That the Senate—
underscores the urgency of combating IUU fishing and its associated crimes, including human trafficking, and protecting oceanic biodiversity, the livelihoods of coastal communities, regional licit economies, human rights, and hemispheric security from the People’s Republic of China, other extra-regional actors, and transnational criminal organizations engaged in IUU fishing in Latin America and the Caribbean;
calls on the United States Government and governments in Latin America and the Caribbean to incorporate concerns regarding human trafficking and violations of labor rights, when determining whether activities qualify as IUU fishing;
encourages greater coordination among the Governments of Latin America and of the Caribbean to facilitate information sharing and law enforcement responses to IUU fishing, including by acceding to the Port State Measures Agreement, strengthening existing regional fisheries management organizations, and creating a regional fisheries management organization for the Southwest Atlantic Ocean;
encourages the Office of the United States Trade Representative, in coordination with the Department of State, to consider the implementation of IUU fishing provisions within current and future free trade agreements with countries of Latin America and the Caribbean to enhance accountability over such activities; and
calls on the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, to counter IUU fishing by—
undertaking public education initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean to elevate awareness of the harms caused by IUU fishing and its associated crimes;
assisting with the monitoring and dissemination of information regarding the activities of Chinese and other distant-water fishing fleets, and using multilateral fora, including regional fisheries management organizations, to address such concerns;
limiting the importation and consumption of fish and seafood caught by IUU actors, and use the United States role and influence in global markets to drive change in global seafood supply chains;
using sanctions and visa restriction authorities to hold accountable entities that are credibly suspected of engaging in IUU fishing, including—
distant water fishing fleets from the People’s Republic of China;
other extra-regional actors; and
transnational criminal organizations; and
utilizing available resources to support and assist the Office of the United States Trade Representative in reaching a final multilateral agreement under the World Trade Organization that—
addresses the use of forced labor on IUU fishing vessels;
strengthens relevant reporting requirements; and
addresses harmful subsidies that contribute to fishing fleet overcapacity.