Implementation of Import Restrictions; Certification of Admissibility for Certain Fish Products From Mexico

The Secretary of Commerce, in cooperation with the Secretaries of Treasury and Homeland Security, is, under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), giving notice of import restrictions on fish and fish products from Mexico caught with gillnets deployed in the range of the vaquita, an endangered porpoise. Importation into the United States from Mexico of fish and fish products harvested by gillnets in the upper Gulf of California (UGC) within the vaquita's geographic range is now prohibited. These import restrictions are being implemented as required by a court order. These trade restrictions remain in effect until further court action amends the preliminary injunction. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes associated with the prohibited fish and fish products are identified below. NMFS is also requiring that all other fish and fish products not within the scope of the import restrictions but imported under the same published HTS codes be accompanied by a Certification of Admissibility.