# 115-hr-5638: Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act

115-hr-5638, Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act, is a 115th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA); status Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-5638
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 115-hr-5638
- Congress: 115
- Title: Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.
- Introduced: 2018-04-26
- Sponsor: Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act This bill addresses certain driftnet fishing. (Driftnet fishing is a method of fishing in which a gillnet composed of a panel or panels of webbing, or a series of such gillnets, is placed in the water and allowed to drift with the currents and winds for the purpose of entangling fish in the webbing.) Currently, the use of large-scale drift gillnets with a total length of 2.5 kilometers or more is prohibited in the United States. The bill expands the definition of large-scale driftnet fishing to prohibit the use of gillnets with a mesh size of 14 inches or greater. This expanded prohibition does not apply within the U.S. exclusive economic zone prior to January 1, 2020. The Department of Commerce must conduct a transition program to facilitate the phase out of large-scale driftnet fishing and to promote the adoption of alternative fishing practices that minimize the incidental catch of living marine resources. Commerce may award grants to program participants.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2018-06-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] (D-CA), 2018-06-20T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 115-hr-6510: Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act
- 115-hr-5911: Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act
- 115-hr-5885: WILD Act
- 115-hr-5819: BURMA Act of 2018
- 115-hr-5780: KITTEN Act of 2018
- 115-hr-5499: Stephen Michael Gleason Congressional Gold Medal Act

## Sources
- [115-hr-5638 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5638)

## Related
- [115-hr-6510: Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-6510)
- [115-hr-5911: Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-5911)
- [115-hr-5885: WILD Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-5885)
- [115-hr-5819: BURMA Act of 2018](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-5819)
- [115-hr-5780: KITTEN Act of 2018](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-5780)
- [115-hr-5499: Stephen Michael Gleason Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-5499)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-5638 (as of 2025-11-18).