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Gulf Coast Senators Urge NOAA to Block Imports Tied to Illegal Mexican Red Snapper Fishing
A bipartisan group of Gulf Coast senators is pressing federal regulators to take stronger action against illegal Mexican fishing operations targeting red snapper in U.S. waters, arguing that current enforcement efforts have failed to stop cartel-linked seafood from entering American markets.
In a letter sent to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration earlier this month, the lawmakers urged the agency to use its import restriction authority to prevent illegally harvested red snapper from being sold in the United States. The request follows new data showing that while the number of vessel interdictions declined in 2025, the volume of illegal red snapper seized by the U.S. Coast Guard increased sharply.
According to the senators, Coast Guard seizures of illegal red snapper rose 28 percent last year to nearly 16,000 pounds. Fewer vessels were stopped, but those that were intercepted carried larger, high-value loads intended for U.S. buyers. A Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General report cited in the letter found that the Coast Guard interdicts only about one in five detected foreign fishing vessels, leaving most illegal incursions unchallenged.
The issue carries particular importance for Gulf states, especially Alabama, which accounts for roughly one-third of all recreational red snapper landings in the Gulf of America. Lawmakers said illegal fishing undercuts American fishermen, siphons value from a tightly regulated fishery, and threatens long-term stock health.
The senators also raised national security concerns, citing Treasury Department reports linking Mexican lanchas involved in illegal fishing to organized criminal networks, including the Gulf Cartel. They warned that continued access to the U.S. seafood market provides a major source of funding for cartel operations.
“Interdictions alone will not eliminate the incentive to fish illegally as long as access to U.S. markets remains available,” the lawmakers wrote, urging NOAA to apply authorities granted under the High Seas Driftnet Fisheries Moratorium Protection Act. While NOAA has previously restricted Mexican fishing vessels from accessing U.S. ports, the senators noted that these measures have had little impact on small lanchas that do not rely on port services.
Industry groups echoed the call for action. The Southern Shrimp Alliance said illegal red snapper fishing undermines conservation efforts and places additional regulatory pressure on U.S. commercial fisheries, including shrimpers who already operate under strict bycatch limits.
The letter was led by Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and signed by all ten senators representing Gulf Coast states. Several lawmakers pointed to recent legislation, including the Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act passed in 2025, as part of a broader push to protect domestic fisheries and American seafood markets.
NOAA has not yet announced whether it will pursue import restrictions in response to the request.
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