Saving Seafood

Economic Impact

Upcoming fishmeal, fish oil shortages will require swift industry action, Rabobank warns

September 29, 2025 — The global aquaculture sector is heading toward a critical feed supply shortage, with shortages of fishmeal projected as early as 2028 and fish oil scarcity expected to intensify throughout the decade, according to a new RaboResearch report from Rabobank.

Compiled by RaboResearch Seafood Analyst Novel Sharma, the study, titled “Hooked on scarcity: Navigating aquafeed nutrition amid looming marine ingredients shortages,” warns that rising demand for high-value aquaculture species, coupled with stagnant marine ingredient supplies and climate-driven volatility, could destabilize one of the world’s fastest-growing food sectors.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

USDA announces USD 100 million in pollock, catfish contracts

September 26, 2025 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced contracts for USD 84 million (EUR 72 million) worth of Alaska pollock products and USD 14 million (EUR 12 million) worth of catfish products.

In August, the department announced its intention to purchase USD 100 million (EUR 86 million) worth of Alaska pollock and USD 20 million (EUR 17 million) of catfish as part of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Great American Farmers Market, an event in Washington, D.C., U.S.A., held as part of National Farmers Market Week last month.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Experts predict significant shipping downturn as tariffs take full effect

September 24, 2025 — Experts in the shipping and logistics industry are predicting the U.S. sector will begin to feel the effects of tariffs this fall, which will likely manifest in low import cargo volumes, low traffic on routes into the U.S., and lower container prices.

John McCown, of The McCown Report – who has long been predicting a major decline in 2025 inbound cargo volume –said on 22 September he expected to see a double-digit drop in container volume by the end of September as tariffs implemented by the Trump administration take full effect. McCown based his forecast on the fact that the United States’ largest ports saw very little increase (0.1 percent) in their year-over-year total inbound volumes in August.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Amid economic volatility, financial challenges, U.S. seafood producers are calling for change

September 23, 2025 — Every year, more than US$100 million in federal financing programs are allocated to support U.S. aquaculture businesses. But some producers are finding that availability and meaningful access can be two different things – and they are beginning to speak out. 

It’s a seeming disconnect between government pronouncements to support the growth of U.S. aquaculture through these funding programs and the difficulties and hurdles business owners say they face when trying to access them. 

“ One of the things that’s really making it a lot more difficult is the position of NOAA,” says Robin Pearl, co-founder and president of Florida-based shrimp genetics producer American Penaeid. “And it shouldn’t be this hard and it shouldn’t be this way.” 

Pearl, who also co-founded American Mariculture (AMI), the company behind Sun Shrimp, maintains the current system governing NOAA-managed financing programs has not been responsive to the needs of seafood farmers, especially after their businesses have had to endure a global pandemic and other natural disasters.

Read the full article at Aquaculture North America

Record Prices and Tariff Pressures Challenge the US Scallop Complex

September 22, 2025 — The scallop market in the US has faced continued challenges in 2025. Low domestic landings continue providing upward pricing pressure, while potentially constrained availability from Canada adds to tight North American supply. A similar scenario played out in 2024, when many market participants turned to Japanese product as a quality substitute for domestic shortfalls.

Read the full article at Seafoodnews.com

Steep decline in landings show imports’ impact, US shrimpers say

September 16, 2025 — NOAA Fisheries landings data for 2024 show sharp declines in U.S. Gulf and South Atlantic catches. That trend is likely an indicator of the impact competition from inexpensive imported shrimp is having on the U.S. domestic market, according to the Southern Shrimp Alliance.

The U.S. landings “confirm the incredible damage caused to the U.S. shrimp industry by the massive influx of cheap, farmed shrimp imported into this country over the last four years,” the alliance said in its analysis issued Sept. 15.

NOAA’s figures show 158.9 million pounds of shrimp were landed in the Gulf and South Atlantic last year with a total value of $257.9 million. “This is by far the lowest amount of shrimp harvested in these regions since 1961,” according to the alliance.

The industry group’s paper includes graphics generated from annual landings totals.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

Logistics sector acclimating to tariff shocks, but policy changes still likely to drive trends

September 11, 2025 — The shipping and logistics sector appears to be acclimating to a year of tariff-related shocks that drove shippers to rush goods to key markets. 

Prices for routes between the Far East and the United States peaked dramatically in June, with prices for routes between Shanghai and Los Angeles in particular climbing to USD 5,914 (EUR 5,055) for a 40-foot-equivalent unit (FEU), according to the Drewry World Container Index. By 28 August, however, prices had fallen steeply to around USD 2,522 (EUR 2,156) for the same route.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Ørsted and Iberdrola Are Trying to Save U.S. Offshore Wind Investments

September 9, 2025 — Two major offshore wind developers,  Ørsted and Iberdrola, have efforts underway to save their offshore wind projects in the United States. The companies are reportedly trying to win over the Trump administration, which opposes offshore wind energy, by emphasizing the larger investments in the United States.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Bloomberg reports, confirmed that the administration is “actively engaged in discussions” with Ørsted over the future of the Revolution Wind project off the coast of Rhode Island and Connecticut. According to the reports, Wright, during a presentation at the Council of Foreign Relations, confirmed that there is “a very active dialogue,” saying the issues of the wind farm were being “worked and discussed.”

Last month, the Trump administration issued a stop work order for the project, which Ørsted said is 80 percent installed. The company highlighted its large investment, saying that all of the foundations for the 704 MW wind farm are installed and that 45 out of the 65 wind turbines have also been installed. The export cabling and the onshore power substation are nearly complete.

Ørsted filed a lawsuit challenging the legal authority to suspend the project, calling it a necessary step. The company, however, also said it was continuing to seek a resolution with the administration.

Read the full article at The Maritime Executive