A significant shift toward a more gender-neutral society is transforming Japan’s traditionally male-dominated seafood industry, with female professionals increasingly leading operations in major fish markets.

Photo: Jiji

At the Toyosu wholesale food market in Tokyo’s Koto Ward, more than 10 female sales staff work from the early morning hours, managing high-volume transactions for fresh and processed pescados y mariscos. This marks a sharp contrast to the former Tsukiji wholesale market in Chuo Ward, where female workers were rarely seen before operations relocated to Toyosu.

Among them, Kana Saegusa has spent five years at the wholesaler Tsukiji Uoichiba, selling crabs, lobsters, and salmon delivered from nationwide producers. Meanwhile, Rina Takahashi of intermediate wholesaler Kitani Suisan has spent over seven years assessing tuna quality, processing and selling Toyosu-sourced tuna at the Tsukiji Outer Market to sushi restaurants and consumers.

The trend extends beyond the capital. Miyu Murata joined Sendai Suisan at the Sendai central wholesale market in Miyagi Prefecture four years ago, becoming a certified auctioneer handling shellfish and seaweed since June 2025.

According to the latest information obtained by UCN, the European Commission has modified its initial proposal to completely ban imports of Russian seafood, following strong opposition from the fishing and processing industries.

An internal document from Seafood Europe reveals that the institution has lifted the planned total veto on cod (Gadus morhua) and pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) originating from Russia, which had previously been included by President Ursula von der Leyen in the 21st round of sanctions.

The new plan establishes that the import quota system will be maintained over the long term. Although these volumes will decrease annually, they will not be reduced to zero, ensuring their permanence after a period of four years. Furthermore, the transition period for existing contracts will be doubled, extending from three to six months to allow for market adaptation.

At present, the official European Union document does not detail specific provisions or restrictions for other key species, such as wild salmon or haddock.

Sushi has become one of the strongest growth drivers in the US seafood market. New insights into the American sushi market highlight the opportunities within the category and what US consumers value.

According to a new report on the US sushi market from the National Fisheries Institute’s Sushi Council, sushi now has a total market value of around $22 billion across grocery retail, restaurants, catering and the institutional market. The restaurant segment alone accounts for around $16 billion, underlining the importance of sushi as a foodservice category.

Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here

Ecuador’s shrimp exports broke its all-time record in May 2026 as both volume and value continue to outpace 2025, according to industry blog ShrimpInsights.

According to the latest figures from Ecuador’s National Aquaculture Chamber (CNA), the country exported 165,538 metric tons (MT) of shrimp in May, an increase of 9 percent year on year and the highest export total for a single month ever for the country. Historically, May has been the month Ecuador exports the most shrimp during the year, and this record breaks the 151,521 MT record the country set last year. 

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

As aquaculture continues to expand globally, questions around trust, regulation and market access are becoming central to long-term success.

Egill Þorri Steingrimsson, head of coordination at MAST, the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority, will discuss this at the Aquaculture – Driving Sustainable Growth conference at IceFish on 22 September.

Drawing on Iceland’s experience, Egill will highlight how effective policy, robust official oversight and credible standards in food safety, animal health and welfare form the foundation for sustainable expansion. Far from being barriers, these elements are increasingly essential for securing international market access and maintaining consumer confidence.

Source: Worldfishing | Read the full article here

Moscú, INTERFAX.RU –  The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) reported the detention of a Russian citizen involved in the illicit importation of 500 kg of cocaine from Ecuador, which was concealed inside a shipment of seafood. ilícita de 500 kg de cocaína procedente de Ecuador, la cual se encontraba oculta en un cargamento de productos marinos.

The discovery occurred during an inspection at the Petrolesport JSC container terminal, located within the Big Port of St. Petersburg. According to the special service's Public Relations Center (PRC), the narcotics were hidden inside legally imported, frozen, ungutted tuna carcasses.

Following the operation, authorities arrested a suspect. During the searches, officials seized digital media containing cryptocurrency wallets valued at $613,000, 13 premium wristwatches worth over $1.3 million, and five luxury cars with an estimated value of at least 130 million rubles.

The FSB Investigative Service for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region has opened a criminal case under Part 3 of Article 30 and Part 5 of Article 228.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which relate to the attempted sale of narcotics on an especially large scale. The court ordered the suspect to be remanded in custody.

Seaweed farming in the UK has the potential to create new job and products, while contributing to a low-carbon economy but has yet to fully gain public trust, according to a new report by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) in Oban. 

Seaweed farming with and for our coastal communities’ sets out six recommendations for policy makers and those planning to farm seaweed around the UK. 

Among the recommendations is the need to prioritise local knowledge, work with communities and increase public awareness of seaweed farming. 

Source: The Fish Site | Read the full article here

China has overtaken the United States to become Norway’s second-largest market for salmon, as exports to China continued to surge while shipments of higher-value fillets to the US declined amid tariff uncertainty.

According to the Norwegian Seafood Council, Norwegian salmon exports to China rose 51% by volume and 42% by value in the first half of 2026, following growth of 99% by volume and 59% by value in 2025.

By contrast, exports to the United States continued to weaken. The council said the value share of processed salmon products in Norway’s exports fell from 30% to 25% in the first half

Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here