Saving Seafood

US seafood workforce at inflection point as barriers prevent new entrants

April 14, 2025 — High costs of entry, coupled with permitting barriers and the difficulty of maintaining modern fishing vessels, has the U.S. seafood industry’s workforce at an inflection point.

Ocean Strategies Principal Brett Veerhusen, speaking at a panel during the 2025 Seafood Expo North America – which ran from 16 to 18 March in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. – said the average age of a fisherman in the U.S. is increasing thanks to a high barrier to entry. Veerhusen said the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which was designed to better manage U.S. seafood stocks, has helped reduce overfishing but has also led to increased consolidation – which leaves little room for new fishermen.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Bluefina working to gain greater foothold in high-end restaurants with “Wagyu” of tuna

April 4, 2025 — Primetime Seafood President and Owner Rex Ito wants the company’s ranched bluefin tuna products to be seen as the “Wagyu” of the tuna world.

Ito is a more than 30-year veteran of the bluefin tuna industry, and has been a part of a shift in how the species is brought to market. He told SeafoodSource at Seafood Expo North America, which ran from 16 to 18 March in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., at the start of his career he was mainly selling wild caught tuna, and he now works in ranched tuna produced by Bluefina – of which he is the exclusive distributor.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Workers’ rights campaign continues push for Wi-Fi on distant-water fishing vessels

March 25, 2025 — Silwanus, an Indonesian migrant fisher, was working aboard the Marine Stewardship Council-certified (MSC) Taiwanese distant-water vessel Chang Yi No. 368 in 2024 when a refrigerator door slammed shut during a big wave and severed his fingertips. 

“My fingers are gone. If help would have been there right away, maybe my fingers would not be lost,” he told SeafoodSource through translator Truly Walean during the 2025 Seafood Expo North America (SENA), which ran from 16 to 18 March.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

43rd edition of Seafood Expo North America opens in Boston

March 17, 2025 —  Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, North America’s largest seafood trade event, kicked off on 16 March in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

North America’s largest seafood trade event – produced by Diversified – opened for its 43rd edition, running from 16 March through 18 March. The latest edition of the event occupies 249,665 net square feet with 1,215 exhibiting companies from 51 countries – including new participating countries from Bahrain, Croatia, Ireland, Mauritius, Puerto Rico, and United Arab Emirates; and an increased presence from countries including China, Ecuador, France, Japan, Norway and Vietnam, Diversified said. [Editor’s note: Diversified also owns and operates SeafoodSource.]

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

US tariffs worry Chinese seafood exporters aiming to target American consumers

March 5, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump instituted an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods on 4 March, following the 10 percent he announced in February, meaning certain goods from China are now subject to a 45 percent import tariff.

The tariffs are causing uncertainty for Chinese seafood firms attempting to find or expand their U.S. customer base, some of which are making the trip from China to the upcoming Seafood Expo North America, which is taking place in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., from 16 to 18 March.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

2024 Seafood Expo North America draws 19,780 attendees, exhibition space expands by 5 percent compared to 2023

April 15, 2024 — The 42nd edition of Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, which took place 10 to 12 March 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. joined more than 19,780 seafood professionals and covered 249,665 net square feet of exhibit space, which was 5 percent larger than 2023, producer Diversified Communications said. [Editor’s note: Diversified Communications also owns and operates SeafoodSource.]

Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America showcased companies and products ranging from fresh, frozen, canned, value-added, and seafood packaging and processing technology, logistics services, among other service providers across the industry.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Predicted economic stability arriving just in time for financially stressed seafood industry

March 18, 2024 – The seafood industry has faced strong headwinds over the past two years, and the system of financial institutions supporting it didn’t have it any easier.

A panel of financial experts at Seafood Expo North America, which ran from 10 to 12 March in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., said 2022 and 2023 represented one of the toughest operating environments for lenders and financial institutions in recent memory.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

SENA 2024: Salmon, Shrimp Products Win Seafood Excellence Awards in Boston

March 12, 2024 — The Seafood Excellence Awards took place Sunday afternoon at Seafood Expo North America (SENA), honoring two companies for their Best New Foodservice Product and Best New Retail Product.

Three seafood-industry experts judged the products on uniqueness, appropriateness to the market, taste profile, packaging, market potential, convenience, nutritional value and originality.  Out of 70 entries, the judges narrowed the competition down to 11 finalists. Four entries made up the Best New Foodservice category, while the Best New Retail Product category had seven entries. But of course, there can be only one winner. And on Sunday the judges presented Social Kitchens Professional/ SK Food Brands’ Premium Shrimp Sliders with the award for the Best New Foodservice Product, and Highland Farms’ Salmon Salami with the award for Best New Retail Product.

Read the full article at Seafoodnews.com

Workers’ rights NGO protests for fisher Wi-Fi access at Seafood Expo North America

March 12, 2024 — Adrie Nelwan, an Indonesian fisherman, lost sight in his right eye in July 2021 when a fishing line snapped aboard the Taiwanese distant-water vessel was was working on.

Nelwan said if he had ready access to Wi-Fi after his injury, he believes he would have been able to get the medical coverage needed that would have saved his eye, as well as his career as a fisher.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource