A presidential task force released its plan to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and seafood fraud, including a risk-based traceability system to track seafood from harvest to entry into U.S. commerce, said a Commerce Department announcement. The “action plan” follows on recommendations by the task force last December. The administration said the Trans-Pacific Partnership, now in the final stages of negotiation, would include commitments by member nations to eliminate harmful fisheries subsides and to stamp out illegal fishing.
A first step in constructing the traceability system would come in October. At that time, the fish deemed most likely to be taken by illegal or unregulated boats would be identified and then monitored. By the end of 2016, the task force would identify the necessary steps to expand the program to all seafood entering the country.