S. 1369 — Protecting Global Fisheries Act of 2026

This section defines key terms for purposes of the Act, including: (1) admission, admitted, alien, and lawfully admitted for permanent residence, as provided in the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101); (2) appropriate congressional committees, meaning the Senate Committees on Armed Services and Foreign Relations and the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Armed Services; (3) foreign person, meaning an individual or entity that is not a United States person; (4) illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing, as defined in regulations issued pursuant to section 609(e) of the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1826j(e)); and (5) United States person, meaning a U.S. citizen or alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, an entity organized under U.S. law (including a foreign branch), or any person in the United States.

This section establishes it as the policy of the United States to prioritize collaboration with friendly countries and international institutions to combat illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing and directs the Secretary of State to use U.S. voice, vote, and influence in relevant international fora and with allies or partners to (1) ensure deployment of cutting-edge technology consistent with existing or future maritime law enforcement agreements and (2) hold accountable individuals or entities responsible or complicit in IUU fishing, with a focus on actions by the People's Republic of China. The section further authorizes the President to direct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations to advocate for greater UN action on global efforts to counter IUU fishing.

This section authorizes the President to impose sanctions on foreign persons or foreign vessels determined to be responsible for, complicit in, leading entities engaged in, owning/operating vessels involved in, or materially supporting illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing or non-conservation-related trade in endangered species (as defined in the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. 1532(6)). Sanctions may include (1) blocking all U.S.-jurisdictional property and interests in property; (2) visa ineligibility, inadmissibility, and revocation for relevant aliens; (3) denial of U.S. port access for vessels; (4) prohibitions on loans or credits from U.S. financial institutions; and (5) bans on relevant foreign exchange transactions. The President must submit related reports annually, beginning one year after enactment, to specified Senate and House committees; sanctions may be waived if in the U.S. national interest; and exceptions apply to authorized U.S. intelligence/law enforcement/national security activities, certain international obligations (e.g., UN Headquarters Agreement), vessel safety provisions, and humanitarian assistance (excluding transactions involving food/agricultural commodities from illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing). The section is implemented via authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) and provides for penalties on violations.

This section requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, to brief the appropriate congressional committees not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act on U.S. efforts and challenges to counter illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing through bilateral engagements with partners and allies; existing international agreements, institutions, and mechanisms; and collaboration with nongovernmental organizations and state and local agencies. The section further requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, to submit to the appropriate congressional committees an initial report not later than one year after enactment—and annually thereafter for four years—containing (1) recommendations to bolster maritime law enforcement agreements with U.S. allies and partners; (2) an assessment of the People's Republic of China's global IUU fishing patterns, strategic goals, regional priorities, and government and nongovernment resourcing for IUU fishing fleets; and (3) an assessment of the efficacy of global forums to address IUU fishing and a strategy for U.S. engagement in such forums. The reports must be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.