In a Federal Register Notice (FRN) published on November 16, 2023, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) withdrew a proposed rule that would have added more species to the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP).

In addition, NMFS will conduct a review of SIMP and evaluate the future of the program. The FRN states, “there are a diverse array of viewpoints, and sometimes unrealistic expectations, on what SIMP should or could be doing. In order to strengthen our impact and effectiveness, it is important to better define our goals, and then identify clear mechanisms to achieve them.”

While the NMFS is withdrawing the proposed rule, the agency clarified that the “withdrawal of this proposed rule does not preclude NMFS from reinitiating rulemaking concerning the issues addressed in the proposed rule.”

The Federal Register Notice announcing the withdrawn proposal can be found here:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/11/16/2023-25309/magnuson-stevens-fishery-conservation-and-management-act-seafood-import-monitoring-program

The Federal Register Notice with the original proposal can be found here:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/28/2022-27741/magnuson-stevens-fishery-conservation-and-management-act-seafood-import-monitoring-program