Illegally Fishing Boats to be banned from Entering U.S. Ports

The US legislators are looking to place an official ban on vessels involved in illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing from entering the nation's ports, reports http://www.megafishnet.com/ with reference to FishWise.

The rule, proposed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) would allow authorities to deny entry to a ship that had been listed for engaging in IUU fishing by one of the world's eight international fishery management organizations.

Currently there are around 90 officially blacklisted vessels and whilst small in number, a representative from the NOAA claims that these ships have had a "significant impact on the populations of Patagonian toothfish (Chilean Sea Bass), Bluefin Tuna and other high-demand fish."

Up to this point, IUU fishing vessels were discouraged from entering U.S. ports, but the new law would also make it illegal for any person or company to provide services or do business with a ship that had been engaged in defined IUU fishing activities.