For Immediate Release
September 28, 2006
Contact Melissa Mazzella DeLaney at (202) 226-9019

House passes bill to help lead the
international fight against ‘pirate’ fishing

Washington – The U.S. House of Representatives late last night passed H.R. 5946, the Stevens-Inouye International Fisheries Monitoring and Compliance Legacy Act.

H.R. 5946 was introduced by Resources Chairman Richard W. Pombo (R-Calif.) and cosponsored by Reps. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.), Don Young (R-Alaska) and Jim Saxton (R-N.J.) and will aid in the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing – otherwise known as “pirate” fishing – in international waters.

“The worldwide fishing industry has experienced high levels of pirate fishing, imperiling both sustainable fisheries and the U.S. fishermen who participate in these international fisheries,” Chairman Pombo said. “The resulting environmental and economic harm has gotten the international community’s attention, and the legislation passed last night will help us win the battle against pirate fishing.”

The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) suggests that in some fisheries, pirate fishing accounts for up to 30 percent of total catches. In fact, in one instance FAO has indicated that pirate catches could be as high as three times the permitted catch level. 

H.R. 5946 allows the Secretary of Commerce to use market restrictions to force rogue countries into following international conservation rules, as well as to coordinate efforts against pirate fishing with other countries.

“This measure promotes international cooperation and compliance with fishing agreements,” Abercrombie said.  “This will not only advance the health of our shared fish stocks but also help our own fishermen who follow the law and do what they can to help the environment.”

The legislation also implements two fishery management treaties to get other nations to follow our conservation and management practices in the Pacific Ocean for tuna species and for Pacific whiting.

Similar legislation passed the Senate by Unanimous Consent in June (Titles IV, V, and VI of S. 2012).

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