Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act

Ted Cruz

Republican · TX · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Brian Schatz (D-HI)Original· 2025-01-28
• Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL)Original· 2025-01-28
• Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)Original· 2025-01-28
• Roger F. Wicker (R-MS)· 2025-06-12

Presented to President.

2026-10-05

Source: Congress.gov

Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to jointly develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of seafood to support enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing). It also authorizes technical assistance to other countries to help combat IUU fishing and transnational organized crime. NOAA and NIST must consult with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Coast Guard in developing the methodology, which must use chemical analysis to identify the country of origin of seafood. The methodology must be consistent with the needs of federal and state law enforcement agencies in combating IUU fishing. The methodology must also include a portable field kit and, to the extent practicable, be appropriate for testing prepared food (including raw preparations of seafood such as sushi). The agencies must conduct pilot studies of the methodology on red snapper and tuna. Within two years after the bill's enactment, NIST must report to Congress regarding the methodology and a plan for operationalizing it. The report must explain any aspects of its methodology that are impracticable, whether additional research would make the methodology practicable, and whether an alternate approach might be practicable. The bill also authorizes the Department of Defense to use operation and maintenance funds to provide technical assistance to maritime forces of other countries to help combat IUU fishing and transnational organized crime (e.g., by providing observers or data analysis).

Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 283 Engrossed in Senate (ES)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 283 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To require the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the Administrator of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of seafood to support enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act''. SEC. 2. METHODOLOGY FOR IDENTIFYING THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN OF SEAFOOD. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means-- (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives. (3) Key agency leadership.--The term ``key agency leadership'' means the Administrator and the Under Secretary in consultation with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Commandant of the Coast Guard. (4) Red snapper.--The term ``red snapper'' means the species Lutjanus campechanus. (5) Tuna.--The term ``tuna'' means the following species of tuna: (A) Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus). (B) Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares). (C) Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). (6) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. (b) Standard Methodology for Identification.-- (1) In general.--Key agency leadership shall, in accordance with this section, jointly develop a standard methodology, based on chemical analysis, for identifying the country of origin of seafood to support enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. (2) Requirements.--Key agency leadership shall ensure that the methodology developed under this subsection-- (A) is consistent with the needs of Federal and State law enforcement agencies in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; (B) minimizes processing time; (C) involves the use of a field kit that can be easily carried by one individual; and (D) to the extent practicable, can be used to test prepared food, including raw preparations of seafood such as ceviche, sashimi, sushi, and poke. (3) Initial species for identification.--In developing the methodology under this subsection, key agency leadership shall conduct pilot studies on red snapper, as an example of a stationary stock, and tuna, as an example of a highly migratory stock. (c) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes the following: (1) A summary of the methodology developed under subsection (b). (2) A plan for operationalizing the methodology developed under subsection (b). (3) In the event that any aspect of the methodology developed under subsection (b) is impracticable, an explanation of why, whether additional research would make developing such a methodology practicable, and whether a different approach other than chemical analysis might be practicable. SEC. 3. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR IUU FISHING ENFORCEMENT. (a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense is authorized to, in coordination with the United States Coast Guard, expend funds appropriated for the Department of Defense for operation and maintenance to provide maritime technical assistance to maritime forces from other nations in efforts to combat illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing (commonly known as ``IUU fishing'') and other transnational organized crime. Such technical assistance may include…

providing observers, shipriders, and specialized personnel to deploy with such maritime forces, in addition to remote sensing, analysis of data, and operational intelligence, as appropriate and consistent with United States law and policy. (b) Application of Authority.--The authority provided under subsection (a) shall apply to the use of the United States Coast Guard members deployed to and operating aboard Department of Defense, partner nation, or international partner platforms, as well as partner nation personnel operating aboard United States military and Coast Guard assets or international partner vessels, as appropriate. Passed the Senate July 14, 2025. Attest: Secretary. 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 283 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To require the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the Administrator of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of seafood to support enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and for other purposes.

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