A pallet containing embargoed tuna the subject attempted to import into the United States. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

NOAA Fisheries Sanctions Virginia Grocer for Illegally Imported Tuna

UNITED STATES
Friday, June 13, 2025, 05:50 (GMT + 9)

An investigation by the agency led to a significant civil penalty and the surrender of over 1,100 pounds of yellowfin tuna imported from an embargoed nation due to dolphin-safe violations.

CHESAPEAKE, Virginia –  A NOAA Fisheries investigation culminated in a grocery store chain paying a $12,516 civil penalty in February, following the discovery and surrender of more than 1,100 pounds of yellowfin tuna, with a declared value of $4,889. The enforcement action stems from a June 2023 joint inspection conducted by NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement, Virginia Conservation Police, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection at a Centralized Examination Station (CES) in Chesapeake, VA.

An agent with VA Marine Police Special Investigations Unit inspects the embargoed tuna. Credit: NOAA Fisheries -->

During the inspection, officers discovered jarred yellowfin tuna. Experts from NOAA Fisheries’ Tuna Tracking and Verification Program determined that two shipments of this tuna originated from a Nicaraguan purse seiner. Nicaragua is one of seven "primary nations" that face restrictions on importing certain non-fresh tuna products into the United States, as they do not meet the dolphin-safe requirements stipulated under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Such shipments are not permitted entry into the U.S. market.

NOAA’s Office of General Counsel Enforcement Section issued the civil penalty, officially known as a Notification of Violation and Assessment, to the grocery store chain. NOAA Fisheries emphasizes that its trade monitoring and enforcement efforts are crucial for protecting U.S. consumers and law-abiding U.S. seafood companies by preventing illegally traded seafood products from entering the market.

The last tuna super seiner to unload in California. Photo: NOAA Fisheries

National Trade Enforcement Efforts Combat Illegal Imports

NOAA Fisheries conducts trade enforcement efforts nationwide, with agents and officers routinely inspecting container shipments at major U.S. seaports, airports, and border crossings. The agency also investigates cases referred by state and federal enforcement partners when suspected violations are uncovered during their independent trade enforcement work.

Agents and officers in NOAA Fisheries' Northeast Division initiated 55 new trade enforcement cases between January 1 and March 31, 2025, aimed at protecting U.S. consumers and businesses. "I couldn’t be more proud of the tremendous effort our agents and officers dedicate to preventing illegal seafood products from entering our markets," stated James Cassin, acting assistant director for NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement, Northeast Division. He added, "Leveling the playing field for U.S. fishermen and businesses is and has always been at the core of our mission."

Seafood importers are subject to multiple layers of federal oversight to ensure compliance with U.S. and international seafood trade regulations, including various trade monitoring programs administered by NOAA Fisheries. The national tuna program, for instance, was established to ensure adherence to federal regulations regarding dolphin-safe certification. These regulations are vital for protecting dolphin stocks vulnerable to purse seine fisheries, particularly in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Ensuring compliance with seafood import requirements remains a critical component of NOAA Fisheries' broader efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing globally.

[email protected]
www.seafood.media

Print