South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Del. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large]
Passed House
Summary
Aligns U.S. law with a South Pacific tuna treaty and Pacific Island national laws. The bill would rewrite definitions, licensing, enforcement, reporting, and dispute rules for commercial purse-seine tuna fishing to reflect treaty terms.
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- Pacific Island Parties: Treats “Applicable National Law” and “Closed Area” as those a Party notices and keeps in effect. The Administrator may attach regional terms and conditions to licenses.
- U.S. fishers and vessels: Expands eligibility for certain U.S.-documented purse-seine vessels to operate in the Licensing Area, on the high seas, and in U.S. waters west of 146° W and east of 129.5° E. It prohibits knowingly deploying purse-seine nets to encircle dolphins or other marine mammals.
- Enforcement and administration: Revises enforcement cross-references and expands search and seizure authority for authorized officers. The bill repeals observer requirements, creates confidentiality rules with limited disclosure for enforcement and treaty management, authorizes technical assistance to Pacific Island Parties, and lets the Treaty determine arbitration location.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
License rules and access for tuna boats
If enacted, license applications would be sent only when they follow Secretary rules. The Secretary, with State, could refuse to forward an application for bankruptcy without financial assurances, missing insurance, unpaid final penalties, or other noncompliance. Fees would need to be paid as the Treaty and Secretary procedures require. Some U.S.-documented vessels with a past license could fish in the Licensing Area, on the high seas, and in U.S. waters between 146° W and 129.5° E. They would need to follow all laws and not encircle dolphins or other marine mammals with purse seine nets.
Stricter rules, fewer exceptions for tuna
If enacted, key terms would be tightened. A "fishing vessel" would mean purse seine tuna boats, and other craft could not aid fishing except for health or safety emergencies. New violations would include breaking regional license terms and going over fishing effort or catch limits. The Secretary would set stowage rules for Closed Areas and could order vessels to leave waters under a Party’s jurisdiction. Some statutory exceptions and the observer section would be repealed.
Confidentiality for fishing business data
If enacted, information you submit under the Act would be confidential. This includes observer data and items the Administrator marks confidential. The Secretary could share it only by court order, for enforcement or national security, for Treaty administration or fishery management, to international fishery groups with safeguards, with your written okay, or in summaries that hide identities.
Technical help for Pacific fisheries
If enacted, the U.S. could provide technical help to Pacific Island countries. Help could include training, capacity building, and support for private partnerships. This would aim to improve fisheries and licensed vessel operations.
Treaty decides arbitration hearing location
If enacted, the Treaty text would decide where arbitration is held for Treaty disputes. The bill would remove the fixed location in statute.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Del. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large]
AS • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
HI • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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