Stop Illegal Fishing Act

Summary

Requires the President to set up a sanctions program targeting foreign persons and vessels engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The measure directs use of IEEPA authorities to block assets and deny or revoke U.S. visas, requires a report to relevant committees within 180 days and annual reports for five years, and preserves limited humanitarian and operational exceptions and a national-security waiver with congressional notice.

• Requires the President to create an IUU fishing sanctions program targeting foreign persons and vessels engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
• Authorizes use of IEEPA authorities to block assets and deny or revoke visas, and to apply criminal/civil penalties for regulatory violations.
• Directs an initial report to congressional foreign affairs committees within 180 days and annual reports for five years listing sanctioned persons and vessels.
• Includes a non-binding Sense of Congress that names the People’s Republic of China as the primary perpetrator of global IUU fishing and highlights related labor abuses.
• Permits a national-security waiver with 15 days' prior notice to Congress and preserves narrow exceptions for UN obligations, humanitarian actions, authorized intelligence/law enforcement, and vessel safety.
• Does not appropriate funds or create new domestic programs; implementation relies on executive branch use of existing authorities.
• Affects international actors (foreign vessels and persons) and U.S. enforcement and regulatory agencies responsible for implementing sanctions and visa actions.