S-283-119
Held at the desk.
Sponsored by Ted Cruz (R-TX)
What it does
This bill would require NIST and NOAA, working with Customs and Border Protection and the Coast Guard, to jointly develop a chemical-analysis method for identifying the country of origin of seafood, starting with red snapper and tuna, to help enforce laws against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. It would also authorize the Department of Defense to use existing operation and maintenance funds, in coordination with the Coast Guard, to provide technical assistance (such as observers, shipriders, and data analysis) to foreign maritime forces combating IUU fishing.
Who benefits
Domestic commercial fishermen and seafood processors who compete with imported seafood caught illegally, particularly in the red snapper and tuna markets; seafood consumers seeking assurance about product origin; federal and state fisheries law enforcement agencies; and partner nations receiving U.S. maritime technical assistance.
Who is hurt
Seafood importers and distributors who may face new verification requirements or delays once a methodology is operationalized; foreign fishing operations engaged in unreported or unregulated fishing that could face increased detection; and, to a lesser extent, taxpayers funding the research and technical assistance programs, though costs appear modest relative to other federal spending.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that IUU fishing costs the global economy an estimated $10-23 billion annually and undermines both marine conservation and the competitiveness of U.S. fishermen who follow catch limits and reporting rules. They contend that a reliable, field-deployable chemical test would close a major enforcement gap, since current origin verification relies heavily on paperwork that can be falsified, and that extending Coast Guard cooperation to partner nations strengthens international enforcement networks already used successfully in counter-narcotics operations.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that developing a scientifically reliable chemical fingerprinting method for seafood origin may prove technically difficult or costly, and a two-year study period with no guaranteed operational outcome risks becoming another unfunded mandate without enforcement teeth. They contend that authorizing Department of Defense funds for foreign maritime assistance risks mission creep for the military into civilian fisheries enforcement and could entangle the U.S. in disputes over sovereignty and use-of-force policy in foreign territorial waters.