Puerto Montt - Exports from the Los Lagos Region reached US$2.093 billion in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 5.7% increase compared to the same period last year, according to a report from ProChile.

The fisheries and aquaculture sector consolidated its position as the region’s main economic driver, with shipments totaling US$1.964 billion (+6.2%), led by salmon and trout, which accounted for 82.59% of total exports. Within the sector, mussels reached US$77 million, fish and crustacean meal US$41 million, and horse mackerel US$38 million.

“The sector reaffirms its leadership in the region,” said Ricardo Arriagada, Regional Director of ProChile Los Lagos, highlighting its adaptability and strong international competitiveness.

The agricultural sector recorded exports of US$89 million, while manufacturing reached US$10 million and services totaled US$2 million.

Top destination markets included the United States with US$646 million

The Province of Santa Cruz promoted a key training initiative to strengthen control of the shrimp fishery in national waters. Through the Secretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture, a course was held to train onboard observers on trawler vessels.

The activity took place on April 13 and 14 at the SUM of the Santa Cruz Port Executing Unit (UN.E.PO.S.C.), in Puerto Caleta Paula, Caleta Olivia, and was led by specialists from the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP), Juan de la Garza and Emiliano Pisani.

A total of 20 participants attended both in person and virtually, aiming to improve the collection of biological and operational data. Onboard observers play a key role by recording essential information to assess the state of the resource and ensure sustainable management.

Topics covered included catch estimation, sex composition, production, discards, and sampling. Undersecretary David Noriega emphasized that these initiatives “improve the quality of information for decision-making.”

The province plans to expand these trainings to other species such as hake, squid, and king crab, reinforcing sustainable development in the fishing sector.

With a focus on building resilient aquatic systems for food security and climate action, the Blue Food Innovation Summit will convene industry leaders in London to explore the innovations shaping aquaculture’s future.

As aquaculture intensifies to meet growing global protein demand, AI-enabled feeding systems, imaging tools, and precision nutrition platforms are moving from early pilots to core farm infrastructure – shifting how producers understand their animals and make daily decisions.

A new article published ahead of the Blue Food Innovation Summit 2026 brings together perspectives from Aquaticode, CageEye, Aqua Spark, ADM, and Mowi on where these technologies are delivering real impact

Source: The Fish Site | Read the full article here

Scobie & Junor shows how packaging efficiency and simple value-adding ingredients can help UK seafood processors boost yield, cut costs and create products that stand out.

In seafood processing, margins are tight and efficiency is everything. Yet the two biggest levers for improving profit, packaging and presentation, are often overlooked.

That’s where Scobie & Junor is making a difference.

With over a century of experience supporting UK food manufacturing, the company’s Fish Division partners with processors to streamline packaging performance and add value through innovative, ready-to-use ingredient solutions.

Source: Fish Focus | Read the full article here

New Zealand King Salmon has upgraded its earnings guidance for its 2026 financial year following a good summer farming period, it has announced.

The fish farmer, which produces king salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Marlborough Sounds in the north of New Zealand’s South Island, now expects earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) in the range of NZ $19 million to NZ $27m, and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of between NZ $10m to NZ $18m.

Previous guidance was for EBITDA of between NZ $9m and NZ $15m, and EBIT ranging from a $3m loss to a $3m operating profit.

Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here

The 2026 shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has begun earlier than usual, driven by strong market signals after high shrimp prices in 2025 and limited supply. Farmers and businesses in Can Tho, Ca Mau, and Vinh Long have accelerated pond stocking to seize opportunities.

By early 2026, many areas had reached a high percentage of their planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly, according to VASEP.

In coastal western provinces, the early onset of salinity has facilitated water intake and pond preparation, but also increased pressure on farming schedules. The sector still faces challenges, including unseasonal rains, falling raw shrimp prices compared to late 2025, and rising costs for feed and seed.

Meanwhile, diseases such as EHP microsporidia are spreading, affecting productivity. Authorities recommend using high-quality broodstock, improving pond management, and applying biosecurity measures to reduce risks and enhance efficiency.

Between April 6 and 12, 2026, authorities from the Primorsky Interregional Office of Rosselkhoznadzor inspected nearly 2 tons of unmarked salted caviar carried in both checked and hand luggage at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky International Airport (Yelizovo).

The inspections are part of an ongoing experiment launched on November 1, 2022, aimed at regulating the air transport of caviar lacking manufacturer labels. During the latest reporting period, no violations were recorded regarding the legal limit of 10 kg per passenger.

However, since the start of the program, officials have documented 270 violations, involving a total of 2.7 tons of unmarked caviar.

Overall, authorities estimate that more than 600.3 tons of such caviar have been inspected in Kamchatka Krai. According to the Service, the volume of caviar exported under the guise of personal consumption has decreased by threefold since the experiment began.