The Stop Illegal Fishing Act requires the President to impose sanctions on foreign vessels and individuals involved in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. This includes blocking transactions related to these vessels and denying visas to individuals associated with them. The bill also establishes penalties for violations and allows the President to waive sanctions in certain circumstances, such as for national security reasons. Additionally, the President must report to Congress on the implementation of these measures.
Supporters of the Stop Illegal Fishing Act have praised it as a necessary step to protect marine ecosystems and combat illegal fishing practices that threaten global fish populations. Environmental groups and fishing industries have welcomed the bill, highlighting its potential to promote sustainable fishing and ensure fair competition for legal fishers.
Critics of the Stop Illegal Fishing Act have raised concerns about the potential for overreach and the impact on legitimate fishing operations. Some have argued that the sanctions could harm diplomatic relations with certain countries and that the bill may not adequately address the complexities of international fishing agreements. Additionally, there are fears that the enforcement of these sanctions could be challenging and lead to unintended consequences.
The analysis of H.R. 6338: Stop Illegal Fishing Act, sponsored by Gregory Meeks, reveals no direct industry overlaps between the sponsor's top donor industries and the subject matter of the bill. Meeks' top donors are primarily from the health professionals sector, contributing a substantial $240 million, and the retired sector, contributing $75 million. These industries do not have a direct connection to illegal fishing or the marine environment. Furthermore, the lobbying activity in this policy area does not indicate any significant financial interests that would directly benefit from the passage of this bill. The total lobbying amounts are relatively modest compared to the sponsor's overall funding, suggesting that the bill is unlikely to be influenced by donor interests in a way that creates a conflict of interest.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BLOCKCHAIN ASSOCIATION | BLOCKCHAIN ASSOCIATION | $420,000 |
| WATER QUALITY ASSOCIATION | THE WATER QUALITY ASSOCIATION | $40,000 |
| AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY | AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY | $30,000 |
| CRRC MA CORPORATION | ML STRATEGIES, LLC | $20,000 |
| FT. ABRAHAM LINCOLN FOUNDATION | THE BIRCH GROUP LLC | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY ACTION FUND | AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY ACTION FUND | $10,000 |
| TIDES ADVOCACY (ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY JUSTICE ACTION FUND) | ML STRATEGIES, LLC | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN KRATOM ASSOCIATION | MICKENBERG, LLC | $7,500 |
| WESTPORT GOLF LINKS INC. | THE BIRCH GROUP LLC | undisclosed |
| SOBI NORTH AMERICA | BIOADVOCATES LLC | undisclosed |
| FARMSHARE | KEYS GROUP, LLC | undisclosed |
| SKINCURE ONCOLOGY | AXADVOCACY GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | undisclosed |
| SOCIAL GAMING LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE | COVENANT GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, LLC | undisclosed |
| MCLEMORE | MIDNIGHT RIDER CONSULTING | undisclosed |
| SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL | CARBON IMPACT GROUP, LLC. | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Gregory Meeks, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
