Other Media | SeafoodSource: Coronavirus forces Red Lobster to explore rent easements, refinancing options
UNITED STATES
Friday, August 28, 2020
Thai Union is looking at refinancing Red Lobster’s loans, reduced rent from landlords, and potentially closing some locations after the restaurant chain posted a USD 18.4 million (THB 579 million, EUR 15.6 million) loss in the fourth quarter.
The record losses were caused by having to close down all 600 dining rooms for a period of time, Thai Union Chief Financial Officer Joerg Ayrle said on an investor conference call.
Now, Red Lobster is looking at how it will refinance loans due in nine to 12 months and negotiate rent easements with landlords.
Author: Christine Blank / SeafoodSource | Read the full articlehere
The Ombordfryst 2026 conference in Ålesund will bring together more than 450 experts in ocean fishing to analyze frozen fish markets, threats in the north, and fleet technology.
The Ombordfryst 2026 conference, organized by the Norwegian Seafood Council, Fiskebåt, and Nordea, will take place on January 8, 2026, at the Scandic Parken Hotel in Ålesund, Norway, solidifying its position as one of the most important trade fairs and meetings for the ocean fishing fleet and the frozen fish sector.
It wants to "learn" from other management models to take advantage of the proliferation of this species on its coasts
It is already evaluating a quota system
In the English counties of Devon and Cornwall, the octopus is an anecdotal species. On the three occasions when it has not been, when it has proliferated in abundance on their coasts—in 1899, 1950, and 2025—it has been considered a "plague." "In the last two or three months, this coast has been visited by a perfect plague of octopuses. They have practically ruined the industry, and many shipowners have tied up their boats in despair [...] They are the most disgusting beasts," published the local newspaper, the Western Evening Herald, founded four years earlier, on December 18, 1899. Even now, when this cephalopod mollusk is a globally sought-after product, it carries the same stigma in these parts of England.
Author: Lara Graña / Faro de Vigo | Read the full article here
The Chilean Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca) has published its latest edition of the “Aquaculture Environmental Report,” which covers the 2023-2024 period. The report concludes that Chilean aquaculture “maintains satisfactory environmental performance, with a stable trend—in a scenario of production growth—in the main indicators of seabed quality and a sustained improvement in the recovery processes of sites subjected to environmental stress.”
In more detail, the report indicates that, regarding the environmental condition of the fish farms, the analysis of the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) shows that the vast majority of the evaluated sites present aerobic conditions
Source: iPac.acuicultura | Read the full article here
Optimar has secured a major aquaculture contract to supply harvesting and slaughtering equipment to a new fish farming project in Kazakhstan, marking the company’s first delivery to the country and a significant expansion of its international footprint.
The deal is with Organic Fish, which is developing a modern trout farming operation in the Caspian Sea. The project aims to reach an annual production capacity of around 5,000 tonnes within three to four years. Optimar will deliver a complete harvesting package for offshore operations and a slaughterhouse package for land-based processing.
A Japanese sushi magnate has paid a record-breaking £2.4 million for a giant bluefin tuna at Tokyo’s famous New Year fish auction. Kiyoshi Kimura, widely known as the “Tuna King,” placed the winning bid of 510.3 million yen for the 243-kilogram fish, which was caught off the northern coast of Japan.
Speaking after the pre-dawn auction at Tokyo’s main fish market, Kimura admitted he had not expected the price to climb so high.
The price paid was the highest recorded since auction data began being collected in 1999. The previous record was set in 2019, when a 278-kilogram bluefin sold for 333.6 million yen shortly after the market relocated from the historic Tsukiji site to a new, modern facility. Last year’s top tuna fetched 207 million yen.
Data from EUMOFA paints a picture of resilient demand, but with subtle adjustments driven by seasonality, differences between species, and increased price sensitivity.
For years, tuna has occupied a unique place in the landscape of fish consumption in Europe. It's a versatile product: it suits different budgets, is sold in a wide variety of formats—from fresh to canned—and regularly appears on the shopping lists of millions of households. Precisely because of this constant presence, analyzing how tuna (and related species) is bought and consumed offers valuable insights not only into this product but also into the overall state of the food market and the fishing industry.
The draft Law on Control, Inspection, and Sanctions for Maritime Fishing, promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA), has begun its parliamentary process in the Congress and the Senate after its approval by the Council of Ministers on October 21. Pending debate, this is one of the laws—as of the publication of this article—threatened by the obstruction of the national government by Junts per Catalunya.
The text updates the fisheries control framework in Spain in accordance with European Union regulations and seeks to guarantee compliance with the Common Fisheries Policy while strengthening the sustainability of fishing activity.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
Salmon farming project in Fukushima advances toward commercialization.
A land-based aquaculture project focused on Benizake, or sockeye salmon, in Fukushima Prefecture is moving from pilot scale toward commercial development after expansion plans were selected for national subsidy support.
The project is being undertaken jointly by Okayama University of Science, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation, and Ichii Inc.. The partners plan to expand operations and construct new facilities in Namie, following their selection under Japan’s Subsidy for Business Location to Support Self-Reliance and Return, and Create Employment.
Source: SalmonBusieness | Read the full article here
Salmon supplies out of northern Norway face disruption this week following heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures.
There are cancellations on fish trains and trucks between Narvik and Stockholm, and other onward destinations in Sweden.
And all trains between Narvik and Gällivare, an important railway junction in Sweden for salmon traffic, have been cancelled.
A warning of further heavy snow and string winds has been issued by the weather authorities.The Nordland region of Norway is a major salmon producing area. However, it is often prone to disruption at this time of year, which has a knock-on effect on prices.
Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here
The spot price for market-influencing Norwegian salmon increased by NOK 14.18 per kilo in week 52, ending at NOK 98.93 (£7.29) per kilo.
However, the price saw an even bigger rise in the last week of 2024 (+30.21 NOK) so this year's price is NOK 16.94 below the level from then.
The average weekly price of Norwegian salmon in 2025 ended at NOK 77.21 per kilo. This is NOK 15.53/kg below the average price for 2024 of NOK 92.74/kg.
Author: Pål Mugaas Jensen / fiahfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
Far East Fleet Deployed as 2026 Sea of Okhotsk Fishing Season Begins Russia Fed.
Pollock and Herring Harvest Targets Set Following Record-Breaking 2025 Yields
The Russian Far East has officially launched the 2026 Sea of Okhotsk fishing season, known as Season "A". This critic...
UNITED STATES
Thai Union is looking at refinancing 
NORWAY
The Ombordfryst 2026 conference in Ålesund will bring together more than 450 experts in ocean fishing to analyze frozen fish markets, threats in the north, and fleet technology.
UNITED KINGDOM.png)
In the English counties of Devon and Cornwall, the octopus is an anecdotal species. On the three occasions when it has not been, when it has proliferated in abundance on their coasts—in 1899, 1950, and 2025—it has been considered a "plague." "In the last two or three months, this coast has been visited by a perfect plague of octopuses. They have practically ruined the industry, and many shipowners have tied up their boats in despair [...] They are the most disgusting beasts," published the local newspaper, the Western Evening Herald, founded four years earlier, on December 18, 1899. Even now, when this cephalopod mollusk is a globally sought-after product, it carries the same stigma in these parts of England.
CHILE
The Chilean Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (
KAZAKHSTAN
Optimar 
JAPAN.png)
Speaking after the pre-dawn auction at Tokyo’s main fish market, Kimura admitted he had not expected the price to climb so high.
EUROPEAN UNION
Data from 
SPAIN
The draft Law on Control, Inspection, and Sanctions for Maritime Fishing, promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA), has begun its parliamentary process in the Congress and the Senate after its approval by the Council of Ministers on October 21. Pending debate, this is one of the laws—as of the publication of this article—threatened by the obstruction of the national government by Junts per Catalunya.
A land-based aquaculture project focused on Benizake, or sockeye salmon, in Fukushima Prefecture is moving from pilot scale toward commercial development after expansion plans were selected for national subsidy support..png)
There are cancellations on fish trains and trucks between Narvik and Stockholm, and other onward destinations in Sweden.
The spot price for market-influencing Norwegian salmon increased by NOK 14.18 per kilo in week 52, ending at NOK 98.93 (£7.29) per kilo.
