Saving Seafood

US Congress establishes USDA seafood liaison, bans Chinese seafood from school lunches

November 13, 2025 — The longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history has ended, with Republicans garnering enough support in the Senate to pass a continuing resolution that will keep the government funded into January.

The legislation largely continues funding at fiscal year 2025 levels, but lawmakers were able to add a few provisions into the appropriations bill through a last minute amendment in the Senate, including passing a major priority for the U.S. seafood industry: the establishment of a new seafood liaison position within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Foreign food inspections plummet following Trump administration layoffs

November 10, 2025 — Foreign food inspections conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have plummeted under U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term, according to an investigation by news outlet ProPublica.

“Basic regulatory oversight functions have been decimated,” Consumer Reports Food Policy Director Brian Ronholm told ProPublica. “There’s an enhanced risk of more outbreaks.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Trump’s latest tariff proposal threatens year-end deals for Chinese exporters

October 21, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threat of instituting a 100 percent tariff on all Chinese goods from 1 November onward has generated yet more uncertainty for Chinese seafood exporters.

“Although we don’t know whether this will be implemented in the end, this has definitely disturbed all of our shipment plans,” said Josephine Wang, the head of export sales at Hainan, China-based tilapia producer Hainan Golden Spring Foods. “We do have some U.S. orders in hand right now, but nobody knows how to deal with it.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

US ports are preparing for shutdown-related delays as China’s Golden Week disrupts supply chains worldwide

October 1, 2025 — Shipping and logistics industry stakeholders in the U.S. are preparing for shutdown-related delays after congressional deadlock left the federal government without a funding package as of 1 October.

The shutdown comes amid an already chaotic week in global shipping as Golden Week in China, which runs from 1 – 8 October and closes Chinese factories and ports, slows down supply chains worldwide.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

US military audit finds Navy, Marines not properly implementing domestic seafood purchasing requirements

September 29, 2025 — An audit of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has revealed that the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps are not including language requiring the purchase of domestic seafood nor blocking the purchase of any food that involves forced or child labor in their procurement contracts.

“The DoD Office of the Inspector General [OIG] found that contracting personnel for the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy Force failed to include the required clauses in three of eight contracts to restrict purchases from foreign sources and those involving forced or child labor. This lack of oversight means the Marine Corps and Navy cannot ensure full compliance with federal guidelines in seafood procurements,” the OIG said in its announcement.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

FDA investigation finds over 30 percent of frozen seafood import samples short-weighted

September 5, 2025 — A recently released report by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found 36 percent of frozen seafood products it tested were short-weighted.

The FDA said it conducted an assessment from 2022 to 2024 to collect and test a range of frozen raw and seafood products for the practice of short-weighting – or indicating a higher net weight of seafood on the package than is actually contained. Short-weighting typically involves seafood companies adding a thicker water glaze to products that results in a higher water weight than legally allowed.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

NOAA Fisheries Bolsters American Seafood Industry with New Import Provisions

August 29, 2025 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

On August 28, 2025, NOAA Fisheries announced robust comparability findings under Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) import provisions, reinforcing America’s leadership in sustainable seafood production. The agency issued full comparability findings for 89 nations and partial comparability findings for 34 nations’ fisheries, and denied comparability for 12 nations’ fisheries. In total, fisheries from 46 nations now face stringent import restrictions, ensuring that seafood entering U.S. markets adhere to the same high standards as American-caught seafood.

The United States is a global leader in marine mammal conservation and sustainable fisheries, with American fishermen adhering to world-class conservation practices that minimize marine mammal bycatch. These import provisions align with President Trump’s executive order to restore American seafood competitiveness, protect American jobs, and ensure fair trade practices that prioritize the domestic market. By holding foreign fisheries to the same rigorous standards, NOAA Fisheries is safeguarding the integrity of American seafood while creating a level playing field for U.S. fishermen.

Importing Foreign Seafood

Starting January 1, 2026, fish and fish products from foreign fisheries on NOAA’s List of Foreign Fisheries without a comparability finding will be barred from U.S. markets. The list categorizes all foreign commercial fisheries that export to the United States as either:

  • Exempt: Minimal or no marine mammal bycatch
  • Export: Higher risk of marine mammal bycatch or insufficient data

“The import provisions guarantee that foreign fisheries meet the gold standard that is set by American fishermen,” said Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, acting assistant secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA Fisheries assistant administrator. “This is a major win for American workers, consumers, and our marine ecosystems. By enforcing these standards, we’re protecting our domestic seafood industry and ensuring only safe, sustainable seafood reaches American tables.”

Prioritizing American Standards

Bycatch, the incidental capture of non-target species like marine mammals, remains a global challenge. American fishermen lead the world in bycatch mitigation, employing advanced technologies and practices. The MMPA import provisions extend these high standards to foreign fisheries, requiring them to demonstrate effective bycatch management in line with U.S. standards to access American markets. This ensures that American consumers enjoy seafood that is sustainably sourced, while supporting the livelihoods of U.S. fishermen.

What is a comparability finding?

A comparability finding is a determination by NOAA Fisheries that a foreign export or exempt fishery has met applicable conditions to ensure the safety of marine mammals during commercial fishing. To receive a comparability finding, a harvesting nation must demonstrate that it:

  1. Prohibits the intentional mortality or serious injury of marine mammals in the course of commercial fishing operations in the fishery; or
  2. Demonstrates that it has procedures to reliably certify that exports of fish and fish products to the United States are not the product of an intentional killing or serious injury of a marine mammal.

For export fisheries, foreign nations must also maintain a regulatory program for incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals that matches the effectiveness of U.S. regulations. Countries must reapply for a comparability finding every four years to maintain their eligibility to export to the United States. Fisheries that were initially denied a comparability finding may bring new or updated information and reapply for a comparability finding after January 1, 2026.

Boosting American Fisheries and Global Standards

NOAA Fisheries is committed to advancing global sustainability by collaborating with regional fishery management organizations and promoting safe fishing technologies worldwide. These actions promote the excellence of American commercial fisheries and standards across the globe. By enforcing these import restrictions, NOAA Fisheries is championing U.S. fishermen, ensuring fair competition, and delivering safe, high-quality seafood to American consumers.

Learn more about marine mammal bycatch criteria for U.S. imports.