Overview
The Seafood Import Monitoring Program establishes reporting and recordkeeping requirements for imports of thirteen seafood species groups, to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated-caught and/or misrepresented seafood from entering U.S. commerce. SIMP provides additional protections for our national economy, global food security, and the sustainability of our shared ocean resources.
Compliance for the first eleven species groups began on January 1, 2018. Compliance for shrimp and abalone, the remaining two species groups, became effective on December 31, 2018.
Species/Species Groups
The 1,100 unique species included in SIMP, categorized in 13 species groups, have been identified as particularly vulnerable to IUU fishing, seafood fraud, or both. SIMP covers about half of all seafood imports into the United States.
NOAA uses the International Trade Data System, the U.S. government’s single data portal for all import and export reporting, to trace these species back to the point of harvest or production and verify whether they were lawfully harvested or produced.
- Abalone
- Atlantic cod
- Blue crab (Atlantic)
- Dolphinfish (Mahi Mahi)
- Grouper
- King crab (red)
- Pacific cod
- Red snapper
- Sea cucumber
- Sharks
- Shrimp
- Swordfish
- Tuna (Albacore, Bigeye, Skipjack, Yellowfin, Bluefin)
Contact Us
NOAA Fisheries offers technical support and assistance to SIMP entry filers. For assistance regarding compliance and submissions with SIMP data, contact SIMPsupport@noaa.gov or the SIMP support line at (301) 427-8301 (toll) or (833) 440-6599 (toll-free).
Additional Resources
Updates on the Seafood Import Monitoring Program Comprehensive Review
Public Webinar Series (presentation)
SIMP Supply Chain Videos
Aquaculture
One of five videos in a 5-part series about the Seafood Import Monitoring Program. This video covers the aquaculture supply chains that include species that have been owned from spawning to harvest.
Small-Scale Aquaculture
This video covers small-scale aquaculture harvests defined as aggregated deliveries from multiple small-scale aquaculture facilities.
Wild Capture
One of five videos in a 5-part series about the Seafood Import Monitoring Program that covers wild-capture supply chains, including species that are harvested in their natural environments.
Small-Scale Wild Capture Fisheries
This video covers small-scale wild capture aggregated harvests by vessels, with catches landed at the same location and date, then combined and reported together.
Wild Capture Aquaculture (or Wild Capture Ranching)
One of five videos in a 5-part Seafood Import Monitoring Program series covering wild capture, pen-matured harvest—or “ranching”—involves capturing live wild fish and transferring them to aquaculture for feeding and growth until re-harvest.
