Bill > S283

This bill aims to develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of seafood, specifically focusing on red snapper and tuna, to support enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The bill requires key agency leadership, including the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology, to create a methodology based on chemical analysis. The proposed method must be usable by law enforcement, minimize processing time, and involve a portable field kit that can potentially test prepared seafood like sushi or ceviche. The bill mandates pilot studies using red snapper (a stationary fish stock) and tuna (a highly migratory stock) to develop this identification technique. Within two years of enactment, the Under Secretary must submit a report to congressional committees detailing the methodology, a plan for implementing it, and explanations of any challenges encountered. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Defense to provide maritime technical assistance to other nations in combating IUU fishing, including deploying observers, providing operational intelligence, and supporting maritime forces in their efforts to address transnational organized crime at sea.