ANALYSIS: Tariffs and MMPA Reshape the US Crab Meat Import Landscape

Elevated tariffs are reshaping the US crab meat import market, but the most notable development in the near term could be Venezuela’s approaching regulatory deadline. With less than two weeks left before Marine Mammal Protection Act restrictions take effect, and no stay granted, there is growing uncertainty over the lack of Venezuelan product in the US market. The removal of Venezuelan product would mark the loss of a long-standing supplier of fresh crab meat that has supported processors and foodservice operator...

US to Ban Irish Farmed Salmon and Spiny Lobster Imports from January 1 Over MMPA Compliance

Beginning January 1, 2026, farmed salmon and spiny lobster from Ireland will no longer be eligible for export to the United States, Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and the Sea‑Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) confirmed this week.

The Irish agencies were notified by US authorities that the restriction is tied to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) comparability findings under the US Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). NOAA determined that Ireland’s standards do not meet the...

NFI-Led Seafood Coalition Seeks Injunction to Pause NOAA’s MMPA Import Bans

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) and a coalition of seafood companies have petitioned the US Court of International Trade for a preliminary injunction to halt NOAA’s implementation of MMPA-based import bans on over 200 fisheries from 46 countries, arguing the rules threaten domestic supply chains and employment during the ongoing legal process.

NFI, the Restaurant Law Center and a number of seafood companies filed suit challenging NOAA’s Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)‑related import bans last week, as reported by Expana...

Seafood Industry Begins Assessing Impact of 2026 MMPA Import Restrictions

As NOAA Fisheries prepares to enforce strict import rules starting January 1, 2026, industry stakeholders across the seafood supply chain are ramping up efforts to understand the potential disruptions stemming from the agency's recent comparability findings. 

With 46 nations facing import restrictions, denial, partial ratings, or pending reapplication, buyers, sellers and processors are closely monitoring how these regulatory changes could impact their businesses. 

On August 28, NOAA Fisheries effectively established a deadline for countries to meet the standards under the Marine Mammal...

ANALYSIS: MMPA and Its Implications for US Crab Meat Supply and Pricing

Regulatory uncertainty and shifting supply dynamics are reshaping the US seafood market, with the blue and red swimming crab meat segments at the forefront. NOAA Fisheries’ comparability findings under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), paired with an upcoming enforcement window for January 1, 2026, have created a near-term regulatory backdrop that could materially affect access to foreign crab meat supplies. The ruling requires foreign fisheries to meet US marine mammal protection standards or risk losing export access. That framework places significant pressure on exporters to demonstrate...

NFI, Major Seafood Firms Sue NOAA Over MMPA Import Bans

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) and a group of US seafood companies filed suit Friday, challenging the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s implementation of recent Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)‑related import bans.

The plaintiffs say the Commerce Department and NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) improperly blocked or restricted imports from certain foreign fisheries by denying or withholding “comparability” findings that those companies need to import specific seafood products. They allege NMFS failed to follow statutory requirements and acted arbitrarily and capriciously in violation of the Administrative...

NOAA Says 46 Nations Face Stringent Import Rules Starting in 2026 Under MMPA Provisions

NOAA Fisheries announced that 46 nations’ fisheries will face import restrictions starting January 1, 2026, after the agency issued comparability findings under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

A comparability finding is a designation by NOAA Fisheries verifies a nation's fishing practices that meet certain standards in managing marine mammal bycatch. This determination ensures that a country's fish exports or exempt fisheries have effectively implemented measures to prevent harm to marine mammals.

With ratings issued, NOAA Fisheries said starting on January 1, 2026...