Bill aimed at keeping illegal ahi off people’s plates to be considered by full U.S. Senate

The U.S Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Wednesay advanced a bipartisan bill targeting illegal fishing and would expose foreign, intentionally mislabeled ahi, ultimately supporting and protecting Hawaiʻi fishermen.

The Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act, authored by U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, a Hawai‘i Democrat, now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

Committee Chairman Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, co-led the measure that would direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of red snapper and certain species of tuna imported into the United States.

“Seafood that’s caught illegally or intentionally mislabeled rips off consumers and makes it harder for law-abiding U.S. fishermen to compete,” said Schatz. “Our bill will help fight against anyone who tries to pass off cheap foreign tuna for high-quality ahi from local Hawai‘i fishermen.”

Technology exists that can chemically test and find the geographic origin of many foods. This legislation aims to develop a field test kit that can be used to accurately identify the origin of tuna and red snapper.

A field test kit would allow federal and state law enforcement officers to intercept illegally caught or falsely labelled red snapper and tuna before it enters the U.S. market.

“The Hawai‘i fishing and seafood industries support Sen. Schatz and the commerce committee’s legislation to prevent [illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing] products from entering U.S. seafood markets,” said United Fishing Agency Director Mike Goto.

U.S. fisheries, including the Hawai‘i Longline Fishery, are among the most regulated in the world and Goto’s agency appreciates the Senate taking steps to protect domestic fishermen and their markets.

“Hawai‘i-landed tuna is known for its sustainability and quality, and the ability to detect tuna origin to deter seafood fraud is important … ,” Goto said.