Bill to Ban Pirate Fishermen Introduced in Senate

Jay Barrett/KMXT

Last week the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration drafted legislation seeking to protect American fishermen from Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated, or I-U-U fishing.

The Pirate Fishing Elimination Act was picked up and introduced by Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye and co-sponsored by Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski. During a recent meeting of the Senate Oceans Caucus, she spoke of the need to rein in illegal fishing operations.

— (IUU 1 25 sec "One thing we know for sure … we do not have a level of enforcement.")

Among other measures, the bill would ban illegal fishing boats – or other ships carrying illegally-caught seafood – from entering American ports. She said it’s a tough job for the Coast Guard to manage, but it needs to be done:

— (IUU 2 25 sec "Think about the North Pacific … great deal of work to do.")

NOAA administrator Jane Lubchenco said illegal fishing operations also hamper sustainability of fish stocks, with up to 40 percent of the total catch of some fish caught illegally. It is estimated that annual lost revenues from pirate fishing activities can be as much as $23 billion worldwide.

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