U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Rick Scott Urge Commerce Secretary Lutnik to Address China’s Illegal Fishing

U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-AL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) have formally urged Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to take swift and decisive action against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by China. In a letter dated August 25, they thanked the Trump administration for supporting American jobs and fair markets—but stressed the urgency of responding to what they describe as a growing threat from abusive fishing practices.

In the letter, the Senators stated that China, the largest exporter of seafood to the U.S., has weaponized IUU fishing. They say this practice endangers American workers, puts national security at risk, harms marine ecosystems, and perpetuates human rights violations—citing forced and child labor, human trafficking, and dangerous working conditions that claim more than 100,000 lives annually in global commercial fishing.

They called on Secretary Lutnick to fully enforce the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act and push for a ban on seafood imports from nations that engage in or support such abuses.

“Communist China is the world’s largest exporter of seafood to the U.S., flooding our markets with products tainted by forced labor, environmental destruction, and blatant disregard for international law,” the Senators wrote. “Chinese fishing fleets are notorious for their gross human rights abuses, including the use of forced and child labor—often from persecuted minorities like Uyghur Muslims and North Koreans. These vessels operate with impunity, decimating marine ecosystems and undercutting honest American businesses with artificially low prices. The result: American fishers are driven out of business, and American families are left vulnerable to unsafe, unethically sourced seafood.”

The Senators continued, “We urge you to take immediate aggressive action, which means fully enforcing the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act by imposing the toughest possible sanctions on seafood from Communist China and other nations that continue to abuse human rights on the high seas. We must protect American jobs, safeguard our environment, and uphold our values by refusing to be complicit in the gross abuses of Communist China.”

In a statement about the letter, Senator Britt also drew attention to her earlier legislative efforts. She backed the Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act, aimed at curbing cartel-supported poachers, especially in Gulf waters. She described its Senate passage as "a first step to protecting Alabama’s fishermen and putting cartel-backed poachers on notice for their illicit activities in the Gulf."

The full letter may be read HERE.