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119-hr-6338119th Congress

Stop Illegal Fishing Act

Sponsored By: Representative Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]

Passed House

Summary

Creates a U.S. sanctions regime targeting foreign persons and vessels involved in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. It ties IUU activity to poor crew conditions and aims to deter harm to fisheries, ecosystems, and coastal communities by blocking finance and restricting entry.

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  • Foreign owners, captains, senior crew, and entities tied to IUU fishing would face asset blocking under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and visa and admission bans, including immediate revocation of current visas.
  • Foreign vessels found to engage in IUU fishing would be subject to the same sanctions, limiting their access to U.S. markets and financial systems and increasing legal risk for operators and service providers.
  • The President would be required to create an IUU fishing sanctions program and report to the relevant congressional committees within 180 days and then annually for five years. The bill includes exceptions for international obligations, humanitarian aid, intelligence and law enforcement, vessel and crew safety, and a presidential waiver with 15 days notice to Congress.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

New U.S. sanctions on illegal fishing

If enacted, the U.S. would set up sanctions against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. The President would have to target foreign owners, captains, senior crew, companies mainly doing this, and their officers, plus the vessels. U.S. people and companies would be barred from most deals with them, and their property in the U.S. would be blocked. Exceptions would allow sales of food and medicine, humanitarian aid, UN obligations, approved intelligence or law‑enforcement work, and supplies needed to protect crews or prevent major environmental harm. The President would be able to waive a sanction with 15 days’ notice to Congress if it is important to U.S. national security. A report would be due in 180 days, then yearly for five years, listing who was sanctioned and actions taken.

Visa bans for illegal fishing actors

If enacted, noncitizens the U.S. knows or has reason to believe meet these illegal fishing criteria would be barred from visas and entry. They would be inadmissible and ineligible for visas, admission, or parole. Any visas already issued would be revoked at once under immigration law and would cancel any other valid entry papers. These decisions would be made by the Secretary of State or Homeland Security, or their designees.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]

NY • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40]

    CA • R

    Sponsored 12/1/2025

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 6/3/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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