We're tracking the fast-moving developments from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. You can find regular updates here, and track all of our stories at the following dedicated page.
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Tuesday April 12, 5.06 am CET
Russia's invasion forces Europe’s largest shrimp farm to close after just four months of operation
The company's first crop was donated to the Ukrainian army.
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Monday April 11, 5.07 pm CET
Viciunai transporting war dead, delivering food aid to support Ukraine
Around another 20 Viciunai employees have joined the conflict on the Ukrainian side as the firm steps up humanitarian and logistical aid to the invaded nation.
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Friday April 8, 4.30 pm CET
Major whitefish species escape latest EU sanctions on Russian seafood
The EU Council approved the fifth package of sanctions against Russia on Friday in light of the ongoing war against Ukraine.
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Thursday April 7, 8:01 am CET
Surimi giant Viciunai seeks buyer for Russian business as it vows to wrap up operations
The termination of the business in Russia could be completed within three to four months, according to CEO Sarunas Matijosaitis.
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Thursday April 7, 7:01 am CET
Russia’s seafood industry searching for routes to ease sanction pressure
Domestically produced frozen whitefish fillets could replace imports, while processors call for export restrictions.
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Wednesday April 6, 1:34 pm CET
Proposed EU import ban on Russian seafood unlikely to include major whitefish species
Multiple sources suggest the proposed ban -- which is still being negotiated by member states -- will mainly impact caviar and certain crustaceans, but not whitefish.
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Wednesday April 6, 10:51 am CET
'The company's strategic priorities remain the same': Russian Fishery Company pushes ahead with plans despite recent ownership upheaval
Last month, the company's majority owner sold off his share in the Russian pollock and crab giant just a day after being put on the US sanctions list because of his connection to a Russian oligarch.
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Tuesday April 5, 5:34 pm CET
UK government temporarily drops 35% Russian whitefish import tariff, citing need to review impact
The government said it is temporarily removing whitefish from the sanctions list, but it remains committed to adding additional duties on Russian seafood imports.
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Tuesday April 5, 3:51 pm CET
New round of proposed EU sanctions on Russia includes seafood
The fifth round of sanctions against Russia will include specific new import bans worth €5.5 billion.
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Thursday March 31, 3:58 pm CET
Russia threatens to unilaterally increase Bering Sea pollock harvest
The head of the country's top fisheries agency said it is considering doubling its catch in one of the largest Alaska pollock fishing areas, threatening three decades of cooperative management in one of the world's most important fishing areas.
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Thursday March 31, 3:39 pm CET
US crab harvesters unlikely to fill Russia supply gap, with prices at record highs
Supply has been impacted by lower quotas and closures in Alaska, while demand grows.
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Wednesday March 30, 3:39 pm CET
Russia suspended from International Council for the Exploration of the Seas
Directors of key international fisheries management body voted to suspend the country effective immediately.
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Wednesday March 30, 9:30 am CET
More than 3,000 tons of food destroyed in Viciunai warehouse bombing, as company continues to wind down Russian factory
The surimi heavyweight will continue to operate in Russia until its current stock of raw materials is processed.
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Wednesday March 30, 9:01 am CET
French processors warn Ukraine crisis is leading to 'brutal reduction' in seafood supply
Companies are calling for state intervention to head off a new supply crisis sparked by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
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Wednesday March 30, 8:00 am CET
Can pangasius fill the whitefish void in wake of Russian shutdowns?
A number of factors come into play as western processors begin to forsee a possible scramble for product.
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Tuesday March 29, 8:32 am CET
Despite certifier decision, existing Marine Stewardship Council eco-labels not currently at risk for Russian pollock and cod fisheries
Though a group tasked with overseeing the agencies that determine whether or not a fishery meets the MSC standard has suspended its Russian activities, the caveats to the decision appear to allow for business as usual -- for now.
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Monday March 28, 3:54 pm CET
Just as shipping costs show signs of levelling, Ukraine crisis threatens to drive them back up
Seafood exporters seeking any meaningful reduction in shipping cost are likely to have to wait some time.
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Monday March 28, 1:01 pm CET
French supermarket retailer keeps Russian operations running
Auchan, the France-based supermarket group, said it is keeping its stores in Russia open to protect the livelihoods of its 30,000 workers and "to meet the essential food needs of the civilian population."
Closing activities in Russia would put employees and their families in great precariousness and would deprive, in a period of high inflation, the population of the services of a discounter distributor, which has been operating in the country for 20 years.
The retailer said it has halted investments in Auchan Russia, which runs autonomously.
"Auchan Russia is currently not making any profit and, in the current context, is forecasting losses for 2022," the company said in a statement.
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Monday March 28, 9:01 am CET
'People are going to have to be more adventurous': Ukraine crisis forces UK fish and chip shops to trial cheaper alternative species
Runaway whitefish inflation linked to fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the already damaging cost of living crisis may force a rethink among businesses and consumers.
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Friday March 25, 4:07 pm CET
Gleb Frank sells stakes in Russian Fishery Company, Russian Crab Group
The primary owner and chairman of one of Russia’s largest whitefish companies was included on an updated US sanctions list on March 24, the same day he sold his stake in the company.
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Friday March 25, 1:39 pm CET
Russian Fishery Company owner included on updated US sanctions list
The move could seriously complicate the business of the Russian whitefish giant.
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Friday March 25, 9:01 am CET
Aquaculture equipment group Akva will not enter into new contracts with Russian customers
Contracts the company entered into prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine will be honored, it said.
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Friday March 25, 9:01 am CET
Russia supply crunch sends Alaska pollock prices soaring to 15-year highs
Pricing situation has reached record highs not seen in the Alaska pollock industry since 2008.
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Friday March 25, 8:01 am CET
Inflationary pressure on aquaculture feed likely to be long-lasting with Ukraine's wheat production threatened
An executive with one feed company fears the inability of Ukrainian farmers to plant crops will have a long-term impact on seafood consumption. Meanwhile the company's staff in the country is safe, but has faced nightmarish consequences from Russia's invasion.
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Friday March 25, 12:04 am CET
US government extends deadline for enforcement of Russia seafood ban
Companies now have additional months to receive incoming shipments.
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Thursday March 24, 2:43 pm CET
'We are being politically attacked': Viciunai hits back at claims it delayed halting operations in Russia
The company has reiterated its stance of exiting the Russian market.
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Thursday March 24, 10:00 am CET
Icelandic group forced to recall vessel headed for Ukraine with full cargo of fish
The company is just the latest to be impacted by Russia's destructive campaign against Ukraine.
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Thursday March 24, 6:00 am CET
Ecuador shrimp exports to Russia drop, with further reductions to come
While the Russian market wanes in importance, China shows further signs of recovery, according to the latest statistics.
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Wednesday March 23, 12:51 pm CET
Washington State lawmaker the latest to throw weight behind Russia seafood ban
Cantwell joins Alaska lawmakers in condemning Russia for its actions against Ukraine.
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Wednesday March 23, 9:02 am CET
Atlantic cod prices are at record highs; Russia could send them even higher
If Russian fish disappears from the European market, one analyst said, the market can expect a sharp price jump.
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Wednesday March 23, 9:01 am CET
A month into Ukraine's invasion, frozen fish giant Nomad still silent on Russian sourcing strategy
The group said on the day of the invasion it had a plan in place for alternative fish supplies, but has said nothing since.
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Wednesday March 23, 7:01 am CET
Polar Seafood Chairman: Keeping Russian factory open or not 'like choosing between pestilence and cholera'
Polar Seafood Group has offices across several regions, including in both Russia and Ukraine, and the company has has no plans to shut its Russian factory.
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Tuesday March 22, 10:00 am CET
Greenland politician puts pressure on Polar Seafood to abandon Russian market
Contrary to many Western companies which have withdrawn from Russia following its attack on Ukraine, Polar Seafood has boosted production and sales of fishery products in Russia.
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Tuesday March 22, 7:51 am CET
In ironic twist, Russia’s single-frozen pollock production jumped 50% last year
The country's shift toward production of value-added products coveted by Western markets appears increasingly in vain.
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Monday March 21, 2:06 pm CET
'It’s going to be a big balancing act': New seafood processing hubs to emerge from global crises, Slade Gorton CEO says
The war in Ukraine is only the latest crisis prompting the industry to reassess where processing needs to shift, the executive said.
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Friday March 18, 10.45 pm CET
Slade Gorton donating 100% of proceeds from sale of Russian inventory to Ukraine
'It was important to us that we find a creative solution to ensuring this food did not go to waste, while at the same time doing our small part to aid those most affected by this devastating crisis,' CEO Kim Gorton said.
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Friday March 18, 4.25 pm CET
'These prices are not sustainable': Russia's war in Ukraine pushes Norwegian farmed salmon prices back up
Reduced salmon availability and Russia's invasion of Ukraine are pushing salmon prices back up and causing a slew of other problems across the market.
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Friday March 18, 8.31 am CET
Akva Group hires lawyers to navigate Russian sanctions
Current sanctions against Russia will not significantly affect Akva Group’s earnings, the company said.
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Friday March 18, 8.16 am CET
Young's still mulling Russian seafood purchasing plans, seeks clarity on implications of new whitefish tariffs
The processor said earlier it is 'reviewing' its supply chain, but has made no commitments to step away from the fish following Russia’s bloody invasion of Ukraine.
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Thursday March 17, 9.16 pm CET
Sysco extends ban on Russian products to international operations, including Brakes, M&J Seafood, Davigel
The foodservice giant is in the process of finding alternative suppliers 'as rapidly as possible.'
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Thursday March 17, 4.52 pm CET
Espersen suspends activities in Russia after McDonald's decision
Earlier this month, fast-food giant McDonald’s temporarily closed 847 restaurants in Russia in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
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Thursday March 17, 10.21 am CET
German retailers Lidl, Kaufland pull down shutters on Russian product
Parent group Schwarz is the biggest retailer in Europe.
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Thursday March 17, 9.45 am CET
Putin's Russian colleague has two trawlers at this Norway fish yard. Now work has stopped on them both.
And he's not the only sanctioned Russian with seafood connections.
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Wednesday March 16, 4.00 pm CET
Japan pulls key trade status for Russia, with likely consequences for seafood suppliers
The move will almost certainly impact rates on seafood and throw a wrench in plans by Russian Fishery Company and others to ramp up exports of value-added products to the country.
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Wednesday March 16, 1.00 pm CET
US government sets deadline for enforcement of Russia seafood ban
US seafood industry groups remain concerned the executive order will not be enough to stop all seafood originating from Russia entering the United States.
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Wednesday March 16, 9.32 am CET
EU fishing sector calls for emergency measures to keep fleet going in wake of skyrocketing costs
Industry believes the EU needs to focus on how to strengthen its seafood supply from EU-based companies, and not seek imports from anywhere else in the world to fill the gap.
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Wednesday March 16, 8.03 am CET
Viciunai warehouse, Auchan seafood supplier factory burnt to ground by Russian bombing in Ukraine
It comes as Viciunai receives criticism for the alleged delay in closing its Russian processing factory.
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Tuesday March 15, 9.26 pm CET
Cargill and rival feed, grain giants scale back Russian activities
While some producers have halted business altogether, others continue to provide 'essential' food supplies.
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Tuesday March 15, 4.44 pm CET
'You can't apply sanctions without losers': NGO calls for boycott of Russian fish in the UK as seafood buyers start scramble for alternatives
The call comes as the UK government announces an additional 35 percent tariff on the nation's whitefish imports.
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Tuesday March 15, 11.29 am CET
UK issues sanctions against Russian whitefish
Russian imports of whitefish will face an additional tariff increase of 35 percentage points, over and above any existing tariff rate under the terms of the move.
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Tuesday March 15, 8.01 am CET
‘We need to brace ourselves’: Official ban or not, the removal of Russian seafood from UK, EU seafood supply chains stands to have colossal consequences
Both the EU and UK are heavily dependant on Russian whitefish imports and -- with the US banning trade last week -- uncertainty in the sector is rife with all the talk of sanctions and economic action.
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Monday March 14, 9.09 am CET
UK fish and chip sector facing worst crisis in history amid expected Ukraine fallout
Around 40 percent of the industry's fish comes from Russia.
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Sunday March 13, 5.26 pm CET
Trident Seafoods CEO: US ban on Russian fish imports could include products reprocessed in China
The ban, as it stands, impacts only a small amount of seafood shipped shipped directly from Russia.
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Sunday March 13, 1.32 pm CET
Ukraine's largest salmon processor shelled by Russian army; facility destroyed
Bombs hit a key Kyiv warehouse, razing the building and all its inventory.
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Friday March 11, 8.19 pm CET
US seafood industry backs Russia seafood ban, but says clarity is needed on its impact
The US seafood industry is waiting for Biden's executive order to clarify if the ban would apply to Russian-origin products that are reprocessed in China.
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Friday March 11, 7.44 pm CET
Russian seafood escapes EU/UK ban after Ukraine invasion
While US President Biden announced plans on Friday to ban Russian seafood, the European Union and United Kingdom have so far resisted such a move.
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Friday March 11, 5.06 pm CET
United States bans imports of Russian seafood
President Biden will sign an executive order that will prohibit the import of goods from several signature sectors of Russia’s economy – including seafood, spirits/vodka, and non-industrial diamonds.
"This will deny Russia more than $1 billion (€913.1 million) in export revenues and ensure US citizens are not underwriting Putin’s war,"" said the statement.
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Friday March 11, 2.50 am CET
Marine Stewardship Council CEO: Ukraine war could lead to loss of certification for Russian fisheries
Sanctions could prevent auditors from doing their job.
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Thursday March 10, 11.59 pm CET
US foodservice distribution giant Sysco 'working to eliminate' Russian products
'We are actively switching to alternative suppliers as rapidly as possible with a goal of minimizing customer disruption.' spokesperson tells IntraFish.
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Thursday March 10, 10.09 am CET
Domino effect: How Putin's aggressions will hike salmon farming costs
From shipping to grain to fertilizer and sanctions, costs are likely to impact the salmon industry by the second half of this year.
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Thursday March 10, 8.01 am CET
Ikea's suspension of Russian operations to impact 'all sub-suppliers'
The company is a substantial buyer of Aquaculture Stewardship Council certified salmon.
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Thursday March 10, 7.32 am CET
Processors, retailers, salmon farmers and more: Here is a list of who is stopping seafood business with Russia
Humanitarian concerns, along with a complex concoction of sanctions and stops, has forced a growing number of seafood players out of Russia's business environment.
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Wednesday March 9, 8.55 pm CET
Retail giant Costco stops purchasing Russian seafood
The retail giant -- which boasts $192 billion in sales across 700 locations -- sources king crab and sockeye salmon from Russian fisheries.
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Wednesday March 9, 6.55 pm CET
Another Chilean salmon farmer stops shipping to Russia
It's the second major salmon producer in the country to announce it is halting exports to the country in the wake of the Ukraine invasion.
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Wednesday March 9, 3.15 pm CET
German frozen fish processor Frosta has not made any 'specific decisions' on its trading activities with Russia
But the company is closely watching how the situation develops, executive tells IntraFish.
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Wednesday March 9, 2.45 pm CET
Surimi giant Viciunai suspends operations in Russia
One of the world's largest surimi suppliers has stopped sales in one of its most critical markets.
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Wednesday March 9, 9.01 am CET
European-wide ban on Russian vessels threatens to damage decades of fisheries cooperation
Norway has condemned Russia's invasion but finds itself on tricky ground when it comes to joining Europe's ban on Russian vessels, with monitoring and livelihoods hanging in the balance.
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Wednesday March 9, 8.01 am CET
Espersen to face 'significant' impacts from McDonald's Russia shutdown
The company has a sizeable market with McDonald's in the country.
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Wednesday March 9, 6.01 am CET
Seafood sector should brace for record oil prices, analyst says
Prices could also slip back below $100 a barrel should a compromise in the Russia-Ukraine conflict be found, but as of now, it seems unlikely.
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Tuesday March 8, 10.01 pm CET
Camanchaca halts farmed salmon exports to Russia
"Exports to Russia have been halted by logistical and financial challenges arising as a result of the Russian attack and invasion of Ukraine," Camanchaca CEO Ricardo Garcia told IntraFish.
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Tuesday March 8, 8.38 pm CET
UK retailers rushing to drop Russian products put whitefish and salmon suppliers in jeopardy
Waitrose, Morrisons, Tesco, Aldi, Sainsbury's: Retailers with exposure to Russian fish are taking a range of measures to step away from Russian products, and scrutinizing suppliers using Russia-sourced ingredients.
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Tuesday March 8, 8.04 pm CET
McDonald's closing its stores in Russia
'Our values mean we cannot ignore the needless human suffering unfolding in Ukraine,' the company's CEO said.
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Tuesday March 8, 5.12 am CET
Putin's war brings Vietnam's pangasius exports to Russia to a grinding halt
Banking interference, shipping disruptions and 'exorbitant' prices have all but closed the important Russian market to Vietnam's seafood sector.
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Monday March 7, 12.14 pm CET
Russians will go without Faroese farmed salmon for now as Mowi, Bakkafrost, Hiddenfjord not set to deliver in the short-term
Bakkafrost announced last week it would not be selling salmon to Russia. The country's other major producer Hiddenfjord, said it hasn't decided if it will send an upcoming shipment in May.
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Monday March 7, 9.44 am CET
European surimi giant Viciunai making 'cardinal' changes as Ukraine crisis intensifies
The company has employees in both Russia and Ukraine.
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Monday March 7, 9.06 am CET
Ukrainian salmon processing staff still 'at very high risk'; employee video shows gunfire amid protest
The company, the largest Ukranian importer of Norwegian salmon, has felt the full impacts of Russia's invasion of the country.
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Monday March 7, 8.31 am CET
Air-bound seafood heading to Asia faces new challenges as Russian airspace closes
Norway flew seafood worth hundreds of millions to Asia last year. The ban will primarily affect the fresh salmon, trout and live king crab sector.
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Monday March 7, 7.30 am CET
Rabobank: Ukraine invasion to bring even higher feed costs, pressuring aquaculture sector
Agricultural commodities such as soy, corn and wheat were already in a high cycle with costs spiraling up, but now the expectation is of even even more cost pressure.
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Saturday March 5, 4.46 pm CET
'We needed to draw a line in the sand': BioMar halts Russia trading activities
After being approved at board level, the company will begin closing all activities immediately, evaluating commitments and goods in transit in the supply chain case-by-case.
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Friday March 4, 4.25 pm CET
Norway farmed salmon prices trading at lower levels amid Ukraine chaos
Market sources are struggling to get a clear picture of the market because of uncertainty surrounding the war in Ukraine and higher airfreight costs.
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Friday March 4, 4.14 pm CET
Red Lobster quietly removes pollock from its menu
The largest US seafood restaurant chain will escape Russian pollock supply dangers resulting from Putin's invasion, but the decision was based on a different set of factors.
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Friday March 4, 3.23 pm CET
Skretting salmon feed exempted from parent company's export ban to Russia
'It’s our social responsibility to support society with a continued supply of food,' the company said.
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Friday March 4, 9.29 am CET
Espersen hopes to keep Russian plant operating without interruptions amid Ukraine crisis
The biggest threat for the plant would be if there are any Russian sanctions against Western-owned companies in Russia, but there is no talk of this so far.
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Friday March 4, 9 am CET
Ukrainian workers, the backbone of Poland's seafood processing sector, returning home to fight
"Some of our colleagues have returned to Ukraine to defend their country and to fight for freedom. This we understand and support," said Thomas Farstad, CEO at one of the largest seafood companies with Poland processing facilities, Summa Equity-owned Milarex.
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Friday March 4, 8.01 am CET
'Preparing for the worst-case scenario': Russia's fishing companies facing unpaid invoices, tightening credit as sanctions bite
'It's quite possible that supply chains and payment methods, developed over the years, will stop working,' one CEO said.
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Friday March 4, 4.15 am CET
Skretting, Nutreco parent company: 'No new investments, no new projects and no new exports to Russia'
The conglomerate cited the 'violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine' as the reason.
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Thursday March 3, 10.40 pm CET
Dozens of US seafood companies, some with Russian pollock at stake, push for sanctions
'What’s more important is that we push our government to sanction Russian fish, which will cause the United Kingdom/European Union to do so as well,' a top executive leading the effort told IntraFish.
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Thursday March 3, 8.17 pm CET
Russian companies banned from exhibiting at Barcelona seafood expo, trade group says
Diversified Communications, organizer of Seafood Expo Global (SEG) in Barcelona, is barring Russian companies from exhibiting at the upcoming event, according to a Russia-based events and trade promotion group.
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Thursday March 3, 6.31 pm CET
Analysts: High Liner has enough inventory for the time being, but supply concerns loom as Ukraine crisis deepens
High Liner halted sourcing from Russia prior to its invasion of Ukraine in response to the global container shipping crisis, one analyst said, and has stocks to carry it through for several months.
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Thursday March 3, 10.01 am CET
Marine insurers drop automatic war coverage, further complicating shipping sector
The development adds another potential cost complication for companies shipping seafood after leading shipping lines suspended routes to and from Russia.
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Thursday March 3, 8.17 am CET
Coast Seafood forced to stop Ukraine exports as 'ravages of war' make processing impossible
Its main buyer, Universal Fish Company, has had to abandon its factories because of Russian attacks.
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Wednesday March 2, 7.17 pm CET
Is Russia in jeopardy of losing its MSC certifications for pollock and other fisheries?
The fate of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certifications of several Russian fisheries remains unknown as nations, companies and other organizations invoke sanctions against the country for its invasion of Ukraine.
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Wednesday March 2, 3.51 pm CET
Royal Greenland the latest company to stop trading with Russia
The decision will negatively impact both Royal Greenland and its Russian joint venture partner Agama Royal Greenland, but top executive 'supports the decision 100%.'
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Wednesday March 2, 9.00 am CET
Danish processing giant Espersen draws up contingency plans for any potential sanctions
At the moment any trade bans on seafood arising from Russia’s war on Ukraine are speculation, but ‘we have to be prepared as best we can,’ says Klaus Nielsen, the top executive at Denmark-based Espersen.
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Wednesday March 2, 8.01 am CET
This Danish aquaculture feed company offered to relocate its Ukrainian workers. They decided to stay and fight.
Denmark-based feed company Aller Aqua offered its Ukrainian workers the chance to evacuate to its Polish facility, out of the path of Russia's invasion, but they turned down the offer, deciding instead to stay and defend their country.
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Tuesday March 1, 11.52 pm CET
Alaska pollock producers wary of supply gap from Russia sanctions
While this year's "A" season fishing is shaping up to be better than last year's, Alaska pollock producers may find it challenging to fill a growing global inventory gap being created as more European countries and companies cut ties with Russia over that country's invasion of Ukraine.
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Tuesday March 1, 8.35 pm CET
'Daunting' challenges as Canadian group cancels Russian cod imports
Canada's Icewater Seafoods has cancelled imports of cod from Russia, its main supplier, following the invasion of Ukraine by President Vladimir Putin's armed forces.
The Newfoundland-based company has also cancelled the last shipment, ordered in the week before the invasion began on Feb. 24, the company said Tuesday after informing customers in Europe and North America.
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Tuesday March 1, 7.14 pm CET
Vice tightens on US retail brands, fast food chains
Russia's invasion of Ukraine last week has led to swift global backlash and a range of economic sanctions against the country and its leaders.
There is growing concern sanctions could extend to cover the nation's seafood exports, a move that would have a jarring effect on pollock and other whitefish supply chains.
The rhetoric puts several key companies under the spotlight, including most notably Conagra-owned Mrs. Paul's and Van de Kamp's, two of the largest retail brands of frozen, breaded whitefish fillets and fish sticks in the United States.
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Tuesday March 1, 6.28 pm CET
UK seafood giant 'reviewing' Russian supply chain
Young’s Seafood, the United Kingdom’s largest seafood processor, is reviewing its supply chain in light of Russia's war in Ukraine, a spokesperson told IntraFish.
The processor currently purchases some fish caught by Russian vessels in the Barents Sea and Northwest Pacific.
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Tuesday March 1, 4:49 pm CET
UK frozen firm sending Ukraine food convoy
UK-based frozen foods firm Oakland International said it is prepared to fund up to 50 trucks and drivers to take essential chilled, frozen and ambient food items to the Eastern border of Poland and possibly into Ukraine if they can get through.
The company, which is calling for frozen food donations, plans to dispatch all 50 trucks between Wednesday and Friday this week.
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Tuesday March 1, 3.41 CET
Shipping giants stops Russia bookings
Danish shipping giant AP Moller-Maersk is temporarily halting all bookings to and from Russia as western sanctions tighten on the country.
The group said all container shipping will stop following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has attracted global condemnation.
The move follows similar decisions by Japanese-controlled Ocean Network Express (ONE), Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd and Switzerland’s Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC).
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Tuesday March 1, 11 am CET
Ukraine's largest salmon processor forced out of factories
One of the largest Eastern European fish processing plants and a major reprocessor of Norwegian salmon has been temporarily forced out of its two facilities, one of which was nearby the first bombing raids on Kyiv on Feb. 24, and another that is located in what is now Russian-occupied territory.
The company's suppliers include Leroy, Mowi, Coast Seafood and Nordic Seafood.
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Tuesday March 1, 5.13am CET
Boycotts present double-edged sword
A Norwegian boycott of Russian goods could affect the import and export of tens of thousands of metric tons of fish from Russian trawlers, impacting the trade flow of key whitefish such as cod and haddock.
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Tuesday March 1, 1.18am CET
US lawmakers sponsor bill to kick Russia out of WTO
US lawmakers are putting forward legislation aimed at denying Russia access to World Trade Organization (WTO) membership following its invasion of Ukraine.
If passed, the bill would remove 'most favored nation' trade treatment for Russian imports.
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Monday Feb. 28, 9.53pm CET
Ecuador shrimp producer turns around exports en route to Russia
The company, one of Ecuador's largest suppliers, cites the actions of Putin's government causing suffering to the Ukrainian people, as well as economic and commercial reasons and urges "everyone" to reject Putin's actions.
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Monday Feb. 28, 10.23pm CET
Bakkafrost stops selling to Russia
Faroese salmon farmer Bakkafrost stopped selling salmon to customers in Russia as of last Thursday, after the country's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
In 2021, around 10 percent of the company's salmon sales went to the Russian market, Bakkafrost CEO Regin Jacobsen told IntraFish.
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Monday, Feb. 28, 1.19pm CET
Aquaculture expert stays to fight
Lubomir Haidamaka, chief technology officer at Vismar Aqua, contacted IntraFish to tell us his children have been evacuated and he is staying to fight in Ukraine.
The company had been working on the biggest catfish farm in the country as well as smaller trout and tilapia operations.
"We stand united. We will win!" he said.
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Monday, Feb. 28, 10.10 am CET
Russian fishery site down
A group of hackers operating under the name "Anonymous" is taking credit for several cyber incidents across Russia's government websites, including that of the federal ministry of fisheries.
The group, which has tweeted from several accounts since Thursday, said it would be targeting Putin's government after his unprovoked attack on neighboring Ukraine.
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Monday, Feb. 28, 10:01am CET
‘Shipping will be in crosshairs’
As the West looks to cripple Russia’s economy in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine, shipping appears to be in regulators’ sights once more, adding to the list of potential challenges for seafood companies moving products in and out of the country.
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Monday, Feb. 28, 09:00 CET
SalMar, Pelagia reeling from Ukraine crisis
Norwegian seafood companies are already facing difficulties caused by the crisis unfolding in Ukraine, including Norwegian salmon farming giant SalMar and Austevoll Seafood joint venture Pelagia.
SalMar, one of Norway's largest salmon farming companies, had fish cargo on its way to the country, but the shipments were turned around just prior to Russia launching its invasion.
"We took action in advance and sent the trucks to other markets before they reached the border," CEO and owner Gustav Witzoe told IntraFish sister publication DN.
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Monday, Feb. 28, 7.35 am CET
Rouble plummets 30% as market opens
The Russian rouble crashed by almost a third to an all-time low against the dollar as markets opened for trading Monday.
The rouble dropped to as low as 119 per dollar, from its closing price of 83.64 on Friday.
Global sanctions against the country for its invasion of Ukraine include blocking some Russian banks from the Swift international payments system, leading investors to anticipate a run on the Russian currency as people try to change their money for dollars and other denominations, reported The Guardian.
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Monday, Feb. 28, 4.42am CET
Uncertainty in China
As a huge processor of Russian-origin seafood, particularly whitefish, the Chinese processing industry in Qingdao and Dalian is waiting anxiously to see the outcome of sanctions.
One Qingdao company told IntraFish it was keeping a very close eye on the situation, but was yet to ascertain how or when it would be impacted.
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Friday, Feb. 25, 16:30 CET
Russian whitefish giant says business-as-usual on fishing side
Russia's largest fishing company says that while it's "difficult to predict" the fallout from the Ukrainian invasion, the harvesting of its key species -- most notably cod, haddock and pollock -- is expected to continue as normal.
Norebo spokesperson Sergei Sennikov told IntraFish the company "must adapt our activity to the conditions...(Read full story)
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Friday, Feb. 25, 12:20 CET
Chile salmon exporters eye alternative markets to Russia
Chilean farmed salmon producers are weighing alternatives to the Russian market following the invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. by Vladimir Putin's armed forces.
The South American nation's salmon firms shipped 50,689 metric tons gross weight of fish to Russia in 2021, making it Chile's fourth-largest market.
"Producers are attentive to how the situation between Russia and Ukraine evolves...(Read the full story here)
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Friday, Feb. 25, 10:10 CET
Energy prices rocket
Energy prices were sharply higher in early trading Thursday, with Brent crude up over $5 (€4.45) to $102, breaking three figures for the first time since 2014.
Meanwhile, trading on the Moscow Stock Exchange was halted on Thursday morning because the ruble and share prices fell below the exchange’s pre-determined limitations.
On Wednesday, the ruble had fallen further against the dollar, reaching its lowest level since the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020.
According to options pricing, the currency is expected to fall to a “historic low” against the dollar in the next two months.
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Friday, Feb. 25, 10:02 CET
At risk: Millions of dollars worth of salmon smolts
Norway has been facilitating Russia's fast-growing aquaculture sector by selling large volumes of salmon smolt to the nation.
Over the last seven years, Norway has sold NOK 843 million (€83.6 million/$93 million) worth of smolt to Russia, despite that country's ban on...(Read full story)
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Friday, Feb. 25, 7:00 CET
Top lines divert ships and cargoes as Ukraine crisis hits container shipping
Two large shipping companies have taken "contingency measures" to divert ships from dangers in the embattled region.
Liner giants Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) have suspended services to the Ukraine as Russian troops began a full-scale invasion of the country.
The liners have begun implementing contingency...(Read full story)
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Thursday, Feb. 24, 8:25 CET
Russia sanctions would have ‘major disruptive’ consequences for EU pollock, cod market
Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is now in full swing and Western countries are beginning to follow through with their threats of placing damaging sanctions on the country in response.
Specific details of all these sanctions are not clear yet, but what is clear is they will not be good for trade in the short term, particularly whitefish in Europe, of which Russia is a major...(Read full story)
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Thursday, Feb. 24, 4:35 CET
Nomad prepared to switch to alternate fish supplies in event of sanctions
Nomad Foods, the parent of Birds Eye, Iglo and Findus frozen fish brands in Europe, said it is prepared to switch to alternative wild-caught and farmed species should the war now raging in Ukraine impact the company's supply chains.
The company said during its fourth quarter earnings that it has been preparing for the...(Read full story)
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Thursday, Feb. 15
Sanction threats by US Senators now seem more real
A week prior to Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, two key Senators introduced legislation in response to Russia’s own prohibition on the importation of US and other western seafood products since 2014.
Alaska Republican Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski introduced the US-Russian Federation Seafood Reciprocity Act this week, with an aim to...(Read full story).
Read more
- Why did Russia's shrimp imports surge last year? Experts can't decide
- Russia's first land-based salmon farm is about to begin operations
- China's port closures cost Russian pollock companies $400 million, but the industry sees a silver lining
- 'We no longer need imported salmon': Russia gloats as farmed salmonid production passes milestone