SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] — February 11, 2015 — Alaskan Congressman Don Young has joined Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU) in introducing H. R. 774, the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Enforcement Act of 2015, which would enhance the enforcement authority of the U. S. Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to regulate and combat IUU fishing.
"As a staunch supporter of our oceans and U. S. fishing industry, I've made serious efforts to deter and eliminate pirate vessels from stealing our resources and harming our economies. This important legislation, which imposes added sanctions on countries whose vessels engage in IUU fishing, would provide our authorities the tools they need to fight back against these global criminals and ensure millions of pounds of illegally caught product never reach market," said Congressman Young, House Oceans Caucus Co-Chair and Chairman of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.
H. R. 774 would strengthen existing enforcement measures by increasing the capacity for inspection, identification, and monitoring of illegal foreign vessels. The legislation would also amend several international agreements to incorporate civil and criminal penalties, and broaden data sharing authority with foreign governments in order to identify and penalize nations that do not comply with fisheries management regulations.
H. R. 774 is the product of extensive negotiations between Republicans and Democrats in the House during the 113th Congress. The legislation, which previously passed the House Natural Resources Committee by unanimous consent on September 18, 2014, has received the support of a broad coalition of stakeholders from the fishing industry and conservation groups.
Congressman Young and the bill's original sponsor Congresswoman Bordallo were joined by Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Rob Wittman (R-VA), and John Garamendi (D-CA) in introducing H. R. 774.
Congresswoman Madeline Bordallo (D-GU), original sponsor of H. R. 774:
"Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing threatens the economic and social infrastructure of fishing communities and impacts national and regional security of the U. S. and our allies. IUU fishing poses a significant risk to local fishermen who engage in legitimate fishing practices, and to the long-term sustainability of our fishing stocks. Additionally, vessels engaged in IUU fishing have a high likelihood of engaging in other various trafficking activities.
Countries like Australia, Palau and now even Papua New Guinea have led the way in combating IUU fishing, and the U. S. must take immediate and forceful action as well.
This bill provides much-needed enforcement tools to the Coast Guard and NOAA to combat IUU fishing, and it implements a treaty ratified by the Senate last year to deny vessels port entry and services if they engage in IUU fishing."
This story originally appeared on Seafood.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.