Bill > S2880

This bill establishes the Great Lakes Mass Marking Program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help manage and understand fish populations in the Great Lakes region. The program aims to address rapid ecological changes in the Great Lakes, including invasive species and decreases in prey fish populations, by implementing a collaborative, science-based approach to fish marking and tracking. The bill authorizes the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service to purchase equipment, hire personnel, and collaborate with federal, state, and tribal fish management agencies to mass mark approximately 9-11 million hatchery-produced fish annually. The program will help stakeholders better understand the ratio of hatchery-produced to wild fish, evaluate the effectiveness of hatchery operations and fishery management actions, and support native species recovery, recreational, and commercial fishing. The data collected will be made available to management agencies to improve fish community balance, support fisheries' economic status, and assess habitat restoration efforts. The bill authorizes $5 million in funding for each fiscal year from 2026 to 2030, recognizing the Great Lakes as a critical economic resource valued at over $7 billion that provides stability to the regional and national economy.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2880/all-info