| Abstract: |
EXPORTERS of seafood to the US were urged to comply with the new requirements of the United States under its Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) beginning this year. The SIMP establishes for imports of certain seafood products, the reporting and recordkeeping requirements needed to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU)-caught and/or misrepresented seafood from entering US commerce, providing additional protections for their national economy, global food security and the sustainability of their share-ocean resources. The new rule is part of a broader seafood traceability program that covers both imports and US domestic production. Equivalent information regarding harvest, landing and chain of custody of US-produced seafood is being collected pursuant to various other federal and state requirements. Aside from abalone and shrimp, the other seafood species covered by the new rule effective on January 1 this year include Atlantic cod, Atlantic blue crab, dolphinfish (mahi-mahi), grouper, King crab (red), Pacufc cod, red snaoper, sea cucumber, sharks, swordfish and tuna (albacore, bigeye, skipjack, yellowfin and bluefin). |
