Critics of protectionist trade legislation say American seafood companies are seeking Congress's help to put their competitors out of business. Here is the background:

• A 1987 federal law prohibits foreign-built fish-processing ships from operating in U.S. waters, with a few exceptions grandfathered in.

• American Seafoods, based in Seattle and a subsidiary of a Norwegian firm, fulfilled the act's requirements and prospered -- operating 12 factory trawlers.

• Tyson Seafood Group, which lost $230 million last year, petitioned Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) to introduce a bill to limit the size of factory trawlers, require 75 percent domestic ownership and revoke a firm's fishing license if the operation was sold.

Stevens and several colleagues introduced S. 1221, a bill opponents say is aimed solely at American Seafoods.

The bill is supported by Tyson Seafood, Alaska's onshore fish-processing industry -- which would like to shut down oceangoing fish processors altogether -- and Greenpeace, which, observers note, simply doesn't like fishing.

Critics say S. 1221 would take property without compensation, while putting political influence above entrepreneurial talent.