Photo: NOAA/FIS

Making U.S. Seafood Imports Safer by Reducing Illegal Fishing

UNITED STATES
Friday, November 22, 2024, 03:00 (GMT + 9)

NOAA's new podcast shares updates to the Seafood Import Monitoring Program.

The global seafood trade is complex, far-reaching, and—in many cases—opaque. Unfortunately, these conditions can mask international cases of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. 

In the NOAA's new podcast episode, we'll hear from Alexa Cole, director of the Office of International Affairs, Trade, and Commerce, about updates to the Seafood Import Monitoring Program. It's a reporting and record-keeping program designed for us to gather information about certain seafood imports to be able to combat IUU fishing and seafood fraud. 

Alexa discusses new technology, including AI machine learning tools, used to increase data collection and expand the program. After soliciting feedback from more than 7,000 interested and relevant parties—including seafood industry professionals, foreign governments, researchers, and civil society groups—the updates will strengthen the program's impacts and increase its effectiveness in combatting IUU fishing.

The Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP), administered by NOAA Fisheries, is a critical tool for combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and seafood fraud. Alexa Cole, Director of NOAA Fisheries' Office of International Affairs, Trade, and Commerce, discusses the challenges and proposed updates to the program in a recent interview.

Background and Challenges

• Origins: SIMP was established during the Obama administration as part of a presidential task force to monitor seafood imports. It currently covers 13 species groups, including tuna, shrimp, and cod.
• Complexity: NOAA Fisheries collaborates with other agencies, such as Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to track seafood imports. However, the sheer volume—over 2.4 billion kilograms of seafood imported annually into the U.S.—presents significant challenges. The program only begins monitoring after imports enter the country, which has frustrated stakeholders who expected more proactive oversight.

Photo: NOAA Fisheries

Key Feedback from Stakeholders

• Expansion and Coordination: Many stakeholders support expanding SIMP to all seafood species, though this poses logistical challenges. Better inter-agency coordination and data sharing are also widely requested to reduce redundancies.
• Stronger Enforcement: There’s a desire for NOAA Fisheries to take preemptive action based on incoming data rather than reacting after imports arrive.

Proposed Updates

• Two-Tier System: NOAA plans to expand the program with a tiered approach.
  • Tier One: High-risk species will require detailed data elements similar to the current system.
  • Tier Two: All other seafood species will have reduced reporting requirements, focusing on key information such as country of harvest.
• Proactive Monitoring: Importers will need to provide data 72–96 hours before entry into the U.S., allowing for early risk assessment.
• Technological Advancements: The Global Seafood Data System (GSDS), incorporating AI and machine learning, will help identify high-risk shipments by analyzing factors like supply chain behavior and regulatory compliance.

Photo: NOAA Fisheries

Future Goals

• Stronger Infrastructure: Upgrading data systems, hiring more staff, and enhancing inter-agency collaboration are essential to handle the increased data flow.
• Timeline: Proposed rulemaking is expected by 2025, with implementation following thereafter.
• Global Impact: NOAA aims to use the program as a tool to influence global seafood standards, leveraging the U.S. market's size to promote sustainable and ethical fishing practices.

Labor and Broader Implications

Although NOAA’s mandate is not explicitly focused on labor abuses, some updates—like monitoring transshipment events and trip lengths—may indirectly help address these issues by flagging high-risk practices.

The updates aim to transform SIMP into a more robust, impactful program, better equipped to combat seafood fraud and protect marine resources.

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