S. 688 · Passed Senate · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvests Act of 2025

What it does

Directs the Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Labor and other agencies, to develop, maintain, and publish a public list of foreign vessels and beneficial owners engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing or fishing-related activities in support thereof.
Requires the Secretary to include vessels on the IUU vessel list based on clear and convincing evidence that a vessel is listed on an international fishery management organization's IUU list, exceeds catch limits, operates inconsistently with catch allocations.
Establishes a 90-day notification and review process before placing a vessel on the IUU vessel list, allows beneficial owners to request a hearing before the Interagency Working Group on IUU Fishing, and permits presentation of new evidence for reconsideration.
Requires the Secretary to publish the IUU vessel list annually in the Federal Register and on a website updated whenever a vessel is added, including vessel name, IMO number, call sign, beneficial owner address, registration country, inclusion date, and basis for listing.
Authorizes the Secretary to take enforcement action against vessels on the IUU vessel list, vessel owners, and vessel operators under existing authorities available on the day before enactment of this Act.

Mar 24, 2026: Held at the desk.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation