U.S. To Ban Seafood Imports Connected To Deadly Bycatch Of Dolphins, Whales & Other Marine Mammals

Conservation groups reached a landmark agreement yesterday requiring the United States to stop importing seafood that fails to meet U.S. standards for protecting marine mammals.

The ban, set to take effect on January 1st, 2026, will safeguard threatened species such as whales, dolphins, and seals from entanglement in fishing gear used in foreign waters. It will also level the playing field for U.S. fishers who already adhere to stringent requirements in domestic waters.

The settlement was reached in the U.S. Court of International Trade following a lawsuit filed by the Animal Welfare Institute, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and the Center for Biological Diversity. The organizations were represented by Anderson & Kreiger LLP, a Boston-based environmental and public law firm. The suit was brought against the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service, Department of the Treasury, and Department of Homeland Security.

“This settlement marks a significant step forward for marine mammal welfare,” said Georgia Hancock, program director and senior attorney for the Animal Welfare Institute’s Marine Wildlife Program. “Bycatch not only affects marine mammal populations but also raises serious animal welfare concerns. While most animals entangled in fishing gear die by drowning, those who escape often suffer prolonged injuries, such as cuts, broken bones, or amputations, and die weeks or months after their entanglement.”

Globally, more than 650,000 marine mammals—including whales, dolphins, and seals—are killed each year in fishing gear. These animals are victims of unintentional “bycatch,” often drowning or being discarded to die from their injuries. Bycatch is considered the greatest conservation threat to marine mammals worldwide.

The United States is the world’s largest seafood importer, bringing in over $25.5 billion in seafood products annually from more than 130 nations. Popular imports include shrimp, tuna, and other finfish, with approximately 80% of seafood consumed in the U.S. originating abroad. Major sources include China, Norway, Ecuador, Chile, and India.

Since 1972, the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act has prohibited the import of seafood from countries that do not meet U.S. standards for reducing marine mammal bycatch. However, enforcement of this provision was largely ignored until 2016, when the U.S. established a process to identify non-compliant fisheries. Despite this progress, the government delayed imposing any bans until now.

This new agreement marks a significant step toward protecting marine mammals from needless harm, while holding foreign fisheries to the same standards as those followed by U.S. fishers. Conservationists hope the move will inspire other nations to adopt stronger measures to protect marine wildlife.