Senate Passes Sullivan-Whitehouse FISH Act to Combat Illegal Foreign Seafood Harvest – Senator Sullivan (.gov)

U.S. Legislative Action to Advance Sustainable Development Goals Through Combating Illegal Fishing

Introduction: The Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvest (FISH) Act

On October 28, 2025, the United States Senate passed the bipartisan Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvest (FISH) Act as a component of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This legislation represents a significant step toward achieving several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by addressing the environmental, economic, and social impacts of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing on a global scale.

Alignment with SDG 14: Life Below Water

The FISH Act directly supports the objectives of SDG 14, which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources. The legislation is designed to combat the destructive practices of foreign IUU fishing fleets that deplete global fish stocks and harm marine ecosystems.

• Ending Overfishing: The act targets foreign fleets, particularly from nations like China and Russia, that disregard international fishing regulations, contributing to the collapse of fisheries and undermining sustainable management efforts.
• Protecting Marine Ecosystems: By cracking down on unregulated fishing, the legislation helps protect marine biodiversity and the health of ocean ecosystems, which are vital for global climate regulation and food security.
• Promoting Sustainable Harvesting: The act levels the playing field for U.S. fishermen and seafood producers who adhere to high standards of sustainable and regulated harvesting, thereby promoting responsible practices globally.

Key Provisions Supporting SDG 14

1. Direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish and maintain a public blacklist of foreign vessels and owners confirmed to have engaged in IUU fishing, restricting their access to U.S. ports and waters.
2. Strengthen the enforcement capacity of the U.S. Coast Guard, enabling increased at-sea inspections of foreign vessels and enhancing cooperation with international partners to monitor and deter illegal activities.
3. Mandate the administration to prioritize the inclusion of binding measures against IUU fishing in all relevant international agreements and treaties.
4. Commission reports to Congress on the use of technology to combat IUU fishing and the economic impact of these illicit activities on the United States.

Contribution to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The legislation addresses critical components of SDG 8 by targeting the labor abuses prevalent in IUU fishing and supporting the economic stability of coastal communities that rely on sustainable fisheries.

• Combating Forced Labor: The act confronts the human rights abuses associated with IUU fishing, including the use of forced and slave labor on “gray fleets,” directly contributing to SDG Target 8.7 to end modern slavery and human trafficking.
• Ensuring Economic Viability: By preventing illegally harvested seafood from undercutting the global market, the act protects the livelihoods of law-abiding U.S. fishermen and processors. This supports sustainable economic growth in American coastal communities and ensures fair competition.

Strengthening SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The FISH Act reinforces SDG 16 by strengthening governance and the rule of law on the high seas. It enhances institutional capacity to combat transnational organized crime associated with IUU fishing.

• Enhancing Enforcement and Accountability: The act bolsters the authority and resources of national institutions like the U.S. Coast Guard and NOAA to enforce maritime law and hold illicit operators accountable.
• Promoting International Rule of Law: By pushing for enforceable international agreements and blacklisting offending vessels, the legislation promotes a rules-based order for global fisheries management and discourages nations from turning a blind eye to illegal activities.

Fostering SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The development and passage of the FISH Act exemplify a multi-stakeholder partnership, a core principle of SDG 17, uniting different sectors toward a common sustainability goal.

• Bipartisan Political Cooperation: The act was introduced by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and received broad bipartisan cosponsorship, demonstrating a unified political will to address ocean sustainability.
• Public-Private Collaboration: The legislation garnered strong support from a wide coalition of stakeholders, including seafood industry groups like the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute and the National Fisheries Institute, as well as environmental non-governmental organizations such as Oceana and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • This is the primary SDG addressed. The article focuses entirely on the Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvest (FISH) Act, which aims to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. This directly relates to the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and marine resources. The article states that IUU fishing fleets “ravage fish stocks without regard for any other users or future generations” and that the act is intended to fight back against these “uniquely destructive” practices.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article connects IUU fishing to severe economic and labor issues. It highlights the economic harm to American fishing communities, noting that IUU fishing “undercut[s] lawful and sustainably caught American seafood” and has “cost Alaska fishermen over a billion dollars over the years.” Furthermore, it explicitly mentions that foreign fleets “literally utilize slave labor in many cases” and references “human rights abuses associated with it,” directly linking the issue to the fight against modern slavery and the promotion of decent work.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The article discusses the creation and implementation of legislation (the FISH Act) to strengthen legal frameworks and enforcement against an illicit activity. By aiming to “bolster the U.S. Coast Guard’s enforcement capabilities,” establish a “blacklist of foreign vessels,” and increase accountability, the act promotes effective and accountable institutions to combat the crime of IUU fishing.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The effort described in the article is built on partnerships. It highlights the bipartisan collaboration between U.S. Senators (“Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)”). The FISH Act also calls for strengthening international cooperation by directing the U.S. Coast Guard to “increase its work with partner countries” and advancing “international and bilateral negotiations to achieve enforceable agreements and treaties.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 14 (Life Below Water):
   • Target 14.4: “By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices…” The entire purpose of the FISH Act is to combat IUU fishing, which is explicitly named throughout the article as the central problem it seeks to address.
   • Target 14.c: “Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law…” The act aims to advance “international and bilateral negotiations to achieve enforceable agreements and treaties” and bolster enforcement mechanisms, which directly supports the implementation of law to protect marine resources.
2. Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
   • Target 8.7: “Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking…” The article directly references that foreign IUU fishing fleets “literally utilize slave labor in many cases” and that the issue involves “associated labor abuses.” The act and related executive orders aim to address the “use of forced labor in the seafood supply chain.”
   • Target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all…” The act aims to protect the livelihoods of American fishermen by “leveling the playing field” against illegal operators who drive down prices and deplete stocks, thereby supporting decent work and economic stability in U.S. coastal communities.
3. Under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions):
   • Target 16.a: “Strengthen relevant national institutions… to build capacity at all levels… to combat… crime.” The act strengthens national institutions like NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard and directs the Coast Guard to “increase its work with partner countries,” which constitutes capacity-building to combat the international crime of IUU fishing.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 14.4 (End IUU fishing):
   • Implied Indicator: The establishment and population of a blacklist of offending vessels. The article states a key provision is to “Direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a blacklist of foreign vessels and owners that have engaged in IUU fishing.” The number of vessels added to this list would be a direct indicator of enforcement action.
   • Implied Indicator: The number of at-sea inspections of foreign vessels. The act directs the “U.S. Coast Guard to… increase at-sea inspection of foreign vessels suspected of IUU fishing.” An increase in this activity would be a measurable indicator of progress.
2. For Target 14.c (Implement international law):
   • Implied Indicator: The number of new or strengthened international agreements addressing IUU fishing. A provision of the act is to “Direct the administration to address IUU fishing in any relevant international agreement,” making the successful negotiation of such agreements a key performance indicator.
3. For Target 8.7 (End forced labor):
   • Implied Indicator: Reports and strategies developed to address forced labor in the seafood supply chain. The article mentions an executive order directing the USTR to “examine the relevant trade practices of major seafood-producing nations, including… the use of forced labor in the seafood supply chain.” The completion and findings of this examination would serve as an indicator of progress.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: sullivan.senate.gov