Fisheries Science Modernization Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced
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.
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- 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.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
National network to standardize eDNA
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 promoting open-access where allowed. The law would also fund training, fellowships, and expanded NOAA lab capacity and require annual performance reports to OSTP.
NOAA pilot and rules for eDNA use
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 Congress yearly. NOAA would expand workforce and create an implementation plan to scale validated eDNA into stock assessments. The bill would amend fisheries law to require using eDNA methods when practicable and say samples taken only for eDNA do not count as a "taking" under the Endangered Species Act or Marine Mammal Protection Act. The pilot is authorized with "such sums as may be necessary," and a progress report is due within two years of pilot start.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
AK • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 8/6/2026
Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
AK • R
Sponsored 8/6/2026
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
WA • D
Sponsored 8/6/2026
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 8/6/2026
Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
ME • I
Sponsored 8/6/2026
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/6/2026
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 8/6/2026
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 9/15/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov