Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Huffman
Introduced
Summary
Climate-ready fisheries management would be the central aim, shifting federal fishery rules to explicitly factor climate change, habitat loss, and community resilience into science, planning, and management. It also pairs stronger data, monitoring, and governance rules with new grants and loan tools for coastal communities.
Show full summary
- Families, fishers, and coastal communities: Would require Councils and NOAA to do regular vulnerability assessments, produce resilience plans, and fold climate science and social-economic needs into stock assessments and management decisions. This aims to protect livelihoods and coastal economies as stocks shift.
- Working waterfronts, local governments, and borrowers: Would create competitive grants and perpetual revolving loan funds to preserve and adapt waterfront access, allow loans up to 40 years for disadvantaged communities, and prioritize climate-adaptation projects. It authorizes $50.0 million per year for FY2026–2030 for these programs.
- Tribes, Councils, and data users: Would expand tribal seats and community participation in limited-access programs, require more transparency and conflict disclosures, and modernize data and electronic monitoring. It establishes a Climate-Ready Fisheries Innovation Program with $5.0 million per year for FY2026–2030 to support tools and stakeholder engagement.
*Would authorize roughly $275.0 million in program funding across FY2026–2030, increasing potential federal spending.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
23 provisions identified: 15 benefits, 2 costs, 6 mixed.
Low-cost loans for working waterfronts
This bill would let states create loan funds to fix and preserve working waterfronts, backed by federal grants. States would need to put in at least 20% of each grant. Loans would be at or below market rates, start repayment within 18 months, and amortize in 30 years (up to 40 for disadvantaged areas). Subsidies could be up to 35% of a grant, and at least 12% if enough disadvantaged projects apply; each year 0.2% of the fund would aid Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Projects paid with these funds would follow Davis-Bacon wages; state plans would last 5 years, and a federal task force would report in 18 months and seek actions by 30 months if funded.
Five-year funding for fisheries programs
The bill would authorize funding for FY2026–FY2030 to carry out its programs. The amounts are $698.142 million (FY2026), $714.2 million (FY2027), $730.626 million (FY2028), $747.431 million (FY2029), and $764.621 million (FY2030). Congress would still need to appropriate these funds.
Grants to upgrade working waterfronts
If enacted, eligible waterfront entities could apply for competitive grants to buy land, build or fix wharfs and ramps, plan improvements, or add climate upgrades. Applications would need to match approved local programs. The Secretary would set rules and approve or reject each application within 60 days.
Better data, tech, and backup plans
The bill would set prize contests to speed new electronic tools for fisheries data. GAO would review NOAA’s e-monitoring capacity and report within 18 months. The Administrator would create a contingency plan within 1 year for times when normal monitoring is not possible. A Northeast pilot trawl survey using industry vessels would start within 1 year and collect data for 5 years. Annual stock assessment progress reports would begin within a year, and new recreational catch data standards and a program would be set within 2 years, with a strategic plan published and updated at least every 5 years.
Climate-ready planning for U.S. fisheries
This bill would make climate change part of fisheries planning. The Secretary would issue guidance to councils within 2 years. Plans would have to build resilience starting 4 years after enactment. The Secretary would assess stock climate risks within 3 years and every 5 years, and councils would publish resilience plans within 1 year of notice. A new innovation program would start within 1 year, with $5 million a year from FY2026–FY2030, and Commerce and Interior would coordinate funding to study and reduce offshore wind impacts.
Faster fishery fixes and appeals
Councils would have up to 2 years to act after the Secretary finds a stock is overfished or at risk. If a council misses the deadline, the Secretary would issue a plan within 9 months, warn 30 days before, and act within 180 days after any disapproval. Councils could request short-term interim measures while plans are built. Affected parties would have 60 days, not 30, to seek court review of certain agency actions.
More support for cooperative fishery research
The cooperative research program would expand to include fishing communities and fund competitive projects based on council needs. The Secretary would issue guidance within 1 year for cooperative management agreements and report on past recommendations within 180 days. The Fisheries Conservation and Management Fund would be renamed for Zeke Grader. Every 2 years, funds would be split by region, and at least 5% of certain deposits would go to each region unless specified otherwise. Depositors or councils could direct funds to a region or project, including climate research for fisheries and communities.
Protecting forage fish and food webs
Within 12 months of enactment, the Secretary would define "forage fish" with council input. Within 18 months, the Secretary would issue management guidelines and hold workshops. Five years after enactment, councils would set catch limits that also consider the diet needs of fish, birds, and marine mammals that depend on forage fish.
Stronger protections for fish habitats
The bill would expand habitat protections in fishery plans. It would define “adverse effect” as anything that reduces habitat quality or quantity. Councils would make habitat protection plans with measurable targets and review them at least every 7 years. It would also define special habitat areas that need extra care and require objective criteria for overfishing that are at least as cautious as scientific advice.
Stronger rules to rebuild fish stocks
The Secretary would decide at any time if a stock is overfishing, overfished, or likely to be overfished within 2 years. Determinations would be published and sent to councils, and an annual report to Congress would list status and rebuilding plans. Rebuilding plans must be as short as practicable and not longer than the no‑fishing rebuild time plus one mean generation. Later plans would need at least a 75% chance to rebuild in time and share restrictions and benefits fairly among sectors.
More observers or cameras on boats
Councils would require data collection using onboard observers or electronic monitoring, unless a vessel lacks safe, adequate space. The Secretary would add river herring and shad to the Atlantic herring and mackerel plans within 180 days. At least 50% of trips using mid-water trawl or paired mid-water trawl gear would have an observer or video system. Information collection procedures would be reviewed at least every 5 years.
Community access and oversight of quotas
Fishing communities in a council area could apply to join limited access privilege programs if they submit a Community Sustainability Plan. Plans must cover governance, quota rules, appeals, monitoring, new entry, and safeguards against concentration; prior plans stay valid unless amended. The Commerce Inspector General would audit these quota programs for 2020–2025, brief Congress within 1 year, and issue a final report within 30 days after the briefing.
New bycatch rules and reporting
Fishery plans would have to measure bycatch and consider keeping all catch of species that die at high rates, but only if catch limits and accountability rules are in place. A national bycatch reporting program would be set up within 3 years to standardize data across regions. Managers would also have to avoid bycatch and, when it can’t be avoided, reduce bycatch deaths.
New science-based limits for tunas
A scientific committee for highly migratory species would be required, and annual catch limits could not exceed its advice for stocks not under the Atlantic Tunas Convention. Catch-limit rules would not apply to species with about a one‑year life cycle unless the stock is overfished. One clause that allowed decreasing a quota under the Atlantic Tunas law would be removed. The U.S. delegation to the Atlantic Tunas Commission would be four commissioners with set expertise, 3‑year terms, and a two‑term limit.
Rules for cross-border and new fisheries
The Secretary would publish a list of all federal fisheries and allowed gear. Using gear or fishing a fishery not on the list would be banned, except for limited experimental permits. Councils must review the list within 2 years and then at least every 5. Commerce would review council boundaries at least every 5 years, can assign a lead council or joint plan in 6 months, and plans are due within 2 years with majority votes for joint plans. For shifting stocks across countries, a report is due in 2 years with a 5‑year research plan and budget.
Harassment ban and training in fisheries
If enacted, harassment would be banned during work under this Act. Council members and staff would take 2 hours of approved harassment‑prevention training within 1 year or at hire, and at least every 2 years after. Covered people include council members and staff, advisory members, federal fishery permit holders, and staff or crew on federally permitted vessels.
Outreach and research on sharks, inshore gear
USDA and NOAA would create an outreach plan to help fishing businesses use USDA marketing programs, with reports due in 2 years. The Commerce Secretary would set shark research priorities within 1 year. Commerce would also study how shallow‑water mobile gear affects habitats and non‑target species and report within 1 year.
Safer NOAA workplaces and confidential reporting
NOAA would set up a restricted, confidential way to report sexual harassment or assault within 3 years. The bill defines who is covered, including observers, monitors, and council staff. Limited identity disclosures would be allowed only with written consent, to prevent a serious threat, to provide services, or by court order or law, with notice when possible. NOAA would also, within 180 days, create a policy to refer mariners with substantiated misconduct to the Coast Guard.
Stronger standards for fishery councils
Council appointees would need expertise in local fisheries or in ecosystem-based management or climate science. Governors must send at least three qualified nominees per vacancy with supporting statements, and the Secretary would review and can seek changes. The Secretary would strive for fair, balanced council membership and report yearly to Congress. Each council would adopt an ethics code like federal rules, and leaders could discipline staff under law.
Climate training for fishery councils
Council members and designees would get training on climate change, shifting fish ranges, and ecosystem‑based fishery management. This aims to support better decisions as oceans warm.
NOAA Corps ban for sex offense convictions
If enacted, people convicted of certain sexual offenses would be barred from serving in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps.
New rules for U.S. tuna commissioners
For the Inter‑American Tropical Tuna Commission, the President would appoint four U.S. commissioners, including one Commerce employee and one conservation expert, with no more than two living in states without a substantial fishery in the area; they would be supervised by State in consultation with Commerce. For the Western and Central Pacific Commission, the U.S. would have five commissioners, including a Commerce officer, a Western Pacific Council member, a Pacific Council member, and a conservation expert; they would serve at the President’s pleasure. Appointees would need knowledge of these fisheries.
Stronger council ethics and transparency rules
Council appointees, advisors, staff, and contractors would need to file financial disclosures, posted on NOAA and council websites; no one could be appointed until they file. Federal funds could not be used to lobby on laws or Executive actions, with narrow exceptions; the Secretary would investigate complaints, may discipline, and would issue rules within 1 year. The Secretary would also appoint at least one member per council with no financial interest, and the Pacific tribal seat would stay filled until a successor is named.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Huffman
CA • D
Cosponsors
Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large]
GU • R
Sponsored 6/4/2025
Case
HI • D
Sponsored 6/4/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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