Japanese authorities notified the Office of International Affairs, Trade, and Commerce of new regulations regarding the control of Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported Fishing (IUU Fishing) activities for specified species entering their country. In order to address the issue of IUU Fishing, in part, Japan will require Class II Aquatic Animals and Plants to be subject to a Catch Documentation Scheme by the exporting nation.
As a result, effective December 1, 2022, the following species being exported from the United States to Japan will require our Certificate of Legal Harvest. These species are recognized by Japan to be particularly vulnerable to IUU Fishing by foreign-flagged vessels under foreign laws or international conservation and management measures and will be managed by their import regulation.
- Squid and cuttlefish
- Pacific saury (Cololabis spp/)
- Mackeral (Scomber spp.)
- Sardine (Sardinops spp.)
Of those derived from the fish species listed above, organs, roes, flours, fishery products not fit for human consumption, oils, extracts, etc., are excluded from the scope of the catch documentation scheme. Tuna and other fish species for which import regulation with a view to prevent IUU fishing is already in place under other programs are excluded from Japan’s catch documentation scheme. These designated fish species are scheduled to be reviewed every two years or so.
Please contact your local SIP Regional Office for questions and updates