Sponsors (8)
The bill aims to sharply reduce illegal, IUU, and forced‑labor‑tainted seafood and strengthen global fisheries conservation through enhanced enforcement, data-sharing, and diplomacy — but it does so at the cost of higher federal spending, increased compliance burdens and potential supply disruptions, and risks of diplomatic friction and rights‑related concerns.
Consumers, importers, and lawful U.S. seafood businesses will face a lower risk of illegal- or forced-labor-tainted seafood entering U.S. markets because of stronger import screening, risk-targeting, public listings, and interagency enforcement coordination.
Coastal communities, commercial fishermen, and marine ecosystems will benefit from improved conservation and sustainability as the bill strengthens international cooperation, high-seas monitoring, and measures to prevent IUU fishing.
Federal agencies, Congress, and the public gain improved transparency and actionable information because the bill requires public strategies, lists, reports, and data-sharing to identify risky vessels and partners.
Taxpayers will likely face higher federal costs because the bill authorizes new funding, mandates studies, and requires expanded enforcement and agency capacity that will need sustained resources.
Seafood importers, small businesses, and consumers may incur higher compliance costs, slower customs processing, and potential price increases as screening, inspections, and verification requirements expand.
Diplomatic relationships and trade could be strained because port denials, sanctions, and listing of foreign vessels/entities risk trade disputes, legal/diplomatic pushback, or politicized application of enforcement tools.
Based on analysis of 12 sections of legislative text.
Creates a U.S. public IUU vessel list, expands enforcement and data‑sharing, authorizes sanctions/immigration penalties, and funds studies to keep IUU/forced‑labor seafood out of U.S. markets.
Official title: To combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing at its sources globally.
Introduced June 5, 2025 by Daniel Crenshaw · Last progress June 5, 2025
Creates a U.S. strategy and new authorities to detect, deter, and punish illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and seafood produced with forced labor. The bill directs interagency studies and reports, establishes a publicly posted U.S. IUU vessel/beneficial‑owner list, expands interagency enforcement coordination (including Coast Guard, NOAA, CBP, State, and Labor), authorizes targeted sanctions and immigration consequences, and encourages international cooperation and capacity building to protect legal seafood trade.