Sponsors (5)
The bill strengthens U.S. monitoring, intelligence, and sanctions tools to deter IUU fishing and protect marine resources—benefiting coastal communities and conservation—while imposing new compliance costs, diplomatic risks, and administrative burdens that could affect businesses, taxpayers, consumers, and some noncitizens.
Coastal and fishing-dependent communities (and consumers) benefit from stronger deterrence of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which can help stabilize fish stocks and local fisheries incomes and protect ocean ecosystems.
U.S. agencies get improved maritime monitoring, intelligence, and targeting (advanced tech deployments and annual unclassified/assessments) that make detection and enforcement of IUU fishing more effective and improve maritime safety.
The bill strengthens enforcement tools (asset blocking, visa bans, sanctions authorities) to hold individuals, vessels, and entities accountable for IUU fishing and endangered-species trafficking.
Businesses, banks, commercial fishing operators, shipping firms, and multinational companies may face substantial new compliance costs and business disruptions—especially if foreign branches are treated as 'United States persons' or if stricter enforcement/sanctions expand coverage.
A strong focus on entities tied to the People's Republic of China and expanded use of sanctions could heighten diplomatic tensions, risk retaliation, and politicize fisheries enforcement, complicating broader trade and cooperation.
Taxpayers and federal agencies will likely face increased costs and resource demands for deploying monitoring technology, implementing sanctions, and preparing required (including classified-capable) reports and assessments.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes targeted U.S. sanctions, international engagement, and annual reporting to deter and punish illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, with emphasis on PRC-linked activity.
Creates a U.S. policy and legal pathway to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing worldwide by expanding international engagement, authorizing targeted sanctions and financial restrictions on foreign persons and vessels involved in IUU fishing or illicit wildlife trade, and requiring annual public reports on global IUU fishing (including focused analysis of People’s Republic of China activities). Directs multiple agencies (Treasury, State, Commerce, Homeland Security, Interior, Defense) to coordinate on enforcement, sanctions recommendations, rulemaking, and yearly assessments for five years; includes narrow exceptions for authorized intelligence/law enforcement activities, safety provisioning, and certain humanitarian transactions.
Introduced April 9, 2025 by Timothy Michael Kaine · Last progress April 9, 2025