NMFS barred certain seafood imports without MMPA certification starting January 2026
CBP title: NMFS Update: Implementation of Seafood Import Prohibitions under the Marine Mammal Protection Act Import Provisions; Certification of Admissibility for Designated Fish and Fish Products; Announcement of Upcoming Webinars
This message is from December 10, 2025. Later CSMS messages may have changed it. See the latest trade news
What did CBP announce?
CBP relayed a NMFS notice announcing that, beginning January 1, 2026, fish and fish products from nations whose fisheries were denied comparability findings under the Marine Mammal Protection Act became inadmissible unless accompanied by a signed Certification of Admissibility. The rule applied to shipments using designated HTS codes from those nations. NMFS also held two webinars in December 2025 explaining the certification requirements.
What is Allied's position?
This rule affected entries of specific fish and fish products tied to designated HTS codes from nations denied MMPA comparability findings. Later CSMS messages may have updated the list of affected fisheries or certification details, so clients importing seafood under these codes should ask us to review their entries. Clients who do not import designated fish products do not need to act on this message.
General information, not legal advice.
What does the CBP message say?
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is issuing this message to inform industry that, beginning January 1, 2026, certain fish and fish products from nations with fisheries that have been denied comparability findings under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) import provisions will be prohibited from import into the United States.
Entries from a nation with fisheries denied comparability findings and using a designated HTS code will be inadmissible if not accompanied by a signed Certification of Admissibility (COA).
NMFS will host two public webinars in December 2025 to provide a brief overview of MMPA import provisions, and a detailed technical discussion on COA requirements. To join these webinars, use the links listed below:
Webinar 1 (https://noaanmfs-meets.webex.com/wbxmjs/joinservice/sites/noaanmfs-meets/meeting/download/d91358a629cc4ebea448025200a7e29f?MTID=mfbee3fbf6746b05d30a87cdf9cb26b15) – Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. EST
- Webinar link: https://noaanmfs-meets.webex.com/noaanmfs-meets/j.php?MTID=mfbee3fbf6746b05d30a87cdf9cb26b15 (https://noaanmfs-meets.webex.com/wbxmjs/joinservice/sites/noaanmfs-meets/meeting/download/d91358a629cc4ebea448025200a7e29f?MTID=mfbee3fbf6746b05d30a87cdf9cb26b15)
- Webinar number: 2825 057 7995
- Webinar password: 1379
• Join by phone:
- +1-415-527-5035 US Toll
- Access code: 282 505 77995
Webinar 2 (https://noaanmfs-meets.webex.com/wbxmjs/joinservice/sites/noaanmfs-meets/meeting/download/df52463f8fea4f84a81304a62e9c0650?MTID=md1d32d69066e0e09df759c4d25bcb016) – Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. EST
- Webinar link: https://noaanmfs-meets.webex.com/noaanmfs-meets/j.php?MTID=md1d32d69066e0e09df759c4d25bcb016 (https://noaanmfs-meets.webex.com/wbxmjs/joinservice/sites/noaanmfs-meets/meeting/download/df52463f8fea4f84a81304a62e9c0650?MTID=md1d32d69066e0e09df759c4d25bcb016)
- Webinar number: 2830 635 0692
- Access code: 283 063 50692
For more information on MMPA import provisions, including a list of affected fisheries and designated HTS codes, and resources related to COAs: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/foreign/marine-mammal-protection/seafood-import-prohibitions-under-marine-mammal-protection-act
Questions on these import prohibitions can be directed to NMFS at one of the following emails:
- For information relating to the MMPA Import Provisions, comparability finding determinations, and affected fish products, contact MMPA.LOFF@noaa.gov (mailto:MMPA.LOFF@noaa.gov).
- For technical assistance on COA requirements, contact trademonitoring.support@noaa.gov (mailto:trademonitoring.support@noaa.gov).