After months of targeted collaborative reforms to meet international marine conservation standards, Suriname’s coastal driftnet fishing industry has formally regained access to the lucrative United States market. The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued a positive Comparability Finding for Suriname’s driftnet fishery, officially lifting the export ban that had been placed on Surinamese fish and fish products from this sector.
Local fishing industry groups including the Visserscollectief (Fishermen’s Collective) and the Suriname Fisherfolk Organization have welcomed the decision, noting that it preserves access to a critically important export market for the South American nation’s fishing sector. Representatives of the groups emphasize that this positive outcome was not achieved without significant coordinated effort. Over the past year, industry stakeholders worked closely with Suriname’s Deputy Directorate of Fisheries to bring operations into full alignment with requirements set by the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act.
The path to reinstatement began after Suriname received a negative compliance finding in 2025, which triggered the imposition of the export ban. In response, government and industry partners developed and rolled out a joint action plan aimed at strengthening marine mammal protection and advancing sustainable development across the fishing sector.
As core components of this reform plan, multiple evidence-based measures were implemented in partnership with Suriname’s Fisheries Service. One key intervention was the installation of acoustic pingers on all commercial fishing vessels operating in the driftnet fleet. These devices emit warning signals that deter marine mammals from approaching fishing nets, drastically reducing the risk of entanglement, a key concern cited in the original negative finding. Additionally, stakeholders pushed forward the adoption of mandatory Vessel Monitoring Systems, which enable real-time tracking and regulatory oversight of fishing activities to ensure compliance with sustainable fishing rules.
Mark Lall, spokesperson for the Visserscollectief, underscored that the positive ruling is the direct product of joint commitment across fishermen, fisheries regulators, statistics and research teams, and all other involved stakeholders. “This outcome proves that collaboration between government and the private sector delivers tangible results,” Lall explained. “By taking shared responsibility and implementing concrete, effective measures, we have demonstrated that Suriname’s fishing industry meets all required international standards. This is a victory not just for our sector, but for the entire country of Suriname.”
Industry groups project that the restoration of U.S. market access will deliver far-reaching benefits for Suriname’s national economy and fishing community. The decision is expected to safeguard thousands of existing jobs in the sector, protect critical export revenue streams, and create a more stable foundation for the long-term sustainable growth of Suriname’s coastal fishing industry.