A bill advancing out of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee puts new ‘teeth’ into efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. KHJ News Washington, D.C., correspondent Matt Kaye reports…
The “Stop Illegal Fishing Act” would impose sanctions on owners or operators of foreign vessels engaged in IUU fishing—a major threat to American Samoa’s tuna industry.
The bipartisan bill takes direct aim at China, calling it “the primary perpetrator of IUU fishing” and “the largest exploiter of global fisheries.”
Foreign Affairs Chair Brian Mast…
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[Transc.] Mast: “It is mostly a ‘middle finger’ from the Chinese Communist Party to neighboring and coastal countries. The Chinese Communist Party overseas the largest illegal fishing fleet. They deplete fish stocks, they violate maritime laws. They harm local economies.”
If enacted, the bill would block owners and operators of IUU boats from “all transactions in property” in the United States.
And it would make such persons “ineligible for a visa,” other admission, or parole to the U.S. Plus, current visas would be revoked.
Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata’s office says she’ll examine the bill before cosponsoring it but is likely “supportive.”
Amata stressed the Chinese IUU threat at an Indian and Insular Affairs hearing in March…
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[Transc.] Amata: “Chinese fishing vessels have increasingly penetrated American Samoa’s EEZ in conducting IUU fishing in the region. To protect American Samoa’s economy we need a permanent Coast Guard presence to deter China in the region.”
The “Stop Illegal Fishing Act” declares that IUU fishing in another country’s EEZ “violates international law,” adding that illegal fishing often comes with illegally low pay, inhumane treatment, and in some cases forced labor or even human trafficking.
The bill directs the President to create an IUU fishing sanctions program and to make annual reports to the House and Senate panels on foreign affairs.
A similar effort to crack down on IUU fishing is underway in the Senate.
