Courtesy of NOAA:
The Administration is seeking public input through July 31, 2015, on the minimum types of information that should be collected and the operational standards to be applied for establishing a risk-based seafood traceability program to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activity and seafood fraud. Examples of the types of information that may be collected include who harvested the fish, type of species, and location of harvesting. Examples of the operational standards include how data is collected, formatted, and verified.
Because of the complex trading system involved with global seafood commodities, fraud can occur at any point along the seafood supply chain. Being able to follow seafood along the supply chain from harvest or farm to entry into the U.S. market is important to minimize fraud, enhance food safety, and build consumer confidence.
Today’s action marks the next step in implementing Recommendations 14 and 15 of the Action Plan on Combating IUU Fishing and Seafood Fraud , which deal with traceability.
In April 2015, the National Ocean Council established a new Committee on IUU Fishing and Seafood Fraud (NOC Committee) to implement the Presidential Task Force’s Action Plan.
In addition to providing public comment through the Federal Register process, NOAA will host a series of webinars offering the public and stakeholders an additional opportunity to provide input on this Notice. Details will be posted online.
The NOC Committee will take the input received into consideration while finalizing recommendations that will be sent forward for appropriate agency action by September 2015.