Bill updates 1988 law governing US tuna fishing in South Pacific waters
Passed one chamberH.R. 531Latest action
Sponsor: Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen · Delegate · AS
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Official title: South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2025
119th Congress
Topics: Environment & energy
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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HR 531 rewrites the South Pacific Tuna Act to match updates made to the underlying international fishing .
45-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
This bill updates the South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988 so U.S. law matches changes made over time to the allowing American boats to fish for tuna in Pacific Island nations' waters. It revises definitions of closed and licensing areas, changes prosecution and penalties for fishing violations, adjusts license approval and fee processes, updates confidentiality rules for vessel and observer data, removes a mandatory observer requirement, and updates arbitration and technical assistance procedures.
Who does it affect?
U.S. commercial tuna fishing companies and boat owners operating in the South Pacific, federal agencies including the Department of Commerce and State Department, and Pacific Island -partner nations.
Why does it matter?
The changes could alter how fishing violations are penalized, how vessel data is disclosed, and how licenses and fees are processed, potentially affecting tuna supply and management under the .
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedJan 16, 2025
- House committee
- House vote
- SenateYou are here · May 14, 2025
- The president's desk
Right now: it passed the House, and the official record shows nothing new since. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.