WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Lisa Murkowski today commended the Senate Commerce Committee for unanimously passing the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) Enforcement Act out of committee.  The bill wasintroduced by Senator Murkowski Lisa and Senator Dan Sullivan last week to step up the crackdown of IUU fishing, and she had the following remarks afterwards:

“I thank my Senate colleagues in the Commerce Committee for recognizing the importance of this legislation and expeditiously passing it out of committee. Pirate fishing poses a serious threat to the livelihood of many in Alaska, and takes money out of the pockets of hardworking men and women. This is a tremendously important step to protect the 80,000 Alaskans directly or indirectly impacted by our state’s robust seafood industry. As fishing season in Alaska ramps up, it’s appropriate timing for this bill to move forward.”

This legislation will increase enforcement capabilities for a number of international fishery agreements that combat IUU fishing, and the bill now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration.

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