HARPOON Act

This bill aims to help stop illegal and unreported fishing around the world by working with other countries. It lets the U.S. military support and train foreign security forces to run operations against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. It also pushes for joint patrols with partners to fight IUU fishing, reduce cross-border crime, and improve regional security .

The plan requires yearly reports to Congress on which regions are interested, what resources are missing, how to make the program work better, and how partner efforts are going so far. The bill uses the international definition of IUU fishing and tasks U.S. defense and Coast Guard leaders with leading these efforts .

• Who is affected: Foreign security forces, U.S. defense and Coast Guard teams, coastal communities harmed by illegal fishing .
• What changes: Adds authority to train and support partners against IUU fishing; encourages joint patrols; requires annual progress reports with recommendations and evaluations .
• When: Reports begin one year after the law takes effect, then every year after that .