H.R. 531
South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2025
Sponsor: Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen
1 cosponsor
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2025
This bill revises federal requirements for U.S. commercial fishing vessels operating in the South Pacific. The changes reflect amendments to the South Pacific Tuna Treaty that were agreed to at Nadi, Fiji, on December 3, 2016. The treaty details mutual obligations of the United States and 16 Pacific Island countries when U.S. fishing vessels operate in the region.
Text of the bill
(a) Applicable national law. Section 2(4) (16 U.S.C. 973(4)) is amended by striking described in paragraph 1(a) of Annex I of and inserting noticed and in effect in accordance with.
(b) Closed Area. Section 2(5) (16 U.S.C. 973(5)) is amended by striking of the closed areas identified in Schedule 2 of Annex I of and inserting area within the jurisdiction of a Pacific Island Party that is closed to vessels pursuant to a national law of that Pacific Island Party and is noticed and in effect in accordance with.
(c) Fishing. Section 2(6) (16 U.S.C. 973(6)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (C), by inserting for any purpose after harvesting of fish; and
(2) by amending subparagraph (F) to read as follows:
(F) use of any other vessel, vehicle, aircraft, or hovercraft, for any activity described in this paragraph except for emergencies involving the health or safety of the crew or the safety of a vessel.
(d) Fishing vessel. Section 2(7) (16 U.S.C. 973(7)) is amended by striking commercial fishing and inserting commercial purse seine fishing for tuna.
(e) Licensing Area. Section 2(8) (16 U.S.C. 973(8)) is amended by striking in the Treaty Area and all that follows and inserting under the jurisdiction of a Pacific Island Party, except for internal waters, territorial seas, archipelagic waters, and any Closed Area..
(f) Limited Area; Party; Treaty Area. Section 2 (16 U.S.C. 973) is amended—
(1) by striking paragraphs (10), (13), and (18);
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (11) and (12) as paragraphs (10) and (11), respectively;
(3) by redesignating paragraph (14) as paragraph (12); and
(4) by redesignating paragraphs (15) through (17) as paragraphs (14) through (16), respectively.
(g) Regional terms and conditions. Section 2 (16 U.S.C. 973) is amended by inserting after paragraph (12), as so redesignated, the following:
(13) The term regional terms and conditions means any of the terms or conditions attached by the Administrator to the license issued by the Administrator, as notified by the Secretary.