Irish salmon cleared for US export after months of restrictions.
The United States has reopened its market to Irish salmon and other seafood products after regulators confirmed Ireland meets US fisheries standards.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published a comparability finding on March 16, granting Ireland approval for all relevant fisheries, including salmonids and common spiny lobster. The decision lifts export restrictions that had been in place since January 1 under the US Marine Mammal Protection Act.
The ruling confirms that Ireland’s fisheries meet US requirements for the protection of marine mammals, allowing exports to resume. The finding is valid through to December 2029.
Irish officials said the decision provides certainty for exporters at a time of broader challenges in the seafood sector. The US is a key market for Irish seafood, including farmed salmon.
The restrictions had affected access for a number of Irish species at the start of the year, pending the outcome of the US review process.
The Irish government said the approval followed engagement between industry, national authorities, the European Commission and US regulators.