The Protect American Fisheries Act of 2025, introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), modernizes the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. It targets economic threats to U.S. fisheries, especially South Carolina’s shrimping and commercial fishing sectors, by expanding definitions of “economic harm” from foreign competition. This directly addresses Lowcountry challenges like cheap imports flooding markets.
Key Expansions to Economic Harm Criteria
The legislation broadens oversight with these specific factors:
- Market Distortion: Covers foreign producers’ price manipulation that undercuts U.S. sellers.
- Harvest Disruptions: Protects domestic sustainability from threats like overfishing abroad.
- Operational Viability: Assesses risks to long-term survival of American fisheries businesses.
These changes empower federal action against unfair practices.
Enforcement Mechanisms
The Secretary of Commerce must investigate foreign fishing for:
- Illegal or unregulated activities.
- Forced labor in supply chains.
- Predatory pricing.
- Government subsidies distorting global prices.
Reviews would use evidence-based processes to recommend tariffs, quotas, or bans on implicated imports.
Impact on South Carolina
South Carolina’s coastal economy relies heavily on shrimp (over $100 million annually pre-import surges) and fish harvests. Cheap imports from Asia—often subsidized or labor-abused—have slashed local prices by up to 50% in recent years, per NOAA data. This bill incentivizes U.S. buyers (restaurants, grocers) to source domestic seafood, potentially reviving jobs in ports like Charleston and Beaufort. It aligns with Mace’s focus on SC-1 district priorities.
For latest status, check Congress.gov (search H.R. or S. bill number once introduced) or Mace’s site. Rep. Mace has championed similar trade protections before—does this tie into specific Lowcountry issues you’re tracking?
