The NOAA Fisheries’ Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP), established in 2018, is the largest U.S. program dedicated to detecting and preventing illegal seafood and fraud. In December 2022, NOAA Fisheries proposed expansions to include additional species, but the plan was withdrawn in November 2023 following widespread criticism. Now, a comprehensive review is underway to enhance SIMP’s effectiveness. To support this effort, FishWise and the Stimson Center hosted a series of workshops to reimagine SIMP by gathering a diverse set of stakeholders, fostering discussions that generated a wide range of ideas and solutions for NOAA to consider.

Workshop I set the stage by gathering, in person, over 70 participants from various sectors, including U.S. government officials, industry leaders, environmental and labor NGOs, customs brokers, commodities consultants, and technology providers to have an open conversation about the opportunities to improve SIMP. The key takeaways from this initial session focused on redefining risk, digitizing processes, improving interagency coordination, and aligning SIMP with global best practices:

• Redefining Risk: There was a call to broaden the understanding of risk to include contextual factors beyond just product- or species-specific concerns. The discussion emphasized the need to address forced labor effectively and ensure robust enforcement mechanisms.
• Digitizing the SIMP Process: Participants advocated for moving beyond electronic documentation to achieve true digitization. This includes creating a dynamic import control system that adapts to new information and enhances traceability.
• Improving Interagency Coordination: Recommendations included sharing data and intelligence across agencies, reducing redundancy in data collection, and leveraging SIMP data to target enforcement more effectively.
• Fitting into the Broader Seascape: There was support for incorporating elements from international trade programs, such as pre-import screening and catch certificates, and aligning data collection requests with global standards to boost transparency and accountability.

The next step in this collaborative process was Workshop II, which focused on how to operationalize the ideas discussed in the first workshop and how to implement future improvements to SIMP.

The second workshop brought together over 65 stakeholders, in person, to delve into the practical aspects of implementing a reimagined SIMP. The discussions centered on five major areas:

• Risk Targeting and Predictive Analytics: Emphasis was placed on expanding risk assessment beyond species to include product-based and contextual risks. Participants discussed the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to create a flexible, intelligent tool for risk management.
• DASHING (DIGITIZE, ANALYZE, STANDARDIZE, HARMONIZE) to the Future: There was a strong focus on fully digitizing the SIMP process, not just converting existing documents to electronic formats but integrating datasets for a comprehensive risk assessment. Standardizing data forms and formats and harmonizing global unilateral import control rules were also highlighted.
• Labor and Human Rights Abuses: Addressing human rights issues was a priority, with calls to include labor key data elements (KDEs) and define the roles of various U.S. government agencies in these efforts.
• Applying Lessons from the EU: Participants explored adopting best practices from the EU, such as catch certificate programs and pre-import screening processes, to enhance SIMP’s effectiveness.
• Interagency Communication and Coordination: The need for regular feedback loops and clear role definitions for all stakeholders was emphasized to improve program management and enforcement and support a whole-of-government approach.

As we wrap up this workshop series, we invite you to join us for the final convening–a public webinar on July 30, 2024. This event will showcase the cumulative findings from both workshops and outline the proposed improvements to SIMP. It will be an opportunity for stakeholders and the public to review the findings, provide feedback, and discuss the next steps in reimagining SIMP. Additionally, there will be a panel featuring representatives from the U.S. government to provide insights and answer questions.

Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details on how to participate in this pivotal discussion. Together, we can shape a more effective Seafood Import Monitoring Program that ensures sustainability, combats fraud, and upholds human rights in the seafood industry.