S. 283 — Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act

This section directs key agency leadership—defined as the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology (NIST Director), in consultation with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Commandant of the Coast Guard—to jointly develop a standard methodology based on chemical analysis for identifying the country of origin of seafood to support enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The methodology must (1) meet the needs of federal and state law enforcement agencies combating IUU fishing; (2) minimize processing time; (3) use a field kit easily carried by one individual; and (4) to the extent practicable, test prepared foods such as ceviche, sashimi, sushi, and poke. Development requires pilot studies on red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus; stationary stock example) and tuna (bigeye [Thunnus obesus], yellowfin [Thunnus albacares], and bluefin [Thunnus thynnus]; highly migratory stock example). Not later than two years after enactment, the Under Secretary must submit to specified congressional committees a report summarizing the methodology, a plan for its operationalization, or—if any aspect is impracticable—an explanation, assessment of additional research needs, and evaluation of chemical analysis alternatives.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the United States Coast Guard, to expend Department of Defense operation and maintenance funds to provide maritime technical assistance—including observers, shipriders, specialized personnel, remote sensing, data analysis, and operational intelligence—to foreign maritime forces combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and other transnational organized crime, consistent with U.S. law and policy. The authority applies to U.S. Coast Guard members deployed on Department of Defense, partner nation, or international partner platforms, as well as partner nation personnel on U.S. military, Coast Guard, or international partner vessels.