US to Block Dolphin-Harming Fish Imports from 2026
Published Date: 9/2/2025
Notice
Summary
Starting January 1, 2026, some countries won’t be allowed to sell certain fish to the U.S. if they don’t protect marine mammals properly. This rule affects foreign fish sellers and helps keep sea animals safe while making sure only certified fish products enter the U.S. market. If a country’s fishery fails the check, their fish imports get blocked until they fix things.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Import Ban for Non‑comparable Fisheries
If a nation's fishery is denied a comparability finding, fish and fish products from that fishery are prohibited from being imported into the United States beginning January 1, 2026. This applies to fisheries on the List of Foreign Fisheries (LOFF) for harvesting nations that export fish and fish products to the United States.
Certification Requirement for Restricted Fish
For fisheries denied comparability findings, trade restrictions associated with those fisheries will continue and a Certification of Admissibility will be required for fish and fish products until the import restrictions are lifted or revised. The requirement remains in effect beginning January 1, 2026, for fisheries denied comparability findings.
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