Washington D.C. – The Senate Commerce Committee has advanced the Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act, a bipartisan bill co-led by U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) alongside Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration.
The proposed legislation directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop a standardized methodology for identifying the country of origin of imported red snapper and certain tuna species. The goal is to create a field test kit that would allow federal and state law enforcement officers to verify the origin of these fish, preventing illegally caught seafood from entering the U.S. market.
Senator Britt emphasized the importance of protecting Alabama’s fishing industry, which plays a significant role in the state’s economy. Each year, approximately 100,000 red snapper are harvested off Alabama’s coast, accounting for nearly a third of the total recreational catch in the Gulf. The commercial and recreational fishing industries support over 12,000 jobs and contribute more than $1.1 billion in sales annually to Alabama’s economy.
Supporters of the bill argue that illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—particularly by Mexican fishing boats known as lanchas—undermines legal U.S. fisheries and poses economic challenges for American fishermen. Proponents also highlight the links between illegal fishing and organized crime, with some operations allegedly tied to cartels involved in drug smuggling and human trafficking.
A previous version of the bill was introduced during the 118th Congress, passing the Senate Commerce Committee in July 2023. If enacted, the legislation aims to strengthen enforcement efforts, prevent unfair competition in the seafood industry, and ensure compliance with national and international fishing regulations.
