Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency are enhancing island security following the completion of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s International Seafood Trade and Seafood Import Monitoring Program’s Container Inspection training.  

The training was attended by officers with CQA’s Maritime Interdiction Task Force, Agriculture Canine Unit, and Airport and Maritime sections.

It focused on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing to ensure that seafood harvested illicitly are not supplying the United States seafood industry.

“Illegal fishing threatens the sustainability of fishery stocks worldwide, especially highly migratory species in the global commons of the high seas. Fishing is also critical to the island nations as a source of economy and food supply,” said Murray Bauer, acting Deputy Special Agent in charge of the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement Pacific Islands Division. 

“Our efforts are to make sure fish imported anywhere under U.S. jurisdiction are harvested lawfully, and not through forced labor,” added Bauer. 

Martina Sagapolu, Assistant Director for NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement, Pacific Islands Division, emphasized the critical importance of collaborative efforts with territorial partners, like the MITF, in the fight against IUU Fishing and the rising issue of seafood fraud.

For MITF Officer Christopher Espinosa, the training expounded on regulatory laws, such as the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Lacey Act, and the Endangered Species Act.

“NOAA was able to clarify key points within these specific regulations to allow for a better understanding on how to enforce requirements effectively. The training also emphasized and placed into perspective the reason for such stringent and meticulous documentation requirements with regard to the importation of specific species of seafood, and how customs officers play a crucial role in the regulation and preservation of marine life,” he said.

“The MITF has been implementing the SIMP for several years now. This training offered additional details and understanding to improve the enforcement of seafood fraud in the territory,” said Capt. Anthony Doyle, MITF supervisor. “The MITF has uncovered violations through document reviews, and both cargo and container inspections within the SIMP, by several businesses.”