Bycatch Reduction and Research Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Dan Sullivan
Introduced
Summary
This bill would build a focused program to drive federal research, monitoring, and technology development for _bycatch reduction_ and benthic habitat protection in Alaska fisheries. It pairs science, gear testing, and new funding pathways to cut incidental salmon catches and reduce seabed contact.
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- Fishermen and Alaska Native and subsistence users would see expanded salmon life-history research and public-private partnerships, including required satellite or intelligent tagging and genetic sampling grants to improve near-real-time stock identification.
- Researchers and gear developers would get a repurposed Bycatch Reduction and Research Task Force with two added academic experts, a Flume Tank program plus an assistance fund for prototype testing and workforce training, and a reauthorized engineering program funded at $4.0 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
- NOAA managers and observers would face stronger electronic monitoring and data-integration rules, more frequent public stakeholder reviews of standards, streamlined exempted permit reviews, and required interim annual reports plus a final report within three years.
*Authorizes $4.0 million per year for 2027–2031 and creates a donation-funded Bycatch Mitigation and Habitat Protection Assistance Fund administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Better fisheries data and monitoring
This bill would require NOAA to add electronic monitoring (EM) data into regional science workflows and stock assessment models. NOAA would hold public stakeholder consultations at least once every three years, with a written comment period of at least 60 days, and publish a report to Congress and online within three years with recommendations on sharing near‑real‑time catch information and reducing Alaska‑origin salmon bycatch. The bill would fund studies of how trawl gear affects seafloor habitats and review ecosystem factors like heatwaves, sea ice, and ocean acidification. It would also reconstitute the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force as a Bycatch Reduction and Research Task Force, add two academic experts, and require NOAA to run tagging partnerships and fast genetic testing grants to give managers better in‑season stock and age information.
Grants and gear help for fishermen
This bill would authorize $4,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for bycatch engineering work, but that amount is an authorization and Congress must appropriate the money before it is spent. It would create a Bycatch Mitigation and Habitat Protection Assistance Fund run by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to accept donations and give financial help to fishermen and vessel owners to buy or modify gear, prototypes, instruments, or sensors. NOAA would set up a Flume Tank Assistance Fund and a public‑private flume tank for testing gear and supporting workforce training. The Foundation would consult with NOAA, regional science centers, and Councils and must publish how it used Fund money within three years and then every two years.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Dan Sullivan
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.
View on Congress.gov