Seafood Market News
Get the inside scoop on the latest market trends and updates on the seafood industry. Our market news page is updated monthly so you can stay on top of seasonal seafood changes and be aware of price fluctuations.
August 2023 Seasonal Highlights and Updates:
- WILD SALMON: Sockeye season is winding down, but our refresh program is available. Fresh coho season is ramping up and is the fish to feature. Most of the king salmon we are getting is from Canada and Washington. Both net-caught and troll-caught are available.
- FARMED SALMON: Norwegian salmon prices are looking great and is currently more affordable than Canadian as the Canadian supply is tightening. Chilean supply is steady.
- DUNGENESS CRAB: The fresh Canadian season is winding down. We’ll get more fresh supply again in October or November from Native Fisheries in Washington.
- ORGEON BAY SHRIMPMEAT: In-season and going strong through October.
- HALIBUT: Season is going strong through November.
- WHITE SEABASS: We have a limited supply of fresh white seabass from Mexico.
- KUMAMOTO OYSTERS: We have a new supply of fresh, authentic Kumamotos from Baja, CA.
Click one of the tabs below for more details and updates on other species.
Welcome to the Lusamerica market news page.
Click the appropriate tab above (Wild Fish, Farmed Fish or Shellfish).
| Wild Fish | Season Information |
|---|---|
| Cod | We’re sourcing rock cod (rockfish), black cod (sablefish) and lingcod from California. When the weather is bad and our boats can’t get out, we can source from Washington, Oregon or Canada as a backup. Pacific cod, aka true cod, is available from Canada and Alaska. Cod is sweet and mild with large firm flakes. Steamed, roasted, braised, sautéed or fried, it is always a customer favorite. |
| Halibut | It’s California halibut season at our home dock in Monterey Bay and we have a lot of local fish available that’s processed by hand at our nearby facility – super fresh! Pacific halibut is also available from Alaska through November. It’s a premium whitefish with mild flavor. |
| Mahi Mahi | We are receiving a good supply of mahi from Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. We are also sourcing frozen mahi from Taiwan and Indonesia. Like halibut, mahi has a mild flavor but is more delicate than halibut with a distinct tropical sweetness. |
| Ono and Opah | Availability is spotty, but we will continue to offer these fish when available. This is due to the fact that these fish do not school, and are caught individually by fishermen using longline gear. Opah has a rich creamy taste and firm, fatty texture. The flavor is a cross between tuna and swordfish; distinctive, but not overpowering. |
| Salmon | Sockeye season is pretty much over, but coho season is ramping up. Sockeyes will continue to be available via our refresh program. King salmon (aka Chinook) is primarily coming from Canada and Washington (troll-caught and net-caught are available). There is no king salmon season this summer for a majority of the California coast. |
| Sea bass | We have white seabass from Mexico but it’s a short season and will finish up towards the end of the month. Our Chilean sea bass is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and is coming from Australia, New Zealand, and Ukraine. It’s excellent quality white fish that tends to be very mild and not “fishy” in flavor. |
| Sole | We are getting Dover and Petrale sole from California. Rex and arrowtooth are also available. Sole is delicious sautéed, roasted, broiled, or grilled. Sole is very versatile, a great value option, local, and pairs well with rubs, marinades and sauces. |
| Swordfish | Swordfish supply is steady but prices have been fluctuating. We are seeing a good number coming in from Hawaii. We’re also sourcing from Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Australia, Mozambique, South Korea, New Zealand, and Indonesia. It’s an international fish! With its mild flavor and firm texture, swordfish is perfect for grilling, and eats like a meat lover’s dream! |
| Tuna, Ahi | We are seeing more tuna coming in from Hawaii. #1 ahi longline-caught tuna is being sourced from Australia and the Philippines. Our saku blocks, poke, loins, ground tuna, and tuna steaks are from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, and Vietnam. We are excited our frozen tuna loins are now being soured from fisheries using handlines (green-rated for sustainability!). #2+ tuna will be in steady supply from Costa Rica. Our #2+ quality is excellent, so give it a sear at your next cookout or prepare a poke’ bowl with your favorite ingredients! We also have Pescavore tuna jerky sustainably caught off the USA West Coast. |
| Tuna, Albacore | Albacore is being sourced from USA, Fiji, and French Polynesia. Also known as white tuna, it is more delicate than ahi. |
| Farmed Fish | Season Information |
|---|---|
| Branzino | This fish is farm-raised in the Mediterranean (usually Turkey), and we are stocking it head-on and guts-in. This is the most popular way to prepare it. Dorade is another similar fish that’s available from the same region. Grill it whole for a unique seafood experience. Its sweet flaky meat is popular in Italian cuisine and the quality has been great. |
| Catfish | The USA (Mississippi and Alabama) supply has been steady. Catfish can be baked, grilled or even fried with many seasoning combinations. Try our catfish nuggets! Our USA catfish is rated as a green Best Choice for sustainability by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program. |
| Salmon | Norwegian salmon prices are looking great and are currently more affordable than Canadian as the Canadian supply is tightening. Chilean supply is steady. Another eco-friendly option is our Bluehouse Salmon by Atlantic Sapphire, which is farmed in indoor, land-based tanks in Florida (green-rated for sustainability by Seafood Watch and a reduced carbon footprint as a domestic product!). |
| Striped Bass | Land-based and farm-raised, this sustainable fish from Texas is a great, clean tasting alternative to many other white fish species. Give it a try and you will love it! The fish is delicious, healthy and extremely versatile. It’s also rated as a green Best Choice by Seafood Watch. |
| Swai | Pricing on swai is steady. This fish is a type of white fish with a mild flavor and flaky texture. It’s a freshwater fish that’s native to the Vietnamese rivers and a type of catfish. |
| Tilapia | Prices are steady, and the majority is coming from Honduras with some additional supply coming from Mexico and Costa Rica. We were previously sourcing whole frozen tilapia from Mexico but are excited to now be sourcing from Mexico which has a better sustainability rating than China. Our fresh tilapia is certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and great quality with nice fillet sizes of 5-7 ounces. Tilapia is typically a great value with a mild flavor. |
| Trout | We are receiving ASC-certified steelhead from Peru. We’re also getting some steelhead from Canada and Norway. Domestic rainbow trout remains steady, too, from Idaho. |
| Shellfish | Season Information |
|---|---|
| Clams and Mussels | Littleneck clams come in 8 count and 13 count per pound sizes. Manila clams are stocked in our Fife, Washington location. Cherrystone clams are also available. We are stocking Mediterranean mussels in Fife, Washington and Prince Edward Island mussels in Morgan Hill, California. Frozen green lipped mussels from New Zealand are limited. |
| Crab, Dungeness | The fresh Canadian season is winding down. We’ll get some more fresh supply again in October or November from Native Fisheries in Washington. We also have frozen crab sections and tubs of crab meat available. |
| Crab, King | The market has softened quite a bit since the holidays are over. We are stocking red king crab legs & claws from Russia in the 6-9, 9-12 12-14, and 16-20 sizes when available. The unit of measure is based on legs per 10 pounds. |
| Crab, Blue Pasteurized | Prices are high. Fully cooked and ready to eat, many people choose to feature the meat as part of a prepared dish or ingredient. |
| Crawfish | Supply is in good shape. Also known as crayfish, craydads and crawdaddies, they are a freshwater crustacean resembling mini lobster. |
| Lobsters | We are stocking both cold and warm water lobsters, but cold-water tails from the Northeast have been limited. We’ll have more inventory towards the end of May. |
| Oysters | We carry an array of oysters including Black Point, Cupid’s Choice, Sweet Petites, Royal Miyagis, Carbajals, Kumamotos, Kusshis, Little Skookums, Pacific BBQs, and Blue Points. Our jarred oysters are also very popular and can be limited in supply at times so be sure to order early. Farmed oysters are sustainable seafood superstars and always rated as a green Best Choice by Seafood Watch. |
| Scallops | Overall, the scallop market remains high and we are seeing prices increase. Fresh scallops are prized by restaurants and seafood markets. A possible option might be to look at our 10/20 scallops, as they are not seeing such drastic increases. Another option that we have added to our portfolio is Mexican scallops and bacon-wrapped scallops. |
| Shrimp | Oregon Bay shrimp season started last month. Mexican shrimp season is ongoing and domestic Gulf shrimp continue to be available year-round. A lot of farmed shrimp also comes from Southeast Asia. |
Seasonal Chart
(Click image to enlarge)
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About Lusamerica
Family, woman and minority owned since 1975 distributing seafood to the Western United States and beyond.
Tel: (408) 778-7200 | toll free: (800) 974-6622 | email: info@lusamerica.com
