International Affairs
International Affairs
U.S. fisheries are a global model of success. We are leading the way in science-based management and in the use of innovative strategies to achieve and maintain sustainable fisheries and to preserve and rebuild protected species, including marine mammals and sea turtles. We engage with other countries bilaterally and through various multilateral international fisheries organizations to promote sound management and conservation of global fisheries resources in a manner consistent with U.S. domestic fisheries policy.
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International Species Conservation and Management
Species are distributed throughout the world’s oceans, so their conservation and recovery requires collaborative action on a global scale. Learn more about ongoing measures taken toward the international conservation and management of sharks, marine mammals, tunas, sea turtles, nautilus, seabirds, and the issue of international bycatch.
Seafood Commerce and Certification
We work to ensure confidence in U.S. seafood by protecting and strengthening the seafood market through global trade, establishing partnerships with industry and consumer groups, and providing voluntary seafood inspection services.
Marine Mammal Import Provisions Rule
The Marine Mammal Protection Act Import Import Provisions rule implements aspects of the MMPA that aim to reduce marine mammal bycatch associated with international commercial fishing operations by requiring nations exporting fish and fish products to the United States be held to the same standards as U.S. commercial fishing operations.
Seafood Import Monitoring Program
For imports of certain seafood products, there are reporting and recordkeeping requirements needed to prevent illegally caught, unreported, unregulated, and/or misrepresented seafood from entering U.S. commerce. This provides additional protections for our national economy, global food security, and the sustainability of our shared ocean resources.
Permits
We administer various programs requiring federal permits to authorize commercial and recreational fishing within and beyond U.S. waters. We coordinate issuance of high seas fishing permits, foreign fishing permits, Antarctic marine living resource trade permits, and international permits. Additionally, we participate in the National Permit System, a government service portal for electronically available permits.”
International Cooperation
We build strategic partnerships with other nations, particularly with developing countries, to promote sustainable and responsible management of fisheries and other relevant marine resources at the national, regional, and global levels.
International Collaboration
Fish and other marine animals travel beyond national boundaries.
International Engagement
Because fish and other marine wildlife cross national boundaries, the United States shares living marine resources with other countries. The way other countries manage these shared marine resources can directly affect the status of fish stocks and protected or endangered species of importance to the United States. For this reason, we collaborate with other countries to ensure successful fisheries management and conservation practices.
Regional Agreements
We participate in various international fisheries organizations that promote international cooperation to achieve effective, responsible marine stewardship and ensure sustainable fisheries management. Learn more about the international fisheries organizations that NOAA Fisheries participates in for each region:
In the Spotlight: International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, also known as ICCAT, was created in 1969 and covers 50 member nations, including the EU. ICCAT covers the Atlantic Ocean and deals with tuna and tuna-like species.
The Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section of ICCAT is made up of people representing commercial industries, recreational fishing groups, and academia, who are nominated every two years and provide advice to the U.S. ICCAT Commissioners on international issues related to conservation and management.
Global Agreements
We have the authority to engage in international activities with other countries to implement the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Our international affairs work builds strategic partnerships with other nations, particularly with developing countries, to promote sustainable and responsible management of fisheries and other relevant marine resources at a global level.
Learn more about our current global and other multilateral living marine resource agreements
Bilateral Arrangements
We hold consultations with a number of countries and fishing entities on a regular basis to exchange views and enlist support for U.S. fisheries trade and conservation and management initiatives in international fora.
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- European Union
- Mexico
- Norway
- Russia
- Taiwan
- Vietnam
Seafood Trade Agreements and Organizations
As a large seafood-consuming and fishing nation, it is critical that we take an active role in shaping the conservation and management regimes of international fisheries. We work to meet the demand of U.S. consumers that imported seafood be safe, legal, and sustainable and ensure confidence in U.S. seafood by protecting and strengthening the seafood market through global trade.
Regulatory Programs
NOAA has regulatory and stewardship authority for fisheries, marine sanctuaries, marine mammals, threatened and endangered species, and habitat conservation. We are engaged in a range of regulatory activities to protect and restore these important resources on a global scale. We also aim to level the playing field for United States fishermen who operate in some of the most sustainably managed and heavily regulated fisheries in the world.
Trade Monitoring
As part of our mission to sustainably manage fishery resources, we implement international trade monitoring programs initiated by international fishery management organizations or required by domestic law. Effective September 20, 2016, we’ve established regulations to integrate the collection of trade documentation within the International Trade Data System, requiring electronic information through a single automated portal.
Learn more about our foreign fishery trade data
We work with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to provide support to seafood dealers to ensure imported seafood, such as Patagonian toothfish, bluefin tuna, swordfish, and bigeye tuna, is caught and imported legally. Our trade monitoring programs include the Seafood Import Monitoring Program, the Antarctic Marine Living Resources Program, the Tuna Tracking and Verification Program, and the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species International Trade Program.
Marine Mammal Import Act Import Provisions
The Marine Mammal Protection Act Import Provisions rule implements aspects of the MMPA that aim to reduce marine mammal bycatch associated with international commercial fishing operations, by requiring nations exporting fish and fish products to the United States to be held to the same standards as United States commercial fishing operations.
Learn about the MMPA Import Provisions Rule
Identification of IUU Fishing Activities
Under the Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act, the United States identifies countries whose fishing vessels were reported to be engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities and consults with those countries to improve their fisheries management and enforcement practices.
Learn more about the nations identified and any corrective actions taken
Seafood Import Monitoring Program
For imports of certain seafood products, we establish reporting and recordkeeping requirements needed to prevent illegally caught, unreported, unregulated, and/or misrepresented seafood from entering U.S. commerce, providing additional protections for our national economy, global food security and the sustainability of our shared ocean resources.
Learn more about the Seafood Import Monitoring Program and its requirements
Additionally, we work with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to provide support to seafood dealers to ensure imported seafood, such as Patagonian toothfish, bluefin tuna, swordfish, and bigeye tuna, is caught and imported legally.
Learn more about Dolphin Safe Tuna (Tuna Tracking and Verification Program)
International Cooperation
We build strategic partnerships with other nations, particularly with developing countries, to promote sustainable and responsible management of fisheries and other relevant marine resources at the national, regional, and global levels.
Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance
We assist in the compliance to fishery management measures, ensuring that appropriate controls are set, monitored, and complied with. We encourage various international efforts and programs to more effectively enforce conservation measures designed to protect world fisheries and ecosystems.
Learn more about international monitoring, control, and surveillance efforts
Protected Species and Bycatch Mitigation
Bycatch, a major threat to sustainable populations, poses a particular challenge in developing countries with fisheries that export to the United States. Data to document bycatch and the effects of bycatch are often lacking in these countries as the research needed takes time, money, and training that are often limited. We support various bilateral and multilateral cooperative efforts that work on the ground to reduce bycatch, including data collection efforts and projects to improve bycatch mitigation technologies.
Learn more about international protected species and bycatch mitigation efforts
Improving Fisheries Governance
The lack of information and oversight in fisheries management among some developing nations has resulted in declining marine stocks, many of which are vital to providing fish to the local markets. We encourage various fisheries governance projects and programs to achieve effective and responsible marine stewardship and ensure sustainable global fisheries management. These opportunities build international cooperation that supports science-based fisheries management and strengthens our international strategic partnerships.
Learn more about international fisheries governance efforts
International Species Conservation and Management
Species are distributed throughout the world’s oceans, so their conservation and recovery requires collaborative action on a global scale. Learn more about ongoing measures nations are taking toward the international conservation and management of sharks, marine mammals, tunas, sea turtles, nautilus, seabirds, and the issue of international bycatch.
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IUU Fishing
Illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing has global impacts, adversely impacting fisheries, marine ecosystems, food security, and coastal communities everywhere. It also undermines domestic and international conservation and management efforts.
Because the United States imports more than nearly 90 percent of its seafood, NOAA Fisheries works to ensure that high demand for imported seafood does not create incentives for illegal fishing activity. The United States has the responsibility to ensure that the fish we consume comes from sustainable, legal sources. Working in partnership with other U.S. government agencies, foreign governments and entities, international organizations, non-government organizations, and the private sector is crucial to effectively combating IUU fishing.
Biennial IUU Fishing Reports to Congress
The Moratorium Protection Act requires NOAA Fisheries to produce a report to the United States Congress every two years, highlighting our findings and analyses of foreign IUU fishing activities and bycatch of protected species and shark catch on the high seas where nations do not have a regulatory program comparable to the United States.
Learn more our recent findings and analyses of foreign IUU fishing activities
Maritime Security and Fisheries Enforcement Act Working Group on IUU Fishing
The Maritime Security and Fisheries Enforcement (SAFE) Act, passed in December 2019, provides a whole-of-government approach to counter IUU fishing and related threats to maritime security. Section 3551 of the Act requires the establishment of an Interagency Working Group to strengthen maritime security and combat IUU fishing. This Working Group, chaired by NOAA, U.S. Department of State, and U.S. Coast Guard brings together twenty-one agencies for an integrated, Federal Government-wide response to IUU fishing globally.
Learn more about the Maritime SAFE Act Working Group’s activities to strengthen maritime security and combat IUU fishing.
National Ocean Council Committee on IUU Fishing and Seafood Fraud
A United States government task force was established in 2014 to provide a comprehensive framework of integrated programs to combat IUU fishing and seafood fraud that emphasizes areas of greatest need.
Science
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