Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act | ChamberLight
Bills · S 283
PASSED BOTH· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 283Food supply, safety, and labelingSeafood
Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act
INTRO JAN 28· LAST ACTION SEP 14
PASSAGE CHANCES
PASSED
READING
3MIN
COSPONSORS
4BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
One chamber only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 5 / 8
Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-written
Voters should care about this bill because illegal fishing is a major global problem. It depletes fish populations, harms ocean ecosystems, and often involves unfair labor practices. When illegal fish enter the market, it undercuts honest fishermen and makes it difficult for consumers to know if their seafood is responsibly sourced.
If this bill becomes law, it aims to give law enforcement a powerful new tool to trace seafood origin, making it much harder for illegally caught fish to be sold. This could lead to healthier oceans, more sustainable fisheries, and greater confidence for consumers that their seafood choices are ethical and legal. Without this bill, the current challenges in proving the origin of seafood would likely continue, allowing illegal fishing to persist with less effective deterrence.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extracted
PROVISION 01
Requires key agency leadership, including NOAA and NIST, to develop a standard chemical testing method to identify the country of origin for seafood.
This provides a scientific tool to directly combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by pinpointing where fish originated.
PROVISION 02
The developed methodology must be suitable for federal and state law enforcement, minimize processing time, use a portable field kit, and ideally test prepared foods like sushi.
Ensures the method is practical and usable for real-world enforcement, making it effective for on-the-ground operations and a wide range of seafood products.
PROVISION 03
Mandates pilot studies using red snapper and tuna to develop the methodology, representing both stationary and highly migratory fish stocks.
Focuses initial efforts on commercially important species that present different challenges for origin identification, ensuring the method is robust.
PROVISION 04
Authorizes the Department of Defense to use appropriated funds for operation and maintenance to provide maritime technical assistance to other nations to combat IUU fishing and transnational organized crime.
Expands international cooperation and capacity building to fight illegal fishing beyond U.S. borders, addressing a global problem.
PROVISION 05
Requires a report to Congress within two years detailing the developed methodology, a plan for its implementation, and explanations if any aspects are impractical.
Ensures accountability and transparency in the development process and provides Congress with information to assess progress and future needs.
Voters should care about this bill because illegal fishing is a major global problem. It depletes fish populations, harms ocean ecosystems, and often involves unfair labor practices. When illegal fish enter the market, it undercuts honest fishermen and makes it difficult for consumers to know if their seafood is responsibly sourced.
If this bill becomes law, it aims to give law enforcement a powerful new tool to trace seafood origin, making it much harder for illegally caught fish to be sold. This could lead to healthier oceans, more sustainable fisheries, and greater confidence for consumers that their seafood choices are ethical and legal. Without this bill, the current challenges in proving the origin of seafood would likely continue, allowing illegal fishing to persist with less effective deterrence.
KEY PROVISIONS
AI-extracted
high
Requires key agency leadership, including NOAA and NIST, to develop a standard chemical testing method to identify the country of origin for seafood.
This provides a scientific tool to directly combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by pinpointing where fish originated.
high
The developed methodology must be suitable for federal and state law enforcement, minimize processing time, use a portable field kit, and ideally test prepared foods like sushi.
Ensures the method is practical and usable for real-world enforcement, making it effective for on-the-ground operations and a wide range of seafood products.
med
Mandates pilot studies using red snapper and tuna to develop the methodology, representing both stationary and highly migratory fish stocks.
Focuses initial efforts on commercially important species that present different challenges for origin identification, ensuring the method is robust.
med
Authorizes the Department of Defense to use appropriated funds for operation and maintenance to provide maritime technical assistance to other nations to combat IUU fishing and transnational organized crime.
Expands international cooperation and capacity building to fight illegal fishing beyond U.S. borders, addressing a global problem.
med
Requires a report to Congress within two years detailing the developed methodology, a plan for its implementation, and explanations if any aspects are impractical.
Ensures accountability and transparency in the development process and provides Congress with information to assess progress and future needs.
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act
Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology must submit a report to Congress summarizing the developed methodology, its operational plan, and any impracticabilities.
Funds appropriated for the Department of Defense for operation and maintenance
Maritime technical assistance to other nations for combating IUU fishing and transnational organized crime
discretionary
Not specified (ongoing authority)
GLOSSARY
AI-written
IUU fishing
Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing; fishing activities that violate laws, are not reported to authorities, or are conducted without proper management or permits.
Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology
A high-ranking official within the U.S. Department of Commerce who also serves as the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), overseeing measurement standards and technology research.
Administrator of NOAA
The head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency that focuses on the condition of the oceans and the atmosphere, including fisheries management.
Standard methodology
A consistent, agreed-upon set of procedures or steps for performing a task, in this case, identifying the country of origin of seafood through chemical analysis.
Chemical analysis
The use of scientific techniques to identify and quantify the chemical components of a substance, such as seafood, to determine its characteristics or origin.
Field kit
A portable set of tools and materials designed for testing or analysis that can be easily carried and used outside of a laboratory setting.
ACTION TIMELINE
26 EVENTS
SEP 14
Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
FLOOR
SEP 14
Considered under suspension of the rules.
FLOOR
SEP 14
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 283.
FLOOR
SEP 14
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
