Monday, March 16, 2026
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
National
ANALYSIS: Salmon and Pollock Dominate EU‑US Seafood Flows as Trade Balance Shifts
Expana by Fabienne O'Donoghue - March 13, 2026
At a time when US tariff policy reflects both commercial and geopolitical considerations of its partners, and given the temporary halt to the US‑EU trade agreement reached last summer, it is especially relevant to review the seafood trade relationship between the United States and the European Union.
According to Eurostat data, the 2025 seafood trade balance (under HS codes 03 and 1604/5) between the US and the EU showed a trade deficit of USD 296 million, with imports from the EU valued at USD 1,350 million against US exports to the EU at USD 1,053 million. This deficit was notably larger in previous years, reaching USD 408 million in 2024 and USD 463 million in 2023. The narrowing gap in seafood trade since the peak imbalance in 2022 marks a reversal from the predominantly negative trend observed since at least 2016. The US remains fairly dependent on the EU for seafood sourcing, although this picture excludes other major European suppliers such as Norway and the UK.
US Imports from the EU
The Netherlands leads as the largest EU supplier to the US seafood market, accounting for 30% of the total import value in 2025, followed by Spain (24%), Poland (14%), and Denmark (12%). The range of products is diverse, encompassing various species and preparation methods—fresh, smoked, frozen, canned, dried, among others. However, the top five categories make up 79% of total US seafood imports from the EU.
Salmon dominates, constituting 48% of US imports from the EU. Primarily Pacific salmon in fresh fillets (21%), smoked (15%), and frozen fillets (9%), US salmon imports from the EU were valued at USD 643 million last year, showing remarkable stability year-on-year (-0.1%). The Netherlands is the key partner for the US in salmon exports within the EU.
Octopus ranks second, with 11% of total import value. However, this category has experienced a 3.9% decline since 2024. Spain supplies 90% of frozen octopus imports, followed by Portugal at 10%.
The third group comprises sardines, herring, mackerel, and anchovies, collectively contributing 9% of exports to the US. Sardines alone represent 5% of the total import value of this category, with Poland as the major supplier.
Tuna and sea bass follow, representing 6% and 5% respectively, predominantly sourced from Spain and Greece.
This product distribution underscores the pivotal roles of Spain and the Netherlands in the EU’s seafood trading relationship with the US.
US Exports to the EUUS seafood exports to the EU are equally concentrated, with four species making up 78% of the total export value.
Alaska Pollock is the primary export, accounting for 49% with USD 511 million in 2025. The share of Alaska Pollock in the EU market has steadily increased, including a substantial 26.8% growth from the previous year.
The main EU destinations are Germany (37%) and the Netherlands (23%), followed by France, Denmark, and Poland (each between 8% and 13%).
Salmon constitutes 19% of US seafood exports to the EU, mostly shipped frozen. Sockeye salmon leads this category at 61% of salmon items, followed by Pacific salmon. After a sharp 38.9% dip in 2023, salmon exports rebounded strongly, rising 34.2% since 2024 to USD 197 million.
Poland, Germany, France, and the Netherlands dominate the EU frozen sockeye market with respective shares of 32%, 27%, 12%, and 11%.
Lobster and hake, at 6% and 5% respectively, round out the top US seafood exports to the EU. Notably, 85% of lobster exports are live, with 68% going to Italy, and 15% each to France and Spain. While lobster imports to the EU had been rising for several years, they declined by 22.4% last year.
Frozen hake is mainly sold to Italy and Spain (34% and 33%), with the Czech Republic importing 15%.
Salmon and Alaska Pollock dominate half of the US-EU seafood trade balance, yet the remaining exports and imports show a diversified portfolio reflecting mutual interest in varied seafood protein sources. Following a year marked by uncertainty due to stalled EU-US trade negotiations and a US Supreme Court decision capping tariffs at 15%, seafood trade across the Atlantic could accelerate in 2026. However, industry sources caution that the ongoing war in Iran, which is driving up costs for energy, sea freight, and packaging, may exert upward pressure on export prices while constraining consumer spending power if the conflict persists for weeks or months.
Taking out the panic with macro-economist and returning SENA keynote speaker Nomi Prins
SeafoodSource by Madelyn Kearns - March 14, 2026
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.
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Icy Waters and Trident Seafoods take home 2026 Seafood Excellence Awards
SeafoodSource by Haley Jones - March 15, 2026
Icy Waters and Trident Seafoods were declared the winners of the 2026 Seafood Excellence Awards at Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
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International
Canada’s fisheries minister pledge support for industry as DFO announced fisheries fund renewal
SeafoodSource by Chris Chase - March 16, 2026
Canada Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson said the country’s governments remain committed to the success of the seafood industry, and are working to improve trade relationships and renew the country’s fisheries fund to do so.
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Environment/Science
3MMI - Chum Salmon Global Shift: Japan Collapses, Russia Anchors Supply, Alaska Rebounds
Tradex Foods - March 16, 2026
Chum salmon is not simply experiencing a global harvest decline — it is undergoing a structural geographic redistribution from South and East toward North and West.
Why this salmon species, unlike others, is booming in the Northwest
Seattle Times by Isabella Breda - March 15, 2026
GREEN RIVER, Flaming Geyser State Park — The future is pink.Their tails thrashed in a crescendo through the riffles, humps piercing the water’s surface. Thousands of pink salmon had reached the final leg of their high-seas journey last fall.
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Labeling and Marketing
SeaPak, Safe Catch aiming to get more kids to try seafood
SeafoodSource by Christine Blank - March 13, 2026
Only 7.7 percent of Americans aged 2 to 19 eat seafood at least twice weekly, according to the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics.
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Federal Register
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program
A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 03/16/2026
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
FYI’s
IB 26-14: NMFS Prohibits Directed Fishing for Pacific cod by Catcher Vessels Greater Than or Equal to 50 feet Length Overall Using Hook-and-line Gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf Alaska
NOAA Fisheries - March 13, 2026
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels greater than or equal to 50 feet (15.2 meters (m)) length overall using hook-and-line gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), effective 12 noon, Alaska local time, March 16, 2026, according to Jonathan M. Kurland, Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.
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