S. 2674: Helping Allies Respond to Piracy, Overfishing, and Oceanic Negligence Act

This bill, known as the Helping Allies Respond to Piracy, Overfishing, and Oceanic Negligence Act (or HARPOON Act), aims to enhance efforts in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by allowing the U.S. Department of Defense to support programs that build the capacity of foreign security forces. Here’s a breakdown of the key aspects of the law:

Short Title

The bill can be referred to as the HARPOON Act.

Definitions

• Commandant: This refers to the Commandant of the Coast Guard.
• Illegal Fishing: This includes fishing activities described as illegal, unreported, or unregulated, as defined by international guidelines.
• Secretary: This refers to the Secretary of the Navy.

Modification of Authority

The bill modifies an existing law to expressly give the Secretary of Defense the authority to conduct capacity-building programs specifically aimed at countering IUU fishing operations.

Counter-IUU Fishing Program Enhancement

The Secretary of Defense and the Commandant of the Coast Guard are encouraged to collaborate with foreign nations to:

• Establish joint patrols to improve the fight against IUU fishing.
• Combat transnational crime related to fishing activities.
• Enhance overall regional security.

Reporting Requirements

Within one year of the bill's enactment and annually thereafter, the Secretary and the Commandant are required to report to Congress on their activities, including:

• Identifying regions and countries interested in cooperating on IUU fishing issues.
• Describing limitations on partnerships due to lack of resources.
• Making recommendations to improve the effectiveness of programs.
• Assessing the success of ongoing partner operations.
• Providing any additional relevant information deemed necessary.

Defined Congressional Committees

The report must be submitted to specific committees within Congress, namely:

• The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on Armed Services in the Senate.
• The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and the Committee on Armed Services in the House of Representatives.

Relevant Companies

None found