U.S. Seafood Import Monitoring Program

The Seafood Import Monitoring Program - or SIMP- establishes reporting and recordkeeping requirements for imports of certain seafood products, to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU)-caught and/or misrepresented seafood from entering U.S. commerce. SIMP provides additional protections for our national economy, global food security and the sustainability of our shared ocean resources. This is a risk-based traceability program—requiring the importer of record to provide and report key data—from the point of harvest to the point of entry into U.S. commerce—on thirteen imported fish and fish products identified as vulnerable to IUU fishing and/or seafood fraud. Mandatory compliance for eleven of the species covered under SIMP began on January 1, 2018. Shrimp and abalone compliance became effective on December 31, 2018. 

Included Species: 

Abalone, Atlantic Cod, Blue Crab (Atlantic), Dolphinfish (Mahi Mahi), Grouper, King Crab (red), Pacific Cod, Red Snapper, Sea Cucumber, Sharks, Shrimp, Swordfish, Tunas (Albacore, Bigeye, Skipjack, Yellowfin, and Bluefin)

Overview 

The Seafood Import Monitoring Program establishes permitting, data reporting and recordkeeping requirements for thirteen imported fish and fish products identified as vulnerable to IUU fishing and/or seafood fraud.

The data collected, through the International Trade Data System (ITDS), allows these species to be traced from the point of entry into U.S. commerce back to the point of harvest or production to verify whether it was lawfully harvested or produced.

The Seafood Import Monitoring Program is not a labeling program, nor is it consumer facing. Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act authority (under which the regulatory program has been promulgated) and the strict information security of the ITDS--the information collected under this program is confidential.

The importer of record is required to keep records regarding the chain of custody of the fish or fish product from harvest to point of entry into U.S. 

On April 23, 2018, NOAA lifted its stay on shrimp and abalone in SIMP. On December 31, 2018, it became mandatory for foreign shrimp products to be accompanied by harvest and landing data and for importers to maintain chain of custody records for shrimp and abalone imports entering the U.S. Learn more.

Additional Information

NOAA Fisheries has announced a proposed rule to establish a voluntary Commerce Trusted Trader Program for U.S. importers –a valuable complement to the  Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP). 


To receive updates about the Seafood Import Monitoring Program, please send a request to: IUU.FISHING@NOAA.GOV


 


Resource Materials

NOTE: Translations of any materials into languages other than English are intended solely as a convenience to the non-English-reading public. We have attempted to provide an accurate translation of the original material in English, but due to the nuances in translating to a foreign language, slight differences may exist. Any discrepancies or differences created in the translation are not binding and have no legal effect. If any questions arise related to the accuracy of the information contain in these materials, please refer to the English version of the website.