However, ocean conditions are beginning to shift. The strong El Niño event of 2023 introduced warmer, less nutrient-rich waters across the Pacific — a development that could translate into meaningfully lower harvest volumes in the upcoming season compared to the record years we’ve just experienced.

2025 Season Recap: Historic Volumes
The 2025 West Coast pink shrimp season delivered another exceptional performance. Oregon set a new all-time record with 56.8 million pounds landed, while Washington recorded its fifth-largest harvest at 22.2 million pounds. Combined, the two states brought in nearly 79 million pounds — almost 10 million pounds more than 2024 and significantly above the 10-year average of 55.6 million pounds.



As expected, increased supply placed downward pressure on ex-vessel pricing throughout 2025. Larger harvests typically soften dockside prices in the short term. However, strong volume also supports higher overall fishery value and improves raw material availability for processors and buyers. The result has been a well-supplied market with competitive pricing across most of the year.

2026 Outlook: The ENSO Effect
Looking ahead, landings are expected to moderate as the biological lag from recent ocean cycles takes effect.

Pink shrimp recruitment is highly sensitive to ocean conditions during the larval stage. The record 2024–2025 harvests were fueled by the cold, nutrient-rich La Niña years of 2021–2022, which created favorable conditions for larval survival and strong year classes. In contrast, the strong El Niño in 2023 brought warmer, less productive waters that typically hinder recruitment.

Because shrimp harvests reflect ocean conditions from one to three years prior, the impact of the 2023 El Niño is likely to show up in the 2026 season. While this does not signal a collapse, it does suggest volumes could return closer to historical averages after two extraordinary years.

The West Coast pink shrimp season officially runs from April through October. Landings generally begin to build in May, remain steady through the summer months, and often see a seasonal uptick in August and September as effort increases and fishing conditions stabilize.

Inventory & Trade Considerations
Current inventory levels appear comfortable due to strong 2024 and 2025 production. However, if 2026 volumes decline as anticipated, that surplus could tighten more quickly than expected.

U.S. wild-caught pink shrimp remains a duty-free product into the U.S. market, maintaining its competitive position against imported alternatives. At the time of reporting, wild-caught U.S. pink shrimp also remains duty free into Canada. That said, the broader trade environment remains fluid, and policy volatility continues to be a variable worth monitoring.



Procurement Strategy: Don’t Wait for the Turn While the market is presently well supplied, any meaningful reduction in 2026 harvest volumes could shift the balance later in the year. Carryover inventory from the 2025 season is unlikely to remain indefinitely, and tighter supply could put upward pressure on pricing as the year progresses.

Our recommendation: secure West Coast pink shrimp sooner rather than later. Locking in volume during a period of comfortable inventory may provide protection against potential tightening and price firming in the months ahead.

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