{"bills":[{"photos":{"featured":"https://assets.causes.com/bill/photo/hr774-114/featured_illegal-unreported-and-unregulated-fishing-enforcement-act-of-2015-1454547197.jpg","featured_large":"https://assets.causes.com/bill/photo/hr774-114/featured_large_illegal-unreported-and-unregulated-fishing-enforcement-act-of-2015-1454547197.jpg","shareable":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/bills/hr774-114.png"},"introduced_on":"2015-02-05","title_override":"Using International Fishing Agreements to Stop Illegal Fishing","summary_override":"This bill would implement laws from eight existing international fishery agreements aimed at combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing operations.

It would impose the sanctions of the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act and apply civil penalties, criminal offenses, and civil forfeitures against persons violating new enforcement provisions. $450,000 in appropriations would be authorized in each fiscal year between 2016 and 2020 to implement enforcement provisions of this bill.

The newly implemented agreements include:

This bill implements the Port State Measures Agreement that seeks to prevent illegally caught fish from entering the world ports and global seafood market. Vessels would be required to provide information specified in the Port State Measures Agreement to the Secretary of Commerce prior to entering port.

Based on the information supplied, the Secretary could allow or deny port entry, and can deny entry if it is listed as an IUU vessel, if there is reasonable suspicion that it has engaged in IUU activities in violation of this act. Notice of the denial would be sent to the vessel’s flag nation, international organizations, and relevant coastal nations. If a suspected IUU vessel has already entered port, it would be denied the ability to use the port for processing and packing of fish, refueling, resupplying, maintenance or repairs.

The Department of Commerce and the Coast Guard would be required to conduct vessel inspections, and authorized officers could make arrests; board, search, or inspect vessels; seize gear; execute and serve subpoenas; and perform other activities if there is probable cause that violations of this act have occurred.

","official_title":"To strengthen enforcement mechanisms to stop illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, to amend the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950 to implement the Antigua Convention, and for other purposes.","short_title":"Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act of 2015","popular_title":null,"short_summary":"Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act of 2015\n\n(Sec. 101) This bill amends the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act to direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Coast Guard to enforce specified laws to address illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing. NOAA and other federal and state agencies are given the authority to enforce those laws, including enforcement through vessel forfeiture and civil and criminal penalties.\n\nNOAA may: (1) help other nations combat IUU fishing and achieve sustainable fisheries; (2) disclose information to government agencies, international fisheries management organizations, and foreign governments to enforce or assist in enforcing fisheries policies; and (3) publish a list of vessels and vessel owners engaged in IUU fishing and take action against listed vessels and owners.\n\nThis bill subjects a nation to sanctions only if NOAA certifies that the nation is not addressing IUU fish...","summarized":true,"cost":2000000,"cost_commentary":"The CBO estimates that implementing this bill would cost $2 million over the 2016-2020 period. 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Using International Fishing Agreements to Stop Illegal Fishing