0303.89.00.01 - Sea smelts

This HTS category, 0303.89.00.01, specifically covers sea smelts. These are frozen fish belonging to the smelt family (Osmeridae) that are caught from marine environments. The classification is for whole, unprocessed fish, or fish that have undergone minimal preparation such as gutting or freezing, but are not yet processed into fillets or other fish meat of heading 0304.

This category is distinguished from its sibling, 0303.89.00.04, "Other smelts," by the specific origin of the fish. While 0303.89.00.04 would encompass smelts from freshwater environments or other smelt species not specifically identified as "sea smelts" in common trade parlance, 0303.89.00.01 is reserved for those originating from saltwater. This distinction is crucial for trade statistics and potential trade agreements.

As this is a leaf node, there are no further subcategories. Therefore, the classification of sea smelts under this code relies on confirming the species belongs to the Osmeridae family and that the fish is harvested from a marine habitat, provided in a frozen state.