NOAA lifts marine mammal import restrictions for Grenada, Ireland, New Caledonia
CBP title: National Marine Fisheries Service Lifts Marine Mammal Protection Act Import Restrictions for Grenada, Ireland, and New Caledonia
This message is from March 19, 2026. Later CSMS messages may have changed it. See the latest trade news
What did CBP announce?
CBP announced that NOAA Fisheries issued comparability findings on March 16, 2026, lifting Marine Mammal Protection Act seafood import restrictions for Grenada, Ireland, and New Caledonia. As a result, a Certification of Admissibility no longer had to accompany seafood imports from these fisheries as of that date. A COA could still be required if the products were processed in another nation with MMPA import restrictions.
What is Allied's position?
This message is over six months old. At the time, it meant importers of seafood from Grenada, Ireland, and New Caledonia no longer needed a COA for entries we filed, unless the goods were processed in another restricted nation. Later CSMS messages may have changed MMPA requirements for these or other countries, so clients should ask us to confirm current COA requirements before we file their entries.
General information, not legal advice.
What does the CBP message say?
On March 16, 2026, The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) issued comparability findings for the fisheries of Grenada, Ireland, and New Caledonia. This action lifts the seafood import restrictions on these nations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) Import Provisions. As a result, effective March 16, 2026, NOAA Fisheries no longer requires a Certification of Admissibility (COA) to accompany imports from these previously restricted fisheries. However, a COA may still be required if the products are processed in another nation with import restrictions under the MMPA.
Resources on the Harmonized Tariff Schedule Codes and Country of Origin flagged under the MMPA import restrictions and associated prohibited fisheries are available online: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/outreach-materials/harmonized-tariff-codes-and-other-resources-marine-mammal-protection
More information about these nations’ comparability finding reports and other MMPA Import Provisions updates is available online: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/international-affairs/2025-marine-mammal-protection-act-comparability-finding-determinations (https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/international-affairs/marine-mammal-protection-act-comparability-finding-determinations-harvesting)
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).
Questions can also be directed to CBP at the following email: strategicenforcementbranch@cbp.dhs.gov (mailto:strategicenforcementbranch@cbp.dhs.gov)
Related Message Number(s): CSMS # 67590021 (https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCBP/bulletins/4075785), CSMS # 67055632 (https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCBP/bulletins/3ff3010)