New US rule bans seafood imports that don’t meet strict marine mammal protection standards

Countries exporting fish and fish products to the United States will have to meet fishing standards for protecting marine mammals equal to those U.S. fishermen follow, under a final rule issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

U.S. trade partners will need to show that killing or injuring marine mammals incidental to fishing activities, or bycatch, in their export fisheries do not exceed U.S. standards.

“Fishing gear entanglements or accidental catch is a global…