On March 22, 2016, NOAA Fisheries filed an interim final rule to implement regulations under the Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act to enhance the requirements for documentation and captain training to support labels on tuna products that represent the product as “dolphin safe.”
NOAA Fisheries considers the Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act (DPCIA) and the dolphin-safe labeling effort to be a valuable management and conservation tool in reducing tuna fishing-related death and serious injury to dolphins.
The interim final rule is intended to strengthen the regulatory framework by which the DPCIA is implemented and to ensure that the United States satisfies its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization.
Elements in this rule include:
- Establishing equal treatment of tuna fisheries of all gear types with respect to provisions which may require an observer certification.
- Government certification of catch documentation, segregation and chain of custody for a tuna fishery determined to have regular and significant association with, or regular and significant mortality or serious injury of dolphins.
- Certified U.S. government training of tuna boat captains on implementing dolphin-safe requirements.
This interim final rule is effective immediately today, March 22, prior to receipt and consideration of public comment. The publication includes announcement of a thirty-day public comment period. NOAA will consider all comments received in the drafting of a final rule and encourages detailed comments from all interested stakeholders.
All details have been posted online.