U.S. policymakers are considering action to address concerns about illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing. The vast expanses of the Pacific Ocean provide many opportunities for fishers who would flout the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone and harvest ocean resources illegally.
Congress is considering H. R. 1080 (here) which aims to: "To strengthen enforcement mechanisms to stop illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and for other purposes." Per the Congressional Research Service, the Act:
Amends specified Acts related to commercial fishing and marine resources, including the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Pacific Salmon Treaty Act of 1985, the South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988, the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act of 1995, and the Antarctic Marine Living Resources Convention Act of 1984, to provide for increased interagency and international cooperation, as well as for increased penalties for violations of such acts and increased enforcement and inspection authorities relating to driftnet fishing, illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing, and bycatch of a protected living marine resource.
Requires: (1) the development and publication of a list of vessels engaged in illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing, including vessels identified by an international fishery management organization or an arrangement made pursuant to an international fishery agreement, whether or not the United States is a party to such organization or agreement; and (2) taking appropriate action against listed vessels.
Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to establish an international cooperation and assistance program, including grants, to provide assistance for international fishing capacity building efforts.
Rear Admiral Brice-Ohara, Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations, recently provided written testimony () on the bill, in which she stated:
IUU fishing activity is global in reach and adversely affects marine ecosystems by distorting competition and jeopardizing the economic survival of coastal communities that are reliant on local fisheries for their livelihood. IUU fishing negatively affects the marine resources and habitats in both domestic waters and on the high seas, and is conducted by all types of fishing vessels. The environmental consequences of IUU fishing go well beyond direct damage done to fishing stocks, as IUU fishers are more inclined to disregard management efforts aimed at minimizing destructive fishing and illegal by-catch and discard practices which negatively affect other marine protected species and habitats. These abuses leave fish stocks and their habitats with a smaller margin of resilience to buffer the effects of climate change. The Coast Guard shares the view that deterring and controlling IUU fishing is vital to optimally managing and protecting vital living marine resources and their environments.
The Coast Guard's iCommandant blog post highlights some media coverage here.
Side note: yet again, the Coast Guard noted its support for ratification (long overdue in my opinion) of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea:
One of the fundamental building blocks of this system is the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention. The United States is not yet a party to the Convention. Acceding to the Convention is an important step to ensure that we can exercise the necessary leadership in international regime development across the full spectrum of concerns including international fisheries management and conservation. This action will strengthen the position of the United States when negotiating additional agreements and working in international forums to address IUU fishing.
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