A push on Capitol Hill to limit illicit foreign fishing is underway, with the House planning to vote this week on a bipartisan bill after senators introduced a proposal Thursday.
The “Stop Illegal Fishing Act,” H.R. 6338, from House Foreign Affairs ranking member Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.), would direct the administration to sanction people who own or crew foreign vessels that conduct illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in U.S. waters.
Largely focused on China, the legislation would also direct officials at the State and Homeland Security departments to revoke visas from entities that get sanctioned for the improper fishing. Other punishments could include seizing assets and barring people from the country.
The bill is co-sponsored by Republican Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Democrat Ed Case of Hawaii. It cleared committee 47-2 during a markup in December.
