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

WASHINGTON D.C. — In a decisive move to solidify maritime leadership, the U.S. Senate confirmed Timothy Petty on December 19, 2025, as the new Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. Petty will now spearhead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) fisheries division.

A Strategic Leadership Role

As the head of NOAA Fisheries, Petty is tasked with a massive mandate: managing the nation’s marine fisheries and ensuring the conservation of protected ocean species. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) noted that Petty will act as second-in-command at NOAA, likely stepping into the role of NOAA Deputy Administrator.

Background and Expertise

Petty, a seasoned geologist, brings extensive legislative and administrative experience to the Department of Commerce:

• Department of the Interior: Served as Assistant Secretary for Water and Science (2018–2021).

• Capitol Hill: Former senior staffer for the House Subcommittee on Water and Environment.

During his October confirmation hearing, Petty faced rigorous questioning regarding stock assessments and the streamlining of disaster relief funding for coastal communities. His appointment comes at a critical time as the agency balances commercial fishing interests with escalating climate-related challenges in federal waters.

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During his recent annual televised Q&A session, President Vladimir Putin addressed a growing concern for Russian households: the lack of affordable fish. Despite Russia’s vast maritime resources, domestic consumption continues to fall short of national health standards.

Barriers to Consumption

The President identified several systemic bottlenecks preventing the fishing industry from meeting public demand. Currently, high costs and logistical hurdles mean that high-quality catch from the Far East often struggles to reach the more populated European regions of Russia at competitive prices.

The Strategic Roadmap

To bridge the gap between the ocean and the dinner table, Putin outlined a multi-pronged strategy:

• Logistical Optimization: Streamlining supply chains to ensure fish products move across the country more efficiently.

• Reduced Transport Costs: Implementing measures to lower the price of shipping from eastern ports to the West.

• Tax Incentives: Reviewing taxation policies to alleviate pressure on the fishing industry.

• Fleet Modernization: Creating favorable conditions to continue the construction of domestic fishing vessels.

"We need to ensure that fish products can reach consumers as cheaply as possible," Putin emphasized, signaling that the government will prioritize infrastructure and affordability to improve the national diet.

The Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) has taken a strategic step toward updating the biological diagnosis of the Argentine red shrimp. Through Minute No. 36/2025, the council formally requested INIDEP (National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development) to conduct a feasibility study for a scientific research campaign in the area colloquially known as the "Bridi Closure."

A Key Protected Zone

This maritime sector, located off the coast of Río Negro Province (between parallels 41° and 43° S and extending to the 62° W meridian), is currently under a strict bottom-trawling ban for shrimp per Resolution CFP No. 7/2018. The proposed mission aims to:

• Evaluate population dynamics within the protected reserve.

• Analyze potential yields in light of recent changes observed in the commercial fishery.

• Provide empirical data to support future management and sustainability decisions.

Technical Rationale

The decision follows an assessment of fleet behavior and catch yields in open fishing grounds over recent seasons. By gathering updated technical information, autho

MBA Chief Executive, Professor Willie Wilson, reflects on 2025. 

December always brings with it one of the highlights of our calendar, the Annual General Meeting, and with it an invaluable moment to reflect on our science, our community and our impact. Despite what has been an undeniably challenging period for the wider world, the ocean and the academic sector, the MBA has continued to deliver.

Our?2025 Annual Report?captures this story in more detail and I would personally like to share a few highlights that illustrate the strength, ambition and impact of the MBA today.

Source: Fish Focus | Read the full article here

Norway and Russia have reached an agreement on fishing quotas in 2026 for shared Barents Sea stocks, but the sanctioning of two major Russian companies by Norway continues to be a point of contention. 

Norway and Russia have agreed to set a total quota for Northeast Arctic cod of 285,000 metric tons (MT), a decrease of 16 percent compared to the quota set for 2025. That proposal is a compromise between the Russian-Norwegian Arctic Fisheries Working Group number of 269,550 MT and a number from the Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) which proposed a much higher quota of 315,033 MT, which would have been an increase over the quota set for 2025.

Author: Chris Chase / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here

Shark scare at salmon farm as damage discovered in sea pen.

A swarm of sharks has ripped into a salmon farm in Norway, tearing holes in nets and sparking fears thousands of fish may have escaped.

The dramatic incident unfolded at a SalMar site in Trøndelag, Norway where operators discovered extensive damage to a sea pen after repeated shark attacks.Regulators say the predators struck under cover of darkness, forcing the company to urgently move fish out of the damaged enclosure and deploy emergency recapture nets.

Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here