In a recent public message released earlier this month, Doremus said combating IUU fishing is a top priority for the U.S. and battling it must be a multi-pronged effort.
“NOAA Fisheries is proud to be a leader in the nation’s comprehensive approach to this battle,” he said. “It includes many government agencies working in concert to identify bad actors, suspect vessels, and ports that have no interest in protecting the integrity of the seafood supply.”
Economies and marine resources throughout the world and U.S. fishing fleets and consumers are negatively affected by IUU fishing, an impact that could number in the billions annually, he said.
“Neutralizing IUU fishing and its impact on the seafood supply chain in the United States and globally is an immense, complex and varied challenge,” he said. “NOAA and our collaborating agencies and international partners are—and have been—seriously and substantially engaged in working to find solutions to this global problem.”
NOAA Fisheries will team with national and state entities to gain compliance on import requirements to help curb IUU fish products from hitting U.S. markets and partner with foreign agencies and regional fisheries management groups for marine stewardship and sustainable fisheries management, Doremus added.
