Install
Stop Illegal Fishing Act
To require the imposition of sanctions with respect to foreign persons and foreign vessels that engage in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and for other purposes.
- Introduced
- Committee
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became law
Summary
Stop Illegal Fishing Act
This bill requires the President to impose sanctions on foreign vessels and persons engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing).
The bill directs the President to block and prohibit all transactions involving property (including interests in property) of a covered foreign vessel or person if such property comes within the United States or within the possession or control of a U.S. person. The President must also deny or revoke any visa or other entry documentation issued to or sought by a covered foreign person. Civil and criminal penalties apply to violations, including attempts or conspiracies to violate the sanctions.
A covered foreign vessel is any vessel that is registered or operated under the authority of a foreign country and engages in IUU fishing. Covered foreign persons are individuals or entities that are not U.S. persons and knowingly (1) own any vessel that engages in IUU fishing, (2) work as a captain or senior crew member on any vessel that engages in IUU fishing, (3) operate as an entity primarily engaged in IUU fishing, or (4) serve as an officer or senior manager in an entity primarily engaged in IUU fishing.
The President may waive the application of these sanctions after notifying Congress that the waiver is important to U.S. national security interests. Other exceptions apply, such as to provide life-saving assistance to a covered vessel.
The bill directs the President to periodically report to Congress on efforts to carry out these provisions.
Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Actions
- Jun 9, 2026 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- Jun 8, 2026 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Jun 8, 2026 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3968-3969)
- Jun 8, 2026 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6338.
- Jun 8, 2026 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3968-3970)
- Jun 8, 2026 Mr. Mast moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Dec 3, 2025 Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 47 - 2.
- Dec 3, 2025 Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Dec 1, 2025 Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Dec 1, 2025 Introduced in House
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