SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
It is the policy of the United States to— 
(1) provide technical and other forms of 
counter-IUU fishing capacity-building assistance to 
countries in Africa that have prioritized such efforts 
and that request such assistance; 
(2) engage with countries in Africa that face 
IUU fishing challenges to deepen cooperation related 
to combating IUU fishing; and 
(3) ensure that sufficient full-time United 
States Government personnel, including personnel 
from the Coast Guard and other Federal agency 
staff, mandated with pursuing counter-IUU fishing 
are deployed to United States Embassies in African 
countries that face significant IUU challenges. 
SEC. 5. ANNEX TO THE 2022 NATIONAL 5-YEAR STRATEGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Interagency Working 
Group on IUU Fishing, as established by section 3551 of 
the Maritime Security and Fisheries Enforcement Act (16 
U.S.C. 8031), shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees an annex to the 2022 National 5-Year 
Strategy for Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregu-
lated Fishing relating to IUU fishing off the coasts of Af-
rica. Such annex shall— 
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(1) focus on efforts to counter IUU industrial 
fishing off of Africa’s coasts; 
(2) identify opportunities to expand cooperation 
with African countries— 
(A) to strengthen national and sub-re-
gional maritime security partnerships with the 
United States; and 
(B) to achieve increased success in coun-
tering IUU industrial fishing; and 
(3) identify specific actions to— 
(A) enhance African partner country— 
(i) maritime domain awareness capa-
bilities relating to IUU fishing; 
(ii) capability to manage fishing ac-
tivities within their exclusive economic 
zones and to take enforcement action to 
address violations of such management 
measures, including through international 
coordination; and 
(iii) legal and other institutional ca-
pacity-building necessary to develop, en-
hance, and enforce effective domestic laws 
and regulations, including those necessary 
to implement international legal commit-
ments, to combat IUU fishing; 
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(B) assist with the regulation of domestic 
and foreign commercial fishing vessels and 
fleets operating in a given country’s territorial 
waters in a manner that facilitates the identi-
fication, mitigation, and prevention of unsafe 
working conditions, violations of internationally 
recognized worker rights, and labor abuses on 
such vessels and fleets; and 
(C) increase support for existing regional 
monitoring, control, and surveillance centers 
and support the establishment of new such cen-
ters throughout Africa. 
(b) PRIORITY COASTAL STATES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In implementing the annex 
required by subsection (a), the Secretary of State, in 
consultation with the Administrator of the United 
States Agency for International Development, the 
Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard and the heads of 
other relevant Federal agencies, shall identify addi-
tional African countries to be ‘‘Priority Coastal 
States’’ to serve as the focus of counter-IUU fishing 
efforts in Africa. Such Priority Coastal States shall 
be chosen— 
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(A) on the basis of— 
(i) significant negative impact that 
IUU fishing is having on the host coun-
try’s economy, food security and stability; 
(ii) capacity, and willingness, of the 
host country to work with the United 
States Government in countering IUU 
fishing; and 
(iii) the national security interests of 
the United States; and 
(B) in a manner that ensures that— 
(i) not fewer than 4 countries are se-
lected, including not fewer than one East 
African country; and 
(ii) all of the countries are from either 
a Tier One or Tier Two Priority Region, 
as defined in the 2022 National 5-Year 
Strategy for Combating Illegal, Unre-
ported, and Unregulated Fishing. 
(2) CONGRESSIONAL CONSULTATION.—Prior to 
finalization of the selection of Priority Countries, 
representatives from the Department of State, the 
United States Agency for International Develop-
ment, the Department of Defense, the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Coast 
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Guard shall consult the appropriate congressional 
committees on the countries being considered for 
prioritization and shall consider congressional input 
on such prioritization. 
(3) JUSTIFICATION.—Not later than 60 days 
after the selection of the Priority Countries under 
this subsection the Secretary of State, in coordina-
tion with the Administrator of the United States 
Agency for International Development, the Secretary 
of Defense, the Administrator of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard, and in consultation 
with the heads of other relevant Federal depart-
ments and agencies, shall submit to Congress an un-
classified written justification, which may include a 
classified annex, for the Priority Countries chosen. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of State, in coordination with the Administrator of the 
United States Agency for International Development, the 
Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard, and the heads of other rel-
evant Federal agencies, shall submit a plan to counter 
IUU fishing in the Priority Countries chosen under sub-
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section (c) including by implementing the specific actions 
identified in subsection (a). 
(d) REPORTS.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and biennially thereafter for a 
total of 8 years, the Secretary of State, the Department 
of Justice, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, the Secretary of Defense, 
and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall jointly sub-
mit to the appropriate congressional committees a report, 
which may include a classified annex, that includes the 
following: 
(1) A review of the ongoing efforts of the 
United States to develop the institutional capacity of 
partner nations in Africa to interdict or identify ac-
tors involved in prohibited IUU fishing practices or 
acts (whether prohibited by law or regulation) and, 
as applicable, to prosecute violations of such actors 
under existing domestic laws and, where appropriate, 
to support the efforts of such countries to strength-
en their laws aimed at combatting IUU fishing. 
(2) A review of efforts to strengthen, reform, or 
otherwise enhance the laws, policies, and regulatory 
systems and capacities of partner nations in Africa 
as these tools relate to countering IUU fishing, in-
creasing transparency around operations, including 
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corruption in the allocation of fishing quotas or 
other rights. 
(3) An assessment of the number of Depart-
ment of Transportation SeaVision accounts that 
have been allocated to African countries and the as-
sociated training provided on how to use SeaVision 
data. 
(4) A review of the progress made in identifying 
the opportunities to expand the mechanisms to com-
bat IUU fishing laid out in section 3544 of the Mar-
itime Security and Fisheries Enforcement Act (16 
U.S.C. 8014). 
(5) An assessment of actions that could be 
taken by the United States to highlight, publicly and 
to African partners, the IUU fishing behavior off of 
Africa’s coasts of vessels flagged to the People’s Re-
public of China or with Chinese beneficial owners 
and the negative impact caused by IUU fishing to 
partner countries in Africa. 
(6) A recording and assessment of the total 
number of vessels engaged in suspected IUU fishing 
detected in Africa by the United States and the 
country of origin for each such vessel during the 2- 
year period ending on the date of the submission of 
the report. 
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(7) A review of ongoing efforts by the United 
States to promote maritime security, marine envi-
ronmental protection, and fisheries sustainability in 
Africa including the number, and per-country break-
down, of United States Government personnel situ-
ated in diplomatic or consular posts in Africa who 
work on the counter-IUU fishing portfolio, either 
full or part time. 
(8) A recording and assessment of the number 
of interdictions and boarding and inspections in or 
off African waters of fishing vessels suspected of 
IUU fishing activities by the Coast Guard, United 
States Navy, or other relevant Federal departments 
and agencies, that occurred during the 2-year period 
ending on the date of the submission of the report. 
(9) Specific opportunities to— 
(A) enhance coordination between the De-
partment of State, the United States Agency 
for International Development, and the Coast 
Guard, specifically through the Maritime Advi-
sors program, as it relates to counter-IUU fish-
ing efforts in African countries; 
(B) enhance cooperation between the Coast 
Guard, the Navy, the Department of State, the 
United States Agency for International Devel-
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opment, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, and other relevant Federal de-
partments and agencies, and the maritime 
forces of African countries that are allies and 
partners of the United States, to coordinate 
and improve counter-IUU fishing efforts; 
(C) strengthen engagement and coordina-
tion by the Coast Guard with other relevant 
Federal departments and agencies that lead 
United States participation in regional organi-
zations, including regional fisheries manage-
ment organizations, dedicated to coordination 
and cooperation in support of the fisheries poli-
cies that align with customary international law 
related to fisheries management, trade, and law 
enforcement, international best fishing prac-
tices, and United States standards, ocean con-
servation, maritime security, and related initia-
tives of Africa; 
(D) increase the presence of the Coast 
Guard personnel and other relevant Federal de-
partments and agencies authorized to address 
IUU fishing at United States diplomatic and 
consular posts across Africa to support host 
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country law enforcement and capacity-building 
initiatives; 
(E) increase the frequency, and duration of 
stay, of Coast Guard Mobile Training Teams 
visits to Africa; and 
(F) include Coast Guard-led counter-IUU 
fishing exercises in the annual Department of 
Defense at-sea exercises conducted with partner 
countries in Africa including, if appropriate, 
participation by other relevant United States 
departments and agencies. 
SEC. 6. FEASIBILITY STUDY ON INCREASING THE PRES-
ENCE OF THE COAST GUARD IN AFRICA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the Coast 
Guard and the Secretary of State, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Defense and in coordination with the heads 
of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall 
conduct a feasibility study to assess the potential for, and 
challenges to, increasing the number of personnel of the 
Coast Guard and other Federal departments or agencies 
with counter-IUU fishing technical capacities and man-
dates at United States diplomatic and consular posts in 
Africa. 
(b) RECOMMENDED ASSUMPTIONS.—For the pur-
poses of the feasibility study required by subsection (a) 
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Congress recommends that the following assumptions be 
made: 
(1) The Coast Guard personnel deployed must 
be in the role of a Coast Guard Attache´, Coast 
Guard Liaison Officer, Coast Guard Maritime Advi-
sor, or Coast Guard Security Cooperation Officer. 
(2) The deployed Coast Guard personnel shall 
remain in the Coast Guard Priority Country for a 
tour of duty no shorter than 2 years. 
(c) IDENTIFICATION OF PRIORITY COUNTRIES.—Not 
later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Sec-
retary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of De-
fense, shall identify certain African countries, to be known 
under this Act as ‘‘Coast Guard Priority Countries’’ that 
would benefit the most from an increased Coast Guard 
presence. Such countries shall be selected pursuant to the 
following: 
(1) Coast Guard Priority Countries shall be se-
lected on the basis of the criteria laid out in section 
5(c)(1) for identifying ‘‘Priority Countries’’ and 
shall also take into account the likelihood that the 
deployment of Coast Guard personnel to the United 
States Embassy in the country would measurably in-
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crease the effectiveness of counter-IUU fishing ef-
forts. 
(2) Prior to finalization of the selection of the 
Coast Guard Priority Countries, representatives 
from the Department of State, the Department of 
Defense, the Coast Guard and other relevant Fed-
eral departments and agencies, shall consult the ap-
propriate congressional committees on the countries 
being considered and shall consider congressional 
input on such prioritization. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard, in coordination with the Secretary of State and 
the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a written justification for the 
priority countries selected that includes— 
(1) the results of the feasibility study under-
taken pursuant to subsection (a); 
(2) justification as to why the Coast Guard Pri-
ority Countries were chosen; 
(3) how the Coast Guard personnel deployed on 
an ongoing basis to embassies in Coast Guard Pri-
ority Countries will benefit counter-IUU fishing ef-
forts in these countries; 
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(4) the expected timeline it would take for the 
Coast Guard personnel to arrive in each of the Coast 
Guard Priority Countries selected; 
(5) the current capacity of the host nation gov-
ernment, to include the number of maritime assets 
in the host country navy or coast guard, and the 
willingness and ability of the host country govern-
ment to implement reforms to facilitate successful 
counter-IUU fishing; and 
(6) an assessment of challenges or impediments 
to Coast Guard deployment to Coast Guard Priority 
Country. 
SEC. 7. INCREASED TRAINING IN ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED, 
AND UNREGULATED FISHING DIPLOMACY. 
Section 708 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 
U.S.C. 4028) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(C), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting a semicolon; 
(2) in subsection (a)(1)(D) by striking ‘‘.’’ and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
(3) by adding at the end of subsection (a)(1) 
the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(E) for Foreign Service Officers who will 
be assigned to a country experiencing or at risk 
for human trafficking, maritime violations of 
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internationally recognized worker rights, and 
maritime forced labor within their seafood sec-
tor, including on distant water fishing fleets, as 
determined by the Secretary of State, in con-
sultation with the heads of other relevant Fed-
eral agencies, instruction on monitoring and 
countering illegal, unregulated and unreported 
fishing through the training described in sub-
section (f).’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(f) COUNTER-IUU FISHING.—The Secretary of 
State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard, the Administrator of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, and appro-
priate representatives of the private sector, shall establish 
as part of the standard training for Foreign Service Offi-
cers, chiefs of mission, and deputy chiefs of mission serv-
ing or preparing to serve in countries that were identified 
as being in a Tier One, Tier Two, or Tier Three Priority 
Region, as defined in the most recent National 5-Year 
Strategy for Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregu-
lated Fishing, training on matters related to countering 
illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, mari-
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time violations of internationally recognized worker rights, 
and maritime forced labor in the respective host country, 
including— 
‘‘(1) ongoing efforts to counter-IUU fishing; 
‘‘(2) country maritime domain awareness capa-
bilities including technical assistance; 
‘‘(3) maritime law enforcement activities, in-
cluding international coordination; 
‘‘(4) legal capacity to strengthen and enforce 
domestic fisheries management and conservation 
laws and regulations, including those necessary to 
implement international legal commitments, aimed 
at countering IUU fishing, maritime violations of 
internationally recognized worker rights, forced 
labor; 
‘‘(5) legal capacity to identify, apprehend, in-
vestigate and prosecute transgressors; and 
‘‘(6) 
challenges 
to 
implementing 
effective 
counter-IUU fishing efforts.’’. 
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Amounts made available to carry out this Act and 
the amendments made by this Act shall be derived from 
amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated to each 
applicable Federal department or agency, and in par-
ticular, with respect to activities of the Department of 
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State, from the Counter PRC Influence Fund of such De-
partment. 
SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
the House of Representatives; and 
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
the Senate. 
(2) FORCED LABOR.—The term ‘‘forced labor’’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 307 of 
the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1307). 
(3) IUU FISHING.—The term ‘‘IUU fishing’’ 
means activities described as illegal fishing, unre-
ported fishing, or unregulated fishing (as such terms 
are defined in paragraph (3) of the International 
Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Ille-
gal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, adopted 
at the 24th Session of the Committee on Fisheries 
in Rome on March 2, 2001). 
(4) INTERNATIONALLY
RECOGNIZED
WORKER 
RIGHTS.—The 
term 
‘‘internationally 
recognized 
worker rights’’ has the meaning give that term in 
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section 601 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 
2467). 
Æ 
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