Seafood companies now using the USDC Seafood Inspection Program (SIP) should expect a disruption in the program’s services if the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) proceeds with plans to privatize the service, the head of SIP warns.

SIP’s Rich Cano, in an appeal of a May 20 decision by NOAA to deny his challenge and proceed with plans to privatize the service, says the program will suffer a loss of experienced inspectors and will have difficulty attracting and training qualified replacements.

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