US Extends Deadline for Pakistan Fish Exports

Staff Report

The United States has extended the exemption period for Pakistan fish exports by two years allowing more time for Pakistan’s commercial fishing operations to align with U.S standards.

The extended period is set to expire now on December 31, 2025.

It allows Pakistan more time for Pakistan’s commercial fishing operations to align with U.S. standards. They especially relate to the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Initially, the period was set to expire on December 31, 2023.Rawal Dam: Chemicals Used for Fishing Pose Health Risk

This new deadline shows Pakistan’s commitment to meet international standards relating to fishing practices and international standards.

This development also signifies Pakistan’s dedication to regulatory compliance relating to the fisheries industry.

The U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have extended two years time for Pakistan among over 130 countries.

This is outlined in a Federal Register Notice. This extension lies in the regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), first introduced in 2016.

These regulations originally provided a five-year exemption for foreign nations to develop marine mammal bycatch regulations in line with U.S. standards.

NMFS has acknowledged the complexities in assessing marine mammal mortality in fisheries exporting to the U.S.

Keeping in view challenges, the Department of Commerce and NMFS have decided to give additional time for fair and uniform assessments across all harvesting nations.