Office of Marine Conservation

As the largest single-country market for fish and fish products, the third largest wild seafood producer, and the fifth largest exporter of fish and fish products, the U.S. has a particularly strong stake in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The Department of State coordinates closely with other federal agencies to implement domestic and international actions related to combatting IUU fishing.

Conserving and managing shared fisheries resources requires international cooperation, multilateral diplomacy, and information sharing. The U.S. engages through international organizations and agreements focused on the conservation and management of living marine resources, which provide a forum for States to discuss international fisheries issues, and to develop approaches for addressing them.

The Department of State, with other federal agencies, works bilaterally, regionally, and globally to adopt strong measures to reduce the bycatch of juvenile fish and vulnerable non-target species, particularly sea turtles, seabirds, and dolphins, and level the playing field for the U.S. industry by promoting our best practices and advocating for the international adoption of measures that match our high domestic standards.

The U.S. works to conserve and protect sea turtles through the promotion of turtle excluder devices, membership and participation in international conventions and agreements, and the annual certification of shrimp-harvesting nations that do so without adversely affecting endangered sea turtles, rendering that shrimp eligible for entry into the U.S.