Seafood Market News
Get the inside scoop on the latest market trends and updates on the seafood industry. Our market news page is updated each month so you can stay on top of seasonal seafood changes and be aware of price fluctuations.
June 2023 Seasonal Highlights and Updates:
- Salmon
- Alaska’s Copper River season (kings and sockeye) kicked-off in mid-May and prices are starting to ease up this month. June is the month to enjoy this luxurious salmon as it’s a short season. They’re deemed the finest salmon in the world!
- Additional wild salmon runs in Alaska will open this month, just in time for grilling season!
- We are getting a limited supply of king salmon from the Colombia River in Oregon.
- Halibut
- Alaska and Canadian halibut supply has been tight which impacted prices but supply should pick up throughout the month.
- California halibut is hook and line caught and is increasing in availability.
- Oregon Bay Shrimp is fresh and in-season with very competitive pricing.
- White seabass has started coming in from Mexico and we’ll start getting some from Southern California later this month.
- Local highlights:
- Rex Sole — similar to sanddabs, rex sole is a small whitefish that’s tender and mild. It comes pan-ready meaning the head, tail, and fins removed. The backbone is still intact but easy to deal with as it’s all connected so there are no loose bones. Take advantage of this underutilized local fish that’s very affordable. It’s hand-filleted in-house and sold frozen in 5# bags.
- Grenadier – Wild-caught by small day boats out of Monterey Bay. They yield beautiful light pink fillets that are slightly sweet, and very versatile. Take advantage of this underutilized fish that is very affordable and comes as individually quick frozen fillets.
- New Product Highlight: Dorade – a Mediterranean fish with silver skin and white flesh. It’s also known as sea bream, gilthead, orata and dorada. It’s great for grilling, baking, and other skin-on methods.
Click one of the tabs in the box 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 | Consider highlighting black cod (aka sablefish). California fishermen that were going to fish for king salmon will likely shift to black cod now that there won’t be a king salmon season. Pacific cod, aka true cod, is available from Alaska. We’re also sourcing local rock cod (rockfish) and a limited supply of lingcod. When the weather is bad and our boats can’t get out, we can source from Oregon or Canada as a backup. Cod is sweet and mild with large firm flakes. Steamed, roasted, braised, sautéed or fried, it is always a customer favorite. |
| Halibut | Alaska and Canada halibut season is open. Supply has been tight but is expected to increase over the next month. California halibut is hook and line caught and is also increasing in availability. 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 | Alaska’s Copper River kings and sockeyes are deemed the finest salmon in the world! Take advantage of them while you can as it’s a limited season and prices have started to ease up. Other runs in Alaska will also open up this month bringing more wild product into the market. We are receiving a limited supply of king salmon from the Columbia River in Oregon. Troll-caught kings have started to trickle in from Alaska and British Colombia. There is no king salmon season this year for a majority of the California coast. |
| Sea bass | We started to get white seabass from Mexico and will start to get some from southern California later this 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 | Caught in California, Petrale sole volumes are declining, and Dover sole volumes are increasing. Rex and arrowtooth are also available. Sole are 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. We are seeing a good amount 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. 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 | Farmed salmon has been steady from Canada, Norway, and Chile. 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. We have larger cherry stone clams available. We are stocking Mediterranean mussels in Fife, Washington and Prince Edward Island mussels in Morgan Hill, California. Check out our new, New Zealand cockles AKA little neck clams. |
| Crab, Dungeness | Dungeness Crab season in California has ended but we are still getting some fresh whole crabs from Washington. We also have frozen crabs and tubs of crab meat. |
| 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
