NOAA Fisheries SIMP Implementation Report Shows Significant Noncompliance, Immediate Need for Improved Enforcement
On Friday, the National Marine Fisheries Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Fisheries) released a report detailing the agency’s experience in administering the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) since the program took effect in January 2018 (Report on the Implementation of the U.S. Seafood Import Monitoring Program). In the report, NOAA Fisheries explained that the agency had […]
Filed Under
Southern Shrimp Alliance Applauds Introduction of the Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act
This afternoon, Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Representative Garret Graves (R-LA) introduced the Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act, legislation that would strengthen the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), recognize that forced labor constitutes an illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practice, and require traceability of imported seafood equivalent to […]
Filed Under
World Day Against Child Labor Includes Shrimp
The U.S. government, other governments, and human rights organizations have all documented labor abuses in the shrimp supply chain in several countries. On June 12, the Southern Shrimp Alliance is promoting resources to help shrimp purchasers avoid sourcing from supply chains that use forced labor, child labor, and forced child labor as part of World Day Against Child Labor. Resources […]
Filed Under
June 5: Fight Against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing
International efforts to ensure the sustainability of fisheries are being seriously compromised by illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. These prohibited practices evade environmental, food safety, labor, and trade laws. The Southern Shrimp Alliance is participating in the “International Day for the Fight Against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing,” a United Nations-sanctioned day to highlight efforts taking place globally, regionally, and nationally […]
Filed Under
Appellate Court Rejects Government Challenge to Ban on Importation of Some Mexican Seafood; Ability of SIMP to Stop Illegal Shrimp Imports at Issue in Court Case
On Monday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Federal Circuit) rejected the U.S. Government’s appeal of a preliminary injunction issued by the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) in July 2018 ordering the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) “to ban the importation of all fish and fish products from Mexican commercial fisheries that use gillnets within […]
Filed Under
It’s Official: Shrimp Is Under SIMP
As of today, shrimp imports are now officially covered by the U.S. Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) in accordance with the final rule published in the Federal Register by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on April 24, 2018. https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-04-24/pdf/2018-08553.pdf “We are one important step closer to protecting millions of U.S. shrimp consumers, our U.S. shrimp fishery, and […]
Filed Under
Update: Shrimp Under SIMP Is Now The Law
The House and Senate have passed and the President has now signed into law the FY 18 Omnibus Appropriations bill. As the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) reported yesterday, this legislation includes provisions that will expand the U.S. Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) to cover imported shrimp; our Nation’s largest seafood http://www.shrimpalliance.com/u-s-congress-acts-place-imported-shrimp-seafood-import-monitoring-program/ The program is administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric […]
Filed Under
SSA Endorses Barry Myers NOAA Administrator
In a November 22, 2017, letter to the leadership of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Southern Shrimp Alliance Executive Director endorsed on behalf of the organization, Mr. Barry Myers as President Trump’s nominee to be the next Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The agency plays a central role in the conservation and […]
Filed Under
Federal Court Rejects National Fisheries Institute’s Challenge to Seafood Import Monitoring Program
“In the end, the Rule weathers the storm of Plaintiffs’ various challenges.” This (ill-timed) metaphor concludes the decision issued on Monday by the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia rejecting the National Fisheries Institute’s (NFI) efforts to invalidate the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP). In reality, as discussed extensively in the Court’s 67-page opinion, there wasn’t […]
Filed Under
Senate Shrimp Supporters Move to Protect U.S. Shrimpers from Illegal Imports
SSA thanks and congratulates Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), powerful Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, for once again championing the best interests of the domestic shrimp industry by including a provision in his FY 2018 Appropriations bill to ensure that the federal Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) will cover all shrimp imports. This provision was also shepherded by the Appropriations […]