Protecting U.S. Fishers from Illegal Foreign Flags Act of 2026

This bill amends the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act to enhance the United States' ability to combat illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing. It specifically authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to identify nations as engaging in or endorsing IUU fishing if they permit vessels to operate under their laws without confirming a genuine link between the nation and the vessel's beneficial owners or controllers, thereby failing to exercise effective flag state responsibilities.

This provision targets nations with open registries that may inadvertently or intentionally facilitate illicit fishing activities by not ensuring proper oversight of their flagged vessels. Furthermore, the bill mandates the Secretary to amend the regulatory definition of "illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing" within 90 days to ensure consistency with the definition provided in the Maritime SAFE Act. These changes aim to strengthen international fishing regulations and protect marine resources by holding nations accountable for their vessel registration practices.