Seafood Coalition Files Lawsuit Against NOAA Over Import Ban
The Restaurant Law Center and other seafood industry stakeholders have filed a lawsuit against NOAA, contesting the implementation of an import ban under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
The Restaurant Law Center, in conjunction with the National Fisheries Institute and several seafood suppliers, has initiated legal action against the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York City, challenges NOAA's decision to implement an import ban under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.
The plaintiffs argue that NOAA's decision, announced on September 2, 2025, will have significant economic and operational impacts on American restaurants and their supply chains. The import ban affects fisheries that supply a substantial portion of seafood products crucial to U.S. restaurants. The Restaurant Law Center contends that NOAA's implementation was conducted without adequate stakeholder engagement and consideration of the economic consequences, which they claim violates the Administrative Procedure Act.
The lawsuit emphasizes that the ban could lead to menu disruptions, contract breaches, and job losses across the foodservice sector. The plaintiffs assert that there are no viable domestic alternatives to the banned imports, as U.S. fisheries cannot meet the required volume, quality, or form demanded by the restaurant industry. Furthermore, the complaint highlights that many of the affected foreign fisheries have invested in sustainability and bycatch reduction, yet were excluded based on procedural issues rather than conservation outcomes.
The Restaurant Law Center, representing over one million restaurants and foodservice outlets nationwide, argues that the rushed implementation of the ban, with only four months' notice, is poised to disrupt seafood supply chains and force restaurants to remove popular seafood items from their menus or increase prices. The plaintiffs are seeking to vacate the import bans and compel NOAA to reconsider its determinations using a lawful, results-based approach that aligns with the MMPA's intent and the realities of the global seafood supply chain.
