The U.S. to implement Marine Mammal Protection Act starting next year... must prepare for export restrictions on 29 domestic fish species

Published Oct 24, 2025

Tridge summary

[Korean Farmers and Fishermen Newspaper, Reporter Young-jin Choi] As the implementation of the United States' seafood trade regulation, the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), approaches in over 60 days, active measures such as issuing export confirmation certificates are required for the 29 species whose exports to the U.S. will be restricted. However, the export methods for seafood and processed products such as fish cakes imported from third countries remain unclear, drawing attention to future responses. According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the U.S. will implement the MMPA starting January 1, next year, and import regulations will apply to seafood arriving in the U.S. from that date onwards. The MMPA applies regulations based on whether the fishing methods have the potential to cause death or injury to marine mammals, categorizing them as "compliant" and "non-compliant."

Original content

When 14 inappropriate fishing methods are used, the path for exporting seafood to the U.S. is blocked, issuance of an export confirmation certificate is essential. As the implementation of the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) approaches in over 60 days, it is required to actively respond by issuing export confirmation certificates for the 29 species of seafood whose exports are restricted. However, the export method for seafood and processed products such as fish cakes imported from third countries remains unclear, so attention is focused on future responses. According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the U.S. will implement the MMPA starting January 1, next year, and apply import regulations to seafood arriving in the U.S. from that date. The MMPA divides fishing methods into "appropriate" and "inappropriate" based on whether they have the potential to cause death or injury to marine mammals, and seafood caught using inappropriate methods is prohibited from being ...

Source: Agrinet