This bill significantly amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act by introducing "economic cause" as a new basis for declaring a fishery resource disaster. This expansion allows for a broader range of qualifying events beyond traditional natural or anthropogenic causes affecting the resource itself. The legislation defines an "economic cause" as any activity carried out by a foreign person that distorts the market for a fishery resource, disrupts its sustainable harvest, or hinders the operational or economic viability of a fishery. A "foreign person" is broadly defined to include foreign individuals, governments, international financial institutions, and foreign-controlled entities. When requesting a disaster declaration based on economic cause, the bill mandates the inclusion of information documenting adverse effects from foreign person activities, such as illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing , predatory pricing , or subsidies that distort markets or negatively impact seafood prices. This change allows the Secretary to consider a wider range of factors, including prices in U.S. or export markets and specific foreign activities, when determining if a fishery resource disaster has occurred, providing a mechanism for federal assistance to U.S. fisheries suffering economic harm due to certain foreign actions.
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Protect American Fisheries Act of 2025
USA119th CongressHR-6150| House
| Updated: 11/19/2025
This bill significantly amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act by introducing "economic cause" as a new basis for declaring a fishery resource disaster. This expansion allows for a broader range of qualifying events beyond traditional natural or anthropogenic causes affecting the resource itself. The legislation defines an "economic cause" as any activity carried out by a foreign person that distorts the market for a fishery resource, disrupts its sustainable harvest, or hinders the operational or economic viability of a fishery. A "foreign person" is broadly defined to include foreign individuals, governments, international financial institutions, and foreign-controlled entities. When requesting a disaster declaration based on economic cause, the bill mandates the inclusion of information documenting adverse effects from foreign person activities, such as illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing , predatory pricing , or subsidies that distort markets or negatively impact seafood prices. This change allows the Secretary to consider a wider range of factors, including prices in U.S. or export markets and specific foreign activities, when determining if a fishery resource disaster has occurred, providing a mechanism for federal assistance to U.S. fisheries suffering economic harm due to certain foreign actions.