FISH Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Crenshaw
In Committee
Summary
This bill would establish an __IUU vessel 'blacklist'__ and new enforcement tools to stop seafood tied to illegal fishing and forced labor from entering U.S. markets.
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- U.S. seafood industry and importers would face stricter import controls. The bill directs Customs and Border Protection to target seafood from listed vessels and creates import bans and seizure authorities while allowing a narrow exception for unaware importers.
- Coast Guard and enforcement agencies would gain stepped-up powers and reporting duties. The bill expands boarding authority, requires tracking of corrective measures after boardings, and mandates annual, Congress-disclosable enforcement and bilateral engagement reports.
- Foreign vessels, flag States, and partners would see new pressure and support. Vessels can be added to an IUU list for links to illegal fishing or forced labor, listed vessels face port and servicing bans and possible sanctions, and the bill funds capacity building and RFMO assessments to improve compliance.
*Authorizes $20.0 million annually for the Department of Commerce from 2025 through 2030 and $4.0 million for a National Academies study, increasing federal spending by those amounts.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Public blacklist for illegal fishing vessels
If enacted, this bill would create a public list of foreign vessels tied to illegal or forced-labor fishing. The Commerce Secretary, with State, CBP, and Labor, would run it and publish names, IDs, owners, and reasons each year. Owners would get notice and 90 days to respond before listing; rules would be issued within 12 months. Listed vessels could be barred from U.S. ports and have seafood seized, with a limited importer exception for those who paid and did not know. Owners could seek removal after five years without IUU if they fix problems. The program would get $20 million each year from 2025 through 2030.
Sanctions and visa bans for illegal fishing
If enacted, the Treasury Secretary could block property and U.S. transactions for foreign people and vessels tied to illegal or endangered fish trade. Leaders, owners, and those who help them could also be targeted, and violators could face IEEPA penalties. These people would be denied U.S. visas and could have any visas revoked. Exceptions would cover authorized intelligence and law enforcement work, required diplomatic entries, crew safety supplies, and sales of food and medicine for humanitarian aid.
More high seas patrols and tech study
If enacted, the Coast Guard would aim to increase high seas observation and boarding of suspect vessels, consistent with the UN Fish Stocks Agreement. It would report to Congress within three years on incidents, flag states, refusals, and agreements used. DHS would, within one year, study tools like drones, remote observing, and satellite links and recommend how to use them in enforcement.
Studies on illegal fishing and supply chains
This bill would fund a $4 million National Academies study on illegal and forced-labor fishing, with a NOAA report to Congress within 24 months. Within two years, the State Department would study Russia-China fishing ties and seafood processing in China. It would look at effects on U.S. importers, processors, and consumers, and may include classified and public parts.
Stronger checks on forced labor seafood
CBP, with NOAA, would build a data plan to spot seafood harvested with forced labor and post information online. An interagency group would, within three years, propose a broader data-sharing and enforcement strategy to keep illegal and forced-labor fish out of U.S. markets without burdening legitimate trade. It would list needed data, legal barriers, risk-targeting tools, and capacity upgrades for CBP and NOAA.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Crenshaw
TX • R
Cosponsors
Magaziner
RI • D
Sponsored 6/5/2025
Begich
AK • R
Sponsored 6/5/2025
Mace
SC • R
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Vindman
VA • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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