Weekly EMEA Roundup: North America Takes Center Stage

By EMEA Editor Neil Ramsden

The past week has seen significant developments in the North American seafood industry, grabbing attention across the board. Here’s a closer look at the most impactful stories.

Seizure of the Hannah: A Legal Battle Unfolds

The most notable story emerged from Alaska, where a US federal judge issued a warrant for the seizure of the freezer barge Hannah. This drastic move is a response to outstanding debts exceeding $1.2 million owed to a vendor responsible for retrofitting the barge ahead of the previous year’s Bristol Bay salmon season. This legal battle threatens the ability of Northline Seafoods to procure Alaska salmon in the world’s largest sockeye fishery in 2025. However, the seizure in port remains uncertain.

Impact of Canada’s Spring Lobster Fishery

The opening of Canada’s spring lobster fishery played a crucial role in a dramatic 30% drop in US wholesale prices for live lobsters during the first week of May 2025. Additionally, uncertainties surrounding inventory distribution in China contributed to this significant decline.

Snow Crab Market Stabilizes

As inventory levels of snow crab increased, prices remained steady. According to assessments from Undercurrent News, the market saw significant movements, especially concerning red king crabs, although tight inventory levels persisted despite a slowdown in sales.

Canada’s Lobster Prices in Freefall

With the largest lobster fishing zones in Atlantic Canada opening for the spring season, both Canadian dock and US wholesale prices for live lobsters plummeted. In contrast, prices for frozen tails and meat remained relatively stable, indicating a market bifurcation.

Snow Crab Production on the Rise

This year’s global production of snow crab is projected to surpass 150,000 metric tons, an increase of 10,000 metric tons from last year. Boosted quotas in Canada, Russia, and Norway are driving this growth, as highlighted in the latest 3-Minute Market Insight by Canada-based wholesaler Tradex.

Legal Issues for Fortune International

In another surprising turn of events, Fortune International has filed a lawsuit against the US branch of Norwegian salmon leader Vikenco and its president, Chris Marchese. The allegations include conspiracy to misappropriate confidential business information and trade secrets while Marchese previously served as director of salmon and key accounts at Fortune’s subsidiary, Boston Sword and Tuna.

Concerns in Kodiak, Alaska

Kodiak, Alaska, recently emerged from a successful Alaska pollock A season but is now bracing for a robust pink salmon harvest this summer. However, industry experts express concerns regarding the future of millions of metric tons of frozen seafood if tensions escalate in the ongoing trade war between the US and China. The limited local storage capabilities exacerbate fears of holding excessive frozen fish without other processing options.

For further details, click on the headlines below to explore the biggest stories of last week.