Thailand passes MMPA standards, ensuring safe seafood exports to the US
US confirms Thailand’s fisheries meet MMPA standards, ensuring continued export of seafood without harming marine mammals
Bancha Sukkaew, Director-General of the Department of Fisheries, announced that the United States government, through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has officially confirmed that Thailand’s fisheries meet the legal standards outlined in the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). On Monday, NOAA published a list of 2,500 fishery items assessed under the MMPA from 135 countries globally, which was made available on the Federal Register website.
Bancha said Thailand is one of the 89 countries that successfully passed the MMPA assessment. The fisheries on the List of Foreign Fisheries (LOFF), which includes Thailand, also met the MMPA’s legal comparability criteria, ensuring all Thai seafood products can be exported to the United States without issue.
Since 2017, the Department of Fisheries and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources have continuously provided information to the US regarding Thailand’s MMPA implementation. These efforts aim to ensure that Thai seafood is harvested without harming marine mammals. Thailand has also developed a national conservation action plan (2023-2027) to protect and manage marine mammals, alongside legal measures, public awareness campaigns, and training for over 5,500 fishermen and officials on proper conservation and handling of endangered marine animals.
Additionally, Thailand has been experimenting with fishing gear modifications to prevent accidental capture of marine mammals, including Pinger devices on gill nets and crab traps in the upper Gulf of Thailand and eastern Gulf of Thailand, where Irrawaddy dolphins are known to spread. Results from these trials have shown that no marine mammals were caught in the modified nets, demonstrating the effectiveness of these conservation efforts.
“This entire process demonstrates Thailand’s commitment to responsible fishing practices that do not harm marine mammals or the environment. The MMPA assessment results from the US confirm the strength of Thailand’s protective measures against marine mammal bycatch,” Bancha said.
