Despite facing challenges due to COVID-19, New Zealand seafood giant Sealord said it achieved its "plans" for 2020, but warned next will likely be "tougher."

Sealord Group CEO Doug Paulin said in the company's year-end statement the group had an excellent start to the year and then successfully dealt with the early challenges of COVID-19 in various markets, with most of the major export shipping and market consumption downsides contained to the final quarter. In fact Sealord won a Seafood Star Award from Seafood New Zealand for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.