Kaine, Cassidy, Heinrich, and Curtis Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and John Curtis (R-UT) introduced the Protecting Global Fisheries Act, bipartisan legislation to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Predatory IUU fishing, particularly by China, disrupts international trade and undermines maritime security, marine ecosystems and biodiversity, and food and economic security. It often involves forced labor, human trafficking, unsafe working conditions, and other human rights abuses. IUU fishing directly harms the United States—a major harvester, importer, and consumer of seafood—by creating unfair competition for fishermen who abide by international fishing laws.

“Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing is rife with human rights abuses and is bad for maritime security, the global economy, and Virginia’s seafood industry,” said Kaine, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee covering transnational criminal activity. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with my colleagues to deter IUU fishing by China and other bad actors, and bolster the U.S. and international response to these illegal activities.”

“Louisiana produces the best seafood in the world. Competitors abroad outprice us with illegal practices. It hurts our jobs, economy, and national security. Let’s protect our way of life,” said Dr. Cassidy. 

“China’s illegal fishing practices not only devastate marine ecosystems, but they also threaten the security of the United States and our partners while undercutting the hardworking men and women who fish legally and sustainably,” said Curtis, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee covering transnational criminal activity. “This bipartisan bill is about restoring fairness and protecting the integrity of global fisheries.”

IUU fishing includes a range of activities that violate national and international fishing laws, including fishing without a license for certain species, failing to report catches or making false reports, using prohibited fishing gear, or conducting unauthorized transfers of fish to cargo vessels.

IUU fishing has become a particular challenge in the Western Hemisphere. IUU fishing in the region costs nearly $2.7 billion in lost revenue annually. It makes up more than 20 percent of all catches in Latin America. The increasing presence of illegal Chinese fishing vessels has significantly contributed to the rise in IUU fishing in the hemisphere and around the world.

Specifically, the bipartisan Protecting Global Fisheries Act would:

• Authorize the President to impose visa, asset, and financial sanctions on foreign persons or foreign vessels found responsible or complicit in IUU fishing and the sale, supply, purchase, or transfer of endangered species.
• Require the Departments of State and Defense to regularly provide briefings to Congress on efforts and strategies to combat IUU fishing.
• Assert that the United States will prioritize countering IUU fishing in collaboration with friendly countries and via international forums.

Full text of the bill is available here.     

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