Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing and Seafood Fraud (IUU)

Presidential Task Force: On June 17, 2014, the White House released a Presidential Memorandum for “Establishing a Comprehensive Framework to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) and Seafood Fraud.” Among other actions the Memorandum established a Presidential Task Force, co-chaired by the Departments of State and Commerce.  The Task Force was directed to report to the President within 180 days with “recommendations for the implementation of a comprehensive framework of integrated programs to combat IUU fishing and seafood fraud that emphasizes areas of greatest need.” Through an extensive public comment and engagement process, the Task Force developed a series of 15 recommendations, which were released on December 18, 2014, for further public comment. Based on this final round of public comments, on March 15, 2015, the Task Force released its Action Plan for implementing the recommendations. This plan articulates steps that federal agencies will take both domestically and internationally to implement the recommendations the Task Force made in December 2014.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has supported the Presidential Memorandum in the maritime domain awareness, information sharing, customs mutual assistance agreements, species name and code, enforcement authorities, and traceability recommendations.  The Presidential Memorandum directed the IUU Fishing and Seafood Fraud Task Force to coordinate its efforts with Executive Order 13659 (Streamlining Export/Import Process for America’s Businesses), and CBP has also endeavored to coordinate the development of new traceability reporting requirements within the context of meeting the objectives of streamlining import reporting requirements.  CBP also conducts enforcement operations on seafood fraud matters with inter-agency partners such as the National Marine Fisheries Service, Fish and Wildlife, and the Food and Drug Administration through its inter-agency Commercial Targeting and Analysis Center (CTAC). 

More information on IUU Fishing and Seafood Fraud and the recommendations for the implementation of a comprehensive framework of integrated programs to combat IUU fishing and seafood can be found on the IUU Fishing and Seafood Fraud Web Portal.

Related links:  

• e-ALLEGATIONS
• National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center