Effective January 2026: Seafood Import Prohibitions Announced by NOAA Fisheries

Note: If you are currently importing seafood and seafood products, please read this e-blast carefully and start talking to your suppliers.

On August 29, 2025, NOAA Fisheries published its 2025 comparability findings under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) Import Provisions. These findings determine whether foreign fisheries meet U.S. standards for marine mammal protection.

89 Countries Approved/Exempt for All Fisheries.

(These countries will not be subject to restrictions)

Includes Argentina, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Falk Isalands, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Thailand,UK, and others (full list available in the official notice)

12 Countries Denied for All Fisheries:

Benin, Grenada, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Namibia, New Caledonia, Russia, Saint Lucia, The Gambia, Togo, Venezuela
 

34 Countries  Denied for Some Fisheries:
Includes Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Mexico, South Korea, Vietnam, and others (full list available in the official notice).

Prohibited Seafood Imports:  Effective January 1, 2026:
Fish and fish products from denied fisheries will be banned from entering the U.S.

Compliance Measures:

NOAA and U.S. CBP provided lists of HTS codes to identify affected products.

These products require a Certificate of Admissibility to confirm they are not from denied fisheries.

Lists include specific codes, gear types, and species, and may be updated as trade data evolves.

Background:

The MMPA  import provisions require countries exporting seafood to the U.S. to meet the same marine mammal protection standards as U.S. fisheries, aiming to reduce marine mammal bycatch globally. 

NOAA Fisheries manages various trade programs to ensure seafood is legally sourced and imported. While the MMPA can impose import bans, it does not override other NOAA trade regulations. Exporters must comply with all relevant programs to continue trading with the U.S. NOAA Fisheries works with U.S. CBP to inform and support the seafood trade community regarding import restrictions. 

More details are available on NOAA’s International Trade website:

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/foreign/marine-mammal-protection/seafood-import-prohibitions-under-marine-mammal-protection-act

Flegenheimer International will continue to monitor and provide further updates.