Foreign commercial fishing vessels accused of illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing by the U.S. government will be denied access to American ports beginning 10 October.
NOAA Fisheries has revoked port privileges to vessels from 17 nations under the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act, a law that requires NOAA to identify nations whose fishing vessels are engaged in IUU operations or activities that result in bycatch of protected living marine resources or sharks. Once NOAA Fisheries identifies a nation as engaging in IUU fishing, it enters a two-year consultation to fix the problem. If the issue is not resolved in that period, NOAA Fisheries can issue a negative certification and a denial of port access.
In its 2023 report, NOAA Fisheries issued negative certifications to 17 nations, including Mexico, China, and Russia, for failing to remedy their respective IUU fishing activities.
“IUU fishing and other unsustainable fishing practices undermine U.S. and global efforts to sustainably manage fisheries and conserve marine resources,” NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Janet Coit said at the time. “Combating these practices is a top priority of the United States, and we’ll work with each identified nation and entity to remedy these activities and strengthen their fisheries management and enforcement practices.”
Now, a year later, NOAA Fisheries has revoked port privileges to longline fishing vessels from China, fishing vessels from Russia that target toothfish under the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, and fishing vessels from Mexico that use gillnets in the Gulf of Ulloa.
NOAA Fisheries also punished 14 nations – Algeria, Barbados, Côte d’Ivoire, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Namibia, Senegal, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, and Türkiye – in 2023 for not implementing regulatory programs to reduce sea turtle bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries under the regulatory supervisions of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. Vessels engaged in those fisheries from the 14 nations will no longer have access to U.S. ports.
“The United States has the ability, and more importantly, the responsibility to promote responsible fishing and fight illegal fishing around the world. NOAA’s recently announced actions fall short in holding those nations responsible for the behavior of their flagged fishing vessels,” Oceana Illegal Fishing and Transparency Campaign Director for the United States Max Valentine said. “NOAA needs to use its full authority under law to implement stronger sanctions, like blocking seafood imports from countries that are negatively certified. Seafood import restrictions send a powerful signal to other nations that the United States is serious about ending IUU fishing, protecting vulnerable ocean wildlife, and ensuring that shark fisheries are managed responsibly. NOAA must use all of the tools in its toolbox — including import restrictions — to hold flag states accountable.”
In its announcement, NOAA Fisheries said the governments listed can work with the U.S. government to address the issues it identified to achieve a positive certification and regain port privileges.
“We are committed to collaborating with the governments of these nations as they take action to address the issues for which they were identified,” NOAA Fisheries said. “Positive certification and the lifting of port denials are possible once the nations adequately address their respective issues, without waiting for the next congressional report. This proactive approach underscores our dedication to promoting responsible fishing practices and safeguarding marine ecosystems for future generations.”
