Sponsors
The bill increases U.S. and partner capacity to combat IUU fishing and protect coastal economies and regional security, but does so at the cost of greater operational demands, federal spending, and risks to oversight, civil‑military boundaries, and privacy/sovereignty.
Partner coast guards and navies (and U.S. partners) will be better able to deter and reduce illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, benefiting coastal and fishing communities by protecting local fisheries and livelihoods.
U.S. national security is strengthened because partner maritime forces can be trained and coordinated to deny malign actors maritime access and reduce transnational crime and trafficking.
Federal roles and legal authority for the Coast Guard, Navy, and DoD regarding IUU-related maritime activities are clarified, reducing ambiguity for federal employees and for program implementation.
Coast Guard, Navy, and Commerce may face increased operational demands (more patrols, inspections, and enforcement), stretching personnel and resources and potentially reducing capacity for other missions.
The U.S. may incur additional federal costs (for joint patrols, partner capacity-building, training, and related activities) that would be borne by taxpayers, and could require reallocating funds from other programs.
Using an international IUU definition and expanded enforcement could impose new compliance, inspection, or operational costs on commercial fishing and shipping operators.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Adds IUU fishing as an authorized purpose for U.S. foreign security capacity building, directs Commerce and Coast Guard to seek joint patrols with partners, and requires annual reports to Congress.
Introduced August 1, 2025 by Todd Young · Last progress August 1, 2025
Adds illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing to the list of authorized purposes for U.S. capacity‑building with foreign security forces and directs the Department of Commerce (and the Coast Guard) to pursue joint patrols with foreign partners to counter IUU fishing, transnational crime, and enhance regional maritime security. Requires a joint report to specified congressional committees within one year and annually thereafter identifying interested partner regions/countries, resource gaps, assessments of partner operations, and recommendations to improve effectiveness. The text does not appropriate funding or set detailed timelines beyond the reporting schedule.