FishWise believes that robust seafood regulations are essential to preserving our oceans and supporting the communities that rely on them. Raising the legislative bar and setting new norms are key to achieving long-term sustainability, and seafood companies play a pivotal role in this effort.

The seafood industry can act as a powerful catalyst for policy change and FishWise recognizes the importance of incorporating industry perspectives into the regulatory process. By sharing their in-depth knowledge of supply chain issues and operations, seafood companies can support the development and successful implementation of ambitious and achievable fisheries and trade policies.

We are committed to bringing diverse voices to the table and finding common ground. By engaging a wide range of stakeholders, we ensure that all perspectives are considered. This inclusive approach fosters collaboration and innovation, driving progress toward sustainable seafood practices.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries’ Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) establishes reporting and recordkeeping requirements for imports of 13 seafood species groups to prevent seafood fraud and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) seafood from entering U.S. commerce. SIMP is NOAA Fisheries’ largest and newest import control program, covering nearly half of the seafood imported into the U.S. FishWise regularly engages a wide range of stakeholders, including seafood companies, government agencies, labor and environmental NGOs, fisheries associations, fisheries consultants, customs brokers, and academia, to understand their diverse perspectives and identify areas of common ground for strengthened implementation and enforcement of the program.

Our Work:

Since 2018, FishWise has gathered feedback from a diverse set of stakeholders, ranging from international government agencies to domestic seafood companies. This effort has led to key recommendations for improving SIMP implementation. Our “Common Ground” series has produced research showing topical areas of alignment between the seafood industry and NGOs, underscoring the industry’s potential as a catalyst for change.

Building on this work, the “Reimagining SIMP” workshop series, co-hosted with the Stimson Center, has furthered these efforts by providing a platform for industry, government, and NGOs to discuss challenges, share solutions, and drive regulatory improvements. These collaborative initiatives are crucial in shaping SIMP’s future direction, ensuring its effectiveness and adaptability in combating IUU fishing and seafood fraud. Through these initiatives, FishWise continues to advocate for policies that promote sustainable seafood practices, protect marine ecosystems, and foster inclusive stakeholder engagement.

FishWise tracks the regulatory space for rulemaking that impacts seafood supply chain traceability and transparency within the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) final rule on Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods (i.e., Food Traceability Final Rule), requires the collection of key data elements (KDEs) at critical tracking events (CTEs) along supply chains, including those of certain seafood products. In light of the forthcoming rule, the FDA published a proposed rule that was open for public comment in 2021. As a U.S.-based NGO, FishWise deemed it important to participate and submit a public comment because we know firsthand that the diversity of species, harvest methods, and global supply chains for seafood result in unique food safety risks and traceability challenges for these products. As federal agencies continue to leverage supply chain information, FishWise continues to advocate for both interagency cooperation and coordination and alignment and standardization of KDE formats and definitions to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness of compliance.

FishWise participates in the NGO Tuna Forum to drive meaningful and impactful change in global tuna fisheries. We do this by working collaboratively with other tuna-focused conservation NGOs to define the priorities where we believe a collective effort will have the greatest impact. Once defined, we bring aligned guidance on policies and supply chain improvements to our market partners for them to support. Our coordinated advocacy is directed towards tuna regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) and member countries to encourage action by RFMOs to address corresponding policies and improvements.

Leveraging consultation approaches rooted in social science, FishWise engages a wide base of stakeholders from workers to the private sector to government agencies. We identify and support private sector champions for the traceability and counter-IUU fishing work of partner NGOs and amplify their good work. In doing so, we not only advance FishWise’s mission of working towards holistic sustainability but identify and support others who also believe in this mission. 

We invite you to partner with us to drive systemic change in the seafood industry:

• Government Agencies: Collaborate with us to develop and implement forward-thinking seafood policies that support responsible fisheries and promote fair labor practices
• Industry Professionals: Champion sustainable practices within your operations and supply chains, and share your insights to shape effective regulations
• Funders: Invest in our initiatives to amplify our impact, support research, and enable innovative solutions that foster a sustainable and equitable seafood industry

For more information on how FishWise’s advocactes or to get involved, please contact us.