IN BRIEF - Canned Tuna Maker Bumble Bee Preps for Bankruptcy Filing
UNITED STATES
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Bumble Bee Foods LLC is preparing to file for bankruptcy within days over mounting legal expenses stemming from its involvement in a conspiracy to fix prices on canned tuna, according to people familiar with the matter.
The San Diego-based company, owned by London-based private-equity firm Lion Capital, is expected to file a chapter 11 petition shortly and will put itself up for sale, the people said. Bumble Bee didn’t respond to a request for comment. Lion Capital, which bought the company in 2010 for USD 980 million, also didn’t immediately respond.
Bumble Bee pleaded guilty in 2017 and agreed to pay a USD 25 million fine for having formed a cartel with its two main competitors, Chicken of the Sea and StarKist Co.
Four companies from the region are participating in the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo 2026, in a context marked by the growth of regional exports to that market.
Four companies from the Los Lagos Region are participating in the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo (CFSE) 2026, one of the leading international trade fairs for the fishing and aquaculture industry, which will take place between October 28 and 30 in Qingdao, China.
Pure Nature Foods, Salmones de Chile, Pacific Star, and Pesquera Catalunya will be part of the Chilean pavilion coordinated by ProChile, where they will seek to strengthen their presence in the Asian market, generate new business contacts, and open new business opportunities.
The annual report from APROMAR confirms 3% growth in production during 2025, positioning Spain as the leading aquaculture producer in the European Union by volume, accounting for 24.4% of the EU total. The sector is focusing on species with higher commercial value, though it notes challenges such as administrative hurdles, rising costs, and a lack of generational turnover.
Spanish aquaculture continues its growth trajectory, consolidating its strategic position within European food production. In 2025, the sector reached a production volume of 274,111 tonnes—an increase of 3.02% over the previous year—while the value at first sale hit a record high of 883.5 million euros. These are among the key findings from the annual report *Aquaculture in Spain 2026*
Spanish-flagged fishing vessels operating in various fishing grounds around the world—outside of EU waters—are set to receive an initial round of public aid in the coming days. The funding is intended to offset the additional fuel costs incurred between March 22 and April 30, a period during which diesel prices spiked due to the conflict in the Middle East. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has proactively allocated 1.67 million euros to 52 fishing companies that own the 81 vessels in question.
According to the Ministry of Fisheries, the average price of diesel at Spanish maritime fueling stations reached 1.310 euros per liter this Monday, the 26th—a record high.
Source: La Voz de Galicia | Read the full article here
Aclass-action lawsuit filed by a shopper in the U.S. state of Illinois claims that bags of frozen shrimp sold by retail giant Walmart contain fewer shrimp than advertised.
The suit alleges that Walmart is counting the weight of the ice glaze utilized to prevent freezer burn on shrimp in its weight for the product, so when the bag is thawed out and drained, the product contains fewer shrimp than claimed. According to the lawsuit, the bags contain roughly 11 percent fewer shrimp than advertised.
Baptist claims the company is liable in misleading customers and violating Illinois state consumer protection laws.
Author: Nathan Strout / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here
National delegation seeks to expand exports and Asian trade partnerships.
Venezuela will participate in China Fisheries & Seafood Expo 2026, held October 28–30 in Qingdao. The Fisheries Ministry and seafood companies will promote national products, attract buyers and strengthen commercial ties with China and international markets.
Captain's fatigue caused a squid vessel to crash off California.
Ocean Angel VI paid $100,000 after its captain fell asleep and ran aground off Santa Cruz Island in December 2022, spilling 1,000 gallons of diesel and 300 gallons of hydraulic fluid. The settlement includes funding for environmental restoration, spill-response training and wildlife rehabilitation.
Norway's average fresh salmon export price rose to NOK 76.04 (€7.32) per kilogram in week 43, up 2.7% from the previous week, according to figures published by Statistics Norway on Wednesday.
The price increased by NOK 1.99/kg from NOK 74.05 (€7.04) in week 42, marking a second consecutive weekly increase.
Fresh salmon export volumes rose 3.0% to 28,518 tonnes, compared with 27,689 tonnes the previous week. It was the first weekly increase in shipments since week 39.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
A fish escape is suspected to have occurred at a Mowi salmon farm in Norway after a tuna weighing a third of a tonne torpedoed its way into a pen.
Ragnhild Dahle Heen, group leader in the aquaculture supervision and guidance section of Norway’s Directorate of Fisheries, told Fish Farming Expert’s Norwegian sister site, Kyst.no, that the department received a report of a tuna in a pen The incident occurred at Mowi's Skipningsdalen fish farm in Flekkefjord municipality in Norway’s southwest corner. Heen said that the company has initiated recapture procedures.
Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
Seafood, technology and logistics will feature at the new B2B trade show.
FFE APAC will debut on 16–18 November 2027 at Sands Expo, Singapore, during Singapore International Agri-Food Week. The event will connect producers, buyers and investors, promoting trade, innovation and resilient food supply chains.
East Nusa Tenggara explores cooperation with Jiangxi Province.
NTT Deputy Governor Johni Asadoma met a Chinese delegation led by Tu Anbo to promote investment in fisheries, seaweed, salt and tourism. A preliminary agreement was signed in Belu, aiming to boost processing, jobs, exports and regional development.
UNITED STATES
CHINA
Four companies from the region are participating in the 
SPAIN
The annual report from 
Spanish-flagged fishing vessels operating in various fishing grounds around the world—outside of EU waters—are set to receive an initial round of public aid in the coming days. The funding is intended to offset the additional fuel costs incurred between March 22 and April 30, a period during which diesel prices spiked due to the conflict in the Middle East. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has proactively allocated 1.67 million euros to 52 fishing companies that own the 81 vessels in question.
Aclass-action lawsuit filed by a shopper in the U.S. state of Illinois claims that bags of frozen shrimp sold by retail giant 
VENEZUELA
National delegation seeks to expand exports and Asian trade partnerships.
Captain's fatigue caused a squid vessel to crash off California.
NORWAY
Norway's average fresh salmon export price rose to NOK 76.04 (€7.32) per kilogram in week 43, up 2.7% from the previous week, according to figures published by Statistics Norway on Wednesday.
A fish escape is suspected to have occurred at a 
SINGAPORE
Seafood, technology and logistics will feature at the new B2B trade show.
INDONESIA
East Nusa Tenggara explores cooperation with Jiangxi Province.
