National Marine Fisheries Service Lifts Marine Mammal Protection Act Import Restrictions for Grenada, Ireland, and New Caledonia

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. 
 * For technical assistance on COA requirements, contact trademonitoring.support@noaa.gov. 
Questions can also be directed to CBP at the following email: 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 ]