IN BRIEF - NOAA to Prohibit Seafood Imports from 46 Countries
UNITED STATES
Monday, September 01, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced that it will ban seafood imports from 240 fisheries in 46 different countries, starting January 1, 2026. The import prohibitions are the result of the agency's "2025 comparability finding determinations" under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
The MMPA requires foreign fisheries to have regulatory programs that are "comparable in effectiveness" to U.S. standards for protecting marine mammals. NOAA reviewed approximately 2,500 fisheries in 135 countries that sought to export to the United States. Of these, 240 fisheries from 46 nations, including Vietnam, were denied comparability findings.
According to a notice published in the Federal Register, countries with affected fisheries will be prohibited from exporting their products to the United States. NOAA has provided a detailed list of the denied fisheries for each nation.
The new rules are intended to promote global marine mammal conservation and ensure that imported seafood meets the same high environmental standards as domestically caught products. Fisheries that were denied a comparability finding can reapply for an assessment at any time after the January 1, 2026, deadline.
The Cantabrian Sea is approaching 60% of the historic quota of 26,000 tons with good-sized catches and acceptable prices, following an earlier start than in previous seasons.
The northern albacore coastal season is entering a new phase. After a few days of hiatus due to bad weather, the largest Basque fleet is setting sail this week for Brittany (France) to follow the tuna migration trail, in search of the last catches of the season. Meanwhile, the smaller vessels have decided to close their season, with results that are generally considered positive in both volume and price.
Loch Long Salmon received this week the approval of the Scottish Government to install Scotland's first semi-closed containment facility for salmon farming in the municipality of Loch Long, Argyll & Bute. According to the company, this "will be a transformative change for the national aquaculture sector."
Recognized as a project of national significance, Loch Long Salmon can now move forward with its ambitious vision of implementing this innovative semi-closed confinement technology in Scotland, having also obtained permission from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in 2021.
Source: iPac.aquaculture | Read the full article here
U.S. consumers continue to be concerned about the higher costs of eating out, and restaurants are responding with value offers and discounts.
KPMG’s Consumer Pulse Summer 2025 report found that Americans expected to spend 7 percent less each month on restaurants this summer. Additionally, 56 percent of diners are choosing restaurants with lower price points – the highest number historically reported by consumers, per Nation’s Restaurant News, which cited Technomic data.
As a result, restaurants such as Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.A.-based Long John Silver’s (LJS) are trying to do all they can to entice diners.
Author: Christine Blank / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here
No exceedance of the European Union’s limit values for illegal and undesirable substances was detected in monitoring of Norwegian farmed fish last year, a new report has revealed.
Norway’s Institute of Marine Research (IMR) carried out tests on samples from 888 farmed fish, with a collection of more than 30,000 test results confirming the seafood’s safety.The annual tests are carried out mainly on farmed salmon, but species such as rainbow trout, trout, halibut, and cod are also analysed.
Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
There is only a small lift this week, up a couple of kroner. Toward the end of the week it seemed to clear out, and the price ticked up at the close.
There is a lot of fish, we depend on the freezing program in Europe being maintained. We are not eating all the fish that is being sold now. Customers say that if the price goes up, we stop freezing, and then the price drops like a stone again.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
The new agreement will streamline seafood exports with electronic sanitary certificates.
SEOUL—In a move set to modernize and boost bilateral trade, Ecuador and South Korea have signed an agreement to implement an electronic sanitary certificate (e-Cert) system for fishery and aquaculture products. The deal, announced in August 2025, makes Ecuador the seventh country to join Korea's digital trade network.
The new system, which was signed by a Vice Minister from Ecuador’s Ministry of Production and the Director General of Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), will transition to a paperless process. This change is expected to improve the reliability and efficiency of seafood trade by ensuring the electronic exchange of certificates and strengthening data protection.
This accord is seen as a key step toward the upcoming Strategic Economic Cooperation Agreement (SECA) between the two nations, reinforcing digital trade cooperation between Asia and South America.
Ecuador's main seafood exports to South Korea include frozen whiteleg shrimp, frozen conger eel fillets, frozen squid, and various frozen tuna species. Other countries already using the e-Cert system with Korea are the Philippines, Chile, Norway, Russia, Peru, and Thailand.
A new report from the Peixe BR/Cepea Indicator highlights a significant price difference for tilapia across Brazil, with a spread of more than R$1.30 ($0.25 US) between the lowest and highest-priced regions.
The data reinforces the importance of regional market monitoring due to factors like production costs and local demand.
Click on the image to enlarge
The lowest price for tilapia was recorded in Western Paraná, at R$7.11 ($1.31 US) per kilogram, while the highest was in Northern Paraná at R$8.44 ($1.56 US).
In Minas Gerais, prices varied, with Morada Nova de Minas at R$8.29 ($1.53 US) per kilo, and the Triângulo Mineiro and Alto Paranaíba regions at R$8.06 ($1.49 US). In the Great Lakes region, which spans parts of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, the average price was R$7.89 ($1.46 US).
MOSCOW — The Russian Crab Group, the country's largest crab-fishing company with a market share of 25%, has become the first domestic firm in the industry to receive a credit rating. On August 27, 2025, the ACRA agency assigned the company an A(RU) credit rating with a stable outlook, affirming its strong market position and high efficiency.
Experts at ACRA highlighted the company's successful development strategy, its diverse product portfolio, and a substantial number of quotas in key fishing areas, including the Far East and the North. The company's strategic location facilitates rapid delivery of live crab to the major consumption market of China.
Sergey Goryachev, CEO of Russian Crab, stated that the rating reflects the company's financial stability, which is a result of its effective growth and management strategies. This credit rating marks a significant milestone for the Russian crab industry.
Given the possibility that the free trade agreement being negotiated between the EU and Thailand could include the elimination of tariffs on Thai tuna and its derivatives, the European fishing industry warned of the unfair competition that would result from allowing a product that does not meet the same standards as the EU's, especially given concerns about its links to illegal fishing. Luis Planas and Carlos Cuerpo, Ministers of Fisheries and Economy, explained this Wednesday in Madrid that Spain "will inform our European colleagues of the need to monitor catch certificates for products from Thailand in the coming months."
Source: La Voz de Galicia | Read the full article here
In the fishery product trade, especially in exports, border rejections due to administrative or labeling issues are common. These incidents, which do not involve physical deterioration of the product, can generate significant financial losses and are often not covered by insurance.
Manuel Fernández Rodríguez, Head of Marine at MatErh Risk Management, illustrates this situation with the following case: "In April 2025, a shipment of sea bass was rejected in Rungis (France) for not including the FAO zone on its label. Although the merchandise was in good condition, this omission prevented its sale.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
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UNITED STATES.png)
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced that it will ban seafood imports from 240 fisheries in 46 different countries, starting January 1, 2026. The import prohibitions are the result of the agency's 
FRANCE
The Cantabrian Sea is approaching 60% of the historic quota of 26,000 tons with good-sized catches and acceptable prices, following an earlier start than in previous seasons.
UNITED KINGDOM
Loch Long Salmon
U.S. consumers continue to be concerned about the higher costs of eating out, and restaurants are responding with value offers and discounts.
NORWAY
No exceedance of the European Union’s limit values for illegal and undesirable substances was detected in monitoring of Norwegian farmed fish last year, a new report has revealed.
EUROPEAN UNION
A fine balance in the market.
SOUTH KOREA
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BRAZIL.png)
RUSSIAN FEDERATION.png)
SPAIN
Given the possibility that the free trade agreement being negotiated between the EU and Thailand could include the elimination of tariffs on Thai tuna and its derivatives, the European fishing industry warned of the unfair competition that would result from allowing a product that does not meet the same standards as the EU's, especially given concerns about its links to illegal fishing. Luis Planas and Carlos Cuerpo, Ministers of Fisheries and Economy, explained this Wednesday in Madrid that Spain "will inform our European colleagues of the need to monitor catch certificates for products from Thailand in the coming months."
WORLDWIDE
In the fishery product trade, especially in exports, border rejections due to administrative or labeling issues are common. These incidents, which do not involve physical deterioration of the product, can generate significant financial losses and are often not covered by insurance.
