Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act

Summary

Requires NOAA and partner agencies to develop a standardized, chemistry-based method to determine the country of origin for seafood (with pilot studies for red snapper and tuna) and directs a report to Congress within two years describing the method and deployment plans. Authorizes the Department of Defense, in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard, to use DoD operation and maintenance funds to provide maritime technical assistance to partner nations (observers, shipriders, remote sensing, data analysis, and intelligence) to counter illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, consistent with U.S. law and policy.

• Directs NOAA and partners to create a standardized, chemistry-based method to verify seafood country-of-origin for enforcement against IUU fishing.
• Requires pilot validation studies for red snapper and tuna and a report to Congress within two years on methodology and implementation plans.
• Authorizes the Department of Defense, with the U.S. Coast Guard, to use DoD operation and maintenance funds to provide maritime technical assistance to partner nations to combat IUU fishing.
• Permitted assistance can include observers, shipriders, specialized personnel, remote sensing, data analysis, and operational intelligence sharing.
• All DoD/Coast Guard actions under the authority must comply with applicable U.S. law and policy.
• No explicit new appropriations are provided; DoD assistance uses existing O&M funds.
• The legislation targets both supply-side enforcement (traceability/testing) and operational capacity-building with partner nations.
• The science method emphasizes quality control, chain-of-custody, and validation to support enforcement use.