State Releases Annual List of Countries Certified to Export Shrimp to U.S.
The State Department listed the countries that it certified as meeting the requirements set by Section 609 of Public Law 101-162 for continued importation of shrimp and products of shrimp into the U.S. The agency said 38 countries and Hong Kong qualify. It made no changes from last year’s list.
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Section 609 prohibits importation of shrimp harvested in a way that may adversely affect some sea turtle species, unless accompanied by a Form 2031 bearing a government certification. This government certification requirement doesn’t apply when State finds that the government of the harvesting country has taken certain specific measures to reduce the incidental taking of sea turtles in its shrimp trawl fisheries, or that the fishing environment of the harvesting nation does not pose a threat to sea turtle species. State is required to submit a report annually to Congress on the countries it is certifying, and says it submitted this year’s report May 2.
38 Nations and Hong Kong Certified to Continue Exporting Shrimp to the U.S.
The State Department certified that the following 13 countries require their commercial shrimp boats to use turtle excluder devices (TEDs), or something comparable, to prevent the accidental drowning of sea turtles in shrimp trawls and may therefore continue to export shrimp and shrimp products to the U.S.:
| Colombia |
| Guatemala |
| Nicaragua |
| Suriname |
The State Department also certified that the following 26 countries and Hong Kong have either fishing environments or fishing methods that do not pose a danger to sea turtles and may therefore continue to export shrimp and shrimp products to the U.S.:
| Argentina | The Bahamas | Belize |
| Canada | Chile | China |
| Dominican Republic | Fiji | Finland |
| Iceland | Ireland | Hong Kong |
| Netherlands | New Zealand | Norway |
| Peru | Russia | Sri Lanka |
| United Kingdom | Uruguay | Venezuela |
State Department DS-2031 Form Must Accompany All Shrimp Imports
A State Department DS-2031 form signed by the exporter and importer must accompany all shrimp imports into the U.S.
Non-certified countries may import shrimp to the U.S., provided that a government official of the harvesting nation also certifies on the DS-2031 that the shrimp was harvested in a manner not harmful to sea turtles.
Exception 7.A.(2) for Australia, Brazil, and French Guiana
The State Department said exception 7(A)(2) (Harvested using turtle excluder devices (TEDs)) on the DS-2031 form is currently a valid exception to the prohibition on imports from nations not certified under P.L. 101-162. However, the State Department must determine in advance that a country wishing to use this exception has in place an enforcement and catch segregation system for making such individual shipment certifications. Only Australia, Brazil, and French Guiana have shown that such a system is in place for specific fisheries.
State Contact -- Marlene Menard (202) 647-5827
(Public Notice 8391, Federal Register 07/26/13)