US lifts Grenada fisheries ban, government urges continued vigilance

The Grenada government confirmed Wednesday that a fisheries ban imposed by the United States has been lifted, even as officials acknowledged that ongoing efforts are needed to maintain compliance.

The ban, issued by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), had been applied because Grenada had not provided a “comparability finding” under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which requires that foreign fishing operations avoid killing or seriously injuring marine mammals at rates higher than US vessels. The ban affected over EC$50 million (US$18.5 million) in annual exports, primarily yellowfin tuna, a key contributor to Grenada’s economy and a source of thousands of jobs.

In response, Grenadian authorities passed the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2025, which strengthened conservation measures. The legislation introduced a fisheries observer program, enhanced monitoring for longline vessels, and established penalties up to EC$100,000 for violations.

Speaking at a press conference, Lennox Andrews said the government waited to announce the lifting of the ban until the official notice was published in the US Federal Register. The formal notification from NOAA was dated March 13, 2026, and confirms that Grenada’s comparability finding is valid through December 31, 2029.

“During this period, NOAA Fisheries may reconsider and may terminate a comparability finding if it is determined…that Grenada’s regulatory programme no longer meets the applicable conditions,” Andrews quoted from the letter. He added, “The first point is that the prohibition has been lifted, and that lifting remains in effect until December 31, 2029. Our fisher folks can now go out to sea and continue fishing.”

Andrews thanked stakeholders including the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission, officials from the United States Embassy in Barbados, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which assisted with drafting the legislation and continues to provide guidance.

The minister emphasized that while the lifting of the ban marks a major achievement, maintaining compliance will require ongoing monitoring, reporting, and conservation efforts to protect marine mammals and ensure Grenada’s fisheries remain sustainable.