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Followup on the National Marine Fisheries Service's Efforts To Assess the Quality of U.S.-Produced Seafood

CED-81-125 Published: Jun 22, 1981. Publicly Released: Jun 22, 1981.
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Highlights

In a prior report, GAO stated that a comprehensive assessment is needed of the quality of seafood produced by U.S. processors for domestic and foreign consumption. GAO pointed out several examples of foreign complaints about U.S. exports and noted that consumer and industry publications have been critical of the quality of U.S. seafood products. Since the earlier report was issued, GAO has collected additional information on the quality of U.S. seafood products that further demonstrates the importance of the recommended study.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Commerce The Secretary of Commerce should work cooperatively with the fishing industry, including fishermen, wholesalers, processors, and retailers, to establish the feasibility of a dockside grading program together with a system of price differentials for high quality products.
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Department of Commerce The Secretary of Commerce should direct the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish a program to train inspectors with a particular emphasis on informing them of foreign seafood quality regulations and requirements.
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Department of Commerce The Secretary of Commerce should direct the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to initiate a comprehensive study to assess the quality of U.S. seafood produced for domestic and foreign consumption. Because budget reductions and higher priority projects for Saltonstall-Kennedy funds have prevented the needed evaluation, the Secretary of Commerce should review other options to support the evaluation.
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.

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Topics

ExportingFishing industryFood industryImportingNatural resourcesProgram evaluationQuality assuranceSalmonSeafoodExports