2025 Marine Mammal Protection Act Comparability Finding Determinations for Harvesting Nations
NOAA Fisheries announced its Marine Mammal Protection Act comparability determinations in the Federal Register, covering about 2,500 fisheries across 135 nations. Of these, 240 fisheries from 46 nations were denied comparability findings, restricting their ability to export to the United States.
In August 2025, NOAA Fisheries announced its 2025 Marine Mammal Protection Act comparability finding determinations in the Federal Register. These determinations cover approximately 2,500 fisheries in 135 nations seeking to export fish and fish products to the United States. Comparability finding determinations are made for each nation on a fishery-by-fishery basis. A total of 240 fisheries from 46 nations were denied comparability findings.
NOAA Fisheries conducted a detailed analysis of each comparability finding application submitted by harvesting nations. Details regarding each nation’s comparability finding determination are categorized in the lists below. Each harvesting nation’s Comparability Finding Application Final Report can be accessed by clicking on the nation under Lists 1, 2, and 3 below. Additional documents detailing NOAA Fisheries’ evaluation process, the fisheries denied and granted comparability findings for each nation, and the trade information associated with fishery denials (including Harmonized Tariff Codes) can be found at the bottom of this page.
Nations whose fisheries were denied comparability findings are prohibited from importing fish and fish product from those fisheries into the United States beginning January 1, 2026, and may reapply for a comparability finding for the affected fisheries at any time after January 1, 2026. More information on seafood import restrictions and how they will be implemented under this program, is available here.
For additional questions, please contact MMPA.LOFF@noaa.gov.
