NMFS Asks for Input on Illegal Fishing Practices; Info May Result in Import Bans
The National Marine Fisheries Service is requesting input by May 30 on illegal fishing practices for a report to Congress that could serve as the basis for import restrictions. The agency, a branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is asking for information on countries whose vessels are engaged in illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing, bycatch of protected living marine resources, or fishing activities in international waters that target or incidentally catch sharks. The information is compiled into a report to Congress required every two years under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006.
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Listing in Report May Lead to Import Bans
Under a final rule issued in 2011, the U.S. may ban imports of fishery products from a country if it finds that country’s vessels have engaged in illegal practices (see 11011214). If illegal practices are identified in the NMFS report, the relevant country will have two years to correct the violations. If the illegal practices aren’t corrected within that period of time, the country will get a “negative certification” from the U.S. government. Fishing vessels from countries with negative certifications may be denied entry into U.S. ports, and fish and fishery products from such countries may be subject to import prohibitions.
(Federal Register 03/05/14)