Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvests Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Dan Sullivan
Passed Senate
Summary
Stopping illegal and forced‑labor fishing is the bill's main goal. It creates a U.S. policy and enforcement framework that uses an IUU Vessel List, targeted visa sanctions on vessel owners, and data and technology strategies to trace seafood tied to forced labor while boosting international cooperation and Arctic stock sustainability.
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- Workers and victims of forced labor: Requires U.S. agencies to develop data tools to identify seafood harvested with forced labor and creates a public IUU Vessel List that can trigger targeted visa sanctions on listed vessel owners.
- U.S. enforcement and agencies: Directs the Coast Guard to expand boarding and inspection efforts, mandates data‑driven enforcement plans, and orders studies on new technologies like drones, remote observing, and satellite connectivity.
- Partner countries and science programs: Funds technical assistance and capacity building for foreign fisheries, extends National Sea Grant authorization through 2031, and authorizes a focused National Academies study on IUU and forced labor.
*Authorizes $10.0 million annually from 2025 through 2030 for IUU Vessel List activities and $2.0 million for the National Academies study, plus extended Sea Grant appropriations authority.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Data and research to spot forced-labor seafood
If enacted, Commerce and other agencies would publish a plan to use government data to find seafood tied to forced labor. An interagency group would deliver a 3‑year report on data sources, legal barriers, sharing forensic tools with states, and smarter risk targeting that avoids extra burdens on lawful sellers. Within 1 year, Homeland Security would study how tools like satellites, drones, and data software can help stop illegal fishing. Within 2 years, State would study ties between Russian and Chinese fishing and processing in China. Within 24 months, NOAA would report to Congress on findings from a National Academies study. The bill would authorize $2 million one time for that National Academies study.
Public list of illegal fishing ships
If enacted, the government would create a public list of foreign fishing ships and owners tied to illegal or forced‑labor fishing. Commerce would notify owners, give 90 days to respond, and allow a hearing. The list would be posted online and in the Federal Register and updated when ships are added. Commerce would issue rules within 12 months on how to add or remove entries. The bill would authorize $10 million each year for 2025–2030 to run this system.
More Coast Guard illegal fishing patrols
If enacted, the Coast Guard would be told to increase year‑to‑year patrols watching ships suspected of illegal fishing on the high seas. It would be encouraged to board these ships when practicable. This aims to deter illegal fishing and protect honest seafood businesses.
Visa bans for listed ship owners
If enacted, foreign people who own a ship on the list would be denied U.S. visas and entry. Any current visa would be revoked. The President would be able to waive this for national interest. Exceptions would permit law‑enforcement or intelligence travel, required international travel, safety‑related deliveries, and cases involving coercion.
Sea Grant funding authorization through 2031
If enacted, the bill would extend the National Sea Grant College Program’s authorization for each year 2025 through 2031, instead of only 2025. This would help states and universities plan Sea Grant research and outreach.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Dan Sullivan
AK • R
Cosponsors
Sheldon Whitehouse
RI • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Lisa Murkowski
AK • R
Sponsored 3/24/2025
Roger Wicker
MS • R
Sponsored 4/30/2025
Lindsey Graham
SC • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Jeff Merkley
OR • D
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Lisa Blunt Rochester
DE • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Christopher Coons
DE • D
Sponsored 6/17/2025
John Kennedy
LA • R
Sponsored 7/8/2025
Cindy Hyde-Smith
MS • R
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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