NOAA’s Report Outlines Progress in Fight Against IUU Fishing, but Still a Global Problem
Six countries identified for illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in the 2026 report
Press Release Date: July 15, 2026
Location: Washington
Contact:
Megan Jordan | email: mjordan@oceana.org | tel: 202.868.4061
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released its 2026 Report to Congress on Improving International Fisheries Management, making initial identifications of six countries for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The nations identified are Costa Rica, Grenada, Mexico, Morocco, China, and Russia.
The report also includes three negative certifications for countries that failed to take corrective actions for IUU fishing after being identified in the 2023 biennial report: Grenada, Mexico, and China. The other four countries and entities that were identified in 2023 – Angola, The Gambia, Taiwan, and Vanuatu – did take corrective action to improve oversight and management of their fleets and were positively certified.
This biennial report is required under the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act. In the report, NOAA identifies nations and entities for IUU fishing, which triggers a two-year consultation period between the U.S. and the identified country to address and eliminate IUU fishing. If a country takes appropriate actions, it receives a positive certification in the next report. If not, it receives a negative certification, resulting in sanctions that can include denial of port privileges and a ban on seafood imports.
“The fight against IUU fishing requires that fishing nations, flag, coastal, and market states work together to ensure that fisheries operate within the bounds of the law,” said Oceana Vice President Beth Lowell. “NOAA’s report outlines countries that fell short and kickstarts a process where the United States will work with the identified nations to improve oversight and management of fisheries. IUU fishing puts communities, fisheries, ocean wildlife, and habitats at risk. The United States, as a major fishing nation and major seafood importer, should lead in the global push to expand fisheries transparency to aid in the fight against IUU fishing.”
Oceana campaigns to stop illegal fishing, increase transparency at sea, and require traceability of all seafood. To learn more about the campaign, click here.
Background
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a low-risk, high-reward activity, especially on the high seas where a fragmented legal framework and lack of effective enforcement allow it to thrive. IUU fishing can include fishing without authorization, ignoring catch limits, operating in closed or protected areas, targeting protected wildlife, and fishing with prohibited gear. These illicit activities can destroy important ocean habitats, severely deplete fish populations, and threaten global food security. These actions not only contribute to overfishing but also give illegal fishers an unfair advantage over those who play by the rules.
Oceana released the results of a nationwide poll in 2024, which found that American voters overwhelmingly support transparency and traceability in the seafood supply chain. Included among the key findings, 90% of voters agree that imported seafood should be held to the same standards as U.S. caught seafood. Additionally, 91% of voters agree that seafood caught using human trafficking and slave labor should not be bought or sold in the U.S. Eighty-five percent of voters agree that all seafood should be traceable from the fishing boat to the dinner plate, and 88% say consumers should be reassured that the seafood they purchase was legally caught. Oceana’s poll, conducted by the nonpartisan polling company Ipsos using the probability-based KnowledgePanel®, surveyed 1,053 registered U.S. voters from June 28 to 30, 2024.
