The NOAA Fisheries has announced that 240 foreign fisheries – from 46 nations – have failed to meet the standards required under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to sell seafood products to the U.S. market. (SeafoodSource)
Under U.S. law, foreign fisheries must implement bycatch‐prevention measures for marine mammals equivalent to those enforced in U.S. fisheries by January 2026. In this round of assessments, NOAA reviewed approximately 2,500 fisheries across 135 nations.
Action points for importers and supply chain stakeholders:
- Fisheries that do not receive a “comparability finding” will be prohibited from exporting fish and fish products to the U.S. beginning January 1, 2026.
- Importers sourcing from flagged fisheries should immediately evaluate alternative supply options or engage with those fisheries to ensure compliance.
- For foreign fisheries: re‐application for comparability findings is permitted after the January 1, 2026 cutoff.
According to NOAA’s acting assistant secretary for oceans and atmosphere, achieving this standard is “a major win for American workers, consumers, and our marine ecosystems.” Environmental groups welcomed the move as a meaningful step toward reducing marine mammal bycatch in global fisheries.
Why this matters for the commercial seafood sector:
- U.S. importers will face tighter scrutiny and reduced sourcing flexibility if non‐compliant fisheries lose access to the U.S. market.
- Ensuring full traceability and compliance around marine mammal protection will become a more significant competitive advantage in market access and sustainability positioning.
- Global supply chains may shift as exporters adapt to meet U.S. regulatory expectations – and that may influence availability, pricing and reputation for seafood brands operating internationally.
Bottom line:
If your business relies on imports from foreign fisheries, now is the time to verify whether those sources have received a comparability finding under the MMPA. Failure to do so could mean severed U.S. market access starting in 2026. Preemptive assessment and supply chain adjustments will be key to maintaining uninterrupted operations.