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119-s-3658119th CongressWALLET

SHIFT Act

Sponsored By: Senator Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would make fishery managers explicitly account for ecological shifts and cross-boundary stocks when setting quotas and deciding which regional council manages a fishery. It also would impose clear timelines for cross-jurisdiction planning and create a science-first process to add new gear and fisheries to management lists.

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  • Coastal fishing communities and commercial and recreational fishermen would face management changes when stock distributions or ecosystem conditions shift. Quota decisions must use best available science about abundance, distribution, and habitat impacts.
  • Regional fishery councils would follow a timebound process for cross-council fisheries: notification within 6 months of a determination, a council designation or joint planning decision within 1 year, and a required plan or amendment within 2 years after the last relevant decision.
  • New fisheries or gear could only be added after habitat and ecosystem analyses that show minimal adverse effects. Councils must review listed fisheries starting 18 months after enactment and at least every 5 years. Limited experimental permits may gather public data to inform plans.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

New rules for fishing gear and permits

If enacted, Councils would review and keep an authorized list of fisheries and gear and must do an initial review within 18 months and at least every 5 years. The Secretary would publish proposed and final lists and take public comment. You would have to give written notice before using gear not on the list, and a Council could prohibit that use or ask the Secretary to add the gear. The Secretary could issue limited experimental permits for unlisted gear, and data from each permit year would be made public and used in management decisions.

Ecosystem rules for fish quotas

If enacted, the Secretary would encourage fishery plans to include data on ecosystem change. The Secretary would require quota allocation decisions to account for shifts in stock abundance and distribution. Officials would have to use the best scientific information available. This could protect long-term stocks but also change quota shares among States and regions.

New rules for multi-region fisheries

If enacted, the Secretary would review indicators and decide when a fishery crosses Council regions. The Secretary would notify affected Councils within 6 months. Councils would have 1 year to pick who prepares the plan, and the chosen Council(s) must make a plan or amendment within 2 years. Joint plans would require a majority vote of each involved Council before being sent to the Secretary.

Changes start 180 days after enactment

If enacted, this bill and its amendments would take effect 180 days after enactment. This delay would give Councils, the Secretary, and fishers time to prepare for the new rules. The timing change does not itself change program rules or funding.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

CT • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 1/15/2026

  • Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 1/15/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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