H.R. 6338 · Passed House · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Stop Illegal Fishing Act

Sponsor: Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY)

What it does

• Requires the President to impose sanctions on foreign vessels and persons engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
• Blocks and prohibits all transactions involving property of covered foreign vessels or persons when that property comes within U.S. territory or control.
• Denies or revokes visas and entry documentation for foreign persons engaged in IUU fishing.
• Imposes civil and criminal penalties for violations, including attempts and conspiracies to violate the sanctions.

Official summary

Stop Illegal Fishing Act This bill requires the President to impose sanctions on foreign vessels and persons engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing). The bill directs the President to block and prohibit all transactions involving property (including interests in property) of a covered foreign vessel or person if such property comes within the United States or within the possession or control of a U.S. person. The President must also deny or revoke any visa or other entry documentation issued to or sought by a covered foreign person. Civil and criminal penalties apply to violations, including attempts or conspiracies to violate the sanctions. A covered foreign vessel is any vessel that is registered or operated under the authority of a foreign country and engages in IUU fishing. Covered foreign persons are individuals or entities that are not U.S. persons and knowingly (1) own any vessel that engages in IUU fishing, (2) work as a captain or senior crew member on any vessel that engages in IUU fishing, (3) operate as an entity primarily engaged in IUU fishing, or (4) serve as an officer or senior manager in an entity primarily engaged in IUU fishing…

Latest action

Jun 9, 2026: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Committee: Senate Foreign Relations