H.R. 1792House118th Congress (2023-2025)Passed House

South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 5:14 AM UTC

The South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2023 updates the 1988 South Pacific Tuna Act to modernize U.S. participation in the treaty with Pacific Island Parties. It revises definitions, licensing rules, prohibited activities, enforcement procedures, and reporting requirements. The changes affect U.S. tuna‑fishing vessels, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of State, and Pacific Island treaty partners.

Key Provisions

Redefines terms such as "Applicable National Law," "Closed Area," and narrows "Fishing Vessel" to commercial purse‑seine tuna vessels.
Adds new prohibited acts, including violations of regional terms and fishing effort limits, and updates exceptions and criminal penalties.
Modifies licensing procedures, allowing the Secretary to reject applications for non‑compliance, bankruptcy, lack of insurance, or unpaid penalties.
Sets confidentiality rules for information collected under the treaty and outlines limited circumstances for disclosure.
Repeals the observer requirement and expands technical assistance and capacity‑building support to Pacific Island Parties.
Adjusts arbitration language to let the treaty determine arbitration location and removes references to specific treaty articles.
Allows the Secretary to establish review procedures for additional fishing‑access agreements and updates fee, penalty, and forfeiture handling.

Legislative Activity

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16 earlier actions

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

April 10, 2024

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 24, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

March 24, 2023

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries.

Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee

July 21, 2023

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee

July 27, 2023

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Natural Resources Committee

October 25, 2023

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Discharged.

Natural Resources Committee

October 26, 2023

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Natural Resources Committee

October 26, 2023

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

Natural Resources Committee

October 26, 2023

HouseCommittee

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 118-429.

Natural Resources Committee

March 21, 2024

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 354.

March 21, 2024

HouseFloor

Ms. Hageman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

April 9, 2024 • 3:56 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2157-2159)

April 9, 2024 • 3:56 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1792.

April 9, 2024 • 3:56 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2157-2158)

April 9, 2024 • 4:05 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2157-2158)

April 9, 2024 • 4:05 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

April 9, 2024 • 4:05 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

April 10, 2024

Floor Debate

4 members

What members said about H.R. 1792 on the floor

3 Republicans1 Democrat

Rep. Teresa Leger FernandezD-NM-3 · Apr 9, 2024

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1792, the South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2023, will ensure the continued effective management of tuna fisheries and the…

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1792, the South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2023, will ensure the continued effective management of tuna fisheries and the conservation of marine resources in the South Pacific, benefiting American fisheries in the South Pacific and contributing to the stability of the region.

Specifically, this legislation would implement the South Pacific Tuna Treaty, a multilateral treaty between the United States Government and the Pacific Island States. This treaty authorizes a small U.S. purse seine vessel fleet to fish in specific and exclusive economic zones of Pacific Island countries that are party to the treaty. These parties are Australia, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Independent State of Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

The South Pacific Tuna Treaty entered into force in 1988 and was extended in 1993 and then again in 2002. Most recently, the parties began to renegotiate the treaty and its annexes starting in 2009.

The treaty has been vital for almost three decades, fostering a mutually beneficial strategic and economic relationship between the United States and the Pacific Island countries.

The treaty provides access to lucrative tuna fishing grounds and facilitates cooperation on various issues.

H.R. 1792 proposes adjustments to the South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988 to implement the amended treaty, mainly providing more flexibility for U.S. vessels and the Pacific Island countries to negotiate access levels while ensuring a stable operating environment.

This legislation will enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to efficiently implement annual access and fee agreements and new operational requirements, thereby allowing the United States and its vessels operating under the treaty to better utilize its benefits.

Mr. Speaker, I, too, thank Mrs. Radewagen for leading on this issue and for understanding the needs that we see in the Blue Continent and understanding the needs of the nations, the freely associated States and territories in pursuing this kind of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am ready to close.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation so that we can continue to protect our fishing fleet, protect the waters, and, importantly, protect the tuna that provides such economic vitality to those fishermen in those countries which rely on their ability to both capture the tuna. All of those restaurants and households really want to make sure that we continue to ensure that tuna is caught in an environmentally and sound way.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Harriet M. HagemanR-WY · Apr 9, 2024

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1792) to amend the South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988, and for other purposes, as amended. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all…

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1792) to amend the South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1792, as amended, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1792, the South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2023, sponsored by Mrs. Radewagen of American Samoa.

This legislation would make critical updates to the South Pacific Tuna Treaty, consistent with amendments that were agreed to between the United States and the 16 Pacific Island parties in 2016 and ratified by the Senate in 2022.

The amendments will provide the United States fishing vessels with greater clarity about the areas that they can access in the parties' exclusive economic zones. This relationship gives the United States access to an abundant fishing resource while strengthening our presence in the region.

Despite the importance of this treaty, the recent amendments are not self-

executing. This has led to conflicts between our domestic regulatory regime and the treaty structure. Making the necessary changes in the statute to allow the United States and its regulatory agencies to fully implement the treaty amendments will ensure that they are carried out effectively.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mrs. Radewagen, for her leadership on this important issue and urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from American Samoa (Mrs. Radewagen).

Mr. Speaker, when President Ronald Reagan signed the initial legislation establishing this treaty, he spoke of the longstanding cooperation and partnership between the United States and the South Pacific. He stated that the legislation would ``reinforce the bonds of friendship and affection that unite our peoples.''

The bill we are considering today furthers that effort.

By updating the South Pacific Tuna Treaty in accordance with the 2016 amendments, we begin the next chapter of the partnership between the United States and the South Pacific. Strengthening these relationships could not be more important at a time when the United States' leadership is needed in this region to counter the growing malign influence of the Chinese Communist Party.

I, once again, thank Mrs. Radewagen for her leadership on this important issue. I urge the adoption of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Aumua Amata Coleman RadewagenR-AS · Apr 9, 2024

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1792, the South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act, which I introduced along with my original cosponsor, Ed Case of Hawaii. As Representatives of the beautiful…

Rep. Bruce WestermanR-AR-4 · Mar 21, 2024

Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as follows: Mr. WESTERMAN: Committee on Natural Resources. H.R. 1792.…

Bill Text

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Referred in SenateIssued April 10, 2024

IIB

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 1792

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 10, 2024

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

AN ACT

To amend the South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988, and for other purposes.

Short title; table of contents

(a)

Short title

This Act may be cited as the South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2023.

(b)

Table of contents

The table of contents of this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Amendment of South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988.

Sec. 3. Definitions.

Sec. 4. Prohibited acts.

Sec. 5. Exceptions.

Sec. 6. Criminal offenses.

Sec. 7. Civil penalties.

Sec. 8. Licenses.

Sec. 9. Enforcement.

Sec. 10. Findings by Secretary.

Sec. 11. Reporting requirements; disclosure of information.

Sec. 12. Closed Area stowage requirements.

Sec. 13. Observers.

Sec. 14. Technical assistance.

Sec. 15. Arbitration.

Sec. 16. Disposition of fees, penalties, forfeitures, and other moneys.

Sec. 17. Additional agreements.

Amendment of South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988

Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988 (16 U.S.C. 973 et seq.).

Definitions

(a)

Applicable national law

Section 2(4) (16 U.S.C. 973(4)) is amended by striking described in paragraph 1(a) of Annex I of and inserting noticed and in effect in accordance with.

(b)

Closed Area

Section 2(5) (16 U.S.C. 973(5)) is amended by striking of the closed areas identified in Schedule 2 of Annex I of and inserting area within the jurisdiction of a Pacific Island Party that is closed to vessels pursuant to a national law of that Pacific Island Party and is noticed and in effect in accordance with.

(c)

Fishing

Section 2(6) (16 U.S.C. 973(6)) is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (C), by inserting for any purpose after harvesting of fish; and

(2)

by amending subparagraph (F) to read as follows:

(F)

use of any other vessel, vehicle, aircraft, or hovercraft, for any activity described in this paragraph except for emergencies involving the health or safety of the crew or the safety of a vessel.

(d)

Fishing vessel

Section 2(7) (16 U.S.C. 973(7)) is amended by striking commercial fishing and inserting commercial purse seine fishing for tuna.

(e)

Licensing Area

Section 2(8) (16 U.S.C. 973(8)) is amended by striking in the Treaty Area and all that follows and inserting under the jurisdiction of a Pacific Island Party, except for internal waters, territorial seas, archipelagic waters, and any Closed Area..

(f)

Limited Area; Party; Treaty Area

Section 2 (16 U.S.C. 973) is amended—

(1)

by striking paragraphs (10), (13), and (18);

(2)

by redesignating paragraphs (11) and (12) as paragraphs (10) and (11), respectively;

(3)

by redesignating paragraph (14) as paragraph (12); and

(4)

by redesignating paragraphs (15) through (17) as paragraphs (14) through (16), respectively.

(g)

Regional terms and conditions

Section 2 (16 U.S.C. 973) is amended by inserting after paragraph (12), as so redesignated, the following:

(13)

The term regional terms and conditions means any of the terms or conditions attached by the Administrator to the license issued by the Administrator, as notified by the Secretary.

Prohibited acts

(a)

In general

Section 5(a) (16 U.S.C. 973c(a)) is amended—

(1)

by striking Except as provided in section 6 of this Act, it at the beginning and inserting It;

(2)

by striking paragraphs (3) and (4);

(3)

by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (13) as paragraphs (3) through (11), respectively;

(4)

in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, by inserting , except in accordance with an agreement pursuant to the Treaty after Closed Area;

(5)

in paragraph (10), as so redesignated, by striking or at the end;

(6)

in paragraph (11), as so redesignated, by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and

(7)

by adding at the end the following:

(12)

to violate any of the regional terms and conditions; or

(13)

to violate any limit on authorized fishing effort or catch.

(b)

In the Licensing Area

Section 5(b) (16 U.S.C. 973c(b)) is amended—

(1)

by striking Except as provided in section 6 of this Act, it and inserting It;

(2)

by striking paragraph (5); and

(3)

by redesignating paragraphs (6) and (7) as paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively.

Exceptions

Section 6 (16 U.S.C. 973d) is repealed.

Criminal offenses

Section 7(a) (16 U.S.C. 973e(a)) is amended by striking section 5(a) (8), (10), (11), or (12) and inserting paragraphs (6), (8), (9), or (10) of section 5(a).

Civil penalties

(a)

Determination of liability; amount; participation by secretary of state in assessment proceeding

Section 8(a) (16 U.S.C. 973f(a)) is amended—

(1)

by striking Code after liable to the United States; and

(2)

by striking Except for those acts prohibited by section 5(a) (4), (5), (7), (8), (10), (11), and (12), and section 5(b) (1), (2), (3), and (7) of this Act, the and inserting The.

(b)

Waiver of referral to attorney general

Section 8(g) (16 U.S.C. 973f(g)) is amended—

(1)

by striking section 5(a)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), or (13) and inserting paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (11), (12), or (13) of section 5(a); and

(2)

in paragraph (2), by striking , all Limited Areas closed to fishing, after outside of the Licensing Area.

Licenses

(a)

Forwarding and transmittal of vessel license application

Section 9(b) (16 U.S.C. 973g(b)) is amended to read as follows:

(b)

In accordance with subsection (e), and except as provided in subsection (f), the Secretary shall forward a vessel license application to the Administrator whenever such application is in accordance with application procedures established by the Secretary.

(b)

Fees and schedules

Section 9(c) (16 U.S.C. 973g(c)) is amended to read as follows:

(c)

Fees required under the Treaty shall be paid in accordance with the Treaty and any procedures established by the Secretary.

(c)

Minimum fees required to be received in initial year of implementation for forwarding and transmittal of license applications

Section 9 (16 U.S.C. 973g) is amended—

(1)

by striking subsection (f);

(2)

by redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as subsections (f) and (g), respectively;

(3)

by amending subsection (f), as so redesignated, to read as follows:

(f)

The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may determine that a license application should not be forwarded to the Administrator if—

(1)

the application is not in accordance with the Treaty or the procedures established by the Secretary; or

(2)

the owner or charterer—

(A)

is the subject of proceedings under the bankruptcy laws of the United States, unless reasonable financial assurances have been provided to the Secretary;

(B)

has not established to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the fishing vessel is fully insured against all risks and liabilities normally provided in maritime liability insurance; or

(C)

has not paid any penalty which has become final, assessed by the Secretary in accordance with this Act.

; and

(4)

in subsection (g), as so redesignated—

(A)

by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:

(1)

chapter 12113 of title 46, United States Code;

;

(B)

in paragraph (2), by inserting of 1972 after Marine Mammal Protection Act;

(C)

in paragraph (3), by inserting of 1972 after Marine Mammal Protection Act; and

(D)

in the matter that follows paragraph (3), by striking any vessel documented and all that follows and inserting the following:

any vessel documented under the laws of the United States as of the date of enactment of the Fisheries Act of 1995 for which a license has been issued under subsection (a) may fish for tuna in the Licensing Area, and on the high seas and in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States west of 146° west longitude and east of 129.5° east longitude in accordance with international law, subject to the provisions of the Treaty, this Act, and other applicable law, provided that no such vessel intentionally deploys a purse seine net to encircle any dolphin or other marine mammal in the course of fishing.

Enforcement

(a)

Notice requirements to Pacific Island Party concerning institution and outcome of legal proceedings

Section 10(c)(1) (16 U.S.C. 973h(c)(1)) is amended—

(1)

by striking paragraph 8 of Article 4 of; and

(2)

by striking Article 10 of.

(b)

Searches and seizures by authorized officers; limitations on power

Section 10(d)(1)(A) (16 U.S.C. 973h(d)(1)(A)) is amended—

(1)

in clause (ii), by striking or at the end; and

(2)

in clause (iii), by adding or at the end.

10.

Findings by Secretary

(a)

Order to leave waters upon failure to submit to jurisdiction of Pacific Island Party; procedure applicable

Section 11(a) (16 U.S.C. 973i(a)) is amended—

(1)

by striking , all Limited Areas,;

(2)

in paragraph (1)—

(A)

in subparagraph (A), by striking paragraph 2 of Article 3 of; and

(B)

in subparagraph (C), by striking within the Treaty Area and inserting under the jurisdiction; and

(3)

in paragraph (2)—

(A)

in subparagraph (A), by striking section 5 (a)(4), (a)(5), (b)(2), or (b)(3) and inserting paragraph (4) of section 5(a) or paragraphs (2) or (3) of section 5(b);

(B)

in subparagraph (B), by striking (7) and inserting (6); and

(C)

in subparagraph (C), by striking (7) and inserting (6).

(b)

Order of vessel to leave waters where Pacific Island Party investigating alleged Treaty infringement

Section 11(b) (16 U.S.C. 973i(b)) is amended by striking paragraph 7 of Article 5 of.

11.

Reporting requirements; disclosure of information

Section 12 (16 U.S.C. 973j) is amended to read as follows:

12.

Reporting

(a)

Prohibited disclosure of certain information

The Secretary shall keep confidential and may not disclose the following information, except in accordance with subsection (b):

(1)

Information provided to the Secretary by the Administrator that the Administrator has designated confidential.

(2)

Information collected by observers.

(3)

Information submitted to the Secretary by any person in compliance with the requirements of this Act.

(b)

Permitted disclosure of certain information

The Secretary may disclose information described in subsection (a)—

(1)

if disclosure is ordered by a court;

(2)

if the information is used by a Federal employee—

(A)

for enforcement; or

(B)

in support of the homeland and national security missions of the Coast Guard as defined in section 888 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 468);

(3)

if the information is used by a Federal employee or an employee of the Fishery Management Council for Treaty administration or fishery management and monitoring;

(4)

to the Administrator, in accordance with the requirements of the Treaty and this Act;

(5)

to the secretariat or equivalent of an international fisheries management organization of which the United States is a member, in accordance with the requirements or decisions of such organization, and insofar as possible, in accordance with an agreement that prevents public disclosure of the identity of any person that submits such information;

(6)

if the Secretary has obtained written authorization from the person providing such information, and disclosure does not violate other requirements of this Act; or

(7)

in an aggregate or summary form that does not directly or indirectly disclose the identity of any person that submits such information.

12.

Closed Area stowage requirements

Section 13 (16 U.S.C. 973k) is amended by striking . In particular, the boom shall be lowered and all that follows and inserting and in accordance with any requirements established by the Secretary..

13.

Observers

Section 14 (16 U.S.C. 973l) is repealed.

14.

Technical assistance

Section 15 (16 U.S.C. 973m) is amended to read as follows:

15.

Technical assistance

The Secretary and the Secretary of State may provide assistance to a Pacific Island Party to benefit such Pacific Island Party from the development of fisheries resources and the operation of fishing vessels that are licensed pursuant to the Treaty, including—

(1)

technical assistance;

(2)

training and capacity building opportunities;

(3)

facilitation of the implementation of private sector activities or partnerships; and

(4)

other activities as determined appropriate by the Secretary and the Secretary of State.

15.

Arbitration

Section 16 (16 U.S.C. 973n) is amended—

(1)

by striking Article 6 of after arbitral tribunal under; and

(2)

by striking paragraph 3 of that Article, and inserting the Treaty, shall determine the location of the arbitration.

16.

Disposition of fees, penalties, forfeitures, and other moneys

Section 17 (16 U.S.C. 973o) is amended by striking Article 4 of.

17.

Additional agreements

Section 18 (16 U.S.C. 973p) is amended by striking Within 30 days after and all that follows and inserting The Secretary may establish procedures for review of any agreements for additional fishing access entered into pursuant to the Treaty..

Passed the House of Representatives April 9, 2024.

Kevin F. McCumber,

Clerk.