Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act

Bill Number

S. 283

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Status

Passed Senate

Latest Action

2025-07-15: Held at the desk.

Last Updated

2025-10-09T03:26:17Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act (S. 283) aims to strengthen efforts against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by developing a scientific method to trace the origin of seafood and authorizing U.S. military support for international enforcement. IUU fishing refers to fishing activities that violate national or international laws, are not reported to authorities, or occur without proper regulation, often harming sustainable fisheries.

Key Provisions

• Development of Origin Identification Methodology (Section 2):
• Requires the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology (who also leads the National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator—working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Coast Guard—to create a standard method using chemical analysis to determine a seafood product's country of origin.
• The method must meet enforcement needs, process samples quickly, use a portable field kit operable by one person, and, where possible, test prepared foods like ceviche, sashimi, sushi, or poke.
• Initial focus: Pilot studies on red snapper (a fish that stays in one ocean area) and specific tuna species (bigeye, yellowfin, and bluefin, which migrate long distances).
• Within 2 years of enactment, the Under Secretary must report to congressional committees (Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation; House Transportation and Infrastructure; House Natural Resources) on the methodology, an implementation plan, and any challenges or alternatives if chemical analysis proves impractical.

• Technical Assistance for IUU Enforcement (Section 3):
• Authorizes the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Coast Guard, to use Department of Defense (DoD) operation and maintenance funds to provide maritime technical help to other countries' forces combating IUU fishing and related transnational crimes (like smuggling).
• Assistance may include deploying U.S. observers, shipriders (personnel boarding foreign vessels), specialized staff; remote sensing (e.g., satellite monitoring); data analysis; and operational intelligence, all in line with U.S. laws.
• Applies to U.S. Coast Guard members on DoD, partner, or international vessels, and partner personnel on U.S. assets.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces a new mandate for interagency collaboration to develop a chemical-based traceability tool specifically for seafood origin, which does not currently exist in standardized form under U.S. law.
• Expands DoD's role in fisheries enforcement by authorizing funds and personnel for international technical aid, building on but not replacing existing Coast Guard authorities under laws like the Magnuson-Stevens Act (which governs U.S. fisheries management).

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Enhances capabilities for NOAA, NIST, CBP, Coast Guard, and DoD to detect IUU imports at ports and support global patrols, potentially reducing enforcement costs through quicker field testing. May require new budgets for research and training.
• Citizens and Fishing Industry: Improves seafood supply chain transparency, protecting U.S. fishermen from unfair competition by illegal imports and ensuring sustainable stocks; consumers benefit from safer, legally sourced products.
• International Relations: Promotes cooperation with partner nations on maritime security, potentially strengthening alliances against global crimes like IUU fishing, which affects shared ocean resources and food security.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Government Agencies: NOAA, NIST (under Commerce), DoD, Coast Guard, and CBP, who must collaborate on development and implementation.
• Congressional Committees: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation; House Transportation and Infrastructure; House Natural Resources, responsible for oversight and receiving reports.
• International Partners: Maritime forces from other countries receiving U.S. technical assistance.
• Fishing Industry and Consumers: Commercial fishers, seafood processors, importers, and the public, impacted by better enforcement against illegal catches of species like red snapper and tuna.
• Environmental Groups: Organizations focused on ocean conservation, benefiting from reduced IUU threats to marine ecosystems.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces existing anti-IUU frameworks (e.g., Port State Measures Agreement) by adding tools for enforcement without creating new penalties; ensures assistance complies with U.S. foreign policy and laws, avoiding unauthorized military engagements.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's commerce and foreign affairs powers (Article I, Section 8); no apparent conflicts with due process or privacy, as it targets commercial imports rather than individuals.
• Political: Signals U.S. commitment to global fisheries sustainability amid rising IUU concerns (e.g., overfishing in international waters), potentially influencing trade negotiations or aid to nations combating organized crime at sea; may face debates over DoD resource allocation in non-traditional security roles.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

Cosponsors (4)

Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI], Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL], Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL], Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-15: Held at the desk.
• 2025-07-15: Received in the House.
• 2025-07-15: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
• 2025-07-14: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4341; text: CR S4341-4342)
• 2025-07-14: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
• 2025-05-21: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 86.
• 2025-05-21: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-24.
• 2025-05-21: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-24.
• 2025-02-05: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
• 2025-01-28: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
• 2025-01-28: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act — issued 2025-07-14 — PDF (8 pages)
• Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act — issued 2025-01-28 — PDF (5 pages)
• Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act — issued 2025-05-21 — PDF (8 pages)