Bill > HR3714

This bill aims to improve the management of forage fish by making several key amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The bill first establishes a formal recognition of the critical ecological role of forage fish, which are small to intermediate-sized fish that serve as a crucial energy transfer pathway in marine ecosystems. It requires the Secretary of Commerce to develop a comprehensive definition of "forage fish" within 12 months, considering factors like their trophic level, size, aggregation patterns, and importance in marine food webs. The bill enhances scientific advisory requirements, mandating that scientific committees provide ongoing advice about forage fish populations, including recommendations for maintaining their abundance and ecosystem role. Regional fishery management councils must now develop lists of unmanaged forage fish and evaluate potential impacts before allowing new directed fisheries. Additionally, the bill requires fishery management plans to set annual catch limits based on the diet needs of predator species like marine mammals and birds. A specific provision addresses river herring and shad by requiring their inclusion in existing fishery management plans and implementing enhanced monitoring for certain fishing vessels. The bill does not alter state jurisdictions or existing fishery management authorities and is designed to promote more holistic, ecosystem-based approaches to managing these important marine species.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3714/all-info