May 26, 2026 — Three U.S. conservation groups have challenged NOAA Fisheries’ approval of seafood imports from eight nations, arguing that they have not implemented protections for marine mammals that are comparable to those in force in the U.S.
“The United States can save the lives of countless whales and dolphins getting caught in fishing gear around the world, but only if it enforces the law,” Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) International Program Director Sarah Uhlemann said in a release. “This litigation should result in a seafood import ban for the eight nations, and the governments will have to crack down on deadly bycatch to get back into the lucrative U.S. seafood market.”