119-s688

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 688 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 688

 To combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing at its sources 
 globally.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 February 24, 2025

Mr. Sullivan (for himself and Mr. Whitehouse) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
 Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing at its sources 
 globally.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood 
Harvests Act of 2025'' or the ``FISH Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

 In this Act:

    (1) Administrator.--Unless otherwise provided, the term 
 ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the National 
 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the designee of the 
 Administrator.

    (2) Beneficial owner.--The term ``beneficial owner'' means, 
 with respect to a vessel, a person that, directly or 
 indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, 
 relationship, or otherwise--
        (A) exercises substantial control over the vessel; 
 or
        (B) owns not less than 50 percent of the ownership 
 interests in the vessel.

    (3) Fish.--The term ``fish'' means finfish, crustaceans, 
 and mollusks.

    (4) Forced labor.--The term ``forced labor'' has the 
 meaning given that term in 

section 307 of the Tariff Act of 
 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1307).

    (5) IUU fishing.--The term ``IUU fishing'' means activities 
 described as illegal fishing, unreported fishing, or 
 unregulated fishing in paragraph 3 of the International Plan of 
 Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and 
 Unregulated Fishing, adopted at the 24th Session of the 
 Committee on Fisheries in Rome on March 2, 2001.

    (6) Regional fisheries management organization.--The terms 
 ``regional fisheries management organization'' and ``RFMO'' 
 have the meaning given the terms in 

section 303 of the Port 
 State Measures Agreement Act of 2015 (16 U.S.C. 7402).

    (7) Seafood.--The term ``seafood'' means fish, shellfish, 
 processed fish, fish meal, shellfish products, and all other 
 forms of marine animal and plant life other than marine mammals 
 and birds.

    (8) Secretary.--Unless otherwise provided, the term 
 ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Commerce acting through 
 the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
 Administration or the designee of the Administrator.

SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

 It is the policy of the United States to partner, consult, and 
coordinate with foreign governments (at the national and subnational 
levels), civil society, international organizations, international 
financial institutions, subnational coastal communities, commercial and 
recreational fishing industry leaders, communities that engage in 
artisanal or subsistence fishing, fishers, and the private sector, in a 
concerted effort--

    (1) to continue the broad effort across the Federal 
 Government to counter IUU fishing, including any potential 
 links to forced labor, human trafficking, and other threats to 
 maritime security, as outlined in sections 3533 and 3534 of the 
 Maritime SAFE Act (16 U.S.C. 8002 and 8003); and

    (2) to, additionally--
        (A) prioritize efforts to prevent IUU fishing at 
 its sources; and
        (B) support continued implementation of the Central 
 Arctic Ocean Fisheries agreement, as well as joint 
 research and follow-on actions that ensure 
 sustainability of fish stocks in Arctic international 
 waters.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF A BLACK LIST (IUU VESSEL LIST).

 

Section 608 of the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1826i) is amended by striking subsections
            (c) and
            (d) and inserting the following:
 ``
            (c) Black List (IUU Vessel List).--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with the 
 Secretary of State, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border 
 Protection, and the Secretary of Labor, shall develop, 
 maintain, and make public a list of foreign vessels, foreign 
 fleets, and beneficial owners of foreign vessels or foreign 
 fleets engaged in IUU fishing or fishing-related activities in 
 support of IUU fishing (referred to in this section as the `IUU 
 vessel list').
 ``

    (2) Inclusion on list.--The IUU vessel list shall include 
 any foreign vessel, foreign fleet, or beneficial owner of a 
 foreign vessel or foreign fleet for which the Secretary 
 determines there is clear and convincing evidence to believe 
 that a foreign vessel is any of the following (even if the 
 Secretary has only partial information regarding the foreign 
 vessel):
 ``
        (A) A foreign vessel listed on an IUU vessel list 
 of an international fishery management organization.
 ``
        (B) A foreign vessel taking part in fishing that 
 undermines the effectiveness of an international 
 fishery management organization's conservation and 
 management measures, including a foreign vessel--
 ``
            (i) exceeding applicable international 
 fishery management organization catch limits; 
 or
 ``
            (ii) that is operating inconsistent with 
 relevant catch allocation arrangements of the 
 international fishery management organization, 
 even if operating under the authority of a 
 foreign country that is not a member of the 
 international fishery management organization.
 ``
            (C) A foreign vessel, either on the high seas or 
 in the exclusive economic zone of another country, 
 identified and reported by United States authorities to 
 an international fishery management organization to be 
 conducting IUU fishing when the United States has 
 reason to believe the foreign country to which the 
 foreign vessel is registered or documented is not 
 addressing the allegation.
 ``
            (D) A foreign vessel, foreign fleet, or 
 beneficial owner of a foreign vessel or foreign fleet 
 on the high seas identified by United States 
 authorities to be conducting IUU fishing or fishing 
 that involves the use of forced labor, including 
 individuals and entities subject to a withhold release 
 order or a finding issued by U.S. Customs and Border 
 Protection pursuant to 

section 307 of the Tariff Act of 
 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1307) or any other U.S. Customs and 
 Border Protection enforcement action, sanctions imposed 
 by the Department of the Treasury under the Global 
 Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 
 10101 et seq.), or any other United States Government 
 forced labor prevention or enforcement action that has 
 not been subsequently revoked.
 ``
        (E) A foreign vessel that provides services 
 (excluding emergency or enforcement services) to a 
 foreign vessel that is on the IUU vessel list, 
 including transshipment, resupply, refueling, or 
 pilotage.
 ``
        (F) A foreign vessel that is a fishing vessel 
 engaged in commercial fishing within the exclusive 
 economic zone of the United States without a permit 
 issued under title II of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
 Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1821 et 
 seq.).
 ``
        (G) A foreign vessel that has the same beneficial 
 owner as a foreign vessel on the IUU vessel list at the 
 time of the infraction.
 ``
        (H) A foreign vessel or beneficial owner of a 
 foreign vessel subject to economic sanctions 
 administered by the Department of the Treasury Office 
 of Foreign Assets Control for transnational criminal 
 activity associated with IUU fishing under Executive 
 Order 13581 (76 Fed. Reg. 44757, 84 Fed. Reg. 10255; 
 relating to blocking property of transnational criminal 
 organizations), or any other applicable economic 
 sanctions program, including sanctions imposed by the 
 Department of the Treasury under the Global Magnitsky 
 Human Rights Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 10101 et 
 seq.).
 ``

    (3) Nominations to be put on the black (iuu vessel) 
 list.--The Secretary may receive nominations for putting a 
 foreign vessel on the IUU vessel list from--
 ``
        (A) the head of an executive branch agency that 
 is a member of the Interagency Working Group on IUU 
 Fishing established under 

section 3551 of the Maritime 
 SAFE Act (16 U.S.C. 8031);
 ``
        (B) a country that is a member of the Combined 
 Maritime Forces; or
 ``
            (C) civil organizations that have data-sharing 
 agreements with a member of the Interagency Working 
 Group on IUU Fishing.
 ``

    (4) Procedures for addition.--The Secretary may put a 
 foreign vessel on the IUU vessel list only after notification 
 to the foreign vessel's beneficial owner and a review of any 
 information that the owner provides within 90 days of the 
 notification.
 ``

    (5) Public information.--The Secretary shall publish its 
 procedures for adding foreign vessels on, and removing foreign 
 vessels from, the IUU vessel list. The Secretary shall publish 
 the IUU vessel list itself in the Federal Register annually and 
 on a website, which shall be updated any time a foreign vessel 
 is added to the IUU vessel list, and include the following 
 information (as much as is available and confirmed) for each 
 foreign vessel on the IUU vessel list:
 ``
        (A) The name of the foreign vessel and previous 
 names of the foreign vessel.
 ``
        (B) The International Maritime Organization

    (IMO) number of the foreign vessel, or other Unique Vessel 
 Identifier (such as the flag state permit number or 
 authorized vessel number issued by an international 
 fishery management organization).
 ``
            (C) The maritime mobile service identity number 
 and call sign of the foreign vessel.
 ``
            (D) The business or corporate address of each 
 beneficial owner of the foreign vessel.
 ``
        (E) The country where the foreign vessel is 
 registered or documented, and where it was previously 
 registered if known.
 ``
        (F) The date of inclusion on the IUU vessel list 
 of the foreign vessel.
 ``
        (G) Any other Unique Vessel Identifier

    (UVI) , if 
 applicable.
 ``
        (H) Any other identifying information on the 
 foreign vessel, as determined appropriate by the 
 Secretary.
 ``
            (I) The basis for the Secretary's inclusion of 
 the foreign vessel on the IUU vessel list under 
 paragraph

    (2) .
 ``
            (d) Consequences of Being on Black List (IUU Vessel List).--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Except for the purposes of inspection 
 and enforcement or in case of force majeure, a foreign vessel 
 on the IUU vessel list is prohibited from--
 ``
        (A) accessing United States ports and using port 
 services;
 ``
        (B) traveling through the United States 
 territorial sea unless it is conducting innocent 
 passage; and
 ``
            (C) delivering or receiving supplies or services, 
 or transshipment, within waters subject to the 
 jurisdiction of the United States, unless such 
 prohibition would be inconsistent with customary 
 international law.
 ``

    (2) Servicing prohibited.--No vessel of the United States 
 may service a foreign vessel that is on the IUU vessel list, 
 except in an emergency involving life and safety or to 
 facilitate enforcement.
 ``

    (3) Imports prohibited.--The import of seafood or seafood 
 products caught, processed, or transported by foreign vessels 
 on the IUU vessel list is prohibited and shall be subject to 
 the enforcement provisions of 

section 606.
 ``

    (4) Fishing treaties and agreements.--It should be a 
 priority for United States delegations to--
 ``
        (A) advocate for the incorporation of articles in 
 international fishery management organizations 
 providing identical or similar safeguards described in 
 this section in new and updated bilateral or 
 multilateral fishing treaties; and
 ``
        (B) encourage parties to international and 
 regional fisheries organizations that the United States 
 is party to, or holds observer status, to take similar 
 measures described in this section.
 ``

    (e) Enforcement of Black List (IUU Vessel List).--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph

    (2) , a 
 foreign vessel on the IUU vessel list and the cargo of such 
 vessel shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture to the United 
 States in the same manner as merchandise is forfeited for 
 violation of the customs revenue laws.
 ``

    (2) Exception.--The cargo of seafood of a foreign vessel 
 on the IUU vessel list shall not be subject to seizure and 
 forfeiture to the United States if the cargo of seafood is in 
 the possession of an importer who has paid for the cargo of 
 seafood and did not know, or did not have any reason to know, 
 that the seafood was the product of IUU fishing.
 ``

    (f) Permanency of Black List (IUU Vessel List).--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraphs

    (2) through

    (4) , a foreign vessel, foreign fleet, or beneficial 
 owner of a foreign vessel or foreign fleet that is put on the 
 IUU vessel list shall remain on the IUU vessel list.
 ``

    (2) Revocation of wro.--The Secretary shall remove a 
 foreign vessel or foreign fleet from the IUU vessel list if the 
 foreign vessel was added to the IUU vessel list because it was 
 found by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to have had a 
 withhold release order or a finding issued pursuant to 

section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1307) and the withhold 
 release order was subsequently revoked.
 ``

    (3) Application by owner for potential removal.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--In consultation with the 
 Secretary of State and the U.S. Customs and Border 
 Protection, the Secretary may remove a foreign vessel, 
 foreign fleet, or beneficial owner of a foreign vessel 
 or foreign fleet from the IUU vessel list if the 
 beneficial owner of the foreign vessel submits an 
 application for removal to the Secretary that meets the 
 standards that the Secretary has set out for removal.
 ``
        (B) Standards.--The Secretary shall include in 
 the standards set out for removal a determination that 
 the foreign vessel or foreign vessel owner has not 
 engaged in IUU fishing or fishing that involves the use 
 of forced labor during the 5-year period preceding the 
 date of the application for removal. The Secretary, in 
 consultation with the Secretary of State and the U.S. 
 Customs and Border Protection, shall determine whether 
 each application for removal demonstrates that 
 sufficient corrective action has been taken to 
 remediate the violations and infractions that led to 
 the inclusion on the IUU vessel list.
 ``
            (C) Consideration of relevant information.--In 
 considering an application for removal, the Secretary 
 shall consider relevant information from all sources.
 ``

    (4) Removal due to international fishery management 
 organization action.--The Secretary may remove a foreign vessel 
 from the IUU vessel list if the foreign vessel was put on the 
 list because it was a foreign vessel listed on an IUU vessel 
 list of an international fishery management organization, 
 pursuant to subsection
            (c) (2)
        (A) , and the international fishery 
 management organization removed the foreign vessel from its IUU 
 vessel list.
 ``

    (g) Regulations and Process.--Not later than 12 months after the 
date of enactment of the Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvests Act 
of 2025, the Secretary shall issue regulations to set a process for 
establishing, maintaining, implementing, and publishing the IUU vessel 
list. The Administrator may add or remove a foreign vessel, foreign 
fleet, or beneficial owner of a foreign vessel or foreign fleet from 
the IUU vessel list on the date the foreign vessel becomes eligible for 
such addition or removal.
 ``

    (h) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:
 ``

    (1) Administrator.--Unless otherwise provided, the term 
 `Administrator' means the Administrator of the National Oceanic 
 and Atmospheric Administration or the designee of the 
 Administrator.
 ``

    (2) Beneficial owner.--The term `beneficial owner' means, 
 with respect to a vessel, a person that, directly or 
 indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, 
 relationship, or otherwise--
 ``
        (A) exercises substantial control over the 
 vessel; or
 ``
        (B) owns not less than 50 percent of the 
 ownership interests in the vessel.
 ``

    (3) Forced labor.--The term `forced labor' has the 
 meaning given that term in 

section 307 of the Tariff Act of 
 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1307).
 ``

    (4) Foreign vessel.--The term `foreign vessel' has the 
 meaning given the term in 

section 110 of title 46, United 
 States Code.
 ``

    (5) International fishery management organization.--The 
 term `international fishery management organization' means an 
 international organization established by any bilateral or 
 multilateral treaty, convention, or agreement for the 
 conservation and management of fish.
 ``

    (6) IUU fishing.--The term `IUU fishing' means activities 
 described as illegal fishing, unreported fishing, or 
 unregulated fishing in paragraph 3 of the International Plan of 
 Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and 
 Unregulated Fishing, adopted at the 24th Session of the 
 Committee on Fisheries in Rome on March 2, 2001.
 ``

    (7) Seafood.--The term `seafood' means fish, shellfish, 
 processed fish, fish meal, shellfish products, and all other 
 forms of marine animal and plant life other than marine mammals 
 and birds.
 ``
            (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Department of Commerce to carry out this section 
$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2030.''.

SEC. 5. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.

    (a) Authorization for Sanctions.--The Secretary of the Treasury may 
impose the measures described in subsection

    (b) with respect to--

    (1) any foreign person or foreign vessel, regardless of 
 ownership, that the Secretary of the Treasury determines has 
 participated in--
        (A) the sale, supply, purchase, or transfer 
 (including transportation) of a fish species that is an 
 endangered species, as defined in section of the 
 Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1532), 
 directly or indirectly; or
        (B) IUU fishing;

    (2) a leader or official of an entity that has engaged in, 
 or whose members have engaged in, any of the activities 
 described in paragraph

    (1) ;

    (3) an entity determined to have owned, operated, 
 chartered, or controlled a vessel whose personnel are engaged 
 in the activities described in paragraph

    (1) at a time period 
 relating to the activities;

    (4) an entity that commits any action described in 

section 608
            (c) of the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection 
 Act (16 U.S.C. 1826i) as a basis to be put on the IUU vessel 
 list under such section; and

    (5) an entity that has materially assisted, sponsored, or 
 provided financial, material, or technological support for, or 
 goods or services in support of, a foreign person or foreign 
 vessel described in paragraph

    (1) .

    (b) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions to be imposed under 
subsection

    (a) are the following:

    (1) Blocking of property.--Notwithstanding 

section 202 of 
 the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 
 1701), the exercise of all powers granted to the President by 
 the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 
 et seq.) to the extent necessary to block and prohibit all 
 transactions in all property and interests in property of a 
 foreign person or entity described in subsection

    (a) including, 
 to the extent appropriate, the vessel of which the person is 
 the beneficial owner, if such property and interests in 
 property are in the United States, come within the United 
 States, or are or come within the possession or control of a 
 United States person.

    (2) Ineligibility for visas, admission, or parole.--
        (A) Visas, admission, or parole.--A foreign person 
 described in subsection

    (a) is--
            (i) inadmissible to the United States;
            (ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other 
 documentation to enter the United States; and
            (iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted 
 or paroled into the United States or to receive 
 any other benefit under the Immigration and 
 Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).
        (B) Current visas revoked.--
            (i) In general.--The visa or other entry 
 documentation of a foreign person described in 
 subsection

    (a) shall be revoked, regardless of 
 when such visa or other entry documentation is 
 or was issued.
            (ii) Immediate effect.--A revocation under 
 clause
            (i) shall, in accordance with 

section 221
            (i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
 (8 U.S.C. 1201
            (i) )--
            (I) take effect; and
            (II) cancel any other valid visa or 
 entry documentation that is in the 
 person's possession.
            (c) Implementation; Penalties.--

    (1) Implementation.--The President may exercise all 
 authorities provided under sections 203 and 205 of the 
 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 
 1704) to carry out this section.

    (2) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts to 
 violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of this 
 section or any regulation, license, or order issued to carry 
 out this section shall be subject to the penalties set forth in 
 subsections

    (b) and
            (c) of 

section 206 of the International 
 Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same 
 extent as a person that commits an unlawful act described in 
 subsection

    (a) of that section.
            (d) National Interest Waiver.--The President may waive the 
imposition of sanctions under this section with respect to a foreign 
person or entity.

    (e) Exceptions.--

    (1) Exceptions for authorized intelligence and law 
 enforcement activities.--This section shall not apply with 
 respect to activities subject to the reporting requirements 
 under title V of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 
 3091 et seq.) or any authorized intelligence, law enforcement, 
 or national security activities of the United States.

    (2) Exception to comply with international agreements.--
 Sanctions under subsection

    (b)

    (2) shall not apply with respect 
 to the admission of an alien to the United States if such 
 admission is necessary to comply with the obligations of the 
 United States under the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of 
 the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and 
 entered into force November 21, 1947, between the United 
 Nations and the United States, or the Convention on Consular 
 Relations, done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered into 
 force March 19, 1967, or other international obligations.

    (3) Exception for safety of vessels and crew.--Sanctions 
 under this section shall not apply with respect to a person or 
 entity providing provisions to a vessel identified under 
 

section 608
            (c) of the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium 
 Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1826i) if such provisions are 
 intended for the safety and care of the crew aboard the vessel, 
 or the maintenance of the vessel to avoid any environmental or 
 other significant damage.

    (4) Humanitarian exception.--The President may not impose 
 sanctions under this section with respect to any person or 
 entity for conducting or facilitating a transaction for the 
 sale of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, or medical 
 devices or for the provision of humanitarian assistance.

    (f) Rulemaking.--

    (1) In general.--The President is authorized to promulgate 
 such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the 
 provisions of this section (which may include regulatory 
 exceptions), including under 

section 205 of the International 
 Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1704).

    (2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section, or in 
 any amendment made by this section, may be construed to limit 
 the authority of the President pursuant to the International 
 Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).

    (g) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Admission; admitted; alien; lawfully admitted for 
 permanent residence.--The terms ``admission'', ``admitted'', 
 ``alien'', and ``lawfully admitted for permanent residence'' 
 have the meanings given those terms in 

section 101 of the 
 Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101).

    (2) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means an 
 individual or entity that is not a United States person.

    (3) United states person.--The term ``United States 
 person'' means--
        (A) a United States citizen or an alien lawfully 
 admitted for permanent residence to the United States;
        (B) an entity organized under the laws of the 
 United States or any jurisdiction within the United 
 States, including a foreign branch of such an entity; 
 or
            (C) any person in the United States.

SEC. 6. AGREEMENTS.

    (a) Presidential Negotiation.--In negotiating any relevant 
agreement with a foreign nation or nations after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the President is encouraged to consider the impacts on or 
to IUU fishing and fishing that involves the use of forced labor and 
strive to ensure that the agreement strengthens efforts to combat IUU 
fishing and fishing that involves the use of forced labor.

    (b) Federal Government Encouragement.--The Federal Government 
should encourage other nations to ratify treaties and agreements that 
address IUU fishing to which the United States is a party, including 
the UN Fish Stocks Agreement, the High Seas Fishing Compliance 
Agreement, the Port State Measures Agreement, and other applicable 
agreements, and pursue bilateral and multilateral initiatives to raise 
international ambition to combat IUU fishing, including in the G7 and 
G20, the United Nations, the International Labor Organization

    (ILO) , 
and the International Maritime Organization

    (IMO) , and through 
voluntary multilateral efforts. The bilateral and multilateral 
initiatives should address underlying drivers of IUU fishing and 
fishing that involves the use of forced labor, such as the practice of 
transshipment, flags of convenience vessels, and government subsidies 
of the distant water fishing industry.
            (c) Transparency for Non-Binding Instruments Concluded Under This 
Section.--Any memorandum of understanding or other non-binding 
instrument to further the objectives of this section shall be 
considered a qualifying non-binding instrument for purposes of 

section 112b of title 1, United States Code.

SEC. 7. ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS.

    (a) Increase Boarding of Vessels Suspected of IUU Fishing.--The 
Commandant of the Coast Guard shall strive, in accordance with the UN 
Fish Stocks Agreement, to increase, from year to year, its observation 
of vessels on the high seas that are suspected of IUU fishing and 
related harmful practices, and is encouraged to consider boarding these 
vessels to the greatest extent practicable.

    (b) Follow Up.--The Administrator shall, in consultation with the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Secretary of State, coordinate 
regularly with regional fisheries management organizations to determine 
what corrective measures each country has taken after vessels that are 
registered or documented by the country have been boarded for suspected 
IUU fishing.
            (c) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act and in accordance with information management rules of the 
relevant regional fisheries management organizations, the Commandant of 
the Coast Guard shall submit a report to Congress on--

    (1) the total number of bilateral agreements utilized or 
 enacted during Coast Guard counter-IUU patrols and future 
 patrol plans for operations with partner nations where 
 bilateral agreements are required to effectively execute the 
 counter-IUU mission and any changes to IUU provisions in 
 bilateral agreements;

    (2) incidents of IUU fishing observed while conducting High 
 Seas Boarding and Inspections

    (HSBI) , how the conduct is 
 tracked after referral to the respective country where the 
 vessel is registered or documented, and what actions are taken 
 to document or otherwise act on the enforcement, or lack 
 thereof, taken by the country;

    (3) the country where the vessel is registered or 
 documented, the country where the vessel was previously 
 registered and documented if known, and status of a vessel 
 interdicted or observed to be engaged in IUU fishing on the 
 high seas by the Coast Guard;

    (4) incident details on vessels observed to be engaged in 
 IUU fishing on the high seas, boarding refusals, and what 
 action was taken; and

    (5) any other potential enforcement actions that could 
 decrease IUU fishing on the high seas.

SEC. 8. IMPROVED MANAGEMENT AT THE REGIONAL FISHERIES MANAGEMENT 
 ORGANIZATIONS.

    (a) Interagency Working Group on IUU Fishing.--

Section 3551
            (c) of 
the Maritime SAFE Act (16 U.S.C. 8031
            (c) ) is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (13) , by striking ``and'' after the 
 semicolon;

    (2) in paragraph

    (14) , by striking the period at the end 
 and inserting a semicolon; and

    (3) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (15) developing a strategy for leveraging enforcement 
 capacity against IUU fishing, particularly focusing on nations 
 identified under 

section 609

    (a) of the High Seas Driftnet 
 Fishing Moratorium Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1826j

    (a) ); and
 ``

    (16) developing a strategy for leveraging enforcement 
 capacity against associated abuses, such as fishing that 
 involves the use of forced labor and other illegal labor 
 practices, and increasing enforcement and other actions across 
 relevant import control and assessment programs, using as 
 resources--
 ``
        (A) the List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or 
 Forced Labor produced pursuant to 

section 105 of the 
 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 
 2005 (22 U.S.C. 7112);
 ``
        (B) the Trafficking in Persons Report required 
 under 

section 110 of the Trafficking Victims Protection 
 Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7107);
 ``
            (C) United States Customs and Border Protection's 
 Forced Labor Division and enforcement activities and 
 regulations authorized under 

section 307 of the Tariff 
 Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1307); and
 ``
            (D) reports submitted under the Uyghur Human 
 Rights Policy Act of 2020 (22 U.S.C. 6901 note).''.

    (b) Secretary of State Identification.--The Secretary of State, in 
coordination with the Commandant of the Coast Guard and the 
Administrator, shall--

    (1) identify regional fisheries management organizations 
 that the United States is party to that do not have a high seas 
 boarding and inspection program; and

    (2) identify obstacles, needed authorities, or existing 
 efforts to increase implementation of these programs, and take 
 action as appropriate.

SEC. 9. STRATEGIES TO OPTIMIZE DATA COLLECTION, SHARING, AND ANALYSIS.

 

Section 3552 of the Maritime SAFE Act (16 U.S.C. 8032) is amended 
by adding at the end:
 ``
            (c) Strategies To Optimize Data Collection, Sharing, and 
Analysis.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the 
Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvests Act of 2025, the Working 
Group shall identify information and resources to prevent fish and fish 
products from IUU fishing and fishing that involves the use of forced 
labor from entering United States commerce without increasing burden or 
trade barriers on seafood not produced from IUU fishing. The report 
shall include the following:
 ``

    (1) Identification of relevant data streams collected by 
 Working Group members.
 ``

    (2) Identification of legal, jurisdictional, or other 
 barriers to the sharing of such data.
 ``

    (3) In consultation with the Secretary of Defense, 
 recommendations for joint enforcement protocols, collaboration, 
 and information sharing between Federal agencies and States.
 ``

    (4) Recommendations for sharing and developing forensic 
 resources between Federal agencies and States.
 ``

    (5) Recommendations for enhancing capacity for United 
 States Customs and Border Protection and National Oceanic and 
 Atmospheric Administration to conduct more effective field 
 investigations and enforcement efforts with U.S. state 
 enforcement officials.
 ``

    (6) Recommendations for improving data collection and 
 automated risk-targeting of seafood imports within the United 
 States International Trade Data System and Automated Commercial 
 Environment.
 ``

    (7) Recommendations for the dissemination of IUU fishing 
 and fishing that involves the use of forced labor analysis and 
 information to those governmental and non-governmental entities 
 that could use it for action and awareness, with the aim to 
 establish an IUU fishing information sharing center.
 ``

    (8) Recommendations for an implementation strategy, 
 including measures for ensuring that trade in seafood not 
 linked to IUU fishing and forced labor is not impeded.
 ``

    (9) An analysis of the IUU fishing policies and 
 regulatory regimes of other countries in order to develop 
 policy and regulatory alternatives for United States 
 consideration.''.

SEC. 10. INVESTMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE FISHERIES SECTOR.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of State, the Administrator of the 
United States Agency for International Development, and the Secretary 
of Commerce, in consultation with the heads of relevant agencies, the 
Millennium Challenge Corporation, and multilateral institutions such as 
the World Bank, are encouraged to increase support to programs that 
provide technical assistance, institutional capacity, and investment to 
nations' fisheries sectors for sustainable fisheries management and 
combating IUU fishing and forced labor. The focus of such support is 
encouraged to be on priority regions and priority flag states 
identified under 

section 3552

    (b) of the Maritime SAFE Act (16 U.S.C. 
8032

    (b) ).

    (b) Analysis of U.S. Capacity-Building Expertise and Resources.--In 
order to maximize efforts on preventing IUU fishing at its sources, the 
Interagency Working Group on IUU Fishing established under 

section 3551 
of the Maritime SAFE Act (16 U.S.C. 8031) shall analyze United States 
capacity-building expertise and resources to provide support to 
nations' fisheries sectors. This analysis may include an assessment of 
potential avenues for in-country public-private collaboration and 
multilateral collaboration on developing local fisheries science, 
fisheries management, maritime enforcement, and maritime judicial 
capabilities.

SEC. 11. PREVENTING IMPORTATION OF SEAFOOD AND SEAFOOD PRODUCTS FROM 
 FOREIGN VESSELS USING FORCED LABOR.

 The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in 
coordination with the Secretary shall--

    (1) develop a strategy for utilizing relevant United States 
 Government data to identify imports of seafood harvested on 
 foreign vessels using forced labor; and

    (2) publish information regarding the strategy developed 
 under paragraph

    (1) on the website of U.S. Customs and Border 
 Protection.

SEC. 12. REPORTS.

    (a) Impact of New Technology.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, with 
support from the Administrator and the Working Group established under 

section 3551 of the Maritime SAFE Act (16 U.S.C. 8031), shall conduct a 
study to assess the impact of new technology (such as remote observing, 
the use of drones, development of risk assessment tools and data-
sharing software, immediate containerization of fish on fishing 
vessels, satellite Wi-Fi technology on fishing vessels, and other 
technology-enhanced new fishing practices) on IUU fishing and 
associated crimes (such as trafficking and fishing involving the use of 
forced labor) and propose ways to integrate these technologies into 
global fisheries enforcement and management.

    (b) Russian and Chinese Fishing Industries' Influence on Each Other 
and on the United States Seafood and Fishing Industry.--Not later than 
2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
State, with support from the Secretary of Commerce and the Office of 
the United States Trade Representative, shall--

    (1) conduct a study on the collaboration between the 
 Russian and Chinese fishing industries and on the role of 
 seafood reprocessing in China (including that of raw materials 
 originating in Russia) in global seafood markets and its impact 
 on United States seafood importers, processors, and consumers; 
 and

    (2) complete a report on the study that includes classified 
 and unclassified portions, as the Secretary of State determines 
 necessary.
            (c) Fishermen Conducting Unlawful Fishing in the Economic Exclusion 
Zone.--

Section 3551 of the Maritime SAFE Act (16 U.S.C. 8031) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (d) The Impacts of IUU Fishing and Fishing Involving the Use of 
Forced Labor.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Administrator, in consultation with 
 relevant members of the Working Group, shall seek to enter into 
 an arrangement with the National Academies of Sciences, 
 Engineering, and Medicine under which the National Academies 
 will undertake a multifaceted study that includes the 
 following:
 ``
        (A) An analysis that quantifies the occurrence 
 and extent of IUU fishing and fishing involving the use 
 of forced labor among all flag states.
 ``
        (B) An evaluation of the costs to the United 
 States economy of IUU fishing and fishing involving the 
 use of forced labor.
 ``
            (C) An assessment of the costs to the global 
 economy of IUU fishing and fishing involving the use of 
 forced labor.
 ``
            (D) An assessment of the effectiveness of 
 response strategies to counter IUU fishing, including 
 both domestic programs and foreign capacity-building 
 and partnering programs.
 ``

    (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
 to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $4,000,000.''.
            (d) Report.--Not later than 24 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the 
study conducted under subsection
            (d) of 

section 3551 of the Maritime 
SAFE Act that includes--

    (1) the findings of the National Academies; and

    (2) recommendations on knowledge gaps that warrant further 
 scientific inquiry.
 <all>