Rep. Huffman Statement on Biden Memo to Combat IUU Fishing

June 28, 2022

Washington, D.C. – Today, Chair of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) released the following statement on the National Security Memorandum released by President Joe Biden. Ahead of the U.N. Ocean Conference and in recognition of World Oceans Month, Reps. Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Garret Graves (R-LA) sent a letter to President Biden calling for the administration to send a clear message on the world stage that the U.S. is a leader in addressing illegal fishing and forced labor by announcing new regulations for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

“I applaud President Biden’s announcement that his administration is taking new steps to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.  This is welcome news here at the UN Ocean Conference, where I am joining with environmental leaders from around the world to discuss the grave threats facing our oceans and fisheries, including the growing scourge of IUU fishing.  American leadership in confronting IUU fishing is critical to protecting our oceans, upholding human rights, giving U.S. consumers the transparency they need and deserve, and leveling the playing field for sustainable American fishing industries,” Rep Huffman said. “Today’s announcement is a step in the right direction, and I hope it will be followed by more specific and bolder actions to ensure transparency and accountability in the seafood supply chain.  I look forward to continuing to work with President Biden and his administration toward that end.”

Ahead of the U.N. Ocean Conference and in recognition of World Oceans Month, Congressmen Jared Huffman and Garret Graves (R-LA) sent a letter to President Joe Biden calling for the administration to send a clear message on the world stage that the U.S. is a leader in addressing illegal fishing and forced labor by announcing new regulations for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Congressman Huffman has been a leader in addressing the scourge of IUU fishing, which is a problem for the health of oceans, human rights, and the competitiveness of American fisheries. Earlier this year, major parts of Rep. Huffman’s bill with Rep. Graves, the Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act, passed out of the House as part of the America COMPETES Act. This bill aims to combat IUU fishing and human rights abuses in the seafood supply chain and make America more competitive in the global seafood market. In March, a bipartisan amendment led by the congressmen, which seeks to give the Coast Guard greater capabilities in combatting IUU fishing, passed out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as part of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022.