The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has proposed a regulatory change to reclassify squids and other cephalopods as “shellfish.” This move aims to streamline oversight and reduce the financial and administrative burdens on the seafood industry.
Here is a summary of the key points from the report:
The Core Change
Currently, U.S. law defines shellfish strictly as aquatic invertebrates “having a shell.” Because squids, octopuses, and cuttlefish have internal or reduced shells (or none at all), they technically fall outside this legal definition. The USFWS proposal would amend the definition to include these cephalopods, aligning the agency’s regulations with modern biological understanding and commercial standards.
Reducing “Redundant” Regulation
The primary goal of this reclassification is to eliminate “duplicative” oversight.
- Current Conflict: While NOAA Fisheries already treats cephalopods as shellfish, the USFWS does not. This forces squid harvesters and traders to navigate two different sets of rules.
- The Burden: Under current USFWS rules, companies face significant costs, including license fees, inspection rates (approx. $93 per shipment), and “non-designated port” fees ($146 per shipment). Small businesses, in particular, have struggled to absorb these “unnecessary” expenses.
The Drivers of the Change
- Executive Order: The move follows a 2025 executive order titled “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness,” which directed agencies to reduce regulatory red tape.
- Industry Pressure: Groups like the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) have advocated for this change for years, arguing that USFWS oversight – originally intended to prevent the illegal trade of endangered wildlife – is unnecessary for commercial fishery products like squid.
What’s Next?
By reclassifying these species, the USFWS would effectively hand over primary regulatory responsibility to NOAA Fisheries, which manages most other commercial seafood.
The USFWS is currently accepting public comments on the proposed rule through April 6, 2026.