What does Preamble of FISH Act of 2025 do?

This bill, formally titled 'To combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing at its sources globally,' aims to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on June 5, 2025, by Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Magaziner, and Mr. Begich.

What does SHORT TITLE. of FISH Act of 2025 do?

This bill is formally titled the Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvests Act of 2025.

What does DEFINITIONS. of FISH Act of 2025 do?

This section defines terms used throughout the Act. The term 'Administrator' refers to the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or their designee. A 'beneficial owner' of a vessel is someone who exercises substantial control or owns at least 50% of the vessel's ownership interests. ’Fish’ is defined as finfish, crustaceans, and mollusks. ’Forced labor’ is defined by reference to section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930. ’IUU fishing’ is defined by reference to paragraph 3 of the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing. ’Regional fisheries management organization’ and ‘RFMO’ are defined by reference to section 303 of the Port State Measures Agreement Act of 2015. ’Seafood’ includes fish, shellfish, processed fish, fish meal, shellfish products, and other marine animal and plant life (excluding marine mammals and birds). The term 'Secretary' refers to the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or their designee.

What does STATEMENT OF POLICY. of FISH Act of 2025 do?

This section establishes a policy for the United States to collaborate with various entities, including foreign governments, civil society, and the private sector. The policy aims to continue efforts to counter illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, including its potential links to forced labor and human trafficking. Efforts should prioritize preventing IUU fishing at its sources. The policy supports the implementation of the Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries agreement and related research to ensure sustainability of fish stocks in Arctic international waters.

What does ESTABLISHMENT OF A BLACK LIST (IUU VESSEL LIST). of FISH Act of 2025 do?

This section establishes an IUU vessel list (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Vessel List) to be developed, maintained, and made public by the Secretary, in coordination with other agencies. The IUU vessel list will include foreign vessels, fleets, and beneficial owners engaged in IUU fishing or related activities. Vessels may be added to the list based on criteria including listing on international fishery management organization lists, undermining conservation measures, identification by U.S. authorities, use of forced labor, providing services to listed vessels, fishing without permits in U.S. waters, or having the same beneficial owner as a listed vessel. Nominations for inclusion on the list can come from executive branch agencies, countries in the Combined Maritime Forces, or civil organizations with data-sharing agreements. Vessels added to the list face consequences including prohibition from accessing U.S. ports and restrictions on delivering or receiving supplies within U.S. waters. The import of seafood from vessels on the IUU vessel list is prohibited. Vessels can be removed from the list under certain circumstances, such as revocation of a withhold release order or removal from an international fishery management organization’s list. The Secretary is required to issue regulations within 12 months of the Act's enactment to establish a process for managing the IUU vessel list.

What does IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS. of FISH Act of 2025 do?

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to impose sanctions on foreign persons or vessels involved in the sale, supply, purchase, or transfer of endangered fish species, or engaging in IUU fishing. Sanctions may also be imposed on leaders or officials of entities involved in these activities, entities controlling vessels engaged in such activities, and entities providing support to those involved. The sanctions include blocking of property within the United States and inaccessibility to visas, admission, or parole into the United States, including revocation of existing visas. The President has the authority to implement these sanctions and may waive them. Exceptions exist for authorized intelligence and law enforcement activities, compliance with international agreements, providing provisions for vessel safety, and humanitarian assistance. The President is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to carry out this section.

What does AGREEMENTS. of FISH Act of 2025 do?

This section addresses agreements related to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and fishing involving forced labor. The President is encouraged to consider the impacts of IUU fishing and forced labor when negotiating agreements with foreign nations. The Federal Government is encouraged to promote ratification of relevant treaties and agreements by other nations and to pursue international initiatives to combat IUU fishing. These initiatives should address factors contributing to IUU fishing and forced labor, such as transshipment, flags of convenience vessels, and government subsidies. Memoranda of understanding and other non-binding instruments furthering the objectives of this section are considered qualifying non-binding instruments for purposes of section 112b of title 1, United States Code.

What does ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS. of FISH Act of 2025 do?

This section establishes enforcement provisions related to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The Commandant of the Coast Guard is directed to increase observation and, where practicable, boarding of vessels suspected of IUU fishing on the high seas, aligning with the UN Fish Stocks Agreement. The Administrator, in coordination with the Commandant and the Secretary of State, must coordinate with regional fisheries management organizations regarding corrective measures taken by countries after vessels registered to them are boarded for suspected IUU fishing. The Commandant must submit a report to Congress within three years of the Act's enactment, detailing various aspects of counter-IUU fishing efforts. The report will include information on bilateral agreements, incidents of IUU fishing, vessel registration details, boarding refusals, and potential enforcement actions. The report must adhere to information management rules of relevant regional fisheries management organizations.

What does IMPROVED MANAGEMENT AT THE REGIONAL FISHERIES MANAGEMENT of FISH Act of 2025 do?

This section amends Section 3551(c) of the Maritime SAFE Act to expand the responsibilities of the Interagency Working Group on IUU Fishing. The Working Group is now tasked with developing strategies for leveraging enforcement capacity against IUU fishing, particularly focusing on nations identified under the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act. The Working Group must also develop strategies to address abuses associated with fishing, such as forced labor, and increase enforcement actions. The Working Group can utilize resources including the List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor, the Trafficking in Persons Report, U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Forced Labor Division, and reports submitted under the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act. The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Administrator, must identify regional fisheries management organizations lacking high seas boarding and inspection programs. The Secretary of State must also identify obstacles and efforts to increase the implementation of these programs.

What does STRATEGIES TO OPTIMIZE DATA COLLECTION, SHARING, AND ANALYSIS. of FISH Act of 2025 do?

This section amends Section 3552 of the Maritime SAFE Act. The Working Group is directed to identify information and resources to prevent illegally caught fish and fish products from entering U.S. commerce. The Working Group must submit a report within three years of the enactment of the Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvests Act of 2025. The report must identify relevant data streams, barriers to data sharing, and recommend enforcement protocols. Recommendations include enhancing the capacity of Customs and Border Protection and NOAA for field investigations. The report should also recommend improvements to data collection and risk-targeting within trade data systems. The Working Group must recommend a strategy for disseminating information about IUU fishing to relevant entities. The implementation strategy must ensure trade in legitimate seafood is not impeded. The report will include an analysis of IUU fishing policies in other countries.

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FISH Act of 2025

Last updated: 4/21/2026 · Introduced: 6/5/2025

Author: Dan Crenshaw (R-TX)

TL;DR (AI)

The bill establishes a policy for the United States to collaborate with various entities to counter illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, including its potential links to forced labor and human trafficking.
The Secretary is required to develop, maintain, and make public an IUU vessel list, which includes foreign vessels, fleets, and beneficial owners engaged in IUU fishing or related activities.
The bill authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to impose sanctions on foreign persons or vessels involved in the sale, supply, purchase, or transfer of endangered fish species, or engaging in IUU fishing.
The Commandant of the Coast Guard is directed to increase observation and boarding of vessels suspected of IUU fishing on the high seas, and to submit a report to Congress detailing various aspects of counter-IUU fishing efforts.
The bill encourages the Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, and the Secretary of Commerce to increase support for programs providing technical assistance, institutional capacity, and investment to nations' fisheries sectors.

119th Congressin committeeS. 688(Passed Senate)Official page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 11 more.

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