Rep. Rob Wittman co-signed a letter on October 11 asking the Biden administration to protect the US fishing industry from illegal activities by the Chinese Communist Party. Rep. Wittman, who is a member of the Select Committee on the CCP, expressed concerns about the CCP's ambitions to dominate the globe using any means necessary, including immoral forced labor.

"The Chinese Communist Party will use any means to dominate the globe, including immoral forced labor," Rep. Wittman said in an Oct. 11 social media post on X, formerly Twitter. "I joined my colleagues to urge the Biden administration to combat China’s illegal fishing practices and to protect the U.S. fishing industry."

In the letter addressed to Richard W. Spinrad, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere & NOAA Administrator, Rep. Wittman and his colleagues called for immediate action to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by the People's Republic of China (PRC). The letter highlighted the PRC's long-standing history of conducting illegal and widespread fishing operations and circumventing regulations and conservation laws.

Screenshot of Twitter post | https://twitter.com/RobWittman/status/1712214322997236003

The letter also drew attention to the PRC's distant water fishing fleet, which has been implicated in numerous cases of forced labor. The forced labor practices have affected various species, including tuna and squid that are imported to the United States. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection had previously issued Withhold Release Orders against the PRC entity Dalian Ocean Fishing Co. Ltd. in late 2022 due to its severe forced labor practices. This adds to the mounting evidence of forced labor in the PRC's fishing fleets.

The implications of IUU fishing go beyond environmental concerns. It also poses a threat to the economic security of the United States and puts American fishermen and seafood producers at a competitive disadvantage. As the PRC is the largest exporter of seafood to the US, American consumers are unwittingly complicit in supporting IUU and forced labor practices.

The letter cited the Moratorium Protection Act, which restricts imports from countries with a negative certification. However, despite the evidence of forced labor, no such restrictions have been applied to the PRC. The letter called on NOAA to strongly consider enforcing trade restrictions against the PRC on specific seafood products tainted by forced labor if the PRC fails to take corrective action within 90 days after bilateral consultations begin.

Rep. Wittman and his colleagues are urging the Biden administration to take a stand against China's illegal fishing practices and protect the US fishing industry. They believe that immediate action is needed to address the issue of IUU fishing and forced labor, safeguard sustainable fisheries, and preserve ocean ecosystems.