WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate yesterday approved a provision authored by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) that would create a list of fishing vessels and vessel owners engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing as part of the Fiscal Year 2008 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations bill (H.R. 3093). The measure would also allow the United States to take appropriate action against listed vessels and owners, in accordance with federal and international fisheries and trade laws. 

 

“Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing is a destructive practice that threatens to deplete important fish stocks around the world,” said Senator Stevens. “This measure will help fill a critical gap that now exists in our nation’s efforts to combat global IUU fishing.  This provision will also ensure that America’s fishing industry can quickly and easily identify IUU ‘blacklisted’ vessels, avoid engaging in business with them, and take appropriate action against them.”   

 

Currently, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) does not maintain a list of IUU vessels, even though many international fisheries management organizations compile such lists.  The goals of the Stevens-Inouye provision are to raise awareness about IUU vessels and ensure that the United States has the authority to take action against such vessels.