Wednesday, January 7, 2026
- Jan 7
- 4 min read
Alaska
Federal and state fishery managers relying on 2023 data as Pacific cod fishery gets underway
KMXT by Davis Hovey - January 5, 2026
The amount of Pacific cod fishermen can harvest in the state-managed fishery around Kodiak Island this year is slightly down by about 6% compared to last year.
‘Catching salmon is our worst nightmare’: Alaska’s pollock industry’s bycatch solutions are driven by technology – and emotions
The pollock fleet uses extensive tools to minimize salmon bycatch, yet declining salmon runs and rising scrutiny make issue increasingly complex
Global Seafood Alliance by Lauren Kramer - January 5, 2026
For Maverick Blake, captain of the Alaska pollock fishing vessel Progress, pulling up salmon in a trawl net is nothing short of devastating.
National
US Congress rejects Trump’s NOAA Fisheries cuts in compromise budget proposal
SeafoodSource by Nathan Strout - January 6, 2026
U.S. lawmakers largely rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed budget cuts to NOAA Fisheries in a new compromise appropriations bill Congress needs to pass before the government once again runs out of money on 30 January.
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Trump signs Save Our Seas Act 2.0 Amendments Act into law
SeafoodSource by Nathan Strout - January 6, 2026
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed the Save Our Seas Act 2.0 Amendments Act into law, strengthening and reauthorizing a federal marine debris cleanup program for another five years.
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International
Low quotas and high stakes: The biggest whitefish stories of 2025
The whitefish sector was the source of some of 2025’s most dramatic seafood developments.
Intrafish by Millicent Machell - January 7, 2026
Between record low quotas, high prices and mounting geopolitical tension, the whitefish industry was left little time to reflect on what has been one of its most challenging years to date.
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US seeking to capture larger slice of Philippines’ USD 1 billion seafood import market
SeafoodSource by Toan Dao - January 6, 2026
The U.S. is positioning itself to increase its share of the Philippines' USD 1 billion (EUR 847.6 million) seafood import market, as shrinking domestic catch and a surging population have created a widening supply gap in the Southeast Asian nation.
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Norwegian Seafood Council Flags US Tariffs Impact, Highlights China and Salmon as Growth Drivers
Expana by Ryan Doyle - January 6, 2026
The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) reported that US tariffs weighed on seafood exports in the second half of 2025 but emphasized that the United States remains a vital market with strong growth potential for Norwegian seafood.
“The USA's new tariffs created a lot of noise and turmoil for Norwegian seafood exports. From being a market with record growth and an almost insatiable appetite for salmon and crab from Norway in the first half of 2025, US trade throughout the year was characterized by tariffs, a weaker dollar and weaker development," said NSC CEO Christian Chramer.
The US remained a top-three market for Norwegian seafood, with a 9% share of total exports, the highest since 1989. Still, in April and August, the US increased tariffs on Norwegian seafood, which now range from 15% or higher on all products, per the council.
“The USA is by far the world's largest market for salmon consumption and has been one of our largest growth markets over time, also in 2025. It is very important for Norwegian seafood, and the potential for further growth remains high," said Chramer.
Meanwhile, Norway saw its most significant value growth in China with Chramer crediting improved e-commerce and distribution channels, along with strong growth in salmon consumption.
“Last year, the volume of salmon to China was twice as high as the year before. This is due to strong growth in demand, falling prices and the fact that the Chinese no longer just buy large salmon over six kilos, but also smaller sizes," Chramer added.
Overall, Norway exported 2.8 million metric tons of seafood worth NOK 181.5 billion ($18.1 billion) last year, a 4% increase in value from 2024 and a new record for the country.
Still, the council noted that the increase in exports in 2025 was moderate for the second consecutive year. The NSC cited the quota reductions, high price growth, weak price development for salmon, and the impact of US tariffs.
Chramer commented: “2025 was a demanding year for seafood, with lower quotas and catches at record prices for all our most important wild-caught species. The year was also characterized by strong volume growth for salmon. Despite a significantly lower salmon price, it was a record year for Norwegian seafood exports in terms of value.”
Looking at salmon, Norway exported 1,414,909 mt of salmon worth NOK 124.7 billion in 2025, a 13% and 2% increase compared to 2024, respectively.
“Favorable production conditions, including high sea temperatures, resulted in strong growth in production in 2025. In addition to the increase in total volume, the average size of the fish also increased. This resulted in a shift in exports towards markets that want large fish," said seafood analyst Paul T. Aandahl of the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Finally, the council noted the challenging situation facing Norway's onshore fishing industry.
“Despite setting a new export record in 2025, the backdrop is far more demanding and gloomier than at the same time last year. The strong price growth for cod and mackerel has been challenging for the onshore industry. Those who process fish and create jobs along the coast now have lower volumes of wild fish available and face a very tough economic situation," explained Chramer.
Check out more from the council’s 2025 export breakdown here.
UAS Applied Fisheries program offers new class on Alaska aquaculture
KCAW News - January 6, 2026
The University of Alaska Southeast’s Applied Fisheries program offers degrees, certificates, and occupational endorsements in aquaculture and fisheries management.
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