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119-s-3579119th CongressWALLET

Bycatch Reduction and Research Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]

Introduced

Summary

reduce bycatch. This bill would focus federal research, testing, and funding to cut bycatch and protect seafloor habitats in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska.

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  • Fishermen and vessel operators would gain access to grants and a new Bycatch Mitigation and Habitat Protection Assistance Fund to pay for gear modifications and technology purchases, with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation administering the Fund and accepting donations.
  • Managers, NOAA, and regional science centers would get a reconstituted Bycatch Reduction and Research Task Force, expanded salmon life‑history and genetic stock identification work, and requirements to integrate electronic monitoring data and hold stakeholder consultations at least every three years.
  • Technology developers and monitoring programs would receive support to build testing infrastructure such as a flume tank, to advance electronic monitoring and reporting, and to pilot AI/ML and near‑real‑time stock identification and bycatch‑avoidance modeling.

*Would authorize $4.0 million per year for fiscal years 2027–2031 and establish a Treasury fund administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to finance gear and technology purchases or modifications.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Grants and funds for bycatch gear

If enacted, NOAA would create a Flume Tank Assistance Fund to give grants for testing fishing technologies and training. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation would run a donation-funded Bycatch Mitigation and Habitat Protection Assistance Fund to help fishermen buy or modify gear. The Foundation must consult NOAA and publish its first report within three years, then publish reports every two years. The bill would authorize $4,000,000 each year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for bycatch engineering activities. NOAA would also enter a public-private partnership to build a flume tank for gear testing.

New monitoring and data for fisheries

If enacted, NOAA would create a data integration strategy to include electronic monitoring data in regional science and stock assessments. The agency would publish that plan and a report within 3 years and hold public stakeholder consultations at least every 3 years. NOAA would streamline permit reviews and support regional EM pilot projects. The bill would also fund competitive grants to speed up genetic testing for near‑real‑time salmon stock identification in Alaska waters. These changes would improve data and speed decisionmaking but would also increase monitoring and equipment requirements for some vessel operators.

Expanded Alaska research and task force

If enacted, NOAA would conduct ecosystem research and modeling on how trawl gear contact affects benthic habitats in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska. The research would study factors like marine heatwaves, sea ice, diseases, prey availability, and predator‑prey interactions. NOAA would form public‑private partnerships with states, tribes, universities, nonprofits, and industry for this work. The bill would reconstitute the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force as the Bycatch Reduction and Research Task Force and add two academic experts.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]

AK • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]

    AK • R

    Sponsored 12/18/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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