SC Alaska News

The Senate has passed the Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvest (FISH) Act, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. The legislation is designed to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by foreign vessels. It includes measures such as blacklisting offending ships from U.S. ports and waters, strengthening enforcement by the U.S. Coast Guard, and supporting international negotiations for enforceable agreements.

Senator Sullivan highlighted the growing challenges in Alaska’s waters due to increased activities from Russia and China: “The geopolitics of the North Pacific and the Arctic are changing dramatically, with Russia and China increasing their aggression and ruinous activities near Alaska’s waters,” said Sen. Sullivan. “One particularly insidious threat is Chinese and Russian fishing fleets that ignore basic seafood harvest rules and best practices, and ravage fish stocks without regard for any other users or future generations. These gray fleets, which literally utilize slave labor in many cases, are a cancer on fisheries throughout the world and undercut our fishermen, who fish sustainably. I want to thank my Senate colleagues for advancing our FISH Act in the FY 2026 NDAA and helping us fight back against IUU fishing on behalf of our fishermen and coastal communities.”

Senator Whitehouse noted his ongoing collaboration with Senator Sullivan: “I was glad to work with Senator Sullivan, my longtime partner on oceans issues, to secure the inclusion of our bipartisan FISH Act in this year’s Senate-passed NDAA. Our bill cracks down on illegal pirate fishing operations to level the playing field for Rhode Island fishermen and processors who play by the rules, and it will help nurture the fisheries that keep our oceans and coastal communities so healthy and vibrant,” said Sen. Whitehouse.

Industry representatives also expressed support for the bill. Jeremy Woodrow of Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute said: “Alaska seafood is sold in over 100 countries. Therefore, our fishermen and seafood processors must compete in the challenging global market... Unfortunately, numerous fisheries across the globe continue to operate illegally and unregulated... Thank you, Senator Sullivan, for addressing this inequity and fighting for fairness on behalf of Alaska’s seafood industry.”

Gabriel Prout of Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers added: “Thank you, Senator Sullivan, for working to level the playing field for U.S. fishermen... While my family and I are out fishing Alaska crab, we can rest assured that you are working hard to address this problem that has cost Alaska fishermen over a billion dollars over the years.”

Matt Alward from United Fishermen of Alaska stated: “I want to thank Senator Sullivan and Senator Whitehouse for working together to protect Alaska fishermen... Illegal, unreported and unregulated foreign fishing exacerbates these challenges by undercutting lawful and sustainably caught American seafood.”

Cora Campbell from Silver Bay Seafoods commented: “Silver Bay Seafoods commends Senator Dan Sullivan for his strong support for Alaska’s fishing industry... This bill increases accountability for countries that do not have the same standards.”

Oceana's Dr. Max Valentine noted: “Illegal fishing, and the human rights abuses associated with it, puts our oceans and fishers at risk... The FISH Act would help lift the veil on the identities of those involved in these illicit activities.”

Lisa Wallenda Picard from National Fisheries Institute remarked: “NFI believes strongly in supporting concrete solutions to stopping ... IUU fishing... NFI applauds Senators Sullivan and Whitehouse for the FISH Act ... We view the FISH Act as the definitive statute on IUU ...”

Molly Masterton from NRDC said: “Illegal fishing practices are uniquely destructive ... By shedding a light on bad actors who benefit from skirting the law ... Paired with tools to root out illegally harvested seafood from the U.S. market ... it will also help level the playing field for U.S. fishing communities who play by the rules.”

The FISH Act builds upon previous laws targeting illegal fishing activities including provisions established through earlier acts like Maritime SAFE.

President Trump previously signed an executive order instructing federal agencies such as Commerce Department officials along with others like USTR to evaluate competitiveness issues within American seafood industries—focusing specifically on problematic trade practices among major producers overseas.

Earlier this year saw additional legislative movement when relevant committees advanced versions of this act; hearings were also held focusing specifically on threats posed by foreign IUU activity.

Senators Sullivan's ongoing work alongside Whitehouse includes prior collaboration leading up to passage of Save Our Seas 2.0 Act aimed at addressing marine debris globally.