Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America has announced its 2026 conference program, featuring more than 40 sessions with more than 125 industry speakers. The three-day event runs March 15-17 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, with speakers from companies including Whole Foods Market, Ahold Delhaize USA, NOAA Fisheries and Circana.
The conference opens March 15 with a keynote address from Nomi Prins, Ph.D., macro-economist, geopolitical financial expert and best-selling author. Her address, titled “Fork in the Current: The Economic and Trade Realities Shaping Seafood in 2026,” will examine how macro forces – from U.S.-China trade tensions to EU regulatory shifts, energy price volatility, AI integration and consumer price sensitivity – are reshaping cost structures, sourcing strategies and regional demand.
“I want to unpack how a viral headline actually connects to so many different parts of the supply chain, whether it’s from frozen to fresh to marketing to repositioning seafood types of strategies to meet that demand and also be involved in growing that demand,” said Prins. “I think that this year, there are so many positives evolving on the bigger picture, and that’s what I want to bring to everyone that’s invested in the North American marketplace – this ability to see through the noise and continue on with the trends that are important to 2026 and to all the parts of the seafood supply chain.”
Understanding today’s seafood consumer
The FMI – The Food Industry Association (FMI) will share results from its annual consumer report on seafood shopping and eating habits, with perspectives from FMI leadership alongside representatives from Hy-Vee and H-E-B.
L.E.K. Consulting managing directors Anshul Gupta and Claire Morgan will explore winning product formats, cross-channel strategies and innovation trends in a session titled “Key Seafood Trends in Retail and Foodservice.”
Transforming traceability into competitive advantage
Executives from Trace Register, Raw Seafoods Inc., New York Customs Brokers and Ahold Delhaize USA will address how companies can turn regulatory requirements into strategic business assets, sharing strategies for data use, operational efficiency and technology readiness.
Business strategy and workforce development
Seafood People will present “A People-Centered Strategy: The Key to Future-Proofing Your Business and Ensuring a Successful Exit,” addressing succession planning and talent management as family-owned businesses prepare for transitions. Seafood marketing leaders from Alaska, Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island will share best practices in public-private partnerships in “An A la Carte Menu for Publicly Sponsored Seafood Marketing.”
Advancing sustainability across the supply chain
Multiple sessions address sustainability as both an environmental and business priority. Leaders from Acme Smoked Fish, Euclid Fish Company, Fulton Fish Market Cooperative, Blue Ribbon Fish Co. and Seafood Producers Cooperative will discuss climate resilience and supply chain adaptation. A separate panel – featuring Wesley Rose, SVP of merchandising for perishables at Whole Foods Market; Caitlin Leibert, global head of sustainability at Whole Foods/Amazon Grocery; Kvaroy Arctic CEO Alf-Gøran Knutsen; and Blake Stok, senior director of sustainability at Thai Union – will examine how certifications, aquaculture standards and traceability systems build consumer trust. According to the Marine Stewardship Council, 72 percent of consumers prefer sustainably sourced seafood.
Expanding aquaculture opportunities
Two sessions will explore aquaculture development. “Aquaculture in U.S. Federal Waters – Opportunities & Challenges” will feature Danielle Blacklock, director of NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Aquaculture, alongside operators from Newport Mussels, Manna Fish Farms and Environmental Defense Fund. The Aquaculture Stewardship Council, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership and Thai Union will present a roadmap for raising environmental and social standards across production areas.
The conference program runs alongside an exhibit hall where buyers connect with suppliers and discover new products. More information and registration are available here.
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