H.R. 6338 — Stop Illegal Fishing Act

This section expresses the sense of Congress that illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing)—primarily perpetrated by China—threatens global fisheries and marine ecosystems through overfishing; violates international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; is associated with inhumane crew conditions including forced labor; disproportionately harms coastal communities in developing nations; undermines U.S. economic and global maritime security; and should be deterred through U.S. sanctions.

This section establishes a sanctions program for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, requiring the President to impose sanctions on (1) foreign persons who knowingly own IUU fishing vessels, serve as captains or senior crew on such vessels, operate entities primarily engaged in IUU fishing, or serve as officers or senior managers of such entities; and (2) foreign vessels engaged in IUU fishing. The sanctions include (1) asset blocking using all powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) notwithstanding the Act's requirement for a national emergency declaration (50 U.S.C. 1701); and (2) visa revocation, inadmissibility, and ineligibility for other immigration benefits under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.). This section further (1) requires reports to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Senate Committee on Foreign Relations describing implementation efforts and listing sanctioned persons and vessels, due 180 days after enactment and annually thereafter for five years; (2) authorizes IEEPA implementation and penalties (50 U.S.C. 1702, 1704, 1705); (3) provides exceptions for international obligations, humanitarian assistance, U.S. intelligence/law enforcement/national security activities, and vessel crew safety; and (4) allows national security waivers with 15-day prior congressional notice.