Oceana Applauds Bipartisan Resolution Targeting Flags of Convenience in Global Fishing Fleet
Press Release Date: June 3, 2025
Location: WASHINGTON
Contact:
Megan Jordan, Erin Vande Ven | email: mjordan@oceana.org, EVandeVen@oceana.org | tel: 202.868.4061, 303.829.3877
Today, Rep. James Moylan (R-Guam) and Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii) introduced a bipartisan resolution “condemning the illegal, international use of flag-of-convenience practices.” The resolution was cosponsored by Rep. Case (D-Hawaii), Rep. Huffman (D-California), Rep. Radewagen (R- American Samoa), and Rep. Garamendi (D-California). A flag of convenience is when a vessel is registered in a country different from the owner’s home country. Flags of convenience, often issued by countries with weak oversight, allow vessels to evade enforcement of fisheries and labor laws, despite that country’s legal responsibility to monitor their fleets. These flags enable operators to cut costs by avoiding stricter regulations and often can hide vessels participating in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and can result in unsafe conditions for crew.
Oceana applauded the resolution’s introduction and released the following statement from Campaign Director and Senior Scientist Dr. Max Valentine:
“We commend Representatives Moylan and Tokuda for shining a spotlight on the abusive practice of flags of convenience, which can shield illegal fishing and forced labor from scrutiny. This bipartisan resolution is a powerful signal that the United States will not tolerate lawlessness at sea. We need to stop allowing bad actors to hide behind flags of convenience and start demanding real accountability for the vessels fishing on our oceans. Congress must continue to lead in holding bad actors accountable and ensuring transparency and fairness in the global seafood trade.”
Maisie Pigeon, Director of the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency added, “This resolution marks an important initial step toward dismantling a major loophole in global fisheries governance. Flags of convenience allow exploitative operators to dodge oversight and accountability, and they perpetuate serious human rights and labor abuses at sea.”
Oceana is calling on nations to stop the use of flags of convenience by fishing vessels, prevent fishing vessels from engaging in illegal fishing and associated crimes, and ensure accountability for the vessels that violate these rules, as recommended in the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency.
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 habitat, 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.
