SHIFT Act
Sponsored By: Senator Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced
Summary
Shifts federal fisheries management to an ecosystem-based, cross-regional approach. The SHIFT Act would push managers to use ecological and transboundary data when setting quotas and reorganizing who runs which fisheries, and it creates a formal path to test and add new gears and activities.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Public data from experimental fishing permits
This bill would let the Secretary issue limited interim experimental fishing permits for activities not yet on the official list when those permits are designed to collect data needed for management plans. The Secretary would collect and evaluate the data and would publish the data at the end of each permit year. The relevant council would then decide whether to continue the experiment or manage the activity under a fishery management plan, and the data and evaluation would be included in any later plan or amendment.
Reports to Congress every five years
This bill would require the Secretary of Commerce to report to Congress on implementation of the Act, including metrics on resolved transboundary fisheries and ecological data integration. The first report would be due not later than 5 years after enactment. The Secretary would then have to report at least every 5 years after that.
Joint management rules for cross-council fisheries
This bill would require the Secretary to determine when a fishery extends beyond a single regional council using defined indicators and to consult affected councils. Councils would have one year to designate a lead council or agree to jointly prepare a plan. Designated councils would need to establish or amend a plan within two years if conservation and management are required. The bill would also bar submission of any jointly prepared plan to the Secretary unless a majority of voting members in each involved council approves it.
Quota rules consider ecosystem changes
This bill would require the Secretary to encourage managers to include ecosystem change data when setting or changing quota allocations. Managers would have to use the best scientific information and consider shifts in fish abundance, distribution, food webs, and habitat. This could change quota shares or timing among State, Federal, or other management units. The new rule would take effect 180 days after enactment.
Stricter reviews for new fisheries and gear
This bill would require each regional fishery council to review the official list of fisheries and gear and submit proposed changes within 18 months of enactment and at least every 5 years after. Proposals must include geographic scope and information on effects to habitat, existing fisheries, fishing communities, and ecosystems. Anyone planning to use unlisted gear or fish a not-listed fishery would have to give written notice to the appropriate council first. The Secretary could add a new fishery or gear only after a council shows minimal adverse effects on habitat, fisheries, communities, and the ecosystem.
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