# 119-s-5273: Fisheries Science Modernization Act of 2026

119-s-5273, Fisheries Science Modernization Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] (R-AK); status introduced (as of 2026-09-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5273
- As of: 2026-09-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-5273
- Congress: 119
- Title: Fisheries Science Modernization Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-08-06
- Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] (R-AK)
- Cosponsors: 8
- Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-17

## Summary

**Modernize fisheries science with environmental DNA (eDNA)**. This bill would create a multi-year pilot and a multi-agency coordination network to validate, standardize, and scale eDNA tools into federal stock assessments and aquatic monitoring across freshwater, estuarine, coastal, and marine systems. - Fishermen and coastal communities would see a multi-year pilot in at least three federally managed fisheries to directly compare eDNA with existing survey methods, build long-term eDNA time series, and expand cooperative research with fishermen. - NOAA staff and survey operations would gain funding for more survey technicians, training, laboratory capacity, and routine eDNA sampling when it improves stock assessments or reduces costs without disrupting core surveys. The pilot must document performance by fishery and develop QA/QC, archival repositories, and reference databases. - Tribes, states, researchers, and private labs would join the National Aquatic Biomolecular Coordination Network led by NOAA and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The Network would set national standards, promote interoperability, protect Tribal data sovereignty, encourage innovation including autonomous or AI-enabled samplers, and publish annual progress reports.

## Cosponsors (8)

- Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (D-RI), 2026-08-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] (R-AK), 2026-08-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] (D-WA), 2026-08-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR), 2026-08-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] (I-ME), 2026-08-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2026-08-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2026-08-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2026-09-15T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- National network to standardize eDNA: benefit, medium. If enacted, NOAA would lead a new multi-agency National Aquatic Biomolecular Coordination Network. The network would set national standards for eDNA sampling, lab work, data formats, and QA/QC. It would run pilot testbeds, publish performance expectations, and protect Tribal data sovereignty while…
- NOAA pilot and rules for eDNA use: mixed, medium. If enacted, NOAA (through NMFS) would run a multi-year pilot in at least three federally managed fisheries to test eDNA abundance methods. The pilot would compare eDNA to existing surveys, integrate sampling into ongoing surveys, use emerging samplers, build time series and archives, and report to…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025
- 119-s-410: Love Lives On Act of 2025
- 119-s-1261: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025
- 119-s-2903: Safe Step Act
- 119-s-1677: Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act
- 119-s-1032: Major Richard Star Act

## Sources
- [119-s-5273 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5273)

## Related
- [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241)
- [119-s-410: Love Lives On Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-410)
- [119-s-1261: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1261)
- [119-s-2903: Safe Step Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2903)
- [119-s-1677: Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1677)
- [119-s-1032: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1032)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5273 (as of 2026-09-17).