US authorities said that as of Thursday (Oct. 10), they have denied entry to fishing vessels from 17 nations -- including China, Mexico, and five European Union member states -- to combat illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries said in its annual report to the US Congress that the banned ships included Chinese-flagged longline fishing vessels; Russian-flagged vessels targeting toothfish; Mexican-flagged gillnet harvesters, and several longline fishing vessels targeting tuna.
"The port denials prohibit services such as refueling and resupplying to these vessels, except for essential services required for crew safety, health, and welfare," NOAA Fisheries said in a statement.
US representative Mary Peltola of Alaska said in a statement that the US government's announcement did not go far enough as it still does not ban imports of foreign-caught fish.
"I have worked tirelessly to educate our government on the threat that foreign fishing practices pose to our fisheries – that's why I pushed the administration to issue an executive order banning Russian caught fish last year," Peltola said in a statement. "This is a step towards protecting our North Pacific Ocean and ensuring the well-being of Alaskan fishing families, but more must be done."
The country of origin of vessels identified by NOAA Fisheries include Algeria, Barbados, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Mexico, Namibia, China, the Russian Federation, Senegal, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia and Turkey.
The federal agency said that positive certification and lifting port denials are possible once the nations adequately address IUU issues.
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