NOAA Fisheries is proposing to expand the seafood import monitoring programme by 50% to 1,670 species.
The SIMP currently covers nearly half of all seafood imports ensuring that species caught through illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing do not enter the US market.
“By proposing to expand the seafood import monitoring program to additional at-risk species, we aim to increase our ability to identify IUU fish and fish products and deter them from entering the US market,” said Janet Coit, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries, acting assistant secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere, and deputy NOAA administrator.
New species brought under control will be all species in the snapper family, additional tuna species, cuttlefish, squid, eel, octopus, queen conch and Caribbean spiny lobster.
NOAA says it welcomes feedback on the potential addition of these species and other changes such as clarifying the responsibilities of International Fisheries Trade Permit holders and electronic recordkeeping requirements and whether there is interest in a standardised compliance form.
The consultation period will close on 28 March 2023.
