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Bill: 119-S283
Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act
Last action: 10-5-2026
Version: 2026012515
Current status: Presented to President.
Bill is currently in: President
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Summary Provided by Congressional Research Service

Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act

This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to jointly develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of seafood to support enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing). It also authorizes technical assistance to other countries to help combat IUU fishing and transnational organized crime. 

NOAA and NIST must consult with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Coast Guard in developing the methodology, which must use chemical analysis to identify the country of origin of seafood. The methodology must be consistent with the needs of federal and state law enforcement agencies in combating IUU fishing. The methodology must also include a portable field kit and, to the extent practicable, be appropriate for testing prepared food (including raw preparations of seafood such as sushi). The agencies must conduct pilot studies of the methodology on red snapper and tuna.

Within two years after the bill's enactment, NIST must report to Congress regarding the methodology and a plan for operationalizing it. The report must explain any aspects of its methodology that are impracticable, whether additional research would make the methodology practicable, and whether an alternate approach might be practicable. 

The bill also authorizes the Department of Defense to use operation and maintenance funds to provide technical assistance to maritime forces of other countries to help combat IUU fishing and transnational organized crime (e.g., by providing observers or data analysis).

Latest available text


1. Short title2. Methodology for identifying country of origin of seafood

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the "Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act".

2. Methodology for identifying country of origin of seafood

(a) Definitions - In this section:

(1) Administrator - The term "Administrator" means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(2) Appropriate committees of Congress - The term "appropriate committees of Congress" means—

(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and

(B) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.

(3) Illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing; IUU fishing - The terms "illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing" and "IUU fishing" mean "illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing" as such term is defined for purposes of section 609(e) of the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1826j(e)).

(4) Key agency leadership - The term "key agency leadership" means the Administrator and the Under Secretary, in consultation with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Commandant of the Coast Guard.

(5) Red snapper - The term "red snapper" means the species Lutjanus campechanus.

(6) Tuna - The term "tuna" means the following species of tuna:

(A) Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus).

(B) Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares).

(C) Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus).

(7) Under Secretary - The term "Under Secretary" means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology.

(b) Standard methodology for identification -

(1) In general - Key agency leadership shall jointly develop a standard methodology, based on chemical analysis, for identifying the country of origin of seafood to support enforcement against IUU fishing and seafood fraud.

(2) Requirements - Key agency leadership shall ensure that the methodology developed under this subsection—

(A) is consistent with the needs of Federal and State law enforcement agencies in combating IUU fishing and seafood fraud;

(B) minimizes processing time;

(C) involves the use of a field kit that can be easily carried by one individual; and

(D) to the extent practicable, can be used to test prepared food, including raw preparations of seafood, such as ceviche, sashimi, sushi, and poke.

(3) Initial species for identification - In developing the methodology under this subsection, key agency leadership shall conduct pilot studies on red snapper, as an example of a stationary stock, and tuna, as an example of a highly migratory stock.

(c) Report - Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes the following:

(1) A summary of the methodology developed under subsection (b).

(2) A plan for operationalizing such methodology.

(3) If the Under Secretary determines any aspect of such methodology is impractical, an explanation relating thereto, whether additional research would make developing such a methodology practicable, and whether a different approach other than chemical analysis might be practicable.Kevin F. McCumberClerk.