Thailand has successfully passed the United States' Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) assessment, ensuring continued access to the American seafood market, according to Bancha Sukkaew, Director-General of the Department of Fisheries.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officially announced its compatibility findings under the Marine Mammal Protection Act in the Federal Register.

Out of 2,500 seafood product categories from 135 trading partner countries worldwide, Thailand emerged as one of 89 nations that passed the evaluation. All Thai aquatic products obtained through fishing gear met the assessment criteria, allowing Thailand to continue exporting all seafood categories to the United States without restrictions.

The Department of Fisheries has been continuously submitting Thailand's compliance data under the MMPA regulations to the US since 2017 for legal comparability assessment.

"Thai aquatic products do not come from fishing practices that harm, injure, kill, or threaten the existence of marine mammals," Bancha emphasized. "Instead, our operations are conducted alongside various conservation measures for marine mammals affected by fishing activities."

Thailand's marine mammal conservation includes three key initiatives: a national action plan running through 2027 that coordinates all sectors, legal changes allowing fishermen to rescue marine mammals without penalty, and successful trials of acoustic warning devices that have prevented dolphin entanglement in fishing nets.

"These comprehensive measures demonstrate Thailand's commitment to responsible fishing practices," Bancha stated. "The US MMPA assessment results clearly confirm the stringency of Thailand's measures to prevent marine mammal bycatch in fishing operations."

This certification represents a significant achievement for Thailand's fishing industry and reinforces the country's position as a responsible seafood supplier in the global market.