U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) have sent a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), urging stronger action against illegal fishing by Mexican vessels in U.S. waters. The senators argue that these activities undermine Alabama fishermen and facilitate cartel operations.
Alabama is responsible for 34% of all recreational red snapper caught in the Gulf, making it particularly affected by illegal fishing. The letter, also signed by several other senators from Gulf states, calls on NOAA to use its import-restriction powers to target the problem.
“We write to express concern regarding the continued illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing for red snapper by Mexican vessels operating in U.S. waters in the Gulf of America. The Coast Guard has demonstrated sustained and effective operational enforcement through repeated interdictions and seizures; however, the continued presence of Mexican lanchas in U.S. waters suggests that enforcement at sea, by itself, is insufficient to eliminate the incentive to fish illegally. We urge the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to use its import-restriction authorities, and other applicable authorities, to address this problem in a targeted and proportionate manner that supports law-abiding U.S. fisheries,” wrote the Senators.
The letter notes that while there were fewer vessel interdictions in 2025 compared to previous years, the volume of seized illegally harvested red snapper increased by 28%, totaling 15,859 pounds. The senators state that although fewer boats are being stopped, those intercepted are carrying larger amounts intended for sale in the U.S.
According to a recent report from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General cited in the letter, only one out of every five detected foreign fishing vessels is intercepted by the Coast Guard. This leaves most illegal incursions unchecked as they enter domestic supply chains.
The senators highlight that these illegal operations are increasingly linked with organized crime groups such as Mexico’s Gulf Cartel. They argue that access to U.S. seafood markets without consequences provides a financial source for these organizations and undermines both fisheries management and national security.
Congress previously passed legislation allowing for import bans when foreign fishing activities harm conservation efforts or enforcement actions. However, according to Tuberville and his colleagues, these powers have never been used despite ongoing evidence of cartel-linked supply chains bringing illegally caught fish into U.S. commerce.
“We respectfully urge NOAA Fisheries to evaluate—without further delay—the use of its existing statutory authority in coordination with relevant agency partners to eliminate illegal fishing in U.S. waters and prevent IUU-caught fish from entering U.S. markets. Conditioning market access on compliance through focused, risk-based measures would protect law-abiding U.S. fishermen, safeguard shared fish stocks, and remove a key economic incentive sustaining cartel-linked fishing activity while preserving lawful trade and minimizing impacts on compliant segments of the American seafood industry,” wrote the Senators.
Senator Tuberville serves as Alabama’s representative in the United States Senate after his election in 2020—a transition from his earlier career as a college football coach—and participates on committees including Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, Health Education Labor & Pensions (HELP), and Aging (official website). His office operates district locations throughout Alabama offering constituent services related to federal agencies (official website).
Other signatories include Senators Katie Britt (R-AL), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), John Kennedy (R-LA), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).
Tuberville has sponsored prior legislation aimed at protecting American fishermen from cartel-linked illegal activities involving red snapper imports.