H.R. 3706

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To require the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the Administrator of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of seafood to support enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · June 4, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Babin

Table of contents

• H.R. 3706
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Methodology for identifying the country of origin of seafood

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the or the .

SEC. 2. Methodology for identifying the country of origin of seafood

• (a) Definitions
  • In this section:
    • The term Administrator means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
    • The term appropriate committees of Congress means—
    • The term key agency leadership means the Administrator and the Under Secretary, in consultation with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Commandant of the Coast Guard.
    • The term red snapper means the species Lutjanus campechanus.
    • The term tuna means the following species of tuna:
    • The term Under Secretary means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology.
• (b) Standard methodology for identification
  • (1) In general
    • Key agency leadership shall jointly develop a standard methodology, based on chemical analysis, for identifying the country of origin of seafood to support enforcement against unlawful, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
  • (2) Requirements
    • Key agency leadership shall ensure that the methodology developed under this subsection—
      • is consistent with the needs of Federal and State law enforcement agencies in combating unlawful, unreported, and unregulated fishing;
      • minimizes processing time;
      • involves the use of a field kit that can be easily carried by one individual; and
      • to the extent practicable, can be used to test prepared food, including raw preparations of seafood, such as ceviche, sashimi, sushi, and poke.
  • (3) Initial species for identification
    • In developing the methodology under this subsection, key agency leadership shall conduct pilot studies on red snapper, as an example of a stationary stock, and tuna, as an example of a highly migratory stock.
• (c) Report
  • Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes the following:
    • A summary of the methodology developed under subsection (b).
    • A plan for operationalizing such methodology.
    • If the Under Secretary determines any aspect of such methodology is impractical, an explanation relating thereto, whether additional research would make developing such a methodology practicable, and whether a different approach other than chemical analysis might be practicable.