March 26, 2025
American Fishermen’s Livelihoods Depend on Seafood Traceability Investment
The U.S. commercial and recreational fishing industry supports more than 2 million American jobs and adds billions of dollars to the economy every year. American fishermen do a dangerous job to provide a key source of protein to millions of people across the country, one that is recommended by the U.S. government as part of a healthy diet.
Unfortunately, American fishermen are being undermined by illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. In 2019, the U.S. International Trade Commission estimated that the United States brings in more than $2 billion worth of seafood sourced from IUU fishing, and this doesn’t just impact consumers. The U.S. ITC found that American fishermen and processors lose an estimated $60.8 million per year due to the import of IUU fishing products.
Fully funding import controls for seafood is crucial – not just for the security of our food supply – but for American businesses and workers who deserve to compete on a level playing field. It costs less than $6 million to fund the U.S. Seafood Import Monitoring Program that helps block illegally sourced seafood from being sold in the United States.
Seafood is not only an iconic staple of Americans’ diets, but it’s also often on the menu for special occasions. Whether it’s crab cakes at a wedding, seafood boils for a birthday party, or simply gathering for a fish dinner with family and friends, seafood plays an integral role in many Americans’ lives. We must ensure that all of the seafood coming into our country is safe, legally caught, responsibly sourced, and honestly labeled. That means fully investing in the checks on seafood imports that provide a fair shake to our hard-working fishers who help provide some of our favorite seafood dishes.
Seafood import controls are a low cost, high reward tool necessary to grow American jobs and keep U.S. fishermen in business. With a fully funded and expanded Seafood Import Monitoring Program, the United States can ensure our fellow Americans aren’t being sold a deluge of illegal imports. Let’s put money back into the pockets of U.S. fishermen and do right by our fellow American workers who help bring our favorite meals to our dinner tables.