President's Obama's recent signing of the Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act is a milestone in the fight to keep illegally-caught fish from entering ports and illegal catch off the market. The landmark legislation levels the playing field for U.S. fisheries and helps protect food security and livelihoods for billions of people worldwide.
The new law allows the U.S. to ratify the Port State Measures Agreement, a global treaty that protects fishing communities from unfair competition and bolsters consumer confidence in the nation's seafood. It's the first binding global instrument designed specifically to combat illegal fishing. While the U.S. has already implemented most measures called for in the agreement, ratifying the international agreement means similar stringent measures can be adopted at ports around the world. Sixteen other nations have already signed onto the agreement, which becomes legally binding once 25 nations are on board.
No state has more to gain from this agreement than Alaska. Valued at more than $5 billion annually and supporting over 100,000 jobs, Alaska's fishing industry is among the most productive in the world. Last year, commercial fishing landings were the highest in the nation. King crab catch alone was valued at more than $85 million. Yet the industry association Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers estimates that in the past 15 years, Alaska's crabbers have lost approximately $600 million because of illegal foreign fishing. Alaska's coastal communities have lost millions of dollars in tax revenue. Rising imports have meant lower prices for Alaska's fishing community.
Our nation's law-abiding fishing community and those around the world are being hurt by those who don't play by the rules. Harvesters, processors, distributors at all levels and consumers lose out when illegal catch enters U.S. ports and is co-mingled with U.S. catch, then falsely labeled and sold for less than the cost of domestic catch. The U.S. fishing community is cheated out of hard-earned revenue, and consumer safety can be compromised. Flooding U.S. markets with pirated fish also drives down revenue. And when U.S. catch is misrepresented in foreign markets, it devalues not only price but the high quality that sharpens America's competitive edge. In particular, coastal Alaska communities like Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, St. Paul and King Cove feel the impact.
The good news is that the Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act is now law. The new legislation was introduced by Rep. Madeleine Bordallo, of Guam, with the co-sponsorship of Alaska Rep. Don Young, among other congressional co-sponsors. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski introduced the Senate version, which was co-sponsored by her Alaskan colleague Sen. Dan Sullivan and Sen. Brian Schatz, of Hawaii. Passage of this law is an important step in combating illegal fishing, but additional enforcement authority is necessary to fully prevent illegal products from coming into the U.S. and to prevent fraud if such products do enter the market.
With 90 percent of U.S. seafood imported and more than 50 percent of global fish production processed at sea or soon after landing, important gaps in enforcement remain. Toughened enforcement is needed to monitor the entire seafood supply chain, including species, origin and weight. Consumers ordering Alaska king crab, for example, should know it's the real deal. To keep illegal fish from entering U.S. markets in the first instance, a traceability program is a critical next step. The new program will track harvested and imported seafood to ensure that its entry into U.S. markets is fair and legal. NOAA has prioritized species such as Pacific cod, red king crab and sea cucumber as being at risk of illegal fishing and seafood fraud. We are now working with Congress to solidify additional enforcement measures.
As a result of sound science, management and enforcement, the U.S. has successfully reduced domestic overfishing to its lowest level in decades and rebuilt a record number of historically depleted domestic stocks. Those who flout the rules not only undermine these efforts but also the honest work of America's fisheries communities, the trust of American consumers and the perceived quality of U.S. products in global markets.
Dr. Kathryn D. Sullivan, under secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration administrator, is an oceanographer and the first American woman to walk in space.
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