Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Tackle Foreign Fishing Vessels Evading Oversight at Sea
Oceana applauds legislation that would strengthen U.S. tools to hold nations accountable for weak supervision of crimes at sea
Press Release Date: June 4, 2026
Location: Washington
Contact:
Megan Jordan | email: mjordan@oceana.org | tel: 202.868.4061
Today, ahead of the International Day for the Fight Against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing on June 5, Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) introduced the bipartisan “Protecting U.S. Fishers from Illegal Foreign Flags Act of 2026.”
The legislation would expand the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) authority to identify and sanction nations that enable illegal fishing and disincentivize fishing companies from evading oversight by registering their vessels in countries with weak or no oversight mechanisms.
The bill targets nations that act as “flags of convenience,” or when companies register their vessels in foreign countries that have lax oversight. Flag of convenience countries benefit from the economic investment that foreign vessels bring in. Companies register their vessels in these countries to save money, dodge domestic regulations, and access cheap foreign labor. As a result, flags of convenience are strongly correlated with IUU fishing activity and labor abuses at sea.
“Oceana applauds this bipartisan bill that addresses flags of convenience that create cover for some of the worst abuses on our oceans, allowing vessels engaged in illegal fishing and labor exploitation to evade scrutiny and accountability,” said Maisie Pigeon, Oceana’s Senior Director of Global Transparency. “If we want to promote sustainable fisheries, protect habitat and wildlife, and keep illegally caught seafood out of the U.S. market, we need to hold flag states accountable and this bill would do just that. Congress should pass this commonsense bill to hold foreign countries accountable for actions at sea and help level the playing field for U.S. fishers and seafood producers that follow the rules.”
The bill would amend the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act, which gives NOAA authority to take action against countries that fail to address IUU fishing at its source, including through denial of port privileges and seafood import restrictions. The legislation would also require NOAA to adopt a more expansive definition of IUU fishing that aligns with definitions used in other U.S. laws.
Background
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a low-risk, high-reward activity, especially on the high seas where a fragmented legal framework and lack of effective enforcement allow it to thrive. IUU fishing can include fishing without authorization, ignoring catch limits, operating in closed or protected areas, targeting protected wildlife, and fishing with prohibited gear. These illicit activities can destroy important ocean habitats, severely deplete fish populations, and threaten global food security. These actions not only contribute to overfishing but also give illegal fishers an unfair advantage over those who play by the rules.
