Alaska Top Alaska House legislators reject plan to allow fish farms Alaska Beacon by James Brooks - February 24, 2025 Two leading members of the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday announced their opposition to a proposal from Gov. Mike Dunleavy to lift the state’s 35-year-old ban on fish farms. https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/top-alaska-house-legislators-reject-plan-to-allow-fish-farms/ National The Retail Rundown: Seafood Rides the Lenten Wave Expana by Courtney Shum - February 26, 2025 With March just around the corner, the first signs of spring and warmer days are emerging—welcome news for both consumers and grocers.Seafood leads this week's protein advertisements, accounting for 26% of total features, closely followed by beef and chicken at 23% each. Pork ads make up 22%, while turkey holds a 3.5% share. Egg promotions remain scarce, extending a two-week trend.In the seafood complex, fillet promotions are ramping up ahead of the Lenten season, now making up 33.5% of the category’s volume. Ads for both raw and cooked shrimp have also increased week-over-week.The fresh finfish complex averaged $9.34 discounted last week, up 10% from 2024. However, fresh salmon was discounted at $11.77, down 29 cents from the same week last year, while cod averaged $8.65, about 5 cents lower year-over-year (YOY). Fresh shimp was featured at $8.40, down 4.1% from last year.In the beef sector, wholesale brisket buying has wrapped up ahead of St. Patrick’s Day—roughly three weeks away. IRI data shows fresh corned beef brisket averaging $4.85 per pound, unchanged from last year. After the holiday, demand from the barbecue industry typically supports brisket prices into summer. Elsewhere, the fresh ground beef complex averaged $6.99 per pound, up 77 cents year-over-year, while steak prices rose 40 cents YOY to an average of $13.99 per pound.Eggs remain in focus as retail demand holds steady despite rising shelf prices and nationwide purchase limits, Expana reports. Ongoing bird flu outbreaks continue to strain supply, pushing Expana’s Midwest large quotation up nearly 12% so far this month. Last week, White Grade A eggs retailed at $5.40/dozen, up 36 cents from the previous week and more than $2 above last year.Elsewhere in protein, fresh chicken breast averaged $4.36 discounted, pricing it below 78-84% lean ground beef. Fresh bacon was discounted at $6.19, up 20 cents YOY but down 8 cents from the previous week. Pork shoulder remained competitive at $2.24 discounted, while spare ribs also fell below the $3 mark.To view the latest week's feature activity, subscribers can access the complete breakdown for the various seafood, meat, and poultry cuts by clicking on the Retail dashboard on the COMTELL homepage. For COMTELL Retail Definitions, click here. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1298544/The-Retail-Rundown-Seafood-Rides-the-Lenten-Wave McDonald’s, Jack in the Box among restaurant chains rolling out Lenten seafood promotions Seafood Source by Christine Blank - February 25, 2025 Seafood, particularly from Alaska, is featured prominently on major U.S. restaurant chain menus – such as McDonald’s, Jack in the Box, and Taco John’s – during this year’s Lenten season, which runs from 5 March to 17 April. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/foodservice-retail/mcdonald-s-jack-in-the-box-among-restaurant-chains-rolling-out-lenten-seafood-promotions International Alaska pollock could have a new competitor in this growing surimi marketRussia will seek to capitalize on a proposed reduction in import duties to gain a greater share of the Indian seafood market. Intrafish by Evgeny Vovchenko - February 24, 2025 After growing its surimi production by 47 percent last year, Russia is planning to challenge the United States in the Indian market, following an announcement by New Delhi that the country will reduce import duties on the pollock-based product. https://www.intrafish.com/whitefish/alaska-pollock-could-have-a-new-competitor-in-this-growing-surimi-market/2-1-1783727 *Requires Subscription 'We are already wounded': Canada seafood sector looks away from US to offset Trump tariff threatCanada is looking to the UK, EU and Asia to reduce its dependence on its next-door neighbor. Intrafish by John Evans - February 25, 2025 A pre-scheduled trade mission to the UK and Europe in February, involving Canadian seafood representatives and provincial government officials, has gained added importance due to the threat of a 25 percent trade tariff from the Trump administration. https://www.intrafish.com/markets/we-are-already-wounded-canada-seafood-sector-looks-away-from-us-to-offset-trump-tariff-threat/2-1-1782685 ANALYSIS: The Effect of US Tariffs on Food Packaging Materials Expana by Craig Elliott - February 25, 2025 US President Donald Trump’s long-touted import tariff regime has started to take shape throughout February, providing some clarity amid the uncertainty that has gripped global markets since his election in November 2024.Trump’s administration has targeted China with tariffs of 10% on all imports and 25% import tariffs were applied to Canada and Mexico (which were subsequently delayed by 30 days).On February 13, Trump signed a memorandum ordering his advisers to create a plan to tackle the US trade deficit. “The ‘Fair and Reciprocal Plan’ will seek to correct longstanding imbalances in international trade and ensure fairness across the board,” according to a fact sheet from the White House.This followed Trump’s announcement on February 11 that his administration would impose tariffs of 25% on all imports of aluminum and steel, without any exceptions or exemptions, due to take effect in March.With food and agriculture trade already experiencing significant headwinds, Expana analysts have assessed the impact on packaging materials.Container GlassMarket participants in the US import a significant volume of container glass products, including food jars, beer bottles and wine bottles. In December 2024, according to the US Census Bureau, the US imported around $160 million worth of container glass products, primarily from neighboring countries, including Mexico (which accounted for 29.1% of total glass imports in 2024). China is also a critically important supplier, accounting for 20.9% of the US’s total glass imports in 2024.
The US has previously examined container glass imports from Mexico, China and Chile, particularly wine bottles, through anti-dumping investigations. However, the Trump administration’s implementation of tariffs will fundamentally change the global container glass trade, according to market sources. Given the significant volume of glass imports coming from Mexico and China into the US that may become subject to tariffs, market participants have stated that they consequently expect buyers to purchase greater volumes from domestic manufacturers to avoid tariff risk, potentially increasing market prices.
Currently, participants note that the differential between market prices and manufacturing costs is far greater in the US than in Europe, for instance, highlighting the relative uncompetitiveness of the US container glass market...
Environment/Science
Trump order opening Arctic Alaska waters to oil leasing draws legal challenge
Environmental groups say, as they did 8 years ago, that Trump violated the law by revoking past presidential leasing-program withdrawals of Arctic and other waters
Alaska Beacon by Yereth Rosen - February 21, 2025
Environmental groups on Wednesday sued President Donald Trump’s administration to overturn an executive order seeking to open Arctic waters off Alaska, as well as waters in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, to oil drilling.
https://alaskabeacon.com/2025/02/21/trump-order-opening-arctic-alaska-waters-to-oil-leasing-draws-legal-challenge/
Labeling and Marketing
US government update of 'healthy' label for fish delayedThe agency, which has monitored the term on products since 1994, said the rule update is in line with the evolution of nutrition science since the 1990s.
Intrafish by Rachel Sapin - February 25, 2025
Seafood, particularly salmon, was expected to benefit from a ruling issued late last year by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) detailing which foods will be permitted to carry a government-sanctioned "healthy" label on packaging.Initially expected to be implemented this month, a review of that ruling has been delayed until April under the direction of US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
https://www.intrafish.com/salmon/us-government-update-of-healthy-label-for-fish-delayed/2-1-1784553
FYI’s
Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation and United Fishermen of Alaska Host Legislative Reception
Expana by Gina Bachorik - February 25, 2025
This story was originally published on February 24, 2025.On February 18, 2025, the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF) partnered with the United Fishermen of Alaska (UFA) to host the Legislative Reception in Juneau, Alaska.Seafood industry leaders, policymakers, regional stakeholders, and community members came together for the event, which celebrated the Alaskan seafood sector with seafood tastings and conversations amongst key industry players.Several winning products from the 2024 Alaska Symphony of Seafood competition were featured at the event, including Feble Fish Company’s Teriyaki Salmon Jerky (Best New Retail Product of 2024), Alaskan Leader Seafoods’ Miso Black Cod Deli Kits (Best New Foodservice Product of 2024), and Uncharted Distillery’s Holdfast Kelp Vodka (Beyond the Plate & Most Innovative of 2024).Guests were offered tastings of the award-winning products listed above, as well as a selection of other Alaska seafood dishes.In its recent press release, AFDF extended its sincere appreciation to the following partners for their generous support in the Southeast region, their commitment to long-term sustainability of Alaska’ coastal communities, and for making the Legislative Reception possible: Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC), Goldbelt Inc., Sealaska, and the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI).“Alaska’s seafood industry is the backbone of many coastal communities, providing economic opportunity and a way of life passed down for generations,” said Kristy Clement, CEO of AFDF. “This event reinforces the importance of working together—across industry, government, and communities—to sustain and strengthen Alaska’s world-class seafood sector for the next generation.”For more information on the event, visit afdf.org.
https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1298380/Alaska-Fisheries-Development-Foundation-and-United-Fishermen-of-Alaska-Host-Legislative-Reception
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