Protecting Global Fisheries Act of 2025
The Protecting Global Fisheries Act of 2025 authorizes the United States to more aggressively counter illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and the trade in endangered species by empowering the President to impose a broad set of sanctions on foreign persons and vessels involved in these activities. The bill also promotes international collaboration—led by the State Department and, where relevant, with allies, partners, and international institutions—and directs reporting on IUU fishing patterns, China’s role, and the effectiveness of global forums. While it provides several carve-outs (e.g., humanitarian de minimis transactions, safety of vessels and crew, and compliance with certain international obligations), it creates a framework in which targeted foreign entities can be blocked from financial access, visaed, or restricted from U.S. ports, among other penalties. The statute envisions regular congressional briefings and annual reporting to track progress and adjust policy. In short, the bill seeks to deter IUU fishing and endangered-species trade through sanctions, while prioritizing international cooperation and providing mechanisms for oversight, exemptions, and implementation under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
Key Points
- 1Establishes broad sanctions authority to target foreign persons or vessels responsible for or complicit in IUU fishing or trade in endangered species, including leaders or officials of implicated entities and those who materially support such activities.
- 2Sanctions tools include: blocking property in the United States, visa/admissibility restrictions for aliens associated with sanctioned entities, denial of access to U.S. ports for foreign vessels, prohibition on U.S. bank loans/credits, and prohibition of foreign exchange transactions involving sanctioned parties.
- 3Creates policy and enforcement mechanisms to strengthen international collaboration and maritime law enforcement, with emphasis on deploying advanced technology and coordinating with allies/partners and the United Nations to counter IUU fishing (notably calling out actions related to China).
- 4Provides several exceptions, including: humanitarian and food-aid transactions (with limits, notably excluding food obtained from IUU fishing), safety provisions for vessel crews and maintenance, and exemptions to comply with certain international obligations or to protect national security or intelligence activities.
- 5Requires periodic reporting and briefings: a 90-day briefing to Congress on bilateral and multilateral efforts, and annual (for four years) reports assessing IUU fishing patterns, China’s strategy and resources, and the effectiveness of global forums.