Imports of seafood from New Zealand’s North Island are subject to stricter U.S. trade regulation — including a possible import ban — because some fisheries are not meeting U.S. standards for protecting highly endangered Māui dolphins, a federal judge has ruled.
But the U.S. Court of International Trade stopped short of imposing an immediate ban, as sought by environmental groups.
Rather, Judge Jennifer Choe-Groves ordered the Commerce Department to reconsider whether New Zealand’s marine mammal protection policies are “comparable in effectiveness” to those under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, as required by U.S. law. The department must provide the court with evidence of MMPA comparability by Nov. 24.
In a statement, NOAA Fisheries spokesperson Rachel Hager said the ageny is “reviewing the court decision and considering the appropriate next steps with respect to the comparability finding for New Zealand.”
