The Norwegian salmon industry has become embroiled in a big row, with some companies being accused of trading with Russia.

The situation is complex, with few companies actually involved with direct trading, but some admitting they have been using feed with Russian-sourced ingredients.

The Norwegian government, like most western countries, has banned most direct trade with Russia following that country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. However, the issue is a complicated one, with companies pointing out there are no official sanctions against purchasing feed for farmed salmon from Russia.

Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here

Vietnam’s tuna export industry is navigating a turbulent start to the year. According to data from Vietnam Customs, export turnover in March 2026 reached nearly $80 million.

While this marks a sharp recovery from the $53 million recorded in February, it still represents an 11% decline compared to the same period in 2025.

Bidding for scallops from Mutsu Bay was put on hold after the first auction of "semi-mature scallops," primarily used for processing, failed to find any buyers due to price disagreements. 

Though the starting bid of 300 yen (about US$1.96) per kilogram was 85 yen (about US$0.55) lower than last year's record high, it was still deemed too high by dealers, who are currently struggling to sell off existing, high-priced inventory from the previous season. The auction featured 130 tons of the scallops.

This stalemate occurs amidst projections that scallop catches in Mutsu Bay are expected to plummet to around 10,000 tons this year, nearly half of last year's total. Despite this dramatic drop in supply, which usually leads to higher prices, the market resistance and inventory issues are complicating the start of the season. Fishery officials remain somewhat optimistic, suggesting that prices might stabilize after a few more rounds of bidding.

AKVA group and Laxey have officially entered into an agreement for the design and delivery of a second RAS smolt station in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland.

The deal, celebrated by Laxey CEO Knut Nesse and COO Dadi Pálsson at the Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, marks a significant expansion of their land-based salmon farming operations.

A Proven Collaboration

Building on a partnership that began in June 2022, the new facility (Smolt Station II) follows the success of the first station, which is now fully operational and has delivered five batches of high-quality smolt to date.

Scaling for the Future

The expansion will be executed in phases to ensure stable production and minimized risk:

• Phase 1: Designed for an annual capacity of 5 million smolts (at 100g).

• Phases 2 & 3: Future scaling targets of 10 million and ultimately 15 million smolts per year.

Construction is slated to begin in the summer of 2026, with operations expected to commence by Q4 2027. This milestone reinforces Laxey's commitment to responsible, large-scale land-based salmon production.

The Philippine government is exploring measures to stabilize domestic fish supply and support the nation’s fishing industry as high fuel prices have strained operations and raised concerns over the affordability of staple foods such as canned sardines.

Measures under consideration include raising fish import volumes if local fishing activity slows or stops due to mounting fuel costs, Philippine News Agency recently reported, citing Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

Earlier this year, the country’s National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council authorized fish imports of 250,000 metric tons (MT) for 2026. 

Author: Toan Dao / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here

Astillero Naval Federico Contessi y Cía. S.A will be exhibiting for the first time at IceFish in September.  

The Argentinian shipyard has over 75 years of history and specializes in the construction and repair of fishing vessels. It has built and launched a total of 156 new vessels. All vessels are certified by RINA, Lloyds or Bureau Veritas. 

Early ships were built of wood and the company later transitioned to construction in naval steel and marine-grade aluminium. Today the company has facilities capable of building up to 8 ships simultaneously under the roof of its 4 industrial buildings located in the port of Mar del Plata, Argentina. 

Source: Worldfishing| Read the full article here

There’s a message on the menu for diners eating at the Scottish pavilion at the Seafood Expo Global trade show in Barcelona this week.

A plate of tasty Scottish seafood products includes oysters for the first time since Brexit, signalling the resumption of the export of the shellfish to Europe.

The UK’s departure from the European Union led to a large increase in paperwork for exported shellfish, including the requirement for export health certificates and phyto-sanitary checks.

Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here

MOSCOW — China is set to solidify its position as the primary destination for Russian fish and seafood by 2025, according to a report from the newspaper Izvestia. While export volumes to the region are expected to dip 6% to 1.2 million tons, the total market value is projected to surge by 13%, reaching $3.4 billion.

The shifting landscape of Russian exports highlights a significant pivot toward Asian markets:

• Japan: Ranks as the second-largest importer, with volumes hitting 118,000 tons (up 9%) and a valuation of $952 million (up 11%).

• South Korea: Takes third place; despite a 3% volume decrease to 271,000 tons, the value grew 5% to $944 million.

• Emerging Markets: Significant trade continues with the Netherlands, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Nigeria.

Data from China’s General Administration of Customs confirms this momentum. Total Russian agricultural exports to China reached $7.98 billion in 2025, up from $7.34 billion in 2024. According to Ilyushin, director of the Russian Agricultural Export Development Center, the first quarter of this year already saw record-breaking figures, with exports hitting $2.4 billion—a massive 43% year-on-year increase.