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119-s-4938119th CongressWALLET

Bycatch Reduction Act

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

In Committee

Summary

This bill would create a program to reduce trawl bycatch and protect seafloor habitat in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska by setting gear standards, building monitoring and research systems, and supporting gear innovation and testing.

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  • Commercial fishermen and quota groups would be subject to new gear performance standards and monitoring rules. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council must identify baselines within 1 year and phase in compliance timelines with 1-year requirements for pelagic adjustments and 2-year requirements for nonpelagic gear.
  • Researchers, gear innovators, and industry partners would gain testing and funding support. The bill creates a flume tank partnership, a donor-administered assistance fund for gear upgrades, and authorizes $10.0 million per year for FY2027 through FY2031 for the Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program.
  • Seafood importers and foreign fleets would face stricter trade rules. Imports from foreign vessels would be barred unless the Secretary of Commerce finds the fishery meets U.S. conservation comparability standards and could be seized if they violate the ban.

*Would authorize $10.0 million per year for FY2027–FY2031 for the Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

New nonpelagic trawl rules

If enacted, NOAA would report a baseline for nonpelagic trawl gear within 1 year and the Council would set gear performance standards. Vessels defined as 'applicable' would have a 1-year phase-in for modified footropes and sweeps and must be fully compliant within 2 years. Noncompliance would be treated as a Magnuson–Stevens Act violation and could bring penalties or permit sanctions.

New pelagic trawl gear rules

If enacted, the North Pacific Council would identify a pelagic trawl baseline within 1 year and the National Academies would review it. NOAA would write rules to cut seafloor impacts and could require seafloor-contact detectors and area prohibitions. Each pelagic trawl vessel would need an approved, field-tested salmon excluder device within 1 year. Vessels that fail to comply could face civil fines and permit sanctions under the Magnuson–Stevens Act.

Faster permits and better monitoring

If enacted, NOAA would speed and simplify reviews for exempted fishing permits and electronic monitoring pilot projects in North Pacific fisheries. NOAA would hold stakeholder consultations at least every 3 years with a 60-day comment period. The agency would publish a data integration plan and a report to Congress within 3 years to bring EM and observer data into regional science and near‑real‑time decision tools. NMFS regional offices would also post plain-language observer coverage rules and bycatch materials online.

New grants and engineering funding

If enacted, the NMFS Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program would be authorized $10,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2027–2031 to support gear development and testing. The bill would also create a Bycatch Mitigation and Habitat Protection Assistance Fund run by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to accept donations and give grants for gear purchase or modification. NOAA would form a public‑private flume tank partnership and a Flume Tank Assistance Fund to test prototypes, sensors, and train workers.

More open council meetings rules

If enacted, regional fishery councils would record votes on all non‑procedural matters and publish roll call minutes. Councils would post webcasts, audio, or transcripts within 30 days and the Secretary would keep a permanent online archive. The North Pacific Council must update its public comment policy within 180 days to allow at least 4 weeks of comment and NOAA must review recusal and financial interest rules within 1 year and report gaps in 2027.

Salmon and habitat research boost

If enacted, the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force would become a Bycatch Reduction Task Force with seven added experts and public posting of non‑proprietary materials. NOAA would run grants to speed genetic stock ID testing and require satellite or intelligent tagging with genetic stock determination for tagged salmon. NOAA would do ecosystem modeling of trawl contact effects and publish interim annual reports and a final report within 3 years tying research to management.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]

AK • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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