June 4, 2024 — Late last week NOAA Fisheries released an update regarding the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP), sharing a review of the program’s effectiveness.
SIMP was first implemented in 2018 as a way to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The program established reporting and record-keeping requirements for imports of 13 seafood species groups: abalone, Atlantic cod, blue crab (Atlantic), dolphinfish (Mahi Mahi), grouper, King crab (red), Pacific cod, red snapper, sea cucumber, sharks, shrimp, swordfish and tuna (albacore, bigeye, skipjack, yellowfin, bluefin).
The implementation of the program was hotly contested, and when there was a proposed rule to expand SIMP, members of the seafood industry banned together to oppose the action. In November 2023 NOAA ended up withdrawing its proposal to expand SIMP following the public comment period. The agency also announced that it would review the program to “enhance and strengthen its overall impact and effectiveness.”