+ 2-channel Touchscreen Controller and the Handy CO2 Dissolved CO2 Sensor at Seafood Processing North America this week.
An addition to the company’s pacific modular system solution, the Marlin+ 2-channel Touchscreen Controller is “perfect for a smaller system looking for an upgrade,” while the Handy CO2 Dissolved CO2 Sensor is a compact, fully portable and rechargeable entrant into the Handy Polaris-25 product line.
“OxyGuard continues to provide the aquaculture industry with new and better equipment. With a team of some of the world’s best engineers, a creative work environment, and an uncompromising vision to always deliver the best we can to our customers, we provide the sector with new solutions that keep up with technological development, giving our customers the stability and competitive edge needed in today’s market,” OxyGuard North America CEO Carsten Wittrup said. “We are currently actively involved with the task of bringing the aquaculture industry to the next level of development – the industry 4.0 (digitization). OxyGuard takes the lead and applies the technology and expertise needed for our customers to gain ground on the food production market of tomorrow.”
The firm is “very excited to be back in Boston for this major event,” Wittrup added. “We truly enjoy the vibrant show and meeting our customers from all over the world.”
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GUARANTEE LIABILITY YUN-LIN COUNTY KO-FWU FISHES COOPERATION
Taiwan-based farmer-owned aquaculture collective Guarantee Liability Yun-Lin County Ko-Fwu Fishes Cooperation is coming to Seafood Expo North America this week, with a spotlight on its partial adoption of smart aquaculture systems across selected tilapia farming ponds.
Since its founding in 1996, the cooperative has “expanded its operations to include processing and now works with more than 200 contracted growers,” it said.
BOOTH #3174
As a means to strengthen its tilapia supply to the U.S. market, the cooperative said it has started selectively introducing smart aquaculture technologies “to improve water quality monitoring, fish health management, and production oversight.”
“This contract farming network supports stable raw material supply and consistent product quality while enhancing supply chain transparency, with farming and processing operations conducted in accordance with internationally recognized aquaculture certification standards, including [Aquaculture Stewardship Council] and [Best Aquaculture Practices],” Ko-Fwu Fishes Cooperation said.
MARYLAND’S BEST BOOTH #1004
At Seafood Expo North America this year, Maryland’s Best will be highlighting “delectable seafood from the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean,” including Chesapeake Bay blue catfish, fresh oysters, bay scallops, and more.
As the state-wide marketing program connecting consumers with Maryland, U.S.A.based farmers and watermen, Maryland’s Best is no stranger to the expo.
“Maryland has showcased at the Seafood Expo North America for years, highlighting Maryland businesses who catch and process the Chesapeake and Atlantic Ocean’s bounty,” Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks said. “As demonstrated in the Maryland booth at the 2026 show, attendees will be able to see how diverse Maryland’s seafood offerings are, ranging from bay scallops to wild-caught Chesapeake blue catfish.”
Among this year’s Maryland’s Best cohort are Black Pearl Spice Company, Hollywood Oyster Company, Jimmy’s Famous Seafood/Culinary Craft Packaging, Fallen Pine Oyster, Baywater Seafood, and Blue Cat Fisheries.
“Stop by the booth to sample Maryland seafood products, an all-in-one mix for crab cakes, oyster salsa, Maryland blue crabs, oysters, and more,” the Maryland Department of Agriculture said.
“Maryland is known for its seafood, and we invite you to come see why for yourself at the Seafood Expo North America.”
“This phased approach supports enhanced traceability, food safety controls, and sustainability practices while maintaining stable production volumes,” the cooperative said. “By combining smart aquaculture with a vertically aligned contract farming model, Ko-Fwu Fishes Cooperation supports long-term supply reliability and aligns with growing U.S. market expectations for sustainably farmed and safely produced seafood.”
Ko-Fwu Fishes Cooperation primarily supplies the U.S. market with IQF tilapia fillets, “focusing on larger portion sizes such as 9 to 11 [ounces] and 11 [ounces] and up, which are widely used in foodservice and retail channels.”
SHINGI FOOD SOLUTIONS INC.
BOOTH #1970
At the expo in 2026, Shingi Food Solutions Inc. will be emphasizing its highperformance rapid freezing system and dedicated thawing solution designed to facilitate frozen sushi, frozen sashimi, and frozen oysters.
Shingi noted that such technologies are already widely adopted in Japan, “where they are used to support commercial production and distribution of premium Japanese cuisine.”
“Rather than focusing on conventional seafood freezing, [Shingi Food Solutions Inc.’s] exhibit will highlight how advanced freezing technology can support the global expansion of Japanese food,” the company said.
Four pillars are set to be spotlighted by Shingi at the event: stable production of frozen sushi and sashimi for foodservice and retail; year-round availability of frozen oysters with controlled quality; consistent taste and presentation across multiple locations; and reduced reliance on highly skilled labor at each serving location.
“Japanese cuisine requires a level of quality that traditional freezing methods often cannot deliver,” Shingi Food Solutions Inc. Executive Manager Nori Tanaka said. “Our technology makes it possible to freeze sushigrade products and oysters at a commercial scale, a concept that has already been proven in the Japanese market and is now increasingly relevant overseas.”
SEAWISE INNOVATIVE PACKAGING
BOOTH #1269
Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada-based Seawise Innovative Packaging returns to Boston in 2026 for Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, highlighting recyclable packaging solutions for cold-chain distribution.
Find Styrofoam replacements, like the leak-proof Waterloc box with a Thermoloc insulating liner, at the Seawise booth, according to the packager with decades of experience in salmon processing.
“On its own, the Waterloc box serves as a wax replacement built for wet environments. To demonstrate its durability, a water-filled box will be on display throughout the entire event. Visitors can also view samples showcasing color print capabilities for elevated branding opportunities,” the company said.
“What attendees will see at our booth reflects our commitment to ongoing collaborative innovation,” Seawise Innovative Packaging Sales Director Wayne Burke added. “We’ve evolved our products based on real-time feedback from our Anchor Affiliate partners. Testing our Thermoloc liner and Waterloc box in their operations has been essential to adapting our solutions to meet unique cold-chain needs. The quality of our packaging systems is a testament to the collaborative nature of the seafood industry and its dedication to the shared responsibility of sustainability.”
PANGEA SHELLFISH COMPANY
BOOTH #2872
This year, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based shellfish wholesaler Pangea Shellfish Company will be shining a light on its new product initiative with Brunswick, Maine, U.S.A.based Mere Point Oyster Farm at Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America.
The initiative between the two seafood entities supports cancer research and patient care and is “a cause close to the hearts of many on the Pangea team who have personal connections to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund,” Pangea Shellfish said.
The initiative revolves around sales of cocktail-sized oysters featuring “rippled ivory shells, a bold burst of salt up front, and a crisp, clean finish” grown in partnership with Mere Point Oyster Farm, with a portion of the proceeds going to Dana-Farber.
“Raised in floating cages that are naturally tumbled by wave action, these oysters thrive in Maine’s pristine, cold waters – creating an exceptional flavor profile. Defying cancer never tasted so good,” Pangea said.
Pangea Shellfish Company Vice President Dan Light explained the “deeply personal place” that the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the pediatric Jimmy Fund Clinic holds for his family.
“When our daughter was diagnosed with cancer at just 3 years old, they became an integral part of her care and our lives. The compassion, expertise, and support we received during that time went far beyond treatment; they gave us hope. We are forever grateful for all they did for our daughter and our family, and we are honored and excited to give back by way of these special oysters,” Light said.
According to Pangea Shellfish Company Owner and President Ben Lloyd, the partnership with Mere Point Oyster Farm has been “wonderful” over the years. “They are a true pleasure to work with, and they grow absolutely delicious oysters!” Lloyd said. “In a way, I have Dana-Farber to thank for meeting my wife; she was previously employed there along with siblings of mine who introduced us.”
SADIKLAR SEAFOOD
BOOTH #3079
Turkey’s Sadiklar Seafood will be displaying its core frozen seafood products to international buyers and industry professionals this week at Seafood Expo North America 2026.
Taking center stage for the exporter is its flagship product, Rapana Venosa, a top shell meat. The company said it aims to showcase “frozen product formats designed to meet the needs of global markets, particularly in Asia and the United States,” and therefore, it will also be sharing its frozen anchovy and rainbow trout products for international wholesale and distribution. Products on display will be for evaluation only – “no sampling or onsite consumption will take place,” the company said.
“Our priority is consistency, food safety, and long-term reliability,” a Sadiklar Seafood senior company representative added. “We work closely with our customers to align product specifications with their market requirements while maintaining strict compliance with international standards.”
“Our priority is consistency, food safety, and long-term reliability.”
The firm operates modern processing facilities in Turkey and “works exclusively with approved raw material sources,” it said, adding that it follows E.U.- and FDA-compliant food safety systems, “emphasizing traceability, hygiene, and temperature-controlled logistics throughout the supply chain.”
PROCHILE
BOOTH #715
Six Chilean companies will be bringing their products to Seafood Expo North America this week under the ProChile banner.
Those six suppliers include Aysen Coho, Integra Chile, Landes, Manuelita Acuicultura, PacificBlu, and Pesquera Catalunya. They will be featuring a robust portfolio of products at the expo, including Atlantic and coho salmon, Chilean seabass, mussels, squid, king crab, and jack mackerel, as well as a wide range of canned and other valueadded seafood products, ProChile said.
“The United States is the main destination for our seafood exports and shows strong consolidation in the market. The industry is widely recognized for its high quality, traceability, and compliance with strict international certifications, allowing us to supply the U.S. market in a reliable and sustainable manner,” ProChile Trade Commissioner in New York Andrea Sapag said. “This trade show is an excellent opportunity for our companies, providing a key space to connect with current and potential clients. Chile’s presence is highly recognized and allows us to showcase a diverse offering, including high value-added products in a variety of formats. Innovation and sustainability are core pillars of the industry’s development and reflect the sector’s commitment to meeting the highest international standards. This progress has been strengthened through public-private collaboration, which has been a central driver of growth.”
“This trade show is an excellent opportunity for our companies, providing a key space to connect with current and potential clients.”
Chile exported a total of USD 9.18 billion (EUR 7.67 billion) in seafood worldwide between January and December 2025, ProChile affirmed. The U.S. accounted for 31.7 percent of those shipments, totaling USD 2.91 billion (EUR 2.43 billion), the organization added. The main Chilean species exported to the U.S. last year were salmon and trout (USD 2.61 billion, EUR 2.18 billion), Chilean seabass (USD 58 million, EUR 48 million), mussels (USD 37 million, EUR 30 million), shrimp (USD 37 million, EUR 30 million), and hake (USD 12 million, EUR 10 million).
“As part of our role in promoting and positioning Chilean products in the U.S. market, the New York office is working to continue driving both existing and new products through various promotional activities, including participation in trade shows, inviting key stakeholders to Chile, and maintaining ongoing communication with leading U.S. industry players about the sector’s progress,” Sapag said.
– ANDREA SAPAG, PROCHILE
BOOTH #3105
ST. JAMES SMOKEHOUSE BOOTH #3253
Fruit Wood Limoncello Smoked Salmon and Fruit Wood Black Truffle Smoked Salmon, two new products recently added to St. James Smokehouse’s SAINT retail smoked salmon line, will be in the spotlight at Seafood Expo North America this year – both at the company’s booth and in the 2026 Seafood Excellence Awards competition taking place at the expo on 15 March.
The Miami, Florida, U.S.A.-based company said the two new product launches underscore its “continued focus on premium-forward innovation within the refrigerated coldsmoked salmon category.”
Created for “seafood buyers and category decision-makers seeking fresh differentiation in the refrigerated case,” both SAINT flavor-infused cold-smoked salmon products “deliver vibrant flavor and visual appeal that help refresh smoked salmon displays and menus – without changing how shoppers or foodservice operators merchandise, prepare, or enjoy the category.” The items are first treated with “a traditional dry cure of salt and brown sugar and slow smoking over a carefully selected fruit wood blend” and then are finished with “a post-smoking infusion that adds depth of flavor while maintaining the salmon’s natural balance,” the seafood smoker explained.
“We believe that buyers are looking for products that bring something genuinely new to their customers while still delivering on taste, quality, consistency, and ultimately, repeat purchase,” St. James Smokehouse Owner and CEO Alexandra Hill said. “With these infusions, we preserved the integrity of our craft and process while introducing flavors that help redefine expectations for what smoked salmon can be.”
According to the company, Fruit Wood Limoncello Smoked Salmon (infused with artisanal Italian limoncello crafted from Amalfi Coast lemons and seasoned with lemon zest) and Fruit Wood Black Truffle Smoked Salmon (infused with aromatic black summer truffles) play to a broader strategy for St. James Smokehouse: “Use lighter smoke, clean ingredients, and focused infusions to give buyers new reasons to choose smoked salmon in a crowded case.”
“Beyond bagels and blinis, the new profiles are built to elevate everyday menu staples – including flatbreads and fresh salads – offering consumers a simple way to encourage trial with familiar dishes while delivering a more premium taste experience,” the firm concluded.
VIČIŪNAI GROUP
Vičiūnai Group will be debuting its new subsidiary and product innovations at this year’s Seafood Expo North America.
The European seafood processor said it will also provide “live tasting sessions of its industry-leading imitation crab sticks made with fish protein, salmon, and gyoza potstickers to major retail and foodservice buyers” at the expo.
“Participation in Seafood Expo North America in Boston provides direct access to key U.S. market players –retail chains, distributors, foodservice providers, and brokers. This platform is essential for our company’s expansion in the U.S. market,” VG Trading Inc. CEO Egidijus Stankus said.
BOOTH #644
“By combining 34 years of manufacturing expertise with a new, localized U.S. infrastructure, Vičiūnai Group is positioned to streamline logistics and foster longterm collaborations with the continent’s largest retail networks.”
The company noted its commitment to the U.S. market is “underscored by a landmark USD 100 million [EUR 83 million] investment in a new salmon processing complex in Lithuania.” According to Vičiūnai Group, the facility is expected to triple the enterprise’s annual salmonid capacity to
over 110 million pounds, “with more than 95 percent of production dedicated to Western markets, including the United States.”
“This expansion ensures that Vičiūnai Group can provide a stable, highvolume supply chain of sustainably processed salmon and trout to meet the evolving needs of the American consumer,” the company said.
The group will be participating in the Seafood Expo North America New Product Showcase in 2026, highlighting its “unique, value-added products that demonstrate [Vičiūnai Group’s] focus on global taste trends and high-protein convenience.”
“By combining 34 years of manufacturing expertise with a new, localized U.S. infrastructure, Vičiūnai Group is positioned to streamline logistics and foster longterm collaborations with the continent’s largest retail networks,” the group concluded.
VAI BOOTH #1186
Ronkonkoma, New York, U.S.A.-based ERP software developer VAI will present its food industry-specific ERP solutions at Seafood Processing North America 2026. Specifically, VAI will be showcasing its S2K Enterprise for Food, which “helps seafood distributors and processors manage complex, fast-moving operations with greater accuracy, visibility, and control,” the company said.
“Designed to support the unique requirements of the seafood industry, VAI’s ERP enables businesses to handle catchweight inventory, lot and batch traceability, food safety compliance, and real-time inventory management within a single, integrated platform,” VAI added, noting that its solutions automate catch-weight management and ensure compliance with modern regulations like FSMA 204 through end-to-end traceability.
S2K Enterprise for Food
“helps seafood distributors and processors manage complex, fast-moving operations with greater accuracy, visibility, and control.“
The company said its experts will be on hand at the expo to “discuss real-world challenges facing seafood distributors, such as advanced lot-linking features that maintain ‘parent-child’ relationships when batches are split or merged, enabling distributors to isolate affected products during a recall and generate mandated digital reports for the FDA in under 24 hours.”
“Seafood distributors and processors operate in one of the most complex and highly regulated food segments,” VAI Executive Vice President Joe Scioscia said.
“Our ERP solutions are purpose-built to help seafood businesses maintain full traceability, improve inventory accuracy, and make smarter decisions so they can operate more efficiently while protecting their brand and meeting customer and regulatory expectations.”
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CONVENIENCE, INNOVATION SHINE AT 2025 ALASKA SYMPHONY OF SEAFOOD COMPETITION
BY TEDDY HANS
TRIDENT SEAFOODS, THUNDER’S CATCH, E&E FOODS, and more companies took home top prizes at the 2025 Alaska Symphony of Seafood competition.
The annual event, hosted by the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF), aims to reward excellence in seafood product development, honoring innovative, value-added products that reflect the U.S. state of Alaska’s commitment to quality and sustainability.
“It’s inspiring to see the creativity and innovation shown by this year’s winners,” AFDF CEO Kristy Clement said after the 23 October, 2025 event, which welcomed nearly 300 guests to the King Street Ballroom in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. “Each product carries the spirit of Alaska – one built on community, pride, and excellence.”
Seattle-based Trident Seafoods was the winner of two awards during last year’s competition, securing both the Most Innovative award and the People’s Choice award.
In the former category, Trident won for its wellFURst Calming Support Freeze-Dried Health Supplement for Dogs. The company’s wellFURst line of products, which includes supplements and fish oils, are made using Alaska pollock “to help dogs navigate stressful situations, like thunderstorms and vet visits, featuring active ingredients that keep your pet happy and healthy,” according to Trident.
“Trident’s wellFURst brand is leading the future of pet wellness by offering a long-desired product for the right situation made the sustainable way,” Trident Director of Business Development Analise Gonzales said. “We believe in wellFURst’s purpose to not be just another pet brand. We’re here to be the go-to for thoughtful, ingredient-driven pet wellness.”
In the People’s Choice category, which is selected by attendees at the event, Trident placed first for its Crispy Battered Sauceable Wild Alaska Pollock Nuggets, which are “crispy, bite-sized, flavor-flexible” nuggets that are tailored for foodservice customers searching for global flavor profiles, ways to enhance seasonal limited time offers, and customizable menu builds, the company said.
Elsewhere at the event, Sandpoint, Idaho, U.S.A.-based Thunder’s Catch won Best New Retail Product for its Wild Salmon Curry. The product, which comes in 9-ounce pouches and is sold in around 300 stores across the U.S., contains yellow curry, coconut milk broth, potatoes, carrots, and sockeye salmon caught in Bristol Bay, Alaska by the firm’s 32-foot commercial fishing vessel, F/V Thunder
“Whether you’re at your table at home or in your tent at basecamp,” the company’s Wild Salmon Curry is easy to prepare, requiring five minutes to heat
up on a stovetop or just one minute in the microwave, according to Thunder’s Catch.
“This ‘Best Retail’ win validates not just its quality, flavor, and convenience but the value of seafood with a story. Fully scaled, poised, and ready, we’re set to bring this recipe –and our passion as the Bristol Bay fishermen behind it – into grocery aisles, menus, and foodservice nationwide,” Thunder’s Catch CoOwner Kara Berlin told SeafoodSource after the event.
Also in the Best New Retail Product category, Homer, Alaska-based Wild Alaskan Company took home second place for its Sockeye Salmon with Teriyaki Glaze, and Seattle-based Eva’s Wild took home third place for its Eva’s Wild Salmon Jerky.
In the Best New Foodservice Product category, Renton, Washington, U.S.A.based E&E Foods won for its 49th Star Wild Alaska Sockeye Salmon Italian Meatballs.
“We have introduced several out-of-the-box items over the past years. Our 49th Star Italian Salmon Meatballs is one of those products which gives the consumer a healthy alternative to the traditional beef and pork meatballs without compromising flavor or texture,” E&E Senior Vice President of ValueAdded Operations Bob O’Bryant said.
Kachemak Kelp, a mission-driven innovation hub that aims to support the growth of seaweed mariculture in Alaska, also took home a top prize at last year’s event, locking down the Beyond the Plate award for its Selkie Soak, which is a bathing kit containing mineral salts, calendula petals, and sugar kelp “grown and harvested from the cool, clean, nutrient-rich waters of Kachemak Bay, Alaska.”
Dried and processed right off the docks in Homer, Alaska, the sugar kelp used in Kachemak’s Selkie Soak emollient compounds, marine minerals, and nutrients [supports] collagen production and healthy, well-hydrated skin.” Additionally, the magnesium-rich mineral salt in the kit helps to promote relaxation, with the calendula petals contributing to the mix with powerful antioxidants that reduce stress.
The 2025 Alaska Symphony of Seafood competition was judged by a panel featuring some of Seattle’s leading culinary and seafood industry professionals. The panel comprised Marisa Christenson, the director of dining and beverage operations for cruise company Holland America Line; Craig Glaser, a manager and fish buyer at Pike Place Market; Katie Goldberg, the co-founder of marketing firm Tastemaker Comms; Jason Hedlund, the principal category merchant of procurement for seafood at retailer Whole Foods Market; Charles Koh, a food writer and the founder of food publication EatSeattle; and Taichi Kitamura, the executive chef and owner of Sushi Kappo Tamura.
CREDIT: ALASKA FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
Meet the SeafoodSource Team
As the official media for Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, SeafoodSource will be a constant presence on the show floor and in the conference wing. Get to know the team and say hello when you see them in action.
CHRIS CHASE
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Chris Chase is the Portland, Maine-based executive editor of SeafoodSource. Previously, he worked covering local issues at the Coastal Journal in Bath, Maine, where he won multiple awards from the Maine Press Association for his news coverage and food reviews. Chris is a graduate of the University of Maine, and got his start in writing by serving as a reporter and later the State Editor of The Maine Campus, an award-winning campus newspaper.
REACH CHRIS AT: cchase@divcom.com
NATHAN STROUT MANAGING EDITOR
Nathan Strout is the Portland, Maine-based managing editor of SeafoodSource. Previously, Nathan covered the U.S. military’s space activities and emerging technologies at C4ISRNET and Defense News, where he won awards for his reporting on the U.S. Space Force’s missile warning capabilities. Nathan got his start in journalism writing about several communities in Midcoast Maine for a local daily paper, The Times Record.
REACH NATHAN AT: nstrout@divcom.com
HALEY JONES
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Haley Jones is the Portland, Maine-based associate editor of SeafoodSource. Previously, she covered high school sports for the Maine Trust for Local News in Lewiston, Maine, where she won multiple awards from the Maine Press Association. Haley is also a graduate of Occidental College in Los Angeles, California, and got her start in writing at a local newspaper in South Carolina.
REACH HALEY AT: hjones@divcom.com
TEDDY HANS
SENIOR COPYEDITOR
Teddy Hans is a Las Vegas, Nevada-based senior copyeditor for SeafoodSource. He attended the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism, graduating with an emphasis in magazine editing. Before joining the SeafoodSource team, where he edits feature stories, Teddy worked as a quality assurance editor in content marketing and wrote freelance content for various newspapers and magazines.
REACH TEDDY AT: thans@divcom.com
HEIDI WEEKS – Account Executive, Sales
Reach Heidi at: hweeks@divcom.com
HALLEE SCHOYER – Account Executive, Sales
Reach Hallee at: hschoyer@divcom.com
MARY FOWLER – Sales Manager
Reach Mary at: mfowler@divcom.com
JOSHUA HODGES – Marketing Coordinator
Reach Joshua at: jhodges@divcom.com
KELCEY GEORGE – Marketing Manager
Reach Kelcey at: kgeorge@divcom.com
KATHERINE SHAGOURY – Digital Product Director
Reach Kate at: kshagoury@divcom.com
ERIN SPAMPINATO
PRICE REPORTING SPECIALIST
Erin Spampinato is the Georgetown, Maine-based price reporting specialist at SeafoodSource. She has published widely as a freelance journalist, essayist, and scholar, and has held editorial positions for several mission-driven organizations. Erin holds a PhD from the Graduate Center, CUNY, an MA from Columbia University, and a BA from Smith College.
REACH ERIN AT: espampinato@divcom.com
AVERY ST. ONGE
CONTENT SPECIALIST, SPECIAL PROJECTS
Avery St. Onge is the Portland, Maine-based content specialist of SeafoodSource’s special projects. Previously, Avery produced podcasts, webinars, e-books, and articles for Integrative Practitioner, a small publication aimed at integrative healthcare professionals. She also reported on local Maine news for Portland Radio Group. Avery is a graduate of George Washington University, where she majored in journalism and mass communications.
REACH AVERY AT: astonge@divcom.com
MADDIE KEARNS CONTENT MANAGER
Maddie Kearns is the content manager for SeafoodSource and the conference program at Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America. Maddie is a graduate of the University of Maine, where she served as a columnist and the opinion editor for the university’s paper, The Maine Campus, and won a Grady Award in Creative Writing for her poetry. She lives under a mountain of books in South Portland, Maine with her cats, Pierre and Benoit.
REACH MADDIE AT: mkearns@divcom.com
NED DALY CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Ned Daly is the lead for Seafood2030 with Diversified. He has worked on sustainable markets in a variety of resources for 40 years, the last 15 years of which in seafood. Ned worked in seafood for the last decade with SeaWeb. Previously, he was director of RugMark International (now GoodWeave), a certification program for child-labor-free rugs coming from Southeast Asia. He also served as chief operating officer for the Forest Stewardship Council in the United States, managing relationships with industry leaders and a diversity of key stakeholders including conservation nongovernment organizations, policymakers, and industry trade associations. Ned has also worked on sustainable markets in the agricultural sector and the relationship between resource extraction and ecosystem health. He lives in Alfred, Maine.