Overview
The Seafood Import Monitoring Program establishes reporting and recordkeeping requirements for imports of thirteen seafood species groups, to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated-caught and/or misrepresented seafood from entering U.S. commerce. SIMP provides additional protections for our national economy, global food security, and the sustainability of our shared ocean resources.
Compliance for the first eleven species groups began on January 1, 2018. Compliance for shrimp and abalone, the remaining two species groups, became effective on December 31, 2018.
Species/Species Groups
The 1,100 unique species included in SIMP, categorized in 13 species groups, have been identified as particularly vulnerable to IUU fishing, seafood fraud, or both. SIMP covers about half of all seafood imports into the United States.
NOAA uses the International Trade Data System, the U.S. government’s single data portal for all import and export reporting, to trace these species back to the point of harvest or production and verify whether they were lawfully harvested or produced.
- Abalone
- Atlantic cod
- Blue crab (Atlantic)
- Dolphinfish (Mahi Mahi)
- Grouper
- King crab (red)
- Pacific cod
- Red snapper
- Sea cucumber
- Sharks
- Shrimp
- Swordfish
- Tuna (Albacore, Bigeye, Skipjack, Yellowfin, Bluefin)
Contact Us
NOAA Fisheries offers technical support and assistance to SIMP entry filers. For assistance regarding compliance and submissions with SIMP data, contact SIMPsupport@noaa.gov or the SIMP support line at (301) 427-8301 (toll) or (833) 440-6599 (toll-free).
Additional Resources
Updates on the Seafood Import Monitoring Program Comprehensive Review
Public Webinar Series (presentation)
