Sponsors (8)
The bill increases U.S. ability to deter and exclude illegally caught or forced‑labor seafood and to strengthen international fisheries governance—improving supply‑chain integrity and fish-stock sustainability—at the cost of higher taxpayer funding, greater compliance burdens and operational strain for agencies and businesses, and potential diplomatic, privacy, and due‑process risks.
U.S. consumers, importers, and lawful seafood businesses will face lower risk of illegal- or forced-labor-tainted seafood entering U.S. markets because of strengthened import screening, public vessel listing, information sharing, and targeted enforcement.
Fisheries-dependent and coastal communities (including U.S. fishermen) stand to benefit from stronger international cooperation, RFMO engagement, and enforcement that help rebuild and sustain fish stocks and marine ecosystems.
Federal agencies, Congress, and the public will gain more data, mandated studies, timelines, public reporting, and transparency (e.g., CBP strategy publication, National Academies study, 3‑year reports) to guide policy and oversight on IUU fishing and forced labor.
U.S. taxpayers will likely bear increased federal costs from studies, new programs, expanded patrols, and capacity-building unless offset by other budget reductions.
Importers, retailers, and some consumers face higher compliance costs, slower customs processing, supply disruptions, and the potential for higher retail seafood prices due to expanded screening, inspections, and verification requirements.
Implementing enhanced enforcement and new missions may divert limited agency resources (Coast Guard, CBP, NOAA) from other priorities (e.g., search-and-rescue, drug interdiction), increasing operational strain unless additional resources are provided.
Based on analysis of 12 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a U.S. IUU vessel/owner list, expands sanctions and immigration penalties, strengthens enforcement and data‑sharing, and funds studies to keep illegal or forced‑labor seafood out of U.S. markets.
Introduced June 5, 2025 by Daniel Crenshaw · Last progress June 5, 2025
Creates a U.S. strategy to stop illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and seafood produced with forced labor by expanding interagency coordination, building a public U.S. IUU vessel/beneficial‑owner list, deploying civil and immigration sanctions (including asset‑blocking), strengthening Coast Guard and NOAA enforcement cooperation, and requiring multiple studies and reports to improve data, technology use, and import screening. The bill directs new agency duties and timelines (reports/studies within 1–3 years), authorizes a National Academies study with $4 million, and pushes for international cooperation and capacity building to keep illicit seafood out of U.S. commerce while seeking to protect lawful trade.