H.R. 1792 would amend the South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988 to incorporate amendments made to the South Pacific Tuna Treaty, which were agreed to by the United States and 16 Pacific Island Parties in December 2016. Until those amendments are enacted into law, the amended treaty cannot be fully enforced upon U.S. fishing vessels. Under the bill, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) would promulgate regulations to implement all the provisions of the amended treaty.
Using information from NOAA, CBO estimates that the cost to revise regulations and administer the requirements of the treaty would be insignificant over the 2024-2029 period. Any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.