10 Seafood Trends Every Supplier and Retailer Should Be Watching in 2025

The seafood industry is entering 2025 with major momentum and even bigger expectations. According to Precedence research, the global seafood market is projected to reach $270.43 billion this year, up from $252.67 billion in 2024, marking a strong 7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). This surge is powered by shifting consumer preferences, new dietary patterns, and digital technologies transforming how seafood is harvested, processed, and sold.

But with growth comes complexity. For seafood suppliers and retailers, staying competitive means staying informed. From sustainability and traceability to plant-based innovations and ready-to-eat convenience, these trends are reshaping the business landscape. Below are the 10 seafood trends every supplier and retailer should anticipate and act on in 2025.

Top 10 Seafood Trends to Look Out For in 2025

1. Sustainability Drives Procurement and Brand Trust

Sustainability remains one of the most critical seafood trends shaping 2025. With overfishing and climate change impacting supply chain, businesses must align with eco-conscious sourcing standards. Certifications like MSC and ASC are increasingly essential in both wholesale partnerships and consumer-facing shelves. Retailers and suppliers alike are expected to prove environmental responsibility not just claim it. As sustainability becomes central to consumer trust, it’s also becoming a core business differentiator.

2. Alternative and Plant-Based Seafood Gains Market Share

One of the standout seafood trends in 2025 is the rise of plant-based and lab-cultivated seafood. These alternatives are designed to meet sustainability goals while catering to vegan, allergy-sensitive, and flexitarian markets. Suppliers are investing in innovation, while retailers are expanding shelf space for these emerging products. This growing segment offers new revenue streams without the volatility of wild catch or farmed seafood.

Leading brands are driving this shift. According to Sprouts, Good Catch offers a range of plant-based seafood products, including fish sticks, fillets, burgers, and crab cakes, crafted from a blend of legumes to replicate the taste and texture of seafood. Finless Foods is preparing to launch lab-grown tuna and mahi-mahi in the U.S. by 2025, signaling a pivotal shift in sustainable seafood and automation-driven food production.

3. Premiumization Elevates Value Across the Chain

The premium segment of the global seafood market is experiencing steady growth. Consumers are seeking higher-quality seafood with clear provenance, artisanal preparation, and nutritional assurance. Think dry-aged fish, sashimi-grade cuts, and organic wild-caught selections. Private-label seafood is also seeing a rise, as retailers look to boost margins and build brand loyalty with premium, exclusive offerings. For suppliers, this trend justifies higher margins; for retailers, it enables product tiering and differentiation.

4. End-to-End Traceability Becomes Standard

Full transparency in the supply chain is no longer optional. Whether for regulatory compliance, recall readiness, or consumer confidence, digital traceability tools are critical. Compliance updates like FSMA 204 compliance and evolving Seafood HACCP standards are pushing suppliers to adopt digital systems that ensure both traceability and food safety readiness. Suppliers are deploying blockchain, QR codes, and integrated ERP systems, while retailers benefit from clean labeling and trustworthy sourcing stories. As one of the leading seafood trends 2025 is accelerating, traceability is key to long-term competitiveness.

5. Frozen Seafood Strengthens Its Position

Once seen as a compromise, frozen seafood is now a stronghold of the global seafood market. Flash-freezing and vacuum-sealing technologies preserve texture and taste, making it easier for suppliers to manage seasonal catch and reduce waste. Retailers, meanwhile, benefit from consistent supply and longer shelf life. As demand for convenience and reliability grows, frozen seafood continues to outperform. According to GlobeNewswire, the global frozen seafood market was valued at USD 28 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 48 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 5.5%. In North America, the market size reached USD 15.6 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.23% from 2025 to 2033. In the United States, the frozen and canned seafood market is projected to reach USD 18.6 billion by 2025, with a CAGR of 1.33% through 2030.

6. Convenience-Ready Formats See Continued Growth

Ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat seafood products are reshaping how people consume fish and shellfish. Marinated fillets, poke kits, and sushi trays are increasingly popular with urban consumers and time-strapped families. This trend gives suppliers the opportunity to add value during seafood processing, while retailers can improve basket size through meal solutions. Among emerging seafood trends, this one directly responds to lifestyle changes. With growing pressure on shelf velocity and merchandising performance, these convenient formats help retailers turn inventory faster and meet changing consumer expectations.

7. Health-Focused Products Dominate Consumer Interest

Seafood remains a staple in health-centric diets, especially those focused on high protein and heart health. Products rich in omega-3s, low in mercury, and responsibly sourced are in high demand. Both suppliers and retailers are optimizing product lines to meet these preferences. Clear nutritional labeling and health-based marketing are essential to stand out in a crowded market shaped by wellness-driven seafood trends.

8. Regional and Global Flavor Fusion Expands Appeal

Global culinary influences are reshaping product development and in-store merchandising. From Korean-style seafood stews to Peruvian ceviche kits, consumers are craving authentic experiences. Suppliers are experimenting with regional spice blends and preparation styles, while retailers are curating multicultural assortments. This trend reflects a broader shift in seafood trends 2025 is ushering in one that’s bold, flavorful, and globally inspired.

9. Local and Seasonal Seafood Gains Momentum

The shift toward local sourcing is another trend redefining the seafood value chain. Whether it’s Dungeness crab from the Pacific Northwest or Gulf Coast shrimp, regional specialties are building loyalty. Seasonal sourcing supports freshness and sustainability while reducing transport emissions that impact the environment. Suppliers focusing on local catch gain credibility, and retailers benefit from promoting freshness and provenance.

10. Technology Enhances Planning and Profitability

Advanced seafood ERP systems, AI-driven demand forecasting, and cold chain IoT sensors are transforming operations. For suppliers, it means better harvest planning and yield optimization. For retailers, it improves inventory accuracy and minimizes waste. As seafood trends evolve, the role of smart tech becomes critical in managing complexity, cost, and compliance across the global seafood market. These tools also help avoid costly compliance penalties, reduce manual workload, and deliver measurable ROI by improving forecasting, resource planning, and real-time decision-making.

Strategic Takeaways for Suppliers and Retailers

Here’s a quick breakdown of how the 2025 seafood trend impacts, and what actions you can take:

These takeaways highlight how the evolving seafood trends are reshaping operations across the board. For suppliers, adapting to sustainability expectations, emerging product categories, and tech-driven traceability is essential for long-term relevance. Retailers, on the other hand, must stay agile with inventory choices, branding, and consumer-facing transparency as demand shifts toward premium, health-conscious, and globally inspired seafood offerings.

What connects both sides of the supply chain is the urgent need for better visibility, streamlined operations, and data-backed decisions. 

Preparing Your Business for the Next Wave of Seafood Trends

As the seafood trends of 2025 continue to shape the way the industry operates, businesses can no longer afford to take a reactive approach. Whether it’s meeting sustainability goals, managing demand for alternative seafood, or keeping pace with rising consumer expectations, suppliers and retailers must align operations with these market shifts before they become roadblocks.

To stay competitive, companies need to build agility into their infrastructure. This means adopting tools that offer greater visibility, smarter forecasting, and tighter control over quality and traceability. Manual systems and disconnected platforms won’t cut it when consumer trends evolve faster than your supply chain can respond. Investing in digital transformation isn’t just about tech, it’s about staying relevant. A future-ready seafood business needs integrated systems that reduce waste, accelerate time-to-market, and simplify food regulatory compliance. In this environment, operational intelligence becomes a strategic advantage.

And that’s exactly where the right technology partner makes a difference. Let’s explore how an ERP can help your business stay ahead of these trends by turning operational complexity into competitive strength.

How Folio3 FoodTech’s Seafood ERP Supports Smarter Seafood Operations

Seafood businesses operate in one of the most dynamic and sensitive supply chains in the food industry. From managing volatile catch volumes to maintaining strict cold chain compliance, both suppliers and retailers face constant operational pressure. Folio3 FoodTech Seafood ERP was built specifically to address these challenges offering a tailored solution that connects every link of the seafood supply chain, from vessel to retail shelf.

It brings end-to-end visibility to your operation. For suppliers, Seafood ERP streamlines procurement, production, and inventory with real-time data that’s easy to act on. Whether you’re managing fresh catch, farm-raised seafood, or frozen product, the system helps you maintain consistency and traceability at scale. With lot traceability, quality checks, HACCP protocols, and regulatory compliance built directly into your workflows, this ERP scales your operations effortlessly.

For retailers, Folio3 FoodTech Seafood ERP ensures more accurate inventory planning and fulfillment. It integrates with existing sales channels, allowing you to monitor stock levels, reduce spoilage, and respond quickly to changing demand. The platform also provides traceability dashboards that allow you to track products by origin, harvest date, or sustainability certification building consumer trust and supporting labeling requirements.

The Seafood ERP also supports cold chain management, helping you maintain proper cold holding temperature conditions throughout transport and storage. You can set up alerts, run automated checks, and avoid costly losses due to breaches or delays.

It isn’t a one-size-fits-all platform. It’s a purpose-built seafood ERP designed for the real-world complexity of seafood logistics, processing, and sales. Whether you manage five products or five thousand SKUs, it scales with you delivering insights, control, and resilience across your business.

Conclusion

The tide is changing fast. For seafood suppliers and retailers, 2025 isn’t just about keeping up, it’s about staying ahead. These seafood trends represent more than passing fads. They’re the building blocks of a smarter, more resilient, and more sustainable seafood supply chain. Whether you’re sourcing directly from the dock or stocking shelves for health-conscious millennials, aligning with these trends will help you win.

Those who adapt quickly, invest in technology, and stay close to consumer behavior will lead the next wave of seafood success.

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