Marine Fish Conservation Network Supports Bipartisan Legislation to Establish IUU Vessel Blacklist and Strengthen Enforcement Against Illegal Seafood Imports

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 31, 2026
CONTACT: Jo Knight, jo@conservefish.org

Arlington, VA – The Marine Fish Conservation Network (MFCN) commended Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) for their bipartisan efforts to get the Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvests (FISH) Act passed. The legislation, which establishes a comprehensive blacklist of foreign vessels engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and prevents seafood caught by listed vessels from entering U.S. markets, represents a critical step toward leveling the playing field for American fishing communities. The Marine Fish Conservation Network released the following statements:

“U.S. fishermen have competed against illegally harvested seafood flooding our markets for too long. By creating an IUU vessel list and blocking imports from vessels on that list, the Senate has taken decisive action to protect the livelihoods of fishing communities from Maine to Alaska. We appreciate Senators Sullivan and Whitehouse for their bipartisan efforts in moving the FISH Act forward.”

— Linda Behnken, commercial fisherman and executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association

“By shedding a light on bad actors who benefit from skirting the law, the FISH Act takes important steps to better enforce against global illegal fishing and associated labor abuses in the seafood sector. Paired with tools to root out illegally harvested seafood from the U.S. market, it will also help level the playing field for U.S. fishing communities who play by the rules.”

— Molly Masterton, senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

“The Senate action on the FISH Act is a positive development. Now the House should advance its version of the legislation, which adds even stronger protections against IUU fishing by cutting financial incentives for these harmful practices. American fishing communities—and the integrity of global fisheries—depend on the FISH Act becoming law.”

— Tom Sadler, chief executive officer of the Marine Fish Conservation Network

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The Marine Fish Conservation Network is a coalition of commercial and recreational fishing associations, regional and national conservation groups, aquaria, and marine science organizations committed to sustaining fish populations, healthy marine ecosystems, and robust fishing communities.