Protecting U.S. Fishers from Illegal Foreign Flags Act of 2026

This bill changes a federal fishing law so the Secretary of Commerce can identify a nation as engaging in illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing if it lets vessels fly its flag without confirming a genuine link to the people who own and control them. This applies when, as a result, the nation fails to carry out its responsibilities as a flag state. The bill also requires the Secretary, within 90 days of enactment, to update the federal regulatory definition of illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing to match the definition in the Maritime SAFE Act.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Jeff Merkley Democrat sponsor
• 3 cosponsors