119-hr3718

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3718 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 3718

To reauthorize and amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
 Management Act, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 June 4, 2025

 Mr. Huffman (for himself, Mr. Moylan, and Mr. Case) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
 Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
 committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

To reauthorize and amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
 Management Act, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Sustaining America's Fisheries for 
the Future Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

 The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.

Sec. 2. Table of contents.

Sec. 3. References.

Sec. 4. Definitions.

Sec. 5. Gender neutral language.

Sec. 6. Conforming amendments to table of contents of Magnuson-Stevens 
 Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
 TITLE I--CLIMATE-READY FISHERIES

Sec. 101. Findings, purposes, and policy.

Sec. 102. Promoting climate resilience in fisheries management.

Sec. 103. Incorporating climate science.

Sec. 104. Climate-ready fisheries innovation program.

Sec. 105. Managing shifting stocks of fish.

Sec. 106. Emerging fisheries.

Sec. 107. Report regarding inshore and shallow water mobile gear 
 fishing.
 TITLE II--SUPPORTING FISHING COMMUNITIES

Sec. 201. Subsistence fishing.

Sec. 202. Working Waterfronts Grant Program.

Sec. 203. Seafood marketing.

Sec. 204. Community participation in limited access privilege programs.

Sec. 205. Findings.
 TITLE III--STRENGTHENING PUBLIC PROCESS AND TRANSPARENCY

Sec. 301. Tribal representation on Pacific Fishery Management Council.

Sec. 302. Tribal representation on North Pacific Fishery Management 
 Council.

Sec. 303. Atlantic Councils.

Sec. 304. Council procedures and participation.

Sec. 305. Council accountability and membership.

Sec. 306. Western Pacific Sustainable Fishery Fund.

Sec. 307. Council staff and administration.

Sec. 308. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration sexual 
 harassment and assault prevention.
 TITLE IV--MODERNIZING FISHERIES SCIENCE AND DATA

Sec. 401. Data modernization.

Sec. 402. Expanding and improving electronic technologies.

Sec. 403. Stock assessments.

Sec. 404. Cooperative research and management.

Sec. 405. Northeast regional pilot research trawl survey and study.

Sec. 406. Recreational data consistency.

Sec. 407. Emergency operating plans.

Sec. 408. Zeke Grader Fisheries Conservation and Management Fund.

Sec. 409. Offshore wind collaboration.

Sec. 410. Shark populations analysis.
 TITLE V--SUSTAINING FISHERIES THROUGH HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS AND IMPROVED 
 MANAGEMENT

Sec. 501. Sense of Congress.

Sec. 502. Essential fish habitat consultation.

Sec. 503. Reducing bycatch.

Sec. 504. Improving rebuilding outcomes.

Sec. 505. Overfished fisheries and preventing overfishing.

Sec. 506. Preparation and review of Secretarial plans.

Sec. 507. Councils.

Sec. 508. Forage fish conservation.

Sec. 509. Funding for monitoring implementation of Northeast 
 Multispecies Fishery Management Plan.

Sec. 510. Highly migratory species.
 TITLE VI--INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES MANAGEMENT

Sec. 601. Conservation Commissioner of Atlantic Tunas Convention.

Sec. 602. Conservation Commissioner of Western and Central Pacific 
 Fisheries Convention.

Sec. 603. Conservation Commissioner of Inter-American Tropical Tuna 
 Commission.

Sec. 604. Application of annual catch limit and accountability measures 
 requirement.

Sec. 605. Authorization of appropriations.

SEC. 3. REFERENCES.

 Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this Act an 
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal 
of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to 
be made to a section or other provision of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

 In this Act:

    (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
 Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
 Administration.

    (2) Council.--The term ``Council'' has the meaning given 
 the term in 

section 3 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
 Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1802).

    (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of Commerce.

SEC. 5. GENDER NEUTRAL LANGUAGE.

    (a) The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) is amended by striking ``prepared by him'' 
each place such term appears and inserting ``prepared by the 
Secretary''.

    (b) Each of the following provisions is amended by striking ``he'' 
each place such term appears and inserting ``the Secretary'':

    (1) Section 201

    (h)

    (2) (16 U.S.C. 1821

    (h)

    (2) ).

    (2) Section 204

    (b) (16 U.S.C. 1824

    (b) ).

    (3) Section 305
            (c) (1) (16 U.S.C. 1855
            (c) (1) ).

    (4) Section 306

    (b)

    (2) (16 U.S.C. 1856

    (b)

    (2) ).
            (c) Each of the following provisions is amended by striking ``his'' 
each place such term appears and inserting ``the Secretary's'':

    (1) Section 3

    (39) (16 U.S.C. 1802

    (39) ).

    (2) Section 204

    (b)

    (9) (16 U.S.C. 1824

    (b)

    (9) ).

    (3) Section 306

    (b)

    (1) (16 U.S.C. 1856

    (b)

    (1) ).

    (4) Section 308

    (a) (16 U.S.C. 1858

    (a) ).
            (d) Section 201

    (e)

    (1)
            (D) (16 U.S.C. 1821

    (e)

    (1)
            (D) ) is amended by 
striking ``he'' and inserting ``such Secretary''.

    (e) Section 201
            (i) (16 U.S.C. 1821
            (i) ) is amended by striking 
``his'' and inserting ``such Governor's''.

    (f) Section 203
            (c) (5)
            (C) (16 U.S.C. 1823
            (c) (5)
            (C) ) is amended by 
striking ``his'' and inserting ``the minority leader's''.

    (g) Sections 204

    (b)

    (4)
        (A) and 302
            (c) (1)
            (D) (16 U.S.C. 1824

    (b)

    (4)
        (A) and 1852
            (c) (1)
            (D) ) are each amended by striking ``his'' and inserting 
``such Secretary's''.

    (h) Subsections

    (b)

    (1)
        (B) and
            (c) (1)
        (A) of 

section 302 (16 U.S.C. 
1852

    (b)

    (1)
        (B) and
            (c) (1)
        (A) ) are each amended by striking ``his'' and 
inserting ``such director's''.
            (i) Section 302
            (c) (1)
        (B) (16 U.S.C. 1852
            (c) (1)
        (B) ) is amended by 
striking ``his'' and inserting ``such commander's''.

    (j) Section 302
            (c) (1)
            (C) (16 U.S.C. 1852
            (c) (1)
            (C) ) is amended by 
striking ``his'' and inserting ``such executive director's''.

    (k) Section 302

    (f)

    (4) (16 U.S.C. 1852

    (f)

    (4) ) is amended by striking 
``he'' and inserting ``the Administrator of General Services''.
            (l) Section 302

    (j)

    (4) (16 U.S.C. 1852

    (j)

    (4) ) is amended by striking 
``his or her'' and inserting ``such individual's''.
            (m) Section 302

    (j)

    (7)
            (D) (16 U.S.C. 1852

    (j)

    (7)
            (D) ) is amended by 
striking ``he or she'' each place such term appears and inserting 
``such individual''.

    (n) Section 309

    (a) (16 U.S.C. 1859

    (a) ) is amended by striking 
``he'' and inserting ``such person''.

    (o) Section 311

    (b)

    (1)
        (A)
            (i) (16 U.S.C. 1861

    (b)

    (1)
        (A)
            (i) ) is amended 
by striking ``he'' and inserting ``such officer''.

    (p) Section 311

    (b)

    (2) (16 U.S.C. 1861

    (b)

    (2) ) is amended--

    (1) by striking ``he'' and inserting ``such person''; and

    (2) by striking ``his'' and inserting ``such person's''.

SEC. 6. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO TABLE OF CONTENTS OF MAGNUSON-STEVENS 
 FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT ACT.

 The table of contents is amended to read as follows:

 ``TABLE OF CONTENTS

``

Sec. 2. Findings, purposes, and policy.
``

Sec. 3. Definitions.
``

Sec. 4. Authorization of appropriations.
 ``TITLE I--UNITED STATES RIGHTS AND AUTHORITY REGARDING FISH AND 
 FISHERY RESOURCES

``

Sec. 101. United States sovereign rights to fish and fishery 
 management authority.
``

Sec. 102. Highly migratory species.
 ``TITLE II--FOREIGN FISHING AND INTERNATIONAL FISHERY AGREEMENTS

``

Sec. 201. Foreign fishing.
``

Sec. 202. International fishery agreements.
``

Sec. 203. Congressional oversight of international fishery 
 agreements.
``

Sec. 204. Permits for foreign fishing.
``

Sec. 205. Import prohibitions.
``

Sec. 206. Large-scale driftnet fishing.
``

Sec. 207. International monitoring and compliance.
 ``TITLE III--NATIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

``

Sec. 301. National standards for fishery conservation and management.
``

Sec. 302. Regional fishery management councils.
``

Sec. 303. Contents of fishery management plans.
``

Sec. 304. Action by the Secretary.
``

Sec. 305. Other requirements and authority.
``

Sec. 306. State jurisdiction.
``

Sec. 307. Prohibited acts.
``

Sec. 308. Civil penalties and permit sanctions.
``

Sec. 309. Criminal offenses.
``

Sec. 310. Civil forfeitures.
``

Sec. 311. Enforcement.
``

Sec. 312. Transition to sustainable fisheries.
``

Sec. 313. North Pacific fisheries conservation.
``

Sec. 314. Northwest Atlantic Ocean fisheries reinvestment program.
``

Sec. 315. Regional Coastal Disaster Assistance, Transition, and 
 Recovery Program.
``

Sec. 316. Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program.
``

Sec. 317. Shark feeding.
``

Sec. 318. Cooperative Research and Management Program.
``

Sec. 319. Herring Study.
``

Sec. 320. Restoration Study.
``

Sec. 321. Required possession of descending devices.
``

Sec. 322. Increasing resilience of stocks of fish to climate change.
 ``TITLE IV--FISHERY MONITORING AND RESEARCH

``

Sec. 401. Registration and information management.
``

Sec. 402. Information collection.
``

Sec. 403. Observers.
``

Sec. 404. Fisheries research.
``

Sec. 405. Incidental harvest research.
``

Sec. 406. Fisheries systems research.
``

Sec. 407. Gulf of Mexico red snapper research.
``

Sec. 408. Deep sea coral research and technology program.
``

Sec. 409. Recreational data improvement program.''.

 TITLE I--CLIMATE-READY FISHERIES

SEC. 101. FINDINGS, PURPOSES, AND POLICY.

 

Section 2 (16 U.S.C. 1801) is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a) --
        (A) by amending paragraph

    (2) to read as follows:
 ``

    (2) Certain stocks of fish have declined to the point 
 where their survival is threatened, and other stocks of fish 
 have been so substantially reduced in number that they could 
 become similarly threatened as a consequence of--
 ``
        (A) increased fishing pressure;
 ``
        (B) inadequate fishery resource conservation and 
 management practices and controls;
 ``
            (C) direct and indirect habitat losses that 
 result in a diminished capacity to support existing 
 fishing levels; or
 ``
            (D) changing environmental conditions, including 
 those associated with climate change.'';
        (B) in paragraph

    (6) , by striking ``to insure 
 conservation,'' and inserting ``to ensure conservation, 
 to account for the impacts of environmental changes on 
 stocks of fish,'';
            (C) by amending paragraph

    (9) to read as follows:
 ``

    (9) One of the greatest long-term threats to the 
 viability of commercial and recreational fisheries is the 
 continuing degradation of marine ecosystems, including the loss 
 of marine, estuarine, and other aquatic habitats, including as 
 a result of changing environmental conditions associated with 
 climate change. Habitat and ecosystem considerations should 
 receive increased attention for the conservation and management 
 of fishery resources of the United States.''; and
            (D) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (14) Environmental changes associated with climate 
 change, including changes in water temperature, ocean 
 acidification, and deoxygenation, are rapidly altering the 
 abundance, productivity, and distribution of fish and are 
 affecting commercial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries.
 ``

    (15) The impacts of climate change on fish and their 
 habitats are resulting in management and sustainability 
 challenges that threaten to negatively impact marine 
 ecosystems, fishery resources, and coastal communities.
 ``

    (16) Many factors beyond the direct impacts of fishing 
 can contribute to a decline in abundance of a stock of fish, 
 resulting in depleted stocks of fish and threatening the 
 stability of ecosystems and fishing communities, including 
 climate change, pollution, habitat and watershed degradation, 
 inadequate freshwater resources, and industrial uses of the 
 ocean. The designation of a stock of fish as overfished 
 indicates that it is depleted and management actions are 
 necessary to allow the stock of fish to rebuild, regardless of 
 the cause of depletion.'';

    (2) in subsection

    (b) , by amending paragraph

    (5) to read as 
 follows:
 ``

    (5) to establish Regional Fishery Management Councils to 
 exercise sound judgement in the stewardship of fishery 
 resources through the preparation, monitoring, and revision of 
 such plans under circumstances--
 ``
        (A) which will enable the States, the fishing 
 industry, consumer and environmental organizations, and 
 other interested persons to participate in, and advise 
 on, the establishment and administration of such plans;
 ``
        (B) which take into account the social and 
 economic needs of the States; and
 ``
            (C) which address the impacts of environmental 
 conditions associated with climate change on stocks of 
 fish, marine ecosystems, fisheries management, and 
 coastal communities;''; and

    (3) in subsection
            (c) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (6) , by striking ``and'' at the 
 end;
        (B) in paragraph

    (7) , by striking the period at the 
 end and inserting a semicolon; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (8) to promote management that accounts for changes in 
 stocks of fish and the marine environment that result from 
 climate change; and
 ``

    (9) to ensure that the research, resource management, and 
 expenditures to prepare fisheries and fishing communities for 
 climate change include indigenous, insular, and coastal 
 populations in decisionmaking and promote equity with respect 
 to environmental, economic, and social outcomes across 
 fisheries and regions.''.

SEC. 102. PROMOTING CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN FISHERIES MANAGEMENT.

    (a) In General.--

Section 303

    (a) (16 U.S.C. 1853

    (a) ) is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (1)
        (A) --
        (A) by striking ``and'' before ``to protect''; and
        (B) by inserting ``, and to promote the resilience 
 of stocks of fish to cumulative stressors, including 
 cumulative stressors associated with climate change'' 
 before the semicolon at the end;

    (2) in paragraph

    (3) , by inserting ``including considering 
 the impacts of climate change,'' after ``fishery,'';

    (3) in paragraph

    (8) , by striking ``1991'' and inserting 
 ``2025'', and by inserting ``, including data needed to 
 implement the plan effectively under prevailing and anticipated 
 environmental or ecological conditions, including climate 
 change'' before the semicolon at the end;

    (4) in paragraph

    (13) , by inserting ``as well as examine 
 the vulnerability of the fishery and fishery participants to 
 the impacts of prevailing and anticipated environmental or 
 ecological conditions, including climate change'' before the 
 semicolon at the end;

    (5) in paragraph

    (14) , by striking ``and;'' and inserting a 
 semicolon;

    (6) in paragraph

    (15) , by striking the period at the end 
 and inserting a semicolon; and

    (7) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (16) assess and describe the anticipated impacts of 
 climate change and other environmental and ecological changes 
 on the fishery, including an assessment of whether and how the 
 management measures contained in the plan or plan amendment 
 have accounted for such impacts, and a summary of the 
 information used in such assessment; and
 ``

    (17) describe and identify the current range and 
 distribution of, and fishing patterns on, each stock of fish 
 managed under the plan, including areas outside the 
 jurisdiction of the Council having authority to issue the plan, 
 and for each stock of fish the distribution of which crosses 
 management boundaries, describe the measures used to coordinate 
 with other relevant management bodies for the conservation and 
 management of each such stock of fish.''.

    (b) Increasing Resilience of Stocks of Fish to Climate Change.--
Title III (16 U.S.C. 1851 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``

SEC. 322. INCREASING RESILIENCE OF STOCKS OF FISH TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

 ``

    (a) Vulnerability Assessment.--Not later than 3 years after the 
date of the enactment of the Sustaining America's Fisheries for the 
Future Act of 2025, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall--
 ``

    (1) assess the vulnerability of stocks of fish within the 
 geographical area of authority of each Council to climate 
 change;
 ``

    (2) notify each Council of the vulnerability of stocks of 
 fish within such geographical area; and
 ``

    (3) make recommendations to each Council for measures to 
 increase the resilience of stocks of fish within such 
 geographical area identified as vulnerable to climate change.
 ``

    (b) Council Prioritization Plans.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after receiving a 
 notification from the Secretary under subsection

    (a) , each 
 Council shall publish a plan identifying management actions to 
 increase resilience of the stocks of fish identified as 
 vulnerable to climate change and begin implementing such 
 management actions.
 ``

    (2) Highly migratory species.--With respect to stocks of 
 fish managed under 

section 302

    (a)

    (3) , not later than 1 year 
 after issuing a notification under subsection

    (a) , the 
 Secretary shall publish a plan identifying management actions 
 to increase resilience of such stocks of fish identified as 
 vulnerable to climate change and begin implementing such 
 management actions.
 ``

    (3) Report.--Not later than 3 years after publishing a 
 plan under paragraph

    (1) , each Council shall report to the 
 Secretary on the actions the Council has taken to implement 
 such plan or provide an explanation for not taking such action.
 ``
            (c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
the enactment of the Sustaining America's Fisheries for the Future Act 
of 2025, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to 
Congress a report--
 ``

    (1) describing the vulnerability of stocks of fish to 
 climate change;
 ``

    (2) identifying the risks posed by climate change to the 
 conservation and management of stocks of fish; and
 ``

    (3) summarizing the steps taken by the Secretary and the 
 Councils to mitigate and address the impacts on and risks of 
 climate change to stocks of fish.''.
            (c) Guidance for Councils.--

Section 305 (16 U.S.C. 1855) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (l) Guidance.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of the Sustaining America's Fisheries for the Future Act of 
2025, the Secretary shall issue guidelines to assist the Councils in 
preparing and adapting fishery management for the impacts of climate 
change, including for consideration of climate change in the 
conservation and management of stocks of fish under the geographical 
area of authority of each Council.''.
            (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection

    (a) shall 
take effect on the date that is 4 years after the date of the enactment 
of this section.

SEC. 103. INCORPORATING CLIMATE SCIENCE.

    (a) Council Training Program.--

Section 302

    (k)

    (1) (16 U.S.C. 
1852

    (k)

    (1) ) is amended--

    (1) by redesignating subparagraphs
            (C) through
        (H) as 
 subparagraphs
            (D) through
            (I) , respectively;

    (2) by redesignating subparagraph
            (I) as subparagraph
        (K) ;

    (3) by inserting after subparagraph
        (B) the following:
 ``
            (C) climate change and relevant impacts of 
 climate change on fisheries health, range, and other 
 factors that would affect the conservation and 
 management of a stock of fish;'';

    (4) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon at the end of 
 subparagraph
            (I) , as so redesignated; and

    (5) by inserting after subparagraph
            (I) , as so 
 redesignated, the following:
 ``
        (J) ecosystem-based fishery management; and''.

    (b) Fisheries Research.--

Section 404 (16 U.S.C. 1881c) is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a) , by inserting ``, on changes in 
 geographic range, spatial distribution, and productivity of a 
 fishery or interrelated fisheries,'' after ``management''; and

    (2) in subsection
            (c) (1) , by inserting ``changes in 
 geographic range, spatial distribution, and productivity of a 
 fishery or interrelated fisheries,''after ``degradation,''.

SEC. 104. CLIMATE-READY FISHERIES INNOVATION PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Administrator shall establish a program 
to develop innovative tools and approaches designed to increase the 
adaptive capacity of fishery management to the impacts of climate 
change.

    (b) Duties.--In carrying out the program established under 
subsection

    (a) , the Administrator shall--

    (1) develop science and management tools and approaches 
 that address regional and national priorities to improve the 
 conservation and management of fishery resources under existing 
 and anticipated climate impacts;

    (2) provide for routine input from fishery managers and 
 scientists in order to maximize opportunities to incorporate 
 results of the program in fishery management actions;

    (3) promote adoption of methods developed under the program 
 in fishery management plans developed by the Councils;

    (4) provide information and outreach to the private and 
 academic sectors to encourage development and 
 operationalization of tools and approaches to manage the 
 effects of climate change on fisheries; and

    (5) provide information and outreach to fishery 
 participants to increase understanding and encourage adoption 
 and use of tools and approaches developed under the program.
            (c) Coordination of Program.--

    (1) In general.--In carrying out the program established 
 under subsection

    (a) , the Administrator shall establish a 
 process to ensure coordination with and outreach to--
        (A) regional offices and science centers of the 
 National Marine Fisheries Service;
        (B) the Councils;
            (C) the scientific and statistical committees of 
 the Councils; and
            (D) the heads of other relevant programs, including 
 the cooperative research and management program 
 established under 

section 318 (16 U.S.C. 1867), the 
 Integrated Ocean Observing System, and programs within 
 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
 designed to address ocean acidification.

    (2) Identification of research priorities.--
        (A) In general.--Coordination carried out under 
 paragraph

    (1) should include identification of 
 multiyear research priorities to study and understand 
 the current and anticipated impacts of climate change 
 on fisheries, fisheries interactions, habitats, fishery 
 participants, fishing communities, seafood markets, 
 fisheries science and monitoring, or other relevant 
 priorities.
        (B) Review.--The Administrator, in coordination 
 with the entities described in subparagraphs
        (A) through
            (D) of paragraph

    (1) , should routinely review 
 the priorities identified under subparagraph
        (A) in a 
 timeframe not to exceed 5 years and updated as 
 necessary.
            (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this section $5,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

SEC. 105. MANAGING SHIFTING STOCKS OF FISH.

    (a) Cross-Jurisdictional Management.--

Section 304

    (f) (16 U.S.C. 
1854

    (f) ) is amended to read as follows:
 ``

    (f) Fisheries Under Authority of More Than 1 Council.--
 ``

    (1) Secretarial review of areas of authority.--The 
 Secretary shall review the geographical area of authority of 
 each Council to determine if a substantial portion of any 
 federally managed fishery within such area is within the area 
 of authority of another council--
 ``
        (A) upon request of such Council; or
 ``
        (B) not less frequently than every 5 years.
 ``

    (2) Designation of council to prepare plan.--If the 
 Secretary determines under paragraph

    (1) that a substantial 
 portion of a federally managed fishery is located in the 
 geographical area of authority of more than 1 Council, the 
 Secretary shall, not later than 6 months after making such 
 determination--
 ``
        (A) designate 1 of the Councils concerned to 
 prepare the fishery management plan for such fishery 
 and any amendment to such plan, if required under this 
 Act; or
 ``
        (B) designate that such plan and any such 
 amendment, if required under this Act, be prepared 
 jointly by the Councils concerned.
 ``

    (3) Deadline for submission of plan.--Not later than 2 
 years after the Secretary makes a designation under paragraph

    (2) , the designated Council or Councils shall prepare and 
 submit a fishery management plan or amendment in accordance 
 with this Act.
 ``

    (4) Termination of cross-jurisdictional authority.--
 ``
        (A) Request of council.--At the request of a 
 Council or as a result of the review pursuant to 
 paragraph

    (1) , the Secretary shall determine whether a 
 fishery described in paragraph

    (2) no longer has a 
 substantial portion of such fishery located in the 
 geographical area of authority of more than 1 Council.
 ``
        (B) Termination.--
 ``
            (i) In general.--If the Secretary 
 determines under subparagraph
        (A) that a 
 fishery described in paragraph

    (2) no longer 
 has a substantial portion of such fishery 
 located in the geographical area of authority 
 of more than 1 Council--
 ``
            (I) the Secretary shall determine 
 which Council has predominant 
 geographic authority over the fishery; 
 and
 ``
            (II) not later than 2 years after 
 the date on which the determination 
 under subclause
            (I) is made, and at 
 such other times as required under this 
 Act, the Council determined under such 
 subclause shall adopt any existing 
 fishery management plan for the fishery 
 and shall prepare and submit any plan 
 amendments necessary for transitioning 
 to single-Council management as well as 
 for any other purposes, in accordance 
 with the provisions of this Act.
 ``
            (ii) Repeal of prior plan.--
 Notwithstanding subsection

    (h) , upon the date 
 of adoption of a fishery management plan under 
 clause
            (i) 
            (II) , any preceding fishery 
 management plan with respect to such fishery is 
 repealed.
 ``

    (5) Establishment of criteria.--The Secretary shall by 
 regulation identify criteria for determining under paragraphs

    (1) and

    (5) whether a substantial portion of a federally 
 managed fishery is located in the geographical area of 
 authority of more than 1 Council.
 ``

    (6) Establishment of boundaries.--The Secretary shall 
 establish the boundaries between the geographical areas of 
 authority of adjacent Councils.
 ``

    (7) Requirement for majority of voting members.--No 
 jointly prepared plan or amendment required to be prepared 
 under this subsection may be submitted to the Secretary unless 
 such plan or amendment is approved by a majority of the voting 
 members, present and voting, of each Council concerned.
 ``

    (8) Highly migratory species in certain fisheries.--This 
 subsection does not apply with respect to any fishery to which 
 

section 302

    (a)

    (3) applies.''.

    (b) International Cooperation in the Research and Management of 
Cross-Jurisdictional Fisheries.--

    (1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with the 
 Secretary of State where necessary, shall develop a strategy 
 for coordinated research and management with other relevant 
 nations with which the United States shares stocks of fish that 
 are currently experiencing or are expected to experience shifts 
 in geographic range or spatial distribution that spans or will 
 span international boundaries, including within the same life 
 stage or across life stages.

    (2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
 enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the 
 Congress a report that includes--
        (A) a list of fisheries that are currently 
 experiencing or are expected to experience shifts in 
 geographic range or spatial distribution that spans or 
 will span international boundaries and the relevant 
 countries for each fishery or stock of a fishery's 
 current or expected range and the relevant regional 
 fisheries management organization or other 
 international organizations or agreement with authority 
 over the management of each fishery or stock of fish;
        (B) an analysis of priority research needs for each 
 of these fisheries or stocks of fisheries that should 
 be coordinated with other affected nations and relevant 
 international management organizations; and
            (C) a 5-year strategy to undertake and complete 
 such research, including a proposed budget and timeline 
 for that work.

SEC. 106. EMERGING FISHERIES.

 

Section 305

    (a) (16 U.S.C. 1855

    (a) ) is amended--

    (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Notification 
 of Entry'' and inserting ``Development of New Fisheries'';

    (2) in paragraph

    (1) to read as follows:
 ``

    (1) The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register, 
 subject to paragraph

    (3) , and after notice and an opportunity 
 for public comment--
 ``
        (A) a list of all fisheries managed under this 
 Act, organized by Federal region (or Secretarial 
 management under 

section 302

    (a)

    (3) , as applicable); and
 ``
        (B) with respect to each such fishery--
 ``
            (i) the types of fishing gear authorized 
 for use in such fishery;
 ``
            (ii) the jurisdiction (State, Federal, 
 interstate, or otherwise) exercising management 
 authority over such fishery;
 ``
            (iii) whether a fishery management plan 
 or analogous management structure exists for 
 the fishery; and
 ``
            (iv) the species authorized to be caught 
 and retained in such fishery.'';

    (3) in paragraph

    (2) , by striking ``determining'' and all 
 that follows through the end of the paragraph and inserting 
 ``determining--''
 ``
        (A) when a fishery is sufficiently different from 
 those listed as to constitute a new fishery; and
 ``
        (B) minimum criteria for a fishery to be 
 considered managed under paragraph

    (1)
        (A) , which, for 
 federally managed fisheries, must include having a 
 fishery management plan and associated regulations 
 under this Act.'';

    (4) by redesignating paragraph

    (6) as paragraph

    (7) ; and

    (5) by striking paragraphs

    (3) ,

    (4) , and

    (5) and inserting 
 the following:
 ``

    (3) Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
 enactment of the Sustaining America's Fisheries for the Future 
 Act of 2025, and at least once every 5 years thereafter, each 
 Council (or the Secretary for fisheries to which 

section 302

    (a)

    (3) applies) shall review the fisheries for which the 
 Council is responsible on the list published under paragraph

    (1)
        (A) and submit to the Secretary proposed changes to such 
 list in specific and narrow terms, including geographic range, 
 to ensure that only managed fisheries are included on such 
 list.
 ``

    (4) The Secretary shall review proposed changes pursuant 
 to the guidelines established under paragraph

    (2) and publish a 
 revised list, after notice and an opportunity for public 
 comment.
 ``

    (5) The Secretary may permit, pursuant to 

section 318
            (d) , 
 on a limited interim basis, fishing activity that is not 
 included on the list, if--
 ``
        (A) the experimental fishing permit is designed 
 and implemented so as to yield information necessary 
 and currently lacking for the development of a fishery 
 management plan or amendment to such plan under 

section 302

    (h)

    (1) and 

section 303;
 ``
        (B) the Secretary collects, evaluates, and, 
 notwithstanding 

section 402

    (b) , makes public the data 
 generated by the experimental fishing activity at the 
 end of each permit year, and based on such evaluation, 
 the Council renders a determination of whether the 
 fishing activity should be continued, either in the 
 form of a subsequent year of experimental fishing under 
 this paragraph, or in the form of a fishery managed 
 under a fishery management plan pursuant to 

section 302

    (h)

    (1) and 

section 303; and
 ``
            (C) the data collected from, and the evaluation 
 of the Secretary of, the fishing activity are included 
 in any fishery management plan or amendment that is 
 prepared for management of the fishing activity.
 ``

    (6) No person or vessel may employ fishing gear or engage 
 in a fishery not included on the list except as provided in 
 paragraph

    (4) . A Council may request the Secretary to 
 promulgate emergency regulations under subsection
            (c) to 
 prohibit any persons or vessels from using an unlisted fishing 
 gear or engaging in an unlisted fishery.''.

SEC. 107. REPORT REGARDING INSHORE AND SHALLOW WATER MOBILE GEAR 
 FISHING.

 Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 
title, the Secretary shall conduct a study and submit to Congress, the 
Councils, State fisheries managers, and the regional Marine Fisheries 
Commissions a report regarding the effects of inshore and shallow water 
mobile gear fishing on habitat and nontarget species and the effects it 
has between interstate boundaries and Federal and State waters.

 TITLE II--SUPPORTING FISHING COMMUNITIES

SEC. 201. SUBSISTENCE FISHING.

    (a) 

=== Purposes ===
-

Section 2

    (b)

    (3) (16 U.S.C. 1801

    (b)

    (3) ) is amended by 
inserting ``, subsistence,'' after ``commercial''.

    (b) Definition of Subsistence Fishing.--

Section 3 (16 U.S.C. 1802) 
is amended by inserting after paragraph

    (42) the following:
 ``

    (42A)
        (A) Subsistence fishing.--The term `subsistence 
 fishing' means fishing in which the fish harvested are intended 
 for customary and traditional uses, including--
 ``
            (i) for direct or sharing personal, family, or 
 community consumption, including as food, shelter, 
 clothing, or tools;
 ``
            (ii) for the making or selling of handicraft 
 articles out of nonedible byproducts of subsistence 
 fishing;
 ``
            (iii) for barter; and
 ``
            (iv) for customary trade.
 ``
        (B) In this paragraph--
 ``
            (i) the term `family' means all persons related 
 by blood, marriage, or adoption, or any person living 
 within the household on a permanent basis; and
 ``
            (ii) the term `barter' means the exchange of a 
 fish or fish part harvested through subsistence 
 fishing--
 ``
            (I) for another fish or fish part; or
 ``
            (II) for other food or for nonedible 
 items other than money if the exchange is of a 
 limited and noncommercial nature.''.

SEC. 202. WORKING WATERFRONTS GRANT PROGRAM.

 The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) is 
amended by inserting after 

section 306A of that Act (16 U.S.C. 1455a) 
the following:

``

SEC. 306B. WORKING WATERFRONTS.

 ``

    (a) Task Force.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a task 
 force to work directly with covered entities, users of working 
 waterfronts, and coastal stakeholders to identify and address 
 critical needs with respect to working waterfronts.
 ``

    (2) Membership.--The Secretary shall appoint members of 
 the Task Force, and shall include--
 ``
        (A) experts in the unique economic, social, 
 cultural, ecological, geographic, and resource concerns 
 of working waterfronts; and
 ``
        (B) representatives from--
 ``
            (i) the Office of Coastal Management of 
 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
 Administration;
 ``
            (ii) the United States Fish and Wildlife 
 Service;
 ``
            (iii) the Department of Agriculture;
 ``
            (iv) the Environmental Protection Agency;
 ``
            (v) the United States Geological Survey;
 ``
            (vi) the Department of the Navy;
 ``
            (vii) the National Marine Fisheries 
 Service;
 ``
            (viii) the Economic Development 
 Administration;
 ``
            (ix) such other Federal agencies as the 
 Secretary determines appropriate;
 ``
            (x) Indian Tribes; and
 ``
            (xi) Native Hawaiian organizations.
 ``

    (3) Functions.--The Task Force shall--
 ``
        (A) identify and prioritize critical needs with 
 respect to working waterfronts in coastal states that 
 have a management program approved under 

section 306, 
 in the areas of--
 ``
            (i) economic and cultural importance of 
 such working waterfronts to communities;
 ``
            (ii) changing circumstances and threats 
 such working waterfronts face from trade 
 barriers and environmental changes, including 
 sea level rise, extreme weather events, ocean 
 acidification, and harmful algal blooms; and
 ``
            (iii) identifying such working 
 waterfronts and highlighting them within 
 communities;
 ``
        (B) outline options, in consultation with coastal 
 states and coastal stakeholders, to address each 
 critical need identified under subparagraph
        (A) , 
 including adaptation and mitigation options where 
 applicable;
 ``
            (C) identify which Federal agency is responsible 
 for addressing each critical need identified under 
 subparagraph
        (A) ; and
 ``
            (D) recommend which Federal agency is best suited 
 to address each critical need identified under 
 subparagraph
        (A) for which no responsible Federal 
 agency is identified under subparagraph
            (C) .
 ``

    (4) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
 the enactment of this section, the Task Force shall submit to 
 Congress a report regarding the findings of the Task Force 
 under this subsection.
 ``

    (5) Implementation.--Not later than 30 months after the 
 date of the enactment of this section, the head of each Federal 
 agency identified under paragraph

    (3)
            (C) shall, to the extent 
 practicable and subject to the availability of appropriations, 
 implement the options outlined under paragraph

    (3)
        (B) .
 ``

    (b) Working Waterfronts Plan.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--A covered entity may submit to the 
 Secretary a working waterfronts plan for approval under this 
 subsection, which, as applicable and with respect to the 
 covered entity--
 ``
        (A) shall--
 ``
            (i) provide for the preservation and 
 expansion of access to coastal waters by 
 coastal users;
 ``
            (ii) be complementary to and incorporate 
 the policies, objectives, and regulations of 
 regional and local working waterfronts plans or 
 strategies in effect before the date of the 
 enactment of this section;
 ``
            (iii) be developed through a process 
 that--
 ``
            (I) ensures the involvement of 
 coastal stakeholders; and
 ``
            (II) is consistent with other 
 coastal management programs, 
 regulations, and activities of the 
 covered entity;
 ``
            (iv) designate each qualified holder of 
 the covered entity, if any;
 ``
            (v) if the covered entity designates a 
 qualified holder under clause
            (iv) --
 ``
            (I) ensure that such qualified 
 holder complies with the duty of a 
 qualified holder to enforce each 
 working waterfront covenant to which 
 the qualified holder is a party; and
 ``
            (II) certify that the covered 
 entity retains the responsibility to 
 ensure that each affected working 
 waterfront is managed in a manner that 
 is consistent with the working 
 waterfronts plan of the covered entity; 
 and
 ``
            (vi) include--
 ``
            (I) an assessment of the 
 economic, social, cultural, and 
 historical value of working 
 waterfronts;
 ``
            (II) a description of any 
 relevant non-Federal laws and 
 regulations that affect working 
 waterfronts in the geographic areas 
 identified under subclauses
            (III) and
            (IV) ;
 ``
            (III) an identification of 
 geographic areas where working 
 waterfronts are, as of the date of the 
 enactment of this subsection, under 
 threat of conversion to uses 
 incompatible with commercial and 
 recreational fishing, recreational 
 fishing and boating businesses, 
 aquaculture, boatbuilding, or other 
 water-dependent, coastal-related 
 business, and the level of that threat;
 ``
            (IV) an identification of 
 geographic areas with a historical 
 connection to working waterfronts where 
 working waterfronts are not, as of the 
 date of the enactment of this section, 
 available, and, where appropriate, an 
 assessment of the environmental impacts 
 of any expansion or new development of 
 working waterfronts on the coastal 
 ecosystems of such geographic areas;
 ``
            (V) an identification of 
 additional working waterfronts needs, 
 including improvements to existing 
 working waterfronts;
 ``
            (VI) a strategic and prioritized 
 plan for the preservation, expansion, 
 and improvement of each relevant 
 working waterfront;
 ``
            (VII) for geographic areas 
 identified under subclauses
            (III) and
            (IV) , an identification of the current 
 availability and potential for 
 expansion of public access to coastal 
 waters in such geographic areas;
 ``
            (VIII) a description of the 
 degree of community support for the 
 plan included under subclause
            (VI) ; and
 ``
            (IX) a contingency plan for any 
 property that reverts to the covered 
 entity pursuant to a determination made 
 by the covered entity under subsection
            (c) (11)
        (B) ; and
 ``
        (B) may--
 ``
            (i) be developed using existing 
 information contained in relevant surveys, 
 plans, or other documents to fulfill the 
 information requirements under this paragraph;
 ``
            (ii) include a vulnerability assessment, 
 hazards resilience plan, or identification of 
 waterfront properties exposed to sea level rise 
 or inundation; and
 ``
            (iii) be part of a management program 
 approved under 

section 306.
 ``

    (2) Duration of approval.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--A working waterfronts plan 
 approved by the Secretary under this subsection shall 
 be effective during the 5-year period beginning on the 
 date of such approval.
 ``
        (B) Maintenance of approval.--An eligible covered 
 entity that participates in the grant program on the 
 basis of an approved working waterfronts plan of that 
 eligible covered entity shall resubmit such working 
 waterfronts plan for approval by the Secretary before 
 the end of each 5-year period described in subparagraph
        (A) .
 ``
            (c) Working Waterfronts Grant Program.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Secretary shall, in consultation 
 with covered entities, Federal agencies the Secretary 
 determines appropriate, and interested coastal stakeholders 
 with expertise in working waterfronts planning, establish a 
 regionally equitable and competitive grant program, to be known 
 as the `Working Waterfronts Grant Program'.
 ``

    (2) Uses.--The Secretary may award grants under this 
 subsection to eligible covered entities--
 ``
        (A) to implement or revise an approved working 
 waterfronts plan of such eligible covered entity, 
 including--
 ``
            (i) acquiring a working waterfront or an 
 interest in a working waterfront;
 ``
            (ii) making improvements to a working 
 waterfront, including constructing or repairing 
 wharfs, boat ramps, or related facilities; or
 ``
            (iii) carrying out necessary climate 
 adaptation mitigation activities for a working 
 waterfront; or
 ``
        (B) to develop a working waterfronts plan of such 
 eligible covered entity under subsection

    (b) .
 ``

    (3) Application.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--To be eligible for a grant under 
 this subsection, an eligible covered entity shall 
 submit an application to the Secretary--
 ``
            (i) that, if applicable, is consistent 
 with the management program of the eligible 
 covered entity approved under 

section 306; and
 ``
            (ii) in such form, at such time, and 
 containing such information as the Secretary 
 determines appropriate.
 ``
        (B) Deadline.--Not later than 60 days after the 
 date on which the Secretary receives an application for 
 a grant under this paragraph, the Secretary shall 
 approve or reject such application.
 ``

    (4) Guidelines.--The Secretary shall, in consultation 
 with the entities described in paragraph

    (1) , issue guidelines 
 regarding the implementation of the grant program.
 ``

    (5) Criteria.--In awarding a grant to an eligible covered 
 entity, the Secretary shall take into account the following 
 criteria:
 ``
        (A) The economic, cultural, and historical 
 significance of working waterfronts to the eligible 
 covered entity.
 ``
        (B) The demonstrated working waterfronts needs of 
 the eligible covered entity, as described in the 
 approved working waterfronts plan of the eligible 
 covered entity, if any.
 ``
            (C) The ability of the eligible covered entity to 
 meet the matching requirement under paragraph

    (10) .
 ``
            (D) The potential for rapid turnover in the 
 ownership of relevant working waterfronts, and, if 
 applicable, the need for the eligible covered entity to 
 respond quickly when property in an existing or 
 potential working waterfront area or public access 
 area, as identified in the approved working waterfronts 
 plan of the eligible covered entity, if any, comes 
 under threat of conversion to incompatible uses or 
 becomes available for purchase.
 ``
        (E) As applicable, the impact of the approved 
 working waterfronts plan of the eligible covered 
 entity, if any, on the coastal ecosystem and working 
 waterfronts of the eligible covered entity and the 
 users of the coastal ecosystem of the eligible covered 
 entity.
 ``

    (6) Other technical and financial assistance.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Upon the request of an eligible 
 covered entity that is awarded a grant under this 
 subsection, the Secretary shall provide to such 
 eligible covered entity technical assistance--
 ``
            (i) to identify and obtain sources of 
 Federal technical or financial assistance other 
 than that provided under this subsection to 
 develop a working waterfronts plan for approval 
 under subsection

    (b) or to implement or revise 
 an approved working waterfronts plan;
 ``
            (ii) to develop a working waterfronts 
 plan for approval under subsection

    (b) ;
 ``
            (iii) to implement or revise an approved 
 working waterfronts plan;
 ``
            (iv) to integrate resilience planning 
 into working waterfronts preservation efforts 
 of such eligible covered entity;
 ``
            (v) to develop additional tools to 
 protect working waterfronts;
 ``
            (vi) regarding guidance for best storm 
 water management practices with regard to 
 working waterfronts; or
 ``
            (vii) to collect and disseminate best 
 practices regarding working waterfronts and 
 resilience planning.
 ``
        (B) Limitation.--The Secretary may use not more 
 than 5 percent of the amounts made available under this 
 subsection in each fiscal year to provide technical 
 assistance under this paragraph.
 ``

    (7) Public access requirement.--A project carried out 
 with a grant awarded under this subsection, other than a 
 project that involves commercial fishing or other industrial 
 access points to which the eligible covered entity determines 
 public access would be unsafe, shall provide for the expansion, 
 improvement, or preservation of reasonable and appropriate 
 public access to coastal waters at or in the vicinity of 
 working waterfronts.
 ``

    (8) Limitation on acquisition.--An eligible covered 
 entity that is awarded a grant under this subsection, or any 
 entity to which such eligible covered entity allocates a 
 portion of such grant under paragraph

    (9) , may use such grant 
 award to acquire title to or an interest in a working 
 waterfront, including an easement, only--
 ``
        (A) for fair market value from a willing seller; 
 or
 ``
        (B) for less than fair market value from a seller 
 that certifies to the Secretary that the seller is 
 willing and is not subject to coercion.
 ``

    (9) Allocation.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--An eligible covered entity that 
 is awarded a grant under this subsection may allocate a 
 portion of such grant award to a unit of State or local 
 government, a nonprofit organization, a fishing 
 cooperative, or any other appropriate entity for the 
 purpose of carrying out this subsection if such 
 eligible covered entity ensures that any such allocated 
 grant award is used consistently with this subsection.
 ``
        (B) Identified working waterfronts.--The 
 Secretary shall encourage each eligible covered entity 
 that is awarded a grant under this subsection to 
 equitably allocate such grant award among working 
 waterfronts identified in the approved working 
 waterfronts plan of each such eligible covered entity, 
 if any.
 ``

    (10) Matching requirement.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Except as provided in 
 subparagraph
        (B) , the Federal share of a project 
 carried out with a grant awarded under this subsection 
 may not exceed 75 percent.
 ``
        (B) Waiver of matching requirement.--The 
 Secretary may waive the application of subparagraph
        (A) --
 ``
            (i) with respect to an eligible covered 
 entity that is awarded a grant under this 
 subsection that has designated a qualified 
 holder that is located within--
 ``
            (I) a disadvantaged community; or
 ``
            (II) a community that has an 
 inability to draw on other sources of 
 funding because of the small population 
 or low income of the community; or
 ``
            (ii) for any other reason the Secretary 
 determines appropriate.
 ``
            (C) Non-federal share.--An eligible covered 
 entity that is awarded a grant under this subsection 
 may satisfy the non-Federal share of a project carried 
 out with a grant awarded under this subsection through 
 in-kind contributions and other noncash support, 
 including the following:
 ``
            (i) The value, as determined by an 
 appraisal performed at such time before the 
 award of the grant as the Secretary determines 
 appropriate, of a working waterfront or an 
 interest in a working waterfront, including 
 conservation and other easements, that is held 
 in perpetuity by a qualified holder, if the 
 working waterfront or interest in a working 
 waterfront--
 ``
            (I) is identified in the grant 
 application; and
 ``
            (II) is acquired by the qualified 
 holder not later than 3 years after--
 ``

    (aa) the grant award 
 date; or
 ``

    (bb) the date of the 
 submission of such application 
 and before the end of the 
 initial 5-year period for which 
 the approved working 
 waterfronts plan associated 
 with the grant application, if 
 any, is effective.
 ``
            (ii) The costs, including cash or in-kind 
 contributions, associated with the acquisition, 
 restoration, or enhancement of, or making other 
 improvements to, a working waterfront or an 
 interest in a working waterfront, if--
 ``
            (I) such costs are identified in 
 the grant application; and
 ``
            (II) the costs are incurred--
 ``

    (aa) before the end of 
 the initial 5-year period for 
 which the approved working 
 waterfronts plan associated 
 with the grant application, if 
 any, is effective; or
 ``

    (bb) for working 
 waterfronts described in clause
            (i) , within the time limits 
 described in that clause.
 ``

    (11) Working waterfront covenants.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--An eligible covered entity that 
 is awarded a grant under this subsection may use such 
 grant award with respect to a working waterfront only 
 for which each person other than the eligible covered 
 entity that holds title to or an interest in such 
 working waterfront enters into a working waterfront 
 covenant.
 ``
        (B) Violation.--
 ``
            (i) In general.--An eligible covered 
 entity may determine, on the record after an 
 opportunity for a hearing, that a working 
 waterfront covenant of the eligible covered 
 entity has been violated.
 ``
            (ii) Reversion; conveyance; right of 
 immediate entry.--If an eligible covered entity 
 makes a determination under clause
            (i) that a 
 violation described under that clause has 
 occurred--
 ``
            (I) all right, title, and 
 interest in and to the working 
 waterfront covered by the violated 
 working waterfront covenant shall 
 revert to the eligible covered entity;
 ``
            (II) the eligible covered entity 
 may convey the working waterfront or 
 interest in the working waterfront to a 
 qualified holder; and
 ``
            (III) the eligible covered entity 
 shall have the right of immediate entry 
 onto the working waterfront covered by 
 the violated working waterfront 
 covenant.
 ``

    (12) Terms and conditions.--The Secretary shall subject 
 each grant awarded under this subsection to such terms and 
 conditions as the Secretary determines appropriate to ensure 
 that each such grant is used for purposes consistent with this 
 section.
 ``

    (13) Report.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The Secretary shall biennially 
 submit to Congress a report regarding the 
 implementation of this subsection, which shall 
 include--
 ``
            (i) an evaluation, based on performance 
 measures developed by the Secretary, of the 
 effectiveness of the grant program in 
 accomplishing the purposes of this subsection;
 ``
            (ii) an account of all expenditures under 
 this subsection; and
 ``
            (iii) descriptions of each project 
 carried out using a grant awarded under this 
 section.
 ``
        (B) Alternative manner of submission.--The 
 Secretary may submit each report required under 
 subparagraph
        (A) by including the information required 
 under that subparagraph in each report required under 
 

section 316.
 ``

    (14) Administrative expenses.--The Secretary may use not 
 more than 5 percent of the amounts made available under this 
 subsection in each fiscal year to pay the administrative 
 expenses necessary to carry out this subsection.
 ``

    (15) Authorization of appropriations.--There is 
 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out 
 this subsection $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 
 through 2030.
 ``
            (d) === Definitions. ===
-In this section:
 ``

    (1) Approved working waterfronts plan.--The term 
 `approved working waterfronts plan' means a working waterfronts 
 plan that is approved by the Secretary under subsection

    (b) .
 ``

    (2) Coastal indian tribe.--The term `coastal Indian 
 Tribe' means an Indian Tribe with respect to which land owned 
 by the Indian Tribe, held in trust by the United States for the 
 Indian Tribe, or held by the Indian Tribe and subject to 
 restrictions on alienation imposed by the United States or the 
 reservation of the Indian Tribe is located within a coastal 
 state.
 ``

    (3) Coastal users.--The term `coastal users' means--
 ``
        (A) persons that engage in commercial or 
 recreational fishing;
 ``
        (B) recreational fishing and boating businesses; 
 and
 ``
            (C) boatbuilding, aquaculture, and other water-
 dependent, coastal-related businesses.
 ``

    (4) Covered entity.--The term `covered entity' means--
 ``
        (A) a coastal state;
 ``
        (B) a coastal Indian Tribe; or
 ``
            (C) a Native Hawaiian organization.
 ``

    (5) Eligible covered entity.--The term `eligible covered 
 entity' means a covered entity that--
 ``
        (A) has an approved working waterfronts plan;
 ``
        (B) is in the process of developing a working 
 waterfronts plan for approval under subsection

    (b) ; or
 ``
            (C) has a coastal land use plan that the 
 Secretary determines is sufficient for the purposes of 
 this section.
 ``

    (6) Grant program.--The term `grant program' means the 
 grant program established under subsection
            (c) .
 ``

    (7) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' has the 
 meaning given the term in 

section 4 of the Indian Self-
 Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
 ``

    (8) Native hawaiian organization.--The term `Native 
 Hawaiian organization' means a nonprofit organization--
 ``
        (A) that serves the interests of Native 
 Hawaiians;
 ``
        (B) in which Native Hawaiians serve in 
 substantive and policymaking positions;
 ``
            (C) that is recognized for having expertise in 
 Native Hawaiian culture and heritage, including 
 tourism; and
 ``
            (D) is located within a coastal state.
 ``

    (9) Qualified holder.--The term `qualified holder' 
 means--
 ``
        (A) a unit of local government of a covered 
 entity, if the covered entity is a coastal state; or
 ``
        (B) a nonprofit organization;
 that is designated by a covered entity in the approved working 
 waterfronts plan of the covered entity to carry out some or all 
 of the functions of the covered entity under the grant program 
 if the covered entity applies for and is awarded a grant under 
 the grant program, including holding title to or an interest in 
 a working waterfront acquired with a grant awarded under the 
 grant program.
 ``

    (10) Task force.--The term `Task Force' means the task 
 force established under subsection

    (a)

    (1) .
 ``

    (11) Disadvantaged community.--The term `disadvantaged 
 community' means a community the Secretary determines, based on 
 appropriate data, indices, and screening tools, is 
 economically, socially, or environmentally disadvantaged.
 ``

    (12) Working waterfront.--The term `working waterfront' 
 means real property (including support structures over water 
 and other facilities) that--
 ``
        (A) provides access to coastal waters by coastal 
 users; and
 ``
        (B) is used for, or supports, commercial and 
 recreational fishing, recreational fishing and boating 
 businesses, boatbuilding, aquaculture, and other water-
 dependent, coastal-related business.
 ``

    (13) Working waterfront covenant.--The term `working 
 waterfront covenant' means an agreement in recordable form 
 entered into between a person that holds title to or an 
 interest in a working waterfront and a covered entity that is 
 awarded a grant under the grant program or a qualified holder 
 of such covered entity that provides such assurances as the 
 Secretary determines necessary to ensure the following:
 ``
        (A) Except as provided in subparagraph
            (C) , the 
 title to or interest in the working waterfront will be 
 held by an entity that is subject to such agreement in 
 perpetuity.
 ``
        (B) The working waterfront will be managed in a 
 manner that is consistent with the purposes of this 
 section, and the working waterfront will not be 
 converted to any use that is inconsistent with this 
 section.
 ``
            (C) If the title to or interest in the working 
 waterfront is subsequently sold or otherwise 
 exchanged--
 ``
            (i) each party involved in such sale or 
 exchange shall accede to such agreement; and
 ``
            (ii) funds equal to the fair market value 
 of the title to or interest in the working 
 waterfront shall be paid to the Secretary by 
 the parties to the sale or exchange, and such 
 funds shall be, at the discretion of the 
 Secretary, paid to the relevant covered entity 
 or a qualified holder of such covered entity 
 for use in the implementation of the approved 
 working waterfronts plan of the covered entity.
 ``
            (D) Such agreement shall be subject to 
 enforcement and oversight by the covered entity or by 
 another person as the Secretary determines appropriate.

``

SEC. 306C. WORKING WATERFRONTS PRESERVATION LOAN FUND.

 ``

    (a) General Authority.--
 ``

    (1) Grants to eligible coastal states to establish 
 working waterfronts preservation loan funds.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The Secretary may enter into an 
 agreement with an eligible coastal state to issue a 
 capitalization grant, including a letter of credit, to 
 such eligible coastal state to implement the approved 
 working waterfronts plan of such eligible coastal 
 state.
 ``
        (B) Establishment of working waterfronts 
 preservation loan funds.--
 ``
            (i) In general.--To be eligible to 
 receive a capitalization grant under this 
 subsection, an eligible coastal state shall 
 establish a working waterfronts preservation 
 loan fund.
 ``
            (ii) Deposit.--Each capitalization grant 
 made to an eligible coastal state under this 
 paragraph shall be deposited in the working 
 waterfronts preservation loan fund of such 
 eligible coastal state.
 ``
            (C) Extended period.--A capitalization grant made 
 to an eligible coastal state under this section shall 
 be available to the eligible coastal state for 
 obligation for a period of 2 fiscal years.
 ``

    (2) Use of funds.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--An eligible coastal state shall 
 use amounts deposited in the working waterfronts 
 preservation loan fund of such eligible coastal state, 
 including loan repayments and interest earned on such 
 amounts, to provide financial assistance described in 
 subsection

    (f) to a covered entity to implement the 
 approved working waterfronts plan of such eligible 
 coastal state through preservation, improvement, 
 restoration, rehabilitation, and acquisition of working 
 waterfronts pursuant to criteria established by the 
 Secretary.
 ``
        (B) Sale of bonds.--A covered entity may use 
 amounts received under this section as a source of 
 revenue (restricted solely to interest earnings of the 
 applicable working waterfronts preservation loan fund) 
 or security for payment of the principal and interest 
 on a revenue or general obligation bond issued by the 
 eligible coastal state to provide matching funds under 
 subsection

    (e) if the proceeds of the sale of the bond 
 will be deposited in the working waterfronts 
 preservation loan fund of such eligible coastal state.
 ``
            (C) No increased bonding authority.--Amounts 
 deposited in the working waterfronts preservation loan 
 fund of an eligible coastal state may not be used as a 
 source of payment of, or security for (directly or 
 indirectly), in whole or in part, any obligation the 
 interest on which is exempt from the tax imposed under 
 chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
 ``

    (3) Limitation.--An eligible coastal state may not 
 provide financial assistance described in subsection

    (f) to a 
 covered entity that does not have the technical, managerial, 
 and financial capability to ensure compliance with the 
 requirements of this section.
 ``

    (4) Prevailing wages.--The Secretary shall ensure 
 compliance with the provisions of the Act of March 3, 1931 (40 
 U.S.C. 3141 et seq.; commonly known as the `Davis-Bacon Act') 
 with respect to any construction project carried out in whole 
 or in part with financial assistance made available from a 
 working waterfronts preservation loan fund.
 ``

    (5) Reservation.--Each eligible coastal state that enters 
 into a capitalization agreement under paragraph

    (1) shall, each 
 fiscal year, reserve 0.2 percent of the amount in the working 
 waterfronts preservation loan fund of the eligible coastal 
 state to provide financial assistance described in subsection

    (f) to an Indian Tribe or a Native Hawaiian organization.
 ``

    (b) Intended Use Plans.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Each eligible coastal state that enters 
 into a capitalization agreement under subsection

    (a)

    (1) shall 
 annually prepare an intended use plan, subject to notice and an 
 opportunity for public comment, that identifies the intended 
 uses of the amounts available to the working waterfronts 
 preservation loan fund of the eligible coastal state.
 ``

    (2) Contents.--Each intended use plan prepared by an 
 eligible coastal state under paragraph

    (1) shall include, with 
 respect to the eligible coastal state--
 ``
        (A) a list of each project to be assisted with 
 amounts from the working waterfronts preservation loan 
 fund in the first fiscal year that begins after the 
 date such intended use plan is finalized, including, 
 with respect to each such project--
 ``
            (i) a description of the project;
 ``
            (ii) the expected terms of financial 
 assistance; and
 ``
            (iii) the size of the community served;
 ``
        (B) the criteria and methods established to 
 distribute amounts from the working waterfronts 
 preservation loan fund; and
 ``
            (C) a description of the financial status of the 
 working waterfronts preservation loan fund and the 
 short- and long-term goals of such working waterfronts 
 preservation loan fund.
 ``
            (c) Working Waterfronts Preservation Loan Fund Management.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Each working waterfronts preservation 
 loan fund under this section shall be established, maintained, 
 and credited with repayments and interest and the fund corpus 
 shall be available in perpetuity to provide financial 
 assistance described in subsection

    (f) to covered entities 
 under this section.
 ``

    (2) Extra amounts.--To the extent amounts in a working 
 waterfronts preservation loan fund are not required for 
 obligation or expenditure, such amounts shall be invested in 
 interest-bearing obligations.
 ``
            (d) Assistance for Disadvantaged Communities.--
 ``

    (1) Loan subsidy.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other 
 provision of this section, if an eligible coastal state 
 makes a loan to a disadvantaged community pursuant to 
 subsection

    (a)

    (2) , the eligible coastal state may 
 provide additional subsidization to such disadvantaged 
 community, including--
 ``
            (i) forgiveness of principal;
 ``
            (ii) grants;
 ``
            (iii) negative interest loans;
 ``
            (iv) other loan forgiveness; and
 ``
            (v) through buying, refinancing, or 
 restructuring debt.
 ``
        (B) Exclusion.--A loan from a working waterfronts 
 preservation loan fund with an interest rate equal to 
 or greater than 0 percent shall not be considered 
 additional subsidization for the purposes of this 
 subsection.
 ``

    (2) Total amount of subsidies.--Of the amount of a 
 capitalization grant received by an eligible coastal state for 
 any fiscal year, the total amount of loan subsidies made by 
 such eligible coastal state pursuant to paragraph

    (1) --
 ``
        (A) may not exceed 35 percent; and
 ``
        (B) to the extent that there are, as determined 
 by the Secretary, sufficient applications from 
 disadvantaged communities for loans, may not be less 
 than 12 percent.
 ``

    (e) Eligible Coastal State Contribution.--Each capitalization 
agreement entered into under subsection

    (a)

    (1) shall require that the 
eligible coastal state subject to such agreement deposit in the working 
waterfronts preservation loan fund of the eligible coastal state an 
amount equal to not less than 20 percent of the total amount of the 
capitalization grant to be made to the eligible coastal state on or 
before the date on which the capitalization grant payment is made to 
the eligible coastal state.
 ``

    (f) Types of Assistance.--The amounts deposited into a working 
waterfronts preservation loan fund of an eligible coastal state under 
this section may be used by the eligible coastal state--
 ``

    (1) to make a loan to a covered entity, on the condition 
 that--
 ``
        (A) the interest rate for the loan does not 
 exceed the market rate;
 ``
        (B) principal and interest payments on the loan 
 will commence not later than 18 months after completion 
 of the project for which the loan was made;
 ``
            (C) the loan will be fully amortized not later 
 than 30 years after the completion of the project, 
 except that in the case of a disadvantaged community an 
 eligible coastal state may provide an extended term for 
 the loan, if the extended term--
 ``
            (i) terminates not later than the date 
 that is 40 years after the completion of the 
 project; and
 ``
            (ii) does not exceed the expected design 
 life of the project;
 ``
            (D) the recipient of the loan will establish a 
 dedicated source of revenue (or, in the case of a 
 privately owned working waterfront property, 
 demonstrate that there is adequate security) for the 
 repayment of the loan; and
 ``
        (E) the working waterfronts preservation loan 
 fund of the eligible coastal state will be credited 
 with all payments of principal and interest on the 
 loan;
 ``

    (2) to buy or refinance the debt obligation of a 
 municipality or an intermunicipal or interstate agency within 
 the eligible coastal state at an interest rate that is less 
 than or equal to the market interest rate;
 ``

    (3) to guarantee, or purchase insurance for, a local 
 obligation (all of the proceeds of which finance a project 
 eligible for financial assistance under this section) if the 
 guarantee or purchase would improve credit market access or 
 reduce the interest rate applicable to the obligation;
 ``

    (4) as a source of revenue or security for the payment of 
 principal and interest on a revenue or general obligation bond 
 issued by the eligible coastal state if the proceeds of the 
 sale of the bond will be deposited into the working waterfronts 
 preservation loan fund of the eligible coastal state; or
 ``

    (5) to earn interest on the amounts deposited into the 
 working waterfronts preservation loan fund of the eligible 
 coastal state.
 ``

    (g) Administration of Working Waterfronts Preservation Loan 
Funds.--
 ``

    (1) Combined financial administration.--Notwithstanding 
 subsection
            (c) , an eligible coastal state may combine the 
 financial administration of a working waterfronts preservation 
 loan fund of the eligible coastal state with the financial 
 administration of any other revolving fund established by the 
 eligible coastal state if the Secretary determines that the 
 capitalization grants made under this section, together with 
 loan repayments and interest, will be separately accounted for 
 and used solely for the purposes specified in subsection

    (a) .
 ``

    (2) Cost of administering working waterfronts 
 preservation loan fund.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--For each fiscal year, an 
 eligible coastal state may use the amount described in 
 subparagraph
        (B) --
 ``
            (i) to cover the reasonable costs of 
 administration of the programs under this 
 section, including the recovery of reasonable 
 costs expended to establish a working 
 waterfronts preservation loan fund that are 
 incurred after the date of the enactment of 
 this section; and
 ``
            (ii) to provide technical assistance to 
 working waterfronts projects carried out within 
 the eligible coastal state.
 ``
        (B) Description of amount.--The amount referred 
 to in subparagraph
        (A) is an amount equal to the sum 
 of--
 ``
            (i) the amount of any fees collected by 
 the eligible coastal state for use in 
 accordance with subparagraph
        (A)
            (i) , regardless 
 of the source; and
 ``
            (ii) the greater of--
 ``
            (I) $400,000;
 ``
            (II) 0.2 percent of the current 
 valuation of the working waterfronts 
 preservation loan fund of the eligible 
 coastal state; or
 ``
            (III) an amount equal to 4 
 percent of all grant awards made to the 
 working waterfronts preservation loan 
 fund of the eligible coastal state 
 under this section for the fiscal year.
 ``

    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $50,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
 ``
            (i) === Definitions. ===
-In this section:
 ``

    (1) Approved working waterfronts plan.--The term 
 `approved working waterfronts plan' has the meaning given the 
 term in 

section 306B.
 ``

    (2) Covered entity.--The term `covered entity' means--
 ``
        (A) a State agency;
 ``
        (B) an Indian Tribe;
 ``
            (C) a Native Hawaiian organization;
 ``
            (D) a local government; or
 ``
        (E) a nonprofit organization.
 ``

    (3) Disadvantaged community.--The term `disadvantaged 
 community' has the meaning given the term in 

section 306B.
 ``

    (4) Eligible coastal state.--The term `eligible coastal 
 state' means a coastal state that has an approved working 
 waterfronts plan.
 ``

    (5) Working waterfront.--The term `working waterfront' 
 has the meaning given the term in 

section 306B.
 ``

    (6) Working waterfronts preservation loan fund.--The term 
 `working waterfronts preservation loan fund' means a revolving 
 loan fund established under this section for the preservation 
 of working waterfronts.''.

SEC. 203. SEAFOOD MARKETING.

    (a) Outreach Plan.--The Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction 
with the Administrator, shall develop an outreach plan to expand 
outreach by the Department of Agriculture to fishing industry 
stakeholders to increase awareness of and assist with the use of 
programs in the Agricultural Marketing Service by such stakeholders.

    (b) Study.--The Administrator shall, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Agriculture and members of the seafood industry, study the 
possibility of establishing education and marketing programs within the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
            (c) Reports.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this section--

    (1) the Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the 
 Administrator, shall submit a report to Congress regarding the 
 outreach plan developed under subsection

    (a) ; and

    (2) the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report 
 regarding the findings of the study conducted under subsection

    (b) .

SEC. 204. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN LIMITED ACCESS PRIVILEGE PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--

Section 303A
            (c) (16 U.S.C. 1853a
            (c) ) is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (1) --
        (A) in subparagraph
            (C) 
            (iii) , by inserting ``, 
 including the participation of fishing communities in 
 the fishery'' after ``benefits'';
        (B) in subparagraph
        (J) , by striking ``and'' at the 
 end;
            (C) in subparagraph
        (K) , by striking the period at 
 the end and inserting ``; and''; and
            (D) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (L) consider the needs of fishing communities and 
 provide a process for fishing communities to 
 participate in the limited access privilege program in 
 accordance with subsection
            (c) (3) .''; and

    (2) by amending paragraph

    (3) to read as follows:
 ``

    (3) Fishing communities.--
 ``
        (A) Eligibility.--To be eligible to participate 
 in a limited access privilege program to harvest fish, 
 a fishing community shall--
 ``
            (i) be located within the management area 
 of the relevant Council;
 ``
            (ii) consist of residents who conduct 
 commercial or recreational fishing, processing, 
 or fishery-dependent support businesses within 
 the management area of the relevant Council;
 ``
            (iii) seek to participate in such program 
 for a purpose other than perfecting or 
 realizing a security interest in such access; 
 and
 ``
            (iv) develop and submit a community 
 sustainability plan to the relevant Council and 
 the Secretary that demonstrates how the plan 
 will address the social and economic 
 development needs of coastal communities, 
 including those that have not historically had 
 the resources to participate in the fishery, 
 for approval.
 ``
        (B) Community sustainability plan approval.--
 ``
            (i) In general.--A community 
 sustainability plan submitted by a fishing 
 community to a Council and the Secretary for 
 approval shall include the following 
 components:
 ``
            (I) A description of the entity 
 and the Board and governance for the 
 entity that will receive the 
 allocation.
 ``
            (II) A description of the quota 
 allocation process that will be used by 
 the entity, including an appeals 
 process within the entity.
 ``
            (III) Provisions for monitoring 
 and enforcement of the community 
 sustainability plan.
 ``
            (IV) Goals and objectives for the 
 fishing community and how the entity 
 will use the allocation to meet those 
 goals and objectives.
 ``
            (V) A description of how the 
 entity will sustain the participation 
 of the fishing community in the 
 fisheries, including providing for new 
 entry and intergenerational transfer, 
 encouraging active participation and 
 addressing economic barriers to access 
 to the fisheries.
 ``
            (VI) A description of how the 
 community sustainability plan will 
 address the projected economic and 
 social impacts associated with the 
 implementation of the limited access 
 privilege program, including the 
 potential for strengthening economic 
 conditions in remote fishing 
 communities that lack the resources to 
 participate in harvesting activities in 
 the fishery.
 ``
            (VII) A description of how the 
 community sustainability plan will 
 ensure the benefits of participating in 
 the limited access privilege program 
 accrue to the fishing community and 
 participants, including limitations or 
 measures necessary to prevent an 
 inequitable concentration of limited 
 access privileges within the fishing 
 community.
 ``
            (ii) Previously adopted plan.--A 
 community sustainability plan submitted before 
 the date of the enactment of the Sustaining 
 America's Fisheries for the Future Act of 2025 
 shall not be invalidated by failure to comply 
 with clause
            (i) unless such plan is amended 
 after such date.''.

    (b) Audit.--

    (1) In general.--The inspector general of the Department of 
 Commerce shall conduct an audit regarding limited access 
 privilege programs for federally managed fisheries in the 
 United States.

    (2) Determinations and disclosures.--The audit required 
 under paragraph

    (1) shall determine and disclose the following:
        (A) The amount of harvest privileges or 
 transferable quota that were actively harvested in each 
 year from 2020 through 2025.
        (B) The amount of harvest privileges or 
 transferable quota that were leased to other parties or 
 entities in each year from 2020 through 2025.
            (C) The names of each corporation, partnership, or 
 other authorized entity that, at the time such audit is 
 conducted, hold harvesting privileges or transferable 
 quota in Federal fisheries.
            (D) The proportion of transferable quota holders 
 (including both individuals and authorized entities) 
 that, at the time such audit is conducted, are actively 
 fishing their harvesting privileges.
        (E) The average cost of a transferable harvest 
 share in each federally managed limited access 
 privilege program.
        (F) The average leasing cost of a transferable 
 harvest share in each federally managed limited access 
 privilege program where, at the time such audit is 
 conducted, leasing is occurring.

    (3) Additional requirements.--In addition to the 
 requirements under paragraph

    (2) , the audit required under 
 paragraph

    (1) shall--
        (A) evaluate the performance of the Secretary in 
 overseeing limited access privilege programs in 
 accordance with 

section 303A
            (c) (1)
        (J) (16 U.S.C. 
 1853a
            (c) (1)
        (J) ); and
        (B) recommend policies to strengthen transparency 
 and achieve full disclosure of ownership of harvest 
 privileges in limited access privilege programs.

    (4) Congressional briefing.--Not later than 1 year after 
 the date of the enactment of the Sustaining America's Fisheries 
 for the Future Act of 2025, the inspector general of the 
 Department of Commerce shall brief the appropriate committees 
 of Congress on the preliminary findings of the audit conducted 
 under paragraph

    (1) .

    (5) Final report.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
 which a briefing occurs under paragraph

    (4) , the inspector 
 general of the Department of Commerce shall submit to Congress 
 a final report setting forth the results of the audit conducted 
 under paragraph

    (1) .

SEC. 205. FINDINGS.

 

Section 2

    (a)

    (3) (16 U.S.C. 1801

    (a)

    (3) ) is amended to read as 
follows:
 ``

    (3) Commercial, recreational, and charter fishing 
 constitute major sources of employment and contribute 
 significantly to the economy of the Nation. Many coastal areas 
 are dependent upon fishing and related activities, and the 
 economies of such areas have been badly damaged by the 
 overfishing of fishery resources; ensuring the sustainable use 
 of fishery resources is essential to the economic well-being of 
 such areas.''.

 TITLE III--STRENGTHENING PUBLIC PROCESS AND TRANSPARENCY

SEC. 301. TRIBAL REPRESENTATION ON PACIFIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL.

    (a) In General.--

Section 302

    (b)

    (5) (16 U.S.C. 1852

    (b)

    (5) ) is 
amended--

    (1) in subparagraph
        (A) , by striking ``not less than 3''; 
 and

    (2) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
        (E) An individual appointed under subparagraph
        (A) shall 
 serve on the Pacific Council until such time as a new 
 appointment to the tribal seat is made under subparagraph
        (A) .''.

    (b) Conforming Amendment.--

Section 302

    (b)

    (3) (16 U.S.C. 1852

    (b)

    (3) ) 
is amended by striking ``paragraphs

    (2) and

    (5) '' and inserting 
``paragraph

    (2) ''.

SEC. 302. TRIBAL REPRESENTATION ON NORTH PACIFIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT 
 COUNCIL.

    (a) In General.--

Section 302 (16 U.S.C. 1852) is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a)

    (1)
        (G) --
        (A) by striking ``seward'' and inserting 
 ``seaward'';
        (B) by striking ``11'' and inserting ``13''; and
            (C) by inserting before the period at the end ``and 
 2 appointed by the Secretary in accordance with 
 subsection

    (b)

    (6) '';

    (2) in subsection

    (b) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (1)
            (C) , by striking ``paragraphs

    (2) and

    (5) '' and inserting ``paragraphs

    (2) ,

    (5) , and

    (6) '';
        (B) by redesignating paragraph

    (6) as paragraph

    (7) ;
            (C) by inserting after paragraph

    (5) the following:
 ``

    (6)
        (A) The Secretary, in accordance with subparagraph
            (C) , shall appoint to the North Pacific Council 2 individuals 
 to serve as representatives of covered Indian tribes from a 
 list submitted by the tribal governments.
 ``
        (B) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of 
 the Interior, tribal governments, and the Alaska Federation of 
 Natives, shall establish by regulation the procedure for 
 submitting a list under subparagraph
        (A) .
 ``
            (C) An individual is qualified for appointment to the 
 North Pacific Council under subparagraph
        (A) if such 
 individual--
 ``
            (i) possesses knowledge of--
 ``
            (I) the anadromous fish of the North 
 Pacific Council region;
 ``
            (II) the marine resources managed by such 
 Council;
 ``
            (III) the effects of the actions of such 
 Council on such resources;
 ``
            (IV) the subsistence uses, customs, and 
 traditions relating to such resources; and
 ``
            (V) commercial and sport uses of the fish 
 described in subclause
            (I) and such resources; 
 or
 ``
            (ii) demonstrates leadership through involvement 
 in local, regional, or tribal fish and wildlife 
 management or conservation organizations.
 ``
            (D) Representation shall be rotated among affected tribal 
 regions, taking into consideration--
 ``
            (i) the qualifications of the individuals on the 
 list submitted under subparagraph
        (A) ;
 ``
            (ii) the degree to which the Indian tribes 
 located within the North Pacific Council region are 
 dependent on anadromous fish and marine resources 
 within such region and the effects of the actions of 
 such Council on such resources; and
 ``
            (iii) the geographic area within which the tribe 
 of the representative is located.
 ``
        (E) An individual appointed under subparagraph
        (A) may 
 designate as an alternate an individual knowledgeable with 
 respect to tribal rights and fishing practicies, Indigenous 
 traditional knowledge, tribal law, and the marine resources 
 managed by the North Pacific Council.
 ``
        (F) An individual appointed under subparagraph
        (A) shall 
 serve on the North Pacific Council until such time as a new 
 appointment to the tribal seat is made under that subparagraph.
 ``
        (G) In this paragraph, the term `covered Indian tribe' 
 means an Indian tribe in Alaska that is identified (including 
 parenthetically) on the most current list published by the 
 Secretary under 

section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian 
 Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131).''; and
            (D) in paragraph

    (7) , as so redesignated, by 
 striking ``paragraphs

    (2) or

    (5) '' and inserting 
 ``paragraph

    (2) ,

    (5) , or

    (6) ''; and

    (3) in subsection

    (j)

    (1)
        (A)
            (ii) 
            (II) , by striking 
 ``subsection

    (b)

    (5) '' and inserting ``paragraph

    (5) or

    (6) of 
 subsection

    (b) ''.

    (b) Western Pacific Fishery Management Council Study.--The 
Administrator shall conduct a study regarding the feasibility and 
implications of adding indigenous seats to the Western Pacific Fishery 
Management Council established by 

section 302 of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1852) for the 
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council region.

SEC. 303. ATLANTIC COUNCILS.

 

Section 302

    (a) (16 U.S.C. 1852

    (a) ) is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (1) --
        (A) in subparagraph
        (A) --
            (i) by striking ``18'' and inserting 
 ``19''; and
            (ii) by inserting before the period at the 
 end the following: ``and 1 liaison appointed by 
 the Secretary in accordance with paragraph

    (4) who is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery 
 Management Council to represent the interests 
 of fisheries under the jurisdiction of such 
 Council''; and
        (B) in subparagraph
        (B) --
            (i) by striking ``21'' and inserting 
 ``22''; and
            (ii) by inserting before the period at the 
 end the following: ``and 1 liaison appointed by 
 the Secretary in accordance with paragraph

    (4) who is a member of the New England Fishery 
 Management Council to represent the interests 
 of fisheries under the jurisdiction of such 
 Council''; and

    (2) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (4) Requirements for liaison.--The Secretary shall 
 appoint an individual to be a liaison between the Councils 
 described in subparagraphs
        (A) and
        (B) of paragraph

    (1) who has 
 expertise in a fishery that spans the geographical areas of 
 both such Councils.''.

SEC. 304. COUNCIL PROCEDURES AND PARTICIPATION.

    (a) In General.--

Section 302

    (e) (16 U.S.C. 1852

    (e) ) is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (5) , by striking ``At the request of any 
 voting member of a Council, the Council shall hold a roll call 
 vote on any matter before the Council.'' and inserting ``Each 
 Council shall hold a roll call vote on all nonprocedural 
 matters before the Council. At the request of any voting member 
 of a Council, that Council shall hold a roll call vote on any 
 procedural matter before the Council.''; and

    (2) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (6) To the extent possible, each Council shall--
 ``
        (A) seek to hold meetings in person; and
 ``
        (B) ensure the availability of remote meeting 
 participation and voting.''.

    (b) Council Meetings.--

Section 302
            (i) (2) (16 U.S.C. 1852
            (i) (2) ) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
 ``
        (G) Each Council shall make available on the internet 
 website of the Council--
 ``
            (i) with respect to each meeting of the Council 
 and of the Council Coordination Committee established 
 under subsection
            (l) that is not closed in accordance 
 with paragraph

    (3) , to the extent possible, a webcast, 
 live audio recording, or live video broadcast of each 
 such meeting; and
 ``
            (ii) with respect to each meeting of the Council 
 and of the scientific and statistical committee 
 established by the Council under subsection

    (g)

    (1)
        (A) that is not closed in accordance with paragraph

    (3) , by 
 not later than 30 days after the conclusion of each 
 such meeting, an audio or video recording (if the 
 meeting was in person or by video conference) or a 
 searchable audio recording or written transcript of 
 each such meeting.
 ``
        (H) The Secretary shall maintain and make available to 
 the public, for a period of not less than 5 years beginning on 
 the date of a meeting, an archive of Council and scientific and 
 statistical committee meeting audio and video recordings and 
 transcripts made available under subparagraph
        (G) .''.

SEC. 305. COUNCIL ACCOUNTABILITY AND MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Voting Members.--

Section 302

    (b)

    (2) (16 U.S.C. 1852

    (b)

    (2) ) is 
amended--

    (1) by amending subparagraph
        (A) to read as follows:
 ``
        (A) Required expertise.--In making each 
 appointment to a Council under this section, the 
 Secretary shall appoint an individual who, by reason of 
 occupational or other experience, scientific expertise, 
 or training, is knowledgeable regarding--
 ``
            (i) the conservation and management, or 
 the commercial, recreational, or subsistence 
 harvest, of the fishery resources of the 
 geographic area concerned; or
 ``
            (ii) ecosystem-based fishery management 
 or climate science.'';

    (2) by amending subparagraph
        (B) to read as follows:
 ``
        (B) Apportionment.--
 ``
            (i) In general.--In making each 
 appointment under this section, the Secretary 
 shall, to the extent practicable, ensure a fair 
 and balanced apportionment, on a rotating or 
 other basis, of active participants (or the 
 representatives of such participants) in the 
 commercial, recreational, and subsistence 
 fisheries under the jurisdiction of the Council 
 and of members of the conservation community, 
 scientists, nonconsumptive users, and members 
 of indigenous and tribal communities, as 
 applicable.
 ``
            (ii) Report.--The Secretary shall, on an 
 annual basis, submit to the Committee on 
 Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
 Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources 
 of the House of Representatives a report 
 regarding the actions taken by the Secretary to 
 ensure that a fair and balanced apportionment 
 described in clause
            (i) is achieved, 
 including--
 ``
            (I) a list of the fisheries under 
 the jurisdiction of each Council, 
 outlining for each fishery the type and 
 quantity of fish harvested, fishing and 
 processing methods employed, the number 
 of participants, the duration and range 
 of the fishery, and other 
 distinguishing characteristics;
 ``
            (II) an assessment of the 
 membership of each Council in terms of 
 the apportionment of the active 
 participants in each such fishery and 
 of members of the conservation 
 community, scientists, nonconsumptive 
 users, and members of indigenous and 
 tribal communities; and
 ``
            (III) a statement of the plans 
 and schedule of the Secretary for 
 actions to achieve a fair and balanced 
 apportionment on each Council for the 
 active participants in any such fishery 
 and for the categories of members 
 listed in subclause
            (II) .'';

    (3) by amending subparagraph
            (C) to read as follows:
 ``
            (C) Appointments.--
 ``
            (i) List from governor.--
 ``
            (I) Appointment from list.--The 
 Secretary shall appoint the members of 
 each Council from a list of individuals 
 submitted by the Governor of each 
 applicable constituent State.
 ``
            (II) Requirements for list.--In 
 submitting a list under subclause
            (I) , 
 a Governor--
 ``

    (aa) may only submit the 
 name of an individual if such 
 Governor has determined such 
 individual is qualified under 
 subparagraph
        (A) ;
 ``

    (bb) shall include the 
 names and pertinent 
 biographical data of not less 
 than 3 individuals for each 
 applicable vacancy; and
 ``
            (cc) shall include a 
 statement explaining how each 
 individual included on the list 
 meets the requirements of 
 subparagraph
        (A) .
 ``
            (III) Review.--The Secretary 
 shall review each list submitted under 
 this subparagraph.
 ``
            (IV) Notification.--If the 
 Secretary determines that an individual 
 included on a list submitted under this 
 subparagraph does not meet the 
 requirements of this paragraph, the 
 Secretary shall notify the appropriate 
 Governor.
 ``
            (V) Response to review.--If a 
 Governor receives notification under 
 subclause
            (IV) , such Governor may 
 submit a revised list or resubmit the 
 original list with an additional 
 explanation of the qualifications of 
 the individual for which such Governor 
 received such a notification.
 ``
            (ii) Individuals without financial 
 interest.--The Secretary shall appoint to each 
 Council at least 1 individual who does not have 
 a financial interest in matters before the 
 Council.
 ``
            (iii) Financial disclosure 
 requirements.-- An individual is not eligible 
 for appointment by the Secretary until that 
 individual complies with the applicable 
 financial disclosure requirements under 
 subsection

    (j) .''; and

    (4) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
        (F) Geographical representation.--In appointing at-large 
 members to the Western Pacific Council, the Secretary shall 
 ensure geographical representation across each constituent 
 State of such Council.''.

    (b) Disclosure of Financial Interest and Recusal.--

Section 302

    (j) (16 U.S.C. 1852

    (j) ) is amended--

    (1) by amending paragraph

    (1)
        (B) to read as follows:
 ``
        (B) the term `designated official' means an 
 attorney employed in the Office of the General Counsel 
 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
 who--
 ``
            (i) has expertise in Federal conflict-of-
 interest requirements; and
 ``
            (ii) is designated by the Secretary, in 
 consultation with a Council, to attend the 
 meetings of such Council and make 
 determinations under paragraph

    (7)
        (B) .'';

    (2) in paragraph

    (2)
            (C) , by inserting ``contractor,'' after 
 ``partner,''; and

    (3) in paragraph

    (5)
        (B) , by striking ``on the Internet'' 
 and inserting ``on the internet website of the agency, on the 
 internet website of the applicable Council,''.
            (c) Lobbying.--

Section 302 (16 U.S.C. 1852) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
 ``
            (m) Lobbying.--
 ``

    (1) Prohibition on council lobbying.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Except as provided in 
 subparagraph
        (B) , each member of a Council, member of a 
 Council advisory body, and employee or contractor of a 
 Council, is prohibited from using Federal funds to 
 attempt to influence the--
 ``
            (i) introduction, advancement, enactment, 
 amendment, or repeal of Federal or State 
 legislation; or
 ``
            (ii) issuance, modification, or 
 overturning of an Executive order, Presidential 
 proclamation, or similar Presidential directive 
 or decree.
 ``
        (B) Technical and factual presentations.--An 
 individual described in subparagraph
        (A) may provide a 
 technical and factual presentation directly related to 
 the performance of the duties of a Council, through 
 hearing testimony or written statements, if such 
 presentation is in response to a documented request and 
 is made available under paragraph

    (4) .
 ``

    (2) Adjudicating violations.--
 ``
        (A) Initiation by secretary.--The Secretary may 
 initiate an investigation of a potential violation of 
 paragraph

    (1) .
 ``
        (B) Complaint.--The Secretary shall investigate a 
 complaint submitted by any person or government entity 
 regarding a potential violation of paragraph

    (1) .
 ``

    (3) Penalties.--If the Secretary determines that an 
 individual violated paragraph

    (1) , such individual shall be 
 subject to disciplinary action, including suspension or 
 expulsion from participation in, membership of, or employment 
 by a Council, Council advisory body, or related entity or 
 activity.
 ``

    (4) Training.--The Secretary shall provide training to 
 individuals described in paragraph

    (1) regarding--
 ``
        (A) compliance with regulations issued to 
 implement this subsection; and
 ``
        (B) general limits of Federal grant recipients on 
 contacts with members and staff of the executive and 
 legislative branches.
 ``

    (5) Restriction on ex-voting member lobbying.--A voting 
 member appointed to a Council by the Secretary in accordance 
 with paragraph

    (2) ,

    (5) , or

    (6) of subsection

    (b) may not lobby 
 the Council to which such member was appointed regarding any 
 matter during the 1-year period beginning on the date on which 
 the term of such member expires, if such member has not been 
 appointed to serve a subsequent term.
 ``

    (6) Report.--The Secretary shall annually submit to the 
 Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives 
 and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
 the Senate a report that describes--
 ``
        (A) the funding provided to implement this 
 subsection;
 ``
        (B) complaints received of and investigations 
 into potential violations of paragraph

    (1) ; and
 ``
            (C) barriers associated with and proposals to 
 improve implementation of this subsection.
 ``

    (n) Workplace Harassment Prevention.--
 ``

    (1) Prohibition.--The Secretary shall prohibit any person 
 from harassing a covered individual during the conduct of 
 duties by such covered individual under this Act.
 ``

    (2) Harassment prevent training.--Council members and 
 staff shall, as a condition of employment, not later than 1 
 year after the date of the enactment of the Sustaining 
 America's Fisheries for the Future Act of 2025 or the first day 
 of employment by a Council of such individual, and not less 
 often than once every 2 years thereafter, complete 2 hours of 
 workplace harassment prevention training approved by the office 
 authorized by 

section 3541 of the National Defense 
 Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017.
 ``

    (3) === Definitions. ===
-In this subsection:
 ``
        (A) Covered individual.--The term `covered 
 individual' means--
 ``
            (i) a Council member;
 ``
            (ii) Council staff;
 ``
            (iii) a Council advisory panel member;
 ``
            (iv) a member of a committee associated 
 with a Council or the National Oceanic and 
 Atmospheric Administration;
 ``
            (v) a Federal fishery permit holder; and
 ``
            (vi) a staff member, crew member, 
 employee, or contractor associated with a 
 federally permitted vessel or a facility 
 providing services to such vessels.
 ``
        (B) Harassment.--The term `harassment' means 
 unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct based on 
 race, color, national origin, religion, age (40 and 
 above), sex (including gender identity, sexual 
 orientation, and pregnancy), disability, genetic 
 information, or prior Equal Employment Opportunity 
 activity.''.
            (d) Judicial Review.--

Section 305

    (f)

    (1) (16 U.S.C. 1855

    (f)

    (1) ) is 
amended by striking ``30'' and inserting ``60''.

    (e) Regulations.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue regulations to 
implement 

section 302
            (m) (16 U.S.C. 1852
            (m) ), as added by this section.

SEC. 306. WESTERN PACIFIC SUSTAINABLE FISHERY FUND.

 

Section 204

    (e) (16 U.S.C. 1824

    (e) ) is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (1) --
        (A) by striking ``in consultation with any 
 appropriate Council,'' and inserting ``at the request 
 and with the concurrence of the Governor of the 
 applicable Pacific Insular Area,'';
        (B) by striking ``a Pacific Insular Area--'' and 
 inserting ``that Pacific Insular Area.''; and
            (C) by striking subparagraphs
        (A) and
        (B) ;

    (2) in paragraph

    (3)
        (A) --
        (A) by inserting ``and'' before ``the Governor'';
        (B) by striking ``, and the appropriate Council''; 
 and
            (C) by adding at the end the following: ``Such 
 permits shall also be consistent with any applicable 
 fishery management plan.'';

    (3) in paragraph

    (4) --
        (A) in subparagraph
        (A) --
            (i) by striking ``the Western Pacific 
 Council and'';
            (ii) by inserting ``of the applicable 
 Pacific Insular Area'' after ``Governor''; and
            (iii) by amending clause
            (v) to read as 
 follows--
 ``
            (v) western Pacific community-based 
 demonstration projects under 

section 112

    (b) of 
 the Sustainable Fisheries Act and other coastal 
 improvement projects in waters beyond the 
 seaward boundary (as such term is defined in 
 

section 4 of the Submerged Lands Act) of any 
 State to foster and promote the management, 
 conservation, and economic enhancement of the 
 Pacific Insular Areas.''; and
        (B) by amending subparagraph
        (B) to read as 
 follows:
 ``
        (B) In the case of American Samoa, Guam, and the 
 Northern Mariana Islands, the appropriate Governor of 
 the applicable Pacific Insular Area shall develop the 
 marine conservation plan described in subparagraph
        (A) and submit such plan to the Secretary for approval. In 
 the case of other Pacific Insular Areas, the Secretary 
 and the appropriate Governor of the applicable Pacific 
 Insular Area shall jointly develop the marine 
 conservation plan described in subparagraph
        (A) .'';

    (4) in paragraph

    (6) --
        (A) in subparagraph
        (A) , by inserting ``and'' at 
 the end;
        (B) by striking subparagraph
        (B) ; and
            (C) by redesignating subparagraph
            (C) as 
 subparagraph
        (B) ;

    (5) in paragraph

    (7) --
        (A) by striking ``, who shall provide such funds 
 only to'' and inserting ``for the purposes of'';
        (B) in subparagraph
        (A) --
            (i) by striking ``the Western Pacific 
 Council for the purpose of''; and
            (ii) by inserting ``as determined by the 
 Secretary, in consultation with the Western 
 Pacific Sustainable Fishery Fund Advisory Panel 
 established under 

section 204

    (e)

    (9) ,'' after 
 ``subsection,'';
            (C) in subparagraph
        (B) , by inserting ``providing 
 such funds as are necessary to'' before ``the 
 Secretary'';
            (D) by amending subparagraph
            (C) to read as 
 follows:
 ``
            (C) providing such funds as remain in the Western 
 Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund after the funding 
 requirements of subparagraphs
        (A) and
        (B) have been 
 satisfied to the Governor of Hawaii to meet 
 conservation and management objectives in the State of 
 Hawaii.''; and
        (E) by striking ``Amounts deposited in such fund 
 shall not diminish funding received by the Western 
 Pacific Council for the purpose of carrying out other 
 responsibilities under this Act.''; and

    (6) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (9) Western pacific sustainable fishery fund advisory 
 panel.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--To assist in carrying out this 
 subsection, the Secretary shall establish and convene 
 an advisory panel under 

section 302

    (g) , to be known as 
 the `Western Pacific Sustainable Fishery Fund Advisory 
 Panel' (referred to in this paragraph as the `advisory 
 panel'), to evaluate, determine the relative merits of, 
 and annually rank applications for grants for 
 implementation of marine conservation plans approved 
 under paragraph

    (4) .
 ``
        (B) Members.--The advisory panel shall consist of 
 members such that--
 ``
            (i) the Governor of each applicable 
 Pacific Insular Area selects 1 member; and
 ``
            (ii) no member may be a member or 
 employee of the Western Pacific Council.
 ``
            (C) Award not in accordance with rank.--If the 
 Secretary awards a grant for a project not in 
 accordance with the rank given to such project by the 
 advisory panel, the Secretary shall provide a detailed 
 written explanation of the reasons for such award.
 ``
            (D) Notice.--The Secretary shall provide to the 
 public timely notice of each meeting of the advisory 
 panel.
 ``
        (E) Minutes.--The Secretary shall keep and make 
 available to the public minutes of each meeting of the 
 advisory panel.
 ``
        (F) Reports.--The Secretary shall, with the 
 assistance of the advisory panel, annually submit to 
 Congress a report identifying any projects that were 
 funded in the previous year and the status and progress 
 of projects carried out under this subsection.
 ``
        (G) Exemption from federal advisory committee 
 act.--Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code 
 (commonly known as the `Federal Advisory Committee 
 Act'), does not apply to the advisory panel.''.

SEC. 307. COUNCIL STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION.

 

Section 302

    (f) (16 U.S.C. 1832

    (f) ) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
 ``

    (8) Each Council shall, with the approval of the 
 Secretary, develop a code of conduct and ethics for members and 
 employees of each such Council equivalent to those applicable 
 to Federal personnel.
 ``

    (9) The Secretary may, in accordance with applicable law, 
 take disciplinary action, up to and including termination, 
 against an executive director of a Council. A Council may, in 
 accordance with applicable law, take disciplinary action, up to 
 and including termination, against the executive director or 
 any other employee of the Council.''.

SEC. 308. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION SEXUAL 
 HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT PREVENTION.

    (a) Policy on the Prevention of and Response to Sexual Harassment 
Involving National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Personnel.--

Section 3541

    (f) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2017 (33 U.S.C. 894

    (f) ) is amended--

    (1) by inserting ``and equal employment'' after ``sexual 
 harassment'' each place it appears; and

    (2) in paragraph

    (2) --
        (A) by redesignating subparagraphs
            (C) and
            (D) as 
 subparagraphs
            (D) and
        (E) , respectively; and
        (B) by inserting after subparagraph
        (B) the 
 following:
 ``
            (C) A synopsis of each case and the disciplinary 
 action taken, if any, in each case.''.

    (b) Annual Report on Sexual Assaults, Sexual Harassment, and Equal 
Employment.--

Section 3548 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2017 (33 U.S.C. 894e) is amended--

    (1) by striking the section heading and inserting the 
 following: ``annual report on sexual assaults, sexual 
 harassment, and equal employment in the national oceanic and 
 atmospheric administration.'';

    (2) in subsection

    (a) , by striking ``the sexual assaults 
 involving'' and inserting ``sexual assault and sexual 
 harassment involving and the equal employment of''; and

    (3) in subsection

    (b) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (4) , by inserting ``, including a 
 synopsis of each case and the disciplinary action 
 taken, if any, in each case'' before the period at the 
 end; and
        (B) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (5) A summary of the number of change of station, unit 
 transfer, and change of work location requests submitted to the 
 Under Secretary under 

section 3544

    (a) , including the number of 
 such requests that were denied.
 ``

    (6) A summary of the number of cases referred to the 
 Coast Guard under this section.
 ``

    (7) The number of alleged sexual assaults and sexual 
 harassment cases involving fisheries observers, protected 
 species observers, and endangered species observers, 
 including--
 ``
        (A) a synopsis of each case and the status of 
 such case;
 ``
        (B) the disposition of any investigation; and
 ``
            (C) a description of the fishery management 
 region and fishery or the geographic region and type of 
 permitted operation in which the sexual assault or 
 sexual harassment is alleged to have occurred, as 
 appropriate.''.
            (c) Investigation and Criminal Referral Requirements.--

    (1) Technical amendment.--Sections 3548 and 3549 of the 
 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (33 
 U.S.C. 894e and 894f) are redesignated as sections 3551 and 
 3552, respectively.

    (2) In general.--Subtitle C of title XXXV of the National 
 Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (33 U.S.C. 894 
 et seq.) is amended by inserting after 

section 3547 of that Act 
 (33 U.S.C. 894d-2) the following:

``

SEC. 3548. EXCEPTIONS REGARDING ANONYMITY OF SURVIVORS IN CERTAIN 
 CASES.

 ``

    (a) In General.--In any case in which an employee, member of the 
commissioned officer corps of the Administration, or covered personnel 
elects restricted or unrestricted reporting under 

section 3541

    (b)

    (3)
        (B) or 3542

    (b)

    (5)
        (B) , disclosure of the personally identifying information 
of such individual is authorized to the following persons or 
organizations when disclosure would be for the following reasons:
 ``

    (1) To Administration staff or law enforcement personnel, 
 if authorized by the survivor in writing.
 ``

    (2) To Administration staff or law enforcement personnel 
 to prevent or lessen a serious or imminent threat to the health 
 or safety of the survivor or another person.
 ``

    (3) To a survivor advocate or healthcare provider, if 
 required for the provision of survivor services.
 ``

    (4) To a State or Federal court, if pursuant to a court 
 order or if disclosure is required by Federal or State statute.
 ``

    (b) Notice of Disclosure and Privacy Protection.--In any case in 
which information is disclosed under subsection

    (a) , the Secretary 
shall--
 ``

    (1) make reasonable attempts to provide notice to the 
 individual whose personally identifying information is 
 disclosed; and
 ``

    (2) take such action as is necessary to protect the 
 privacy and safety of the individual.

``

SEC. 3549. RESTRICTED REPORTING.

 ``

    (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date of the 
enactment of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual 
Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2025, the 
Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary for Oceans 
and Atmosphere, shall develop a mechanism to provide a system of 
restricted reporting.
 ``

    (b) Restricted Reporting Defined.--In this section the term 
`restricted reporting' means a system of reporting that allows 
employees of the Administration, members of the commissioned officer 
corps of the Administration, and covered personnel who allege that they 
have been sexually harassed or sexually assaulted to confidentially 
disclose the details of such sexual harassment or sexual assault to 
specified individuals and receive the services outlined in this 
subtitle--
 ``

    (1) without the dissemination of the personally 
 identifying information of such individual except as necessary 
 for the provision of such services and as provided by 

section 3548

    (a) ; and
 ``

    (2) without automatically triggering an investigative 
 process.

``

SEC. 3550. MARINER REFERRAL.

 ``The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, acting 
through the Director of the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations 
and in consultation with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, shall, not 
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault 
Prevention Improvements Act of 2025, develop and implement a policy to 
report to the Commandant of the Coast Guard, in accordance with 

section 10104 of title 46, United States Code, the names of personnel of the 
Administration who--
 ``

    (1) are the subject of a claim of an act or offense 
 detrimental to good discipline and safety at sea, such as 
 sexual harassment or sexual assault that is substantiated by an 
 investigation under 

section 3546, or any other substantiated 
 claim of an act or offense for which suspension or revocation 
 of a credential is either mandatory or sought pursuant to part 
 5 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations; and
 ``

    (2) are--
 ``
        (A) employees or contractors of the 
 Administration required to hold a valid merchant 
 mariner credential as a condition of employment; or
 ``
        (B) crew of a vessel that, at the time of such 
 act or offense, was operating under a contract with the 
 Administration.''.
            (d) === Definitions. ===
-

Section 3552 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, as so redesignated by 
subsection
            (c) of this section, is amended to read as follows:

``

SEC. 3552. DEFINITIONS.

 ``In this subtitle:
 ``

    (1) Administration.--The term `Administration' means the 
 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
 ``

    (2) Covered personnel.--The term `covered personnel' 
 means an individual who works with or conducts business on 
 behalf of the Administration and includes--
 ``
        (A) observers, at-sea monitors, and catch 
 monitors required by the National Marine Fisheries 
 Service to operate on or in commercial fishing vessels, 
 other privately owned vessels, barges, or platforms, 
 and shoreside processing facilities for--
 ``
            (i) commercial fisheries observation 
 required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
 Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 
 et seq.);
 ``
            (ii) protected species or endangered 
 species observation required by the Marine 
 Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 
 et seq.) or the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
 (16 U.S.C. 1351 et seq.); or
 ``
            (iii) platform removal observation; and
 ``
        (B) voting members and executive and 
 administrative staff of each Regional Fishery 
 Management Council established under 

section 302 of the 
 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
 Act (16 U.S.C. 1852).
 ``

    (3) Sexual assault.--The term `sexual assault' has the 
 meaning given the term in 

section 40002

    (a) of the Violence 
 Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13925

    (a) ).''.

    (e) Conforming and Clerical Amendments.--

    (1) Conforming amendments.--Subtitle C of title XXXV of the 
 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (33 
 U.S.C. 894 et seq.) is amended--
        (A) by striking ``individuals who work with or 
 conduct business on behalf of the Administration'' each 
 place it appears and inserting ``covered personnel'';
        (B) by striking ``National Oceanic and 
 Atmospheric'' each place it appears, except--
            (i) when it appears as ``National Oceanic 
 and Atmospheric Administration Sexual 
 Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements 
 Act of 2025'';
            (ii) in 

section 3551 of that Act, as so 
 redesignated by subsection
            (c) of this section, 
 in the section heading; and
            (iii) in 

section 3552

    (1) of that Act, as so 
 redesignated by subsection
            (c) of this section;
            (C) by striking the term ``victims'' each place it 
 appears and inserting ``survivors'';
            (D) in 

section 3541

    (b)

    (2)
        (B) of that Act (33 U.S.C. 
 894), by striking ``victim'' and inserting ``target of 
 sexual harassment'';
        (E) in 

section 3542 of that Act (33 U.S.C. 894a)--
            (i) in subsection

    (b)

    (9) --
            (I) by striking ``Victim'' and 
 inserting ``Survivor''; and
            (II) by striking ``victim'' and 
 inserting ``survivor''; and
            (ii) in subsection
            (c) --
            (I) in the heading, by striking 
 ``Victim'' and inserting ``Survivor'';
            (II) in paragraph

    (2) , in the 
 heading, by striking ``Victim'' and 
 inserting ``Survivor''; and
            (III) by striking the term 
 ``victim'' each place it appears and 
 inserting ``survivor'';
        (F) in 

section 3543 of that Act (33 U.S.C. 894b)--
            (i) in the heading, by striking ``victim'' 
 and inserting ``survivor''; and
            (ii) by striking ``victim'' and inserting 
 ``survivor''; and
        (G) in 

section 3544 of that Act (33 U.S.C. 894c)--
            (i) in subsection

    (a) --
            (I) by striking ``Victims'' and 
 inserting ``Survivors''; and
            (II) in paragraph

    (1) , by striking 
 ``was'' each place it appears and 
 inserting ``is''; and
            (ii) by striking ``victim'' each place it 
 appears and inserting ``survivor''.

    (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents in 

section 2

    (b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
 2017 and the table of contents preceding subtitle A of title 
 XXXV of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
 2017 are both amended--
        (A) by striking the item relating to 

section 3543 
 of that Act and inserting the following:

``

Sec. 3543. Rights of the survivor of a sexual assault.''; and
        (B) by striking the items relating to sections 3548 
 and 3549 of that Act and inserting the following:

``

Sec. 3548. Exceptions regarding anonymity of survivors in certain 
 cases.
``

Sec. 3549. Restricted reporting.
``

Sec. 3550. Mariner referral.
``

Sec. 3551. Annual report on sexual assaults, sexual harassment, and 
 equal employment in the National Oceanic 
 and Atmospheric Administration.
``

Sec. 3552. Definitions.''.

    (f) Prohibited Acts.--

Section 307

    (1)
            (L) (16 U.S.C. 1857

    (1)
            (L) ) is 
amended--

    (1) by striking ``forcibly''; and

    (2) by striking ``on a vessel''.

    (g) Prohibition on Service in the Commissioned Officer Corps of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration by Individuals 
Convicted of Certain Sexual Offenses.--

Section 261

    (a) of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act 
of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 3071

    (a) ) is amended--

    (1) by redesignating paragraph

    (26) as paragraph

    (27) ; and

    (2) by inserting after paragraph

    (25) the following:
 ``

    (26) Section 657, relating to prohibition on service by 
 individuals convicted of certain sexual offenses.''.

    (h) Definition of Responsible Entity of a Vessel.--

Section 10104

    (g) of title 46, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (1) , by striking ``or'' at the end;

    (2) in paragraph

    (2) , by striking the period at the end and 
 inserting ``; or''; and

    (3) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (3) the Director of the Office of Marine and Aviation 
 Operations, with respect to each vessel owned or operated by 
 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.''.

 TITLE IV--MODERNIZING FISHERIES SCIENCE AND DATA

SEC. 401. DATA MODERNIZATION.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Secretary, acting through the Assistant 
Administrator for Fisheries, shall provide to Congress a national 
strategic plan for fisheries data, including a description of--

    (1) activities for the goals and objectives of the plan;

    (2) a schedule for implementation;

    (3) an estimated budget;

    (4) a plan for stakeholder engagement for development of 
 user-centric systems, processes, and policies; and

    (5) how the initiative will align with other National 
 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data management efforts 
 to provide for efficiency and interoperability, including the 
 Data Strategy, Cloud Strategy, and Artificial Intelligence 
 Strategy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
 Administration.

    (b) Information From Experts.--In carrying out this section, the 
Secretary shall solicit information, as needed, from data management 
and technology experts inside and outside the government.
            (c) Report.--The Secretary shall annually report to Congress 
regarding progress in carrying out this section.

SEC. 402. EXPANDING AND IMPROVING ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGIES.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--

    (1) the use of electronic technologies such as digital 
 video cameras and monitors, digital recording systems, and 
 other forms of electronic technology as a complement to, and in 
 some cases a replacement for, observers may maintain, increase, 
 or improve the amount and accuracy of observer and fishery 
 dependent information collected from fisheries while reducing 
 costs and logistical difficulties;

    (2) to achieve optimum yields on a continuing basis while 
 conserving and maintaining fisheries and integrating healthy 
 ecosystem considerations, managers require reliable, timely 
 data across all regions and fishing sectors for conservation, 
 management, and scientific purposes;

    (3) to achieve management goals, especially in the context 
 of climate change, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
 Administration should work to meet evolving management needs 
 and, in collaboration with industry stakeholders, identify 
 appropriate data collection technologies and strategies; and

    (4) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
 should also consider the use of innovative technology in 
 fishery independent data collection including stock and habitat 
 assessments and environmental conditions.

    (b) Regional Fishery Management Councils.--

Section 303

    (b)

    (8) (16 
U.S.C. 1853

    (b)

    (8) ) is amended to read as follows:
 ``

    (8) require the collection of data necessary for the 
 conservation and management of the fishery from a vessel of the 
 United States engaged in fishing for species that are subject 
 to the plan through--
 ``
        (A) electronic monitoring or other electronic 
 technology; or
 ``
        (B) observers carried on board such a vessel, 
 except that such a vessel shall not be required to 
 carry an observer on board if the facilities of the 
 vessel for the quartering of an observer, or for 
 carrying out observer functions, are so inadequate or 
 unsafe that the health or safety of the observer or the 
 safe operation of the vessel would be jeopardized;''.
            (c) Information Systems.--

Section 402

    (a) (16 U.S.C. 1881a

    (a) ) is 
amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (1) , by inserting ``The Council shall 
 consider the use of electronic monitoring and reporting or 
 other electronic technology as part of an information 
 collection program implemented under this paragraph.'' after 
 ``request.'';

    (2) in paragraph

    (2) , by inserting ``The Secretary shall 
 consider the use of electronic monitoring and reporting or 
 other electronic technology as part of an information 
 collection program implemented under this paragraph.'' after 
 ``fishery.''; and

    (3) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (3) Secretarial review.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Not less often than once every 5 
 years, the Secretary shall review the procedures and 
 policies by which information is collected, managed, 
 and used to manage fisheries and revise information 
 collection programs and policies needed to integrate 
 data collection and management and improve the 
 timeliness, quality, usability, and cost-effectiveness 
 and reduce unnecessary duplication within and across 
 fishery management plans and regions.
 ``
        (B) Report.--Upon the completion of each review 
 carried out under subparagraph
        (A) , the Secretary shall 
 publish a report for the public describing the findings 
 of each such review and planned revisions to 
 information collection programs.''.
            (d) Assessment of Electronic Technologies in Fisheries 
Management.--

    (1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United 
 States shall, in consultation with the relevant committees of 
 Congress--
        (A) conduct a review of the capabilities of the 
 National Marine Fisheries Service with respect to 
 developing, deploying, and using electronic monitoring 
 and data collection tools to monitor fisheries; and
        (B) make recommendations to improve such 
 capabilities, taking into consideration cost, 
 efficiency, and collaboration with private entities.

    (2) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the 
 enactment of this section, the Comptroller General shall submit 
 to Congress a report describing the results of the review 
 required under paragraph

    (1) and the recommendations made 
 pursuant to such review.

    (e) Electronic Technologies Innovation Prize.--

    (1) In general.--The Administrator, in consultation with 
 the Secretary of Defense and the heads of other relevant 
 Federal agencies, and in conjunction with such nongovernmental 
 partners as the Administrator determines appropriate, shall 
 establish at least 1 electronic technologies innovation prize 
 competition to catalyze the rapid development and deployment of 
 electronic technology-based data collection to be used in 
 fisheries management.

    (2) Subject of prize.--Each prize competition established 
 under paragraph

    (1) shall focus on 1 or more of the following 
 subjects:
        (A) Improved fish species recognition software.
        (B) Confidential data management.
            (C) Cost-effective storage of electronic reports, 
 imagery, location information, and other data.
            (D) Data analysis and visualization.
        (E) Artificial intelligence and machine learning 
 applications for data collection and monitoring.
        (F) Battery storage and energy supply storage at 
 sea.
        (G) Improved internet connectivity onshore and at 
 sea in support of data uploads.
        (H) Bycatch hotspot mapping and adaptive use of 
 protected areas.
            (I) Such other subjects as the Administrator 
 determines appropriate.

    (f) Advisory Panel for Electronic Technologies Development and 
Deployment.--

    (1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an 
 advisory panel (referred to in this subsection as the 
 ``Advisory Panel'') to inform the Administrator, the Assistant 
 Administrator for Fisheries, and the Councils regarding 
 developments in the advancement of electronic technologies that 
 can be used in fisheries monitoring, data collection, and 
 management.

    (2) Appointments.--In appointing individuals to the 
 Advisory Panel, the Secretary shall appoint at least 2 
 individuals who are electronic technology developers, 
 operators, or providers.

    (3) Summaries.--The Secretary shall publish, on an annual 
 basis, summaries of Advisory Panel discussions, including a 
 summary of best practices and technical guidance to support the 
 Councils.

    (4) Recommendations.--Not later than 2 years after the date 
 of the enactment of this section, the Advisory Panel shall make 
 a recommendation to the Secretary regarding the potential value 
 of national performance standards for electronic technologies 
 used in fisheries data collection and management, including--
        (A) an assessment of how the National Marine 
 Fisheries Service and electronic technology developers, 
 operators, and providers could benefit from such 
 performance standards;
        (B) if the Advisory Panel recommends establishing 
 such performance standards, a recommendation for which 
 factors should be included in such performance 
 standards and how the Secretary should determine the 
 appropriate standards;
            (C) an assessment of whether such performance 
 standards are likely to spur increased use of 
 electronic technologies by the Councils;
            (D) an assessment of how such performance standards 
 would impact existing regional or fishery-specific 
 technologies currently in use and recommendations 
 regarding ensuring continued use or improvement of 
 these technologies if such performance standards are 
 established;
        (E) a list of knowledge gaps or additional 
 questions the Secretary should consider before 
 publishing such performance standards;
        (F) recommendations regarding ensuring cost-
 effectiveness of electronic technologies for fisheries 
 data collection and management;
        (G) recommendations to address data storage 
 problems of electronic technologies;
        (H) recommendations regarding ownership of data 
 collected using electronic technology; and
            (I) recommendations regarding policies and 
 procedures to develop and implement electronic 
 technologies for fisheries data collection and 
 management.

    (5) Exemption from the federal advisory committee act.--
 Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as 
 the ``Federal Advisory Committee Act''), does not apply to the 
 Advisory Panel.

    (6) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection may 
 be construed to preclude any Council from independently 
 developing electronic technologies to be used in fisheries data 
 collection and management.

SEC. 403. STOCK ASSESSMENTS.

 Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 
section, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report regarding the progress of the National Marine Fisheries Service 
with respect to prioritizing and improving stock assessments, 
including--

    (1) a summary of the methods used for assessments for all 
 stocks of fish for which a fishery management plan is in effect 
 under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
 Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and explain which stocks of fish 
 have not been assessed, and why;

    (2) a summary of each stock assessment and stock assessment 
 update completed during the preceding year;

    (3) an identification of each stock assessment that was 
 planned but not completed and explain why such stock assessment 
 was not completed;

    (4) the schedule for all upcoming stock assessments and 
 stock assessment updates;

    (5) a summary of data and analysis, that, if available, 
 would reduce uncertainty in and improve the accuracy of future 
 stock assessments, including whether such data and analysis 
 could be provided by fishermen, fishing communities, 
 universities, and research institutions;

    (6) a summary of the progress with respect to autonomous 
 surveys and an identification of opportunities to expand new 
 technologies for stock assessments data collection; and

    (7) a summary of data gaps that may be a result of changing 
 ocean and climate conditions, and actions taken to address 
 changing assessment needs.

SEC. 404. COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT.

    (a) In General.--

Section 318 (16 U.S.C. 1867) is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a) , by inserting ``fishing 
 communities,'' after ``data),'';

    (2) by amending subsection

    (b) to read as follows:
 ``

    (b) Eligible Projects.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Secretary shall make funds available 
 under the program established under subsection

    (a) on a 
 competitive basis and based on regional fishery management 
 needs to support cooperative research and management projects 
 to address critical needs identified by the Councils.
 ``

    (2) Submission of critical needs list.--Each Council 
 shall annually submit a list of critical needs to the Secretary 
 that identifies and prioritizes such needs.
 ``

    (3) Use of data.--The program established under 
 subsection

    (a) shall promote and encourage efforts to use 
 sources of data maintained by other Federal agencies, State 
 agencies, local and traditional knowledge, or academia for use 
 in such projects.'';

    (3) by amending subsection
            (c) to read as follows:
 ``
            (c) Priorities.--In making funds available under subsection

    (b) , 
the Secretary shall select projects that form part of a coherent 
program of cooperative research or management projects focused on 
addressing priority issues identified by the Councils, and shall give 
priority to the following types of projects:
 ``

    (1) Projects to collect data to improve, supplement, or 
 enhance stock assessments, including the use of fishing vessels 
 or acoustic or other marine technology.
 ``

    (2) Projects to improve fishery-dependent data 
 collection, intake, use, and access including--
 ``
        (A) to assess the amount and type of bycatch or 
 post-release mortality occurring in a fishery;
 ``
        (B) expanding the use of electronic technology 
 and modernizing data management systems; and
 ``
            (C) improving monitoring coverage through the 
 expanded use of electronic technology.
 ``

    (3) Conservation engineering or management projects 
 designed to reduce bycatch, including avoidance of post-release 
 mortality, reduction of bycatch in high seas fisheries, and 
 transfer of such fishing technologies and methods to other 
 nations, or other regional entities, including fishing 
 communities, regional fishery associations, and fishing 
 sectors.
 ``

    (4) Projects for the identification of habitat areas of 
 particular concern and for habitat conservation.
 ``

    (5) Projects designed to collect and compile economic and 
 social data for which electronic technologies can be added.
 ``

    (6) Projects to test and expand electronic technologies 
 for monitoring, reporting, observer coverage, and other 
 functions.
 ``

    (7) Projects that use electronic technologies to--
 ``
        (A) monitor changing ocean conditions;
 ``
        (B) improve methods;
 ``
            (C) support adaptive management; and
 ``
            (D) enhance climate resilience in fisheries.
 ``

    (8) Projects designed--
 ``
        (A) to identify the impacts of anticipated 
 changing ocean conditions, including climate change, on 
 stocks of fish, fisheries, and fishing communities; or
 ``
        (B) to develop conservation and management 
 strategies to adapt to such impacts.
 ``

    (9) Cooperative management projects that make use of data 
 collected under this section.
 ``

    (10) Projects to better understand--
 ``
        (A) interactions between sharks and humans;
 ``
        (B) what causes increases in such interactions;
 ``
            (C) the status of shark populations; and
 ``
            (D) how to best address such interactions to 
 benefit both sharks and humans.'';

    (4) by redesignating subsections

    (e) and

    (f) as subsections

    (f) and

    (g) , respectively;

    (5) by inserting after subsection
            (d) the following:
 ``

    (e) Cooperative Management Agreements.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
 the enactment of the Sustaining America's Fisheries for the 
 Future Act of 2025, the Secretary, in consultation with the 
 Councils and with input from the public, shall issue guidance 
 to facilitate a transparent, timely, uniform, and regionally 
 based process for the development, oversight, and management of 
 cooperative management agreements.
 ``

    (2) Process for approval.--The Secretary may use the 
 process developed pursuant to subsection
            (d) to approve 
 cooperative management agreements as if such agreements are 
 cooperative fishing agreements.
 ``

    (3) Performance standards.--An agreement authorized by 
 this subsection shall be subject to performance standards and 
 accountability measures specified in a fishery management plan 
 or otherwise established by the Secretary, in consultation with 
 the Councils, and shall not allow catch in excess of annual 
 catch limits or bycatch in excess of bycatch caps or limits.
 ``

    (4) Preexisting agreements.--This subsection shall not 
 apply to a cooperative management agreement submitted to or 
 proposed or approved by the Secretary before the date of the 
 enactment of the Sustaining America's Fisheries for the Future 
 Act of 2025.''; and

    (6) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (h) Public Report of Data.--With respect to any cooperative 
research project funded or experimental fishing permit issued under 
this section, the appropriate Council shall publish a report regarding 
results and data generated by such project or under such permit.
 ``
            (i) Progress Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of the Sustaining America's Fisheries for the Future Act 
of 2025, the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries shall submit to 
Congress a report regarding--
 ``

    (1) the progress made by the National Marine Fisheries 
 Service with respect to the implementation of the 
 recommendations of the Cooperative Research and Cooperative 
 Management Working Group report titled `NOAA Technical 
 Memorandum NMFS-F/SPO-156' (August 2015); and
 ``

    (2) the development and implementation of any subsequent 
 recommendations by such Working Group.''.

    (b) 

=== Findings ===
-

Section 2

    (a)

    (8) (16 U.S.C. 1801

    (a)

    (8) ) is amended by 
inserting ``Fisheries management is most effective when it uses the 
best scientific information available, and incorporates such 
information from governmental and nongovernmental sources, including 
State and Federal agency staff, fishermen, fishing communities, 
universities, nonprofit organizations, local and traditional knowledge 
from Tribes, Indigenous communities, and subsistence fishermen, and 
research institutions. Scientific and statistical committees should 
consider such information when seeking the best scientific information 
available to form the basis of conservation and management.'' after 
``States.''.

SEC. 405. NORTHEAST REGIONAL PILOT RESEARCH TRAWL SURVEY AND STUDY.

    (a) Industry-Based Pilot Study.--Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall, in 
coordination with the relevant Councils as determined by the Secretary 
and the Northeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program, develop a 
fishing industry-based Northeast regional pilot research trawl survey 
and study to enhance and improve the current National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration vessel trawl surveys.

    (b) Components.--Under the pilot survey and study--

    (1) the Secretary--
        (A) may select fishing industry vessels to 
 participate in the study by issuing a request for 
 procurement;
        (B) may use the Northeast Area Monitoring and 
 Assessment Program Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic 
 Nearshore Trawl Survey or another methodology selected 
 in partnership with the National Marine Fisheries 
 Service Northeast Fisheries Science Center and the 
 Virginia Institute of Marine Science as a model for the 
 pilot survey;
            (C) shall outfit participating vessels with a peer-
 reviewed net configuration; and
            (D) shall ensure the pilot study uses a 
 statistically valid sampling method and spatial 
 coverage that allows for comparison with results from 
 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
 vessel trawl surveys; and

    (2) the National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast 
 Fisheries Science Center shall, in partnership with the 
 relevant Councils and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, 
 collect data for 5 years.
            (c) Report.--Upon completion of the pilot survey and study, the 
Secretary and the relevant Councils shall submit to the Committee on 
Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a detailed report 
regarding the results of the pilot survey and study.

SEC. 406. RECREATIONAL DATA CONSISTENCY.

    (a) In General.--

Section 305 (16 U.S.C. 1855) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
 ``
            (m) Recreational Data Improvement.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
 the enactment of the Sustaining America's Fisheries for the 
 Future Act of 2025, the Secretary shall establish guidelines 
 for recreational catch data, which shall include the 
 development of data standards to improve timeliness, accuracy, 
 precision, and validation of data produced by recreational 
 surveys in order to facilitate the use of such data in stock 
 assessments, for use in management actions, and for other uses 
 as applicable.
 ``

    (2) Recommendations considered.--In establishing 
 guidelines under paragraph

    (1) , the Secretary shall consider 
 the relevant recommendations developed under 

section 404

    (e) , 
 subsections

    (g)

    (4)
            (C) and

    (h) of 

section 401, and 

section 201

    (b) of the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act 
 of 2018 (16 U.S.C. 1881 note).
 ``

    (3) Multiple data sources.--If recreational catch data 
 for a stock of fish come from more than 1 survey program, such 
 as Federal and non-Federal sources, including from States or 
 Marine Fisheries Commissions, the Secretary shall implement 
 measures, which may include the use of calibration methods, as 
 needed for the timely integration of such data to ensure 
 consistent methods and approaches are used for monitoring of 
 catch against the relevant annual catch limits and for other 
 fishery science and management purposes.''.

    (b) Recreational Data Improvement Program.--Title IV (16 U.S.C. 
1881 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``

SEC. 409. RECREATIONAL DATA IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

 ``

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish and carry out a 
comprehensive program to implement the guidelines established under 

section 305
            (m) .
 ``

    (b) Coordination and Collaboration.--In carrying out the program 
established under subsection

    (a) , the Secretary shall coordinate with 
programs established under subsection 401

    (g) and promote collaboration 
with State and Federal partners.
 ``
            (c) Strategic Plan.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
 the enactment of the Sustaining America's Fisheries for the 
 Future Act of 2025, and not less frequently than once every 5 
 years thereafter, the Secretary shall develop, publish in the 
 Federal Register, and submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
 Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
 Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a strategic 
 plan for recreational data improvements for the 5 years 
 immediately following such publication.
 ``

    (2) Requirements.--Each plan published under paragraph

    (1) shall--
 ``
        (A) improve coordination between Federal programs 
 that implement recreational fishing surveys and other 
 data from non-Federal sources, including data from 
 States or Marine Fisheries Commissions;
 ``
        (B) improve the timeliness, accuracy, precision, 
 and validation of data produced by surveys;
 ``
            (C) describe processes to calibrate data sources 
 with historical time series data prior to being used 
 for management;
 ``
            (D) develop methods to integrate recreational 
 data collected from more than 1 source for use in stock 
 assessments;
 ``
        (E) create goals, objectives, and timeframes for 
 achievement of subparagraphs
        (A) through
            (D) ;
 ``
        (F) consider the use and effectiveness of 
 experimental fishing permits to carry out such 
 research; and
 ``
        (G) describe the role of fishery participants in 
 the program.
 ``

    (3) Coordination.--In developing each strategic plan 
 under paragraph

    (1) , the Secretary shall cooperate with the 
 Councils and affected States, provide for coordination with the 
 Councils, affected States, and other research and data 
 collection entities, and allow for public input.
 ``

    (4) Proposed plan.--Prior to publishing each plan under 
 paragraph

    (1) , the Secretary shall publish a proposed plan in 
 the Federal Register for the purpose of receiving public 
 comment on the plan.
 ``
            (d) Areas of Research.--In carrying out the program established 
under subsection

    (a) , the Secretary shall prioritize research and 
improvement in the following areas:
 ``

    (1) Development of data standards and validation 
 processes for survey programs collecting data on recreational 
 fishing catch and effort, including those produced by State 
 agencies and considered integral or supplemental to Federal 
 surveys.
 ``

    (2) Research to understand how surveys of recreational 
 fishing can more effectively account for differences in fishing 
 rate and effort, including among fishermen who use private or 
 public access points, and fishermen who are State residents or 
 nonresidents.
 ``

    (3) Methods and policies to improve the estimation of 
 discards in recreational fisheries, including estimation of 
 discarded fish both during and outside of fishing seasons.
 ``

    (4) To improve understanding of best practices for 
 minimizing discard mortality as well as estimation of adoption 
 rates of such practices by fishermen.
 ``

    (5) To assess changes in discard mortality estimates when 
 best fishing practices are adequately and verifiably applied.
 ``

    (6) Research regarding how the use of electronic 
 applications can be used to collect data in recreational 
 fisheries, including spatial information, depth, discard rate 
 and disposition, release method, and socioeconomic information, 
 while meeting data and validation standards.
 ``

    (7) Research regarding how electronic technologies can 
 most effectively be incorporated into survey designs.
 ``

    (8) Research regarding methods to integrate recreational 
 catch data from more than 1 survey source for use in 
 assessments.
 ``

    (9) The use of approaches to improve recreational data, 
 including the use of tag and endorsement measures to fund such 
 data improvement, stockwide regional effort surveys, and 
 species-specific oversampling.''.

SEC. 407. EMERGENCY OPERATING PLANS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Administrator, in consultation with the 
Councils, relevant Federal, State, and international agencies, 
scientific and technical experts, and interested stakeholders, shall 
develop a contingency plan for circumstances that would make fisheries 
monitoring, including human observation, surveys, and other data 
collection to support stock assessments, impractical.

    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this section, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report 
regarding the contingency plan developed under subsection

    (a) .

SEC. 408. ZEKE GRADER FISHERIES CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT FUND.

    (a) In General.--

Section 208 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 (16 U.S.C. 
1891b) is amended--

    (1) in the section heading, by inserting ``zeke grader'' 
 before ``fisheries conservation and management fund'';

    (2) in subsection

    (a) , by inserting ``Zeke Grader'' before 
 ``Fisheries Conservation and Management Fund'';

    (3) in subsection
            (c) , by striking ``Fishery Conservation 
 and Management Fund'' each place such term appears and 
 inserting ``Zeke Grader Fisheries Conservation and Management 
 Fund'';

    (4) in subsection

    (b) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (6) , by striking ``and'' at the 
 end;
        (B) in paragraph

    (7) , by striking the period at the 
 end and inserting ``; and''; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (8) conducting research and analysis to prepare and adapt 
 fisheries and fishing communities to the effects of climate 
 change.''; and

    (5) by amending subsection
            (d) to read as follows:
 ``
            (d) Allocation.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraphs

    (2) and

    (3) , the Secretary shall, every 2 years, apportion amounts from 
 the Fund among the regions of each Council according to 
 recommendations of such Councils, based on regional priorities 
 identified through the process of such Councils.
 ``

    (2) Minimum allocation.--In the case of amounts deposited 
 in the Fund pursuant to subsection
            (c) (2) , unless specified 
 otherwise, the Secretary shall allocate not less than 5 percent 
 of the Fund in each allocation period to each region described 
 in paragraph

    (1) .
 ``

    (3) Specifically apportioned funds.--The Secretary may 
 apportion amounts from the Fund to a specific project or region 
 described in paragraph

    (1) if such amounts were identified by 
 the Council that designated such amounts for inclusion in the 
 Fund under subsection
            (c) (1) , or by the appropriation Act, 
 State, public source, or nonprofit or organization from which 
 they were received under subsection
            (c) (2) , as being deposited 
 for that specific project or region.''.

    (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, 
paper, or other record of the United States to the ``Fisheries 
Conservation and Management Fund'' is deemed to be a reference to the 
``Zeke Grader Fisheries Conservation and Management Fund''.
            (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 
(Public Law 109-479) is amended by striking the item relating to 

section 208 and inserting the following:

``

Sec. 208. Zeke Grader Fisheries Conservation and Management Fund.''.

SEC. 409. OFFSHORE WIND COLLABORATION.

 The Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the 
Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, shall enter into a 
cooperative agreement to fund such survey mitigation programs, 
additional stock assessments, and fisheries and marine wildlife 
research as may be necessary as a result of actions by such Bureau 
related to the development of offshore wind energy.

SEC. 410. SHARK POPULATIONS ANALYSIS.

 Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 
section, the Secretary shall develop a strategy to identify research 
priorities and funding opportunities to update and improve shark 
research, shark population surveys, and shark stock assessments, and 
incorporate, as applicable, new and emerging survey technology 
techniques to integrate into the status of stock reports.

 TITLE V--SUSTAINING FISHERIES THROUGH HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS AND IMPROVED 
 MANAGEMENT

SEC. 501. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

 It is the sense of Congress that protection of essential fish 
habitat ensures healthy and resilient fisheries and marine ecosystems, 
particularly as oceans conditions shift due to climate change, and that 
impacts from both fishing gear and nonfishing activities should be 
considered through consistent application of essential fish habitat 
provisions under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).

SEC. 502. ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT CONSULTATION.

    (a) 

=== Purpose ===
-

Section 2

    (b)

    (7) (16 U.S.C. 1801

    (b)

    (7) ) is amended by 
striking ``in the review of projects'' and inserting ``from adverse 
effects caused by fishing and from projects''.

    (b) Habitat Area of Particular Concern.--

Section 3 (16 U.S.C. 1802) 
is amended--

    (1) by redesignating paragraph

    (1) as paragraph

    (1A) ;

    (2) by inserting before paragraph

    (1A) , as so redesignated, 
 the following:
 ``

    (1) The term `adverse effect' means, with respect to 
 essential fish habitat, any impact that reduces the quality or 
 quantity of essential fish habitat.''; and

    (3) by inserting after paragraph

    (19) the following:
 ``

    (19A) The term `habitat area of particular concern' means 
 a specific type or area of habitat that is part of or within 
 essential fish habitat that--
 ``
        (A) provides an important ecological function, 
 including maintaining and restoring the biomass, 
 demographic, spatial, or genetic characteristics of 
 fish populations;
 ``
        (B) is sensitive to human-induced environmental 
 degradation;
 ``
            (C) is or will be significantly stressed by human 
 activities;
 ``
            (D) due to prevailing or anticipated future 
 environmental conditions, is or may become important to 
 the health of a managed species; or
 ``
        (E) is rare.''.
            (c) Contents of Fishery Management Plans.--

Section 303

    (a)

    (7) (16 
U.S.C. 1853

    (a)

    (7) ) is amended to read as follows:
 ``

    (7)
        (A) describe and identify essential fish habitat for 
 the fishery based on the guidelines established by the 
 Secretary under 

section 305

    (b)

    (1)
        (A) , minimize adverse effects 
 on essential fish habitat caused by fishing, and identify other 
 actions to encourage the conservation and enhancement of 
 essential fish habitat; and
 ``
        (B) describe and identify habitat areas of particular 
 concern based on the guidelines established by the Secretary 
 under 

section 305

    (b)

    (1)
        (A) , avoid adverse effects on such 
 habitat caused by fishing, monitor efficacy of actions to avoid 
 adverse effects, and identify other actions to encourage the 
 conservation and enhancement of such habitat;''.
            (d) Essential Fish Habitat.--

Section 305

    (b) (16 U.S.C. 1855

    (b) ) is 
amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (1)
            (D) --
        (A) by inserting ``use existing programs 
 administered by the Secretary and'' after ``shall''; 
 and
        (B) by inserting ``and such agencies shall take 
 action'' after ``agencies'';

    (2) by striking paragraphs

    (2) through

    (4) ; and

    (3) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (2) Requirements for federal agency actions with adverse 
 effect.--Each Federal agency shall--
 ``
        (A) with respect to an action authorized, funded, 
 or undertaken, or proposed to be authorized, funded, or 
 undertaken, by such agency that may adversely affect 
 essential fish habitat identified under this Act, 
 notify and consult with the Secretary;
 ``
        (B) with respect to an action that may adversely 
 affect essential fish habitat, ensure that any action 
 authorized, funded, or undertaken by such agency avoids 
 the adverse effect of such action on essential fish 
 habitat or, to the extent that the adverse effect 
 cannot be avoided, minimize and mitigate the adverse 
 effect; and
 ``
            (C) with respect to an action that may adversely 
 affect a habitat area of particular concern, in 
 consultation with the Secretary--
 ``
            (i) monitor, or require monitoring for, 
 such adverse effect for the period during which 
 such adverse effect is likely to occur; or
 ``
            (ii) take action to minimize and mitigate 
 such adverse effect of the action on the 
 habitat area of particular concern and the 
 species with respect to which the habitat area 
 of particular concern is designated.
 ``

    (3) Information to council.--The Secretary shall inform 
 each Council that has authority over an affected fishery of any 
 consultation carried out under this subsection, including 
 information regarding the proposed action and the potential 
 adverse effects, and each such Council--
 ``
        (A) may comment on and make recommendations to 
 the Secretary and any Federal or State agency 
 concerning any activity authorized, funded, or 
 undertaken, or proposed to be authorized, funded, or 
 undertaken, by any Federal or State agency that, in the 
 view of the Council, may affect the habitat, including 
 essential fish habitat, of a fishery resource under the 
 authority of such Council; and
 ``
        (B) shall comment on and make recommendations to 
 the Secretary and any Federal or State agency 
 concerning any such activity that, in the view of the 
 Council, is likely to substantially affect the habitat, 
 including essential fish habitat, of an anadromous 
 fishery resource under the authority of such Council.
 ``

    (4) Information from other sources.--
 ``
        (A) Receipt of information.--If the Secretary 
 determines based on information received from a 
 Council, Federal or State agency, or other source that 
 an action authorized, funded, or undertaken, or 
 proposed to be authorized, funded, or undertaken, by a 
 Federal or State agency will adversely affect essential 
 fish habitat identified under this Act--
 ``
            (i) the Secretary shall recommend to such 
 agency measures for such agency to take to 
 avoid such adverse effects; and
 ``
            (ii) to the extent such adverse effects 
 cannot be avoided, such agency shall minimize 
 and mitigate such adverse effects.
 ``
        (B) Required response.--
 ``
            (i) In general.--The head of a Federal 
 agency that receives a recommendation from the 
 Secretary under subparagraph
        (A) regarding 
 measures for such agency to take to avoid the 
 adverse effects of an action described in that 
 subparagraph on essential fish habitat 
 identified under this Act shall, not later than 
 30 days after the date on which such agency 
 head receives such recommendation, submit to 
 the Secretary and each Council that comments 
 under paragraph

    (3) a detailed response in 
 writing regarding such recommendation, 
 including--
 ``
            (I) a description of each measure 
 such agency proposes to take to avoid 
 the adverse effects;
 ``
            (II) to the extent the adverse 
 effects cannot be avoided, a 
 description of each measure such agency 
 proposes to take to minimize and 
 mitigate the adverse effects of the 
 action on such essential fish habitat; 
 and
 ``
            (III) if such response is 
 inconsistent with such recommendation 
 an explanation regarding--
 ``

    (aa) how each measure 
 described in subclause
            (I) will 
 avoid such adverse effects; and
 ``

    (bb) to the extent such 
 adverse effects cannot be 
 avoided, a description of each 
 measure such agency proposes to 
 take to minimize and mitigate 
 such adverse effects.
 ``
            (C) Publication.--The Secretary shall make 
 available to the public--
 ``
            (i) each recommendation made under 
 subparagraph
        (A) on the date on which such 
 recommendation is made; and
 ``
            (ii) each response made by an agency 
 under subparagraph
        (B) on the date on which 
 such response is received by the Secretary.
 ``
            (D) Monitoring.--The Secretary shall monitor each 
 measure taken by each Federal agency to meet the 
 requirements of this subsection.
 ``

    (5) Regulations.--The Secretary shall issue regulations 
 regarding the consultation process established under this 
 subsection, including--
 ``
        (A) ensuring that each recommendation made by the 
 Secretary under paragraph

    (4) results in the avoidance 
 of adverse effects on essential fish habitat and, to 
 the extent adverse effects cannot be avoided, the 
 minimization and mitigation of any such adverse 
 effects;
 ``
        (B) measures to streamline such consultation 
 process with other environmental review processes; and
 ``
            (C) procedures to develop programmatic 
 recommendations for measures that avoid, minimize, and 
 mitigate adverse impacts of actions on essential fish 
 habitat.
 ``

    (6) Required restrictions.--A Federal agency may not 
 enter into a lease, easement, right-of-way, or sale of any area 
 designated as essential fish habitat unless such agency 
 attaches appropriate covenants or restrictions on the use of 
 the area to require that parties avoid causing adverse effects 
 to the relevant essential fish habitat.
 ``

    (7) Considerations for restoration projects.--In 
 consulting with a Federal agency under this section for 
 projects that seek to restore and improve the long-term 
 resilience of habitat, particularly in estuarine environments 
 heavily affected by sea level rise and other climate change 
 factors, the Secretary shall account for the consequences of 
 not pursuing such restoration and habitat resilience projects 
 and the long-term positive impacts on fish populations of such 
 activities.''.

SEC. 503. REDUCING BYCATCH.

    (a) Minimizing Bycatch.--

    (1) National standards for fishery conservation and 
 management.--

Section 301

    (a)

    (9) (16 U.S.C. 1851

    (a)

    (9) ) is 
 amended to read as follows:
 ``

    (9) Conservation and management measures shall--
 ``
        (A) minimize bycatch; and
 ``
        (B) to the extent bycatch cannot be avoided, 
 minimize the mortality of such bycatch.''.

    (2) Contents of fishery management plans.--

Section 303 (16 
 U.S.C. 1853) is amended--
        (A) in subsection

    (a) --
            (i) in paragraph

    (5) , by inserting 
 ``quantification of bycatch,'' after 
 ``hauls,''; and
            (ii) in paragraph

    (11) , by striking ``to 
 the extent practicable and''; and
        (B) in subsection

    (b) --
            (i) in paragraph

    (12) , by striking ``and'' 
 at the end; and
            (ii) by inserting after paragraph

    (12) the 
 following:
 ``

    (13) consider full retention requirements for species 
 with high catch mortality rates, provided that an annual catch 
 limit and accountability measures are in place for the species 
 and constrain catch in the fishery; and''.

    (3) Action by the secretary.--

Section 304 (16 U.S.C. 1854) 
 is amended--
        (A) by redesignating the second subsection
            (i) as 
 subsection

    (j) ; and
        (B) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (k) Standardized Bycatch Reporting Program.--
 ``

    (1) Establishment.--Not later than 3 years after the date 
 of the enactment of the Sustaining America's Fisheries for the 
 Future Act of 2025, the Secretary shall establish a national 
 standardized reporting program (referred to in this subsection 
 as `the program')--
 ``
        (A) to assess the amount and type of bycatch 
 occurring in each fishery and across fisheries;
 ``
        (B) to determine the contribution of bycatch to 
 the total fishing-related mortality of each fishery; 
 and
 ``
            (C) to evaluate the effects of bycatch on 
 relevant fisheries and the ecosystem.
 ``

    (2) Methodology and standards.--The Secretary shall, in 
 carrying out the program--
 ``
        (A) identify appropriate methodologies and 
 standards to collect and produce statistically accurate 
 and precise information regarding bycatch; and
 ``
        (B) require consistent data reporting, 
 collection, and assessment for each fishery managed 
 under a fishery management plan.
 ``

    (3) Multiple jurisdictions.--If a species is caught in 
 areas under the jurisdiction of more than 1 Council or fishery 
 management plan, the Secretary shall require consistent 
 reporting mechanisms across each such jurisdiction to ensure 
 that data with respect to such species can be aggregated and 
 compared.
 ``

    (4) Coordination with states.--The Secretary shall 
 coordinate with State fishery managers to carry out paragraph

    (3) .''.

    (b) Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program.--

Section 316 (16 U.S.C. 
1865) is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a) --
        (A) by inserting ``(in this section referred to as 
 the `program')'' after ``bycatch reduction program''; 
 and
        (B) by striking paragraphs

    (3) and

    (4) and 
 inserting the following:
 ``

    (3) provide information, outreach, technical assistance, 
 and training to Councils, tribes, and fishery participants that 
 will encourage adoption and use of technologies and methods 
 developed under the program; and
 ``

    (4) provide for routine consultation with the Councils to 
 maximize opportunities to incorporate results of the program in 
 Council actions and provide incentives for adoption of 
 technologies and methods developed under the program in fishery 
 management plans, actions, and other measures developed by the 
 Councils or the Secretary.''; and

    (2) in subsection
            (d) --
        (A) by striking ``transmit an annual report'' and 
 inserting ``, not less frequently than once every 3 
 years, transmit a report'';
        (B) in paragraph

    (2) , by striking ``and'' at the 
 end;
            (C) in paragraph

    (3) , by striking the period at the 
 end and inserting ``; and''; and
            (D) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (4) includes a description of each bycatch reduction 
 technology and method developed, tested, or supported by the 
 program, and a summary of how each such technology and method 
 have been implemented into fishery management, or an 
 explanation for why each such technology and method has not 
 been implemented.''.

SEC. 504. IMPROVING REBUILDING OUTCOMES.

 

Section 304

    (e) (16 U.S.C. 1854

    (e) ) is amended to read as follows:
 ``

    (e) Rebuilding Overfished Fisheries and Ending Overfishing.--
 ``

    (1) Determination of status.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The Secretary shall determine, 
 at any time based on the best scientific information 
 available, for each stock of fish within the geographic 
 area of authority of each Council (or the Secretary, 
 for stocks of fish managed under 

section 302

    (a)

    (3) ), 
 whether each such stock of fish is--
 ``
            (i) subject to overfishing;
 ``
            (ii) overfished; or
 ``
            (iii) approaching a condition of being 
 overfished.
 ``
        (B) Criteria for determination.--
 ``
            (i) Criteria provided by managing 
 document.--In making a determination under 
 subparagraph
        (A) , the Secretary shall, with 
 respect to a stock of fish managed under a 
 stock of fish management plan or international 
 agreement, use the criteria specified in such 
 plan or agreement.
 ``
            (ii) Approaching a condition of being 
 overfished.--In making a determination under 
 subparagraph
        (A) , the Secretary shall classify 
 a stock of fish as approaching a condition of 
 being overfished if, based on trends in fishing 
 effort, fishery resource size, and other 
 appropriate factors, the Secretary estimates 
 that the stock of fish will become overfished 
 within 2 years.
 ``
            (iii) Stocks of fish lacking criteria.--
 For stocks of fish that lack criteria as 
 required under 

section 303

    (a)

    (10) , the 
 Secretary shall determine whether the stock of 
 fish is subject to overfishing or overfished 
 using the best available scientific 
 information.
 ``

    (2) Publication.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The Secretary shall publish each 
 determination made under paragraph

    (1) in the Federal 
 Register.
 ``
        (B) Notification of council.--If the Secretary 
 determines that a stock of fish is subject to 
 overfishing, overfished, or approaching a condition of 
 being overfished under paragraph

    (1) , the Secretary 
 shall immediately notify the appropriate Council and 
 request that action be taken--
 ``
            (i) to end overfishing with respect to 
 the stock of fish immediately;
 ``
            (ii) for a stock of fish that is 
 overfished, to end overfishing immediately and 
 to implement conservation and management 
 measures to rebuild the affected stock of fish; 
 or
 ``
            (iii) for a stock of fish that is 
 approaching a condition of being overfished, to 
 end overfishing immediately and prevent the 
 stock of fish from reaching a overfished 
 condition.
 ``
            (C) Annual report.--The Secretary shall annually 
 submit to Congress and each Council a report regarding 
 the status of each stock of fish, including--
 ``
            (i) a list of each determination made 
 with respect to a stock of fish under paragraph

    (1) during the preceding year;
 ``
            (ii) an identification of each stock of 
 fish managed under this Act that is under a 
 rebuilding plan or in need of a rebuilding plan 
 (as specified by this section), including--
 ``
            (I) specifying the number of 
 years the stock of fish has been in a 
 rebuilding plan;
 ``
            (II) the anticipated length in 
 years of the current rebuilding plan of 
 the stock of fish;
 ``
            (III) the number of rebuilding 
 plans that have been implemented for 
 the stock of fish; and
 ``
            (IV) whether a lack of adequate 
 progress toward ending overfishing and 
 rebuilding has been found for the stock 
 of fish; and
 ``
            (iii) the use, as appropriate, of the 
 term `depleted' to further describe an 
 overfished stock of fish that has been 
 significantly impacted by environmental factors 
 in addition to (or in the absence of) fishing 
 pressure.
 ``

    (3) Required action by council.--
 ``
        (A) Determination that requires action.--Not 
 later than 2 years after date on which the Secretary 
 makes any of the following determinations, the 
 appropriate Council (or the Secretary, for a fishery 
 managed under 

section 302

    (a)

    (3) ) shall take an action 
 described in subparagraph
        (B) :
 ``
            (i) A determination that a stock of fish 
 is subject to overfishing, overfished, or 
 approaching a condition of being overfished.
 ``
            (ii) A determination that a rebuilding 
 plan has failed under paragraph

    (7)
            (C) .
 ``
            (iii) A determination that a stock of 
 fish has reached the end of the time period for 
 a rebuilding plan under paragraph

    (8) .
 ``
        (B) Actions.--The actions described in this 
 subparagraph are--
 ``
            (i) with respect to a stock of fish that 
 is subject to overfishing, to end overfishing 
 immediately and prevent overfishing of the 
 stock;
 ``
            (ii) with respect to a stock of fish that 
 is overfished, to end overfishing immediately 
 and to rebuild the stock of fish; or
 ``
            (iii) with respect to a stock of fish 
 that is approaching a condition of being 
 overfished, to end overfishing immediately and 
 prevent the stock of fish from reaching such 
 condition.
 ``

    (4) Rebuilding plan required.--For a stock of fish that 
 is overfished, any management document prepared pursuant to 
 paragraph

    (3) or

    (5) for such fishery shall--
 ``
        (A) specify a time period for rebuilding the 
 stock of fish that shall--
 ``
            (i) be as short as possible, taking into 
 account the status and biology of overfished 
 stocks of fish, the needs of fishing 
 communities, recommendations by international 
 organizations in which the United States 
 participates, and the interaction of the 
 overfished stock of fish within the marine 
 ecosystem; and
 ``
            (ii) not exceed the time the stock of 
 fish would be rebuilt in the absence of any 
 fishing mortality plus 1 mean generation;
 ``
        (B) allocate both overfishing restrictions and 
 recovery benefits fairly and equitably among sectors of 
 the fishery;
 ``
            (C) for a stock of fish managed under an 
 international agreement, reflect traditional 
 participation in the stock of fish, relative to other 
 nations, by fishermen of the United States; and
 ``
            (D) contain objective and measurable criteria for 
 evaluating rebuilding progress.
 ``

    (5) Secretarial plan.--If a Council does not meet the 
 deadline described in paragraph

    (3)
        (A) to submit a management 
 document the Secretary shall, not later than 9 months after the 
 date on which such deadline expires, prepare such management 
 document for the affected stock of fish under subsection
            (c) .
 ``

    (6) Interim measures.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--During the development of a 
 management document for a stock of fish required by 
 this subsection, a Council may request that the 
 Secretary implement interim measures to reduce 
 overfishing under 

section 305
            (c) until such measures 
 can be replaced by such management document.
 ``
        (B) Measures allowed.--Interim measures described 
 in subparagraph
        (A) , if otherwise in compliance with 
 the provisions of this Act, may be implemented even if 
 such measures are not sufficient to stop overfishing of 
 a fishery.
 ``

    (7) Assessment of rebuilding plan.--
 ``
        (A) Secretarial review.--
 ``
            (i) In general.--The Secretary shall 
 review each management document relating to a 
 stock of fish required by this subsection not 
 less often than once every 2 years to determine 
 whether such management document has resulted 
 in adequate progress toward rebuilding affected 
 stocks of fish.
 ``
            (ii) Lack of adequate progress.--In 
 carrying out a review under clause
            (i) , the 
 Secretary shall find a lack of adequate 
 progress toward rebuilding an affected stock of 
 fish if--
 ``
            (I) the status of the stock of 
 fish is not improving sufficiently such 
 that it becomes unlikely that the stock 
 of fish will be rebuilt within the 
 rebuilding time period;
 ``
            (II) the applicable fishing 
 mortality rate or annual catch limits 
 are exceeded, and the causes and 
 rebuilding consequences of such 
 exceedances have not been corrected;
 ``
            (III) new scientific information 
 demonstrates that assumptions regarding 
 the biology of the stock of fish that 
 formed the basis for the rebuilding 
 plan, such as the productivity of the 
 stock of fish, were fundamentally 
 inaccurate, and such inaccuracies 
 render the current rebuilding plan 
 unable to address the rebuilding needs 
 of the stock of fish; or
 ``
            (IV) for such other reasons as 
 the Secretary determines appropriate.
 ``
        (B) Finding of inadequate progress.--
 ``
            (i) In general.--Except as provided in 
 subparagraph
            (C) , if the Secretary finds after 
 a review under subparagraph
        (A) that a 
 management document has not resulted in 
 adequate progress toward rebuilding affected 
 stocks of fish, the Secretary shall--
 ``
            (I) in the case of a stock of 
 fish to which 

section 302

    (a)

    (3) applies, immediately make revisions 
 necessary to achieve adequate progress 
 toward rebuilding the stock of fish by 
 the deadline established under 
 paragraph

    (4) ; or
 ``
            (II) for all other stocks of 
 fish, immediately notify the 
 appropriate Council, which shall make 
 revisions necessary to achieve adequate 
 progress toward rebuilding the stock of 
 fish by not later than the deadline 
 established under paragraph

    (4) .
 ``
            (ii) Council inaction.--If a Council 
 fails to complete the action required under 
 subclause
            (II) by the date that is 9 months 
 after the date of the Council receives a 
 notification from the Secretary under that 
 subclause, the Secretary shall, not later than 
 18 months after the date of such notification, 
 make such revisions as are needed to ensure 
 adequate progress toward rebuilding the stock 
 of fish by not later than the rebuilding 
 deadline established under paragraph

    (4) .
 ``
            (C) Failed rebuilding plan.--If the Secretary 
 finds that revisions pursuant to subparagraph
        (B) cannot achieve adequate progress within the time period 
 set under paragraph

    (4) , the Secretary may find that 
 the rebuilding plan for the stock of fish has failed.
 ``
            (D) Publication.--The Secretary shall publish the 
 results of a review performed under this paragraph in 
 the Federal Register, including a determination of 
 adequate progress or inadequate progress, and the basis 
 for such determination.
 ``

    (8) Subsequent rebuilding plan.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--If a rebuilding time period 
 established under paragraph

    (4) expires and the 
 relevant stock of fish has not been rebuilt, or the 
 Secretary determines that an existing rebuilding plan 
 for a stock of fish has failed under paragraph

    (7)
            (C) , 
 the Council (or Secretary in the case of a stock of 
 fish to which 

section 302

    (a)

    (3) applies) shall prepare 
 a new rebuilding plan pursuant to paragraphs

    (3) through

    (6) , except that such plan shall have not less 
 than a 75-percent chance of rebuilding the stock of 
 fish by the end of the new rebuilding time period set 
 under paragraph

    (4) .
 ``
        (B) Management measures in effect.--Management 
 measures intended to rebuild the stock of fish shall 
 remain in effect during the preparation of a rebuilding 
 plan under subparagraph
        (A) .
 ``

    (9) Management document.--In this subsection, the term 
 `management document' means a management plan, management plan 
 amendment, or proposed regulations for a stock of fish.''.

SEC. 505. OVERFISHED FISHERIES AND PREVENTING OVERFISHING.

    (a) Information Provided by Scientific and Statistical 
Committees.--

Section 302

    (g)

    (1) (16 U.S.C. 1852

    (g)

    (1) ) is amended--

    (1) in subparagraph
        (A) , by inserting ``ecological,'' after 
 ``social,''; and

    (2) by amending subparagraph
        (B) to read as follows:
 ``
        (B) Each scientific and statistical committee shall 
 provide its Council with ongoing scientific advice for fishery 
 management decisions, including--
 ``
            (i) recommendations--
 ``
            (I) for accounting for all sources of 
 mortality in establishing management measures;
 ``
            (II) for the acceptable biological catch 
 levels;
 ``
            (III) for preventing overfishing;
 ``
            (IV) for maximum sustainable yield; and
 ``
            (V) for achieving rebuilding targets and 
 promoting resilience of stocks of fish to 
 climate change;
 ``
            (ii) objective and measurable criteria to 
 determine whether a stock of fish is overfished or 
 experiencing overfishing; and
 ``
            (iii) reports regarding stock status and health, 
 sources of mortality, bycatch, habitat status, social, 
 ecological, and economic impacts of management 
 measures, and sustainability of fishing practices, and 
 prevailing and anticipated future impacts of climate 
 change on stocks of fish, fishing communities, and 
 fishery sectors.''.

    (b) Minimum Required Precautionary Standard.--

Section 303

    (a)

    (10) (16 U.S.C. 1853

    (a)

    (10) ) is amended to read as follows:
 ``

    (10) specify objective and measurable criteria for 
 identifying when the stock of fish to which the plan applies is 
 overfished or subject to overfishing (with an analysis of how 
 such criteria were determined and the relationship of such 
 criteria to the reproductive potential of stocks of fish in 
 that fishery), which may not be less precautionary than the 
 recommendation of the scientific and statistical committees for 
 such fishery as required by 

section 302

    (g)

    (1)
        (B) , and, in the 
 case of a fishery which the Council or the Secretary has 
 determined is approaching a condition of being overfished or is 
 overfished, contain conservation and management measures to 
 prevent overfishing or end overfishing and rebuild the 
 fishery;''.
            (c) Technical Correction.--

Section 301 of the Modernizing 
Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2018 (16 U.S.C. 1801 note) is 
amended to read as follows:

``

SEC. 301. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

 ``Nothing in this Act, including the amendment made by 

section 102

    (a)

    (3) , may be construed to modify the requirements of 

section 301

    (a) , 302

    (h)

    (6) , 303

    (a)

    (15) , or 304

    (e) of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1851

    (a) , 1852

    (h)

    (6) , 
1853

    (a)

    (15) , or 1854

    (e) ), or the equal application of such requirements 
and other standards and requirements under that Act (18 U.S.C. 1801 et 
seq.) to commercial, charter, and recreational fisheries, including 
each component of mixed-use fisheries.''.

SEC. 506. PREPARATION AND REVIEW OF SECRETARIAL PLANS.

 

Section 304
            (c) (1) (16 U.S.C. 1854
            (c) ) is amended--

    (1) by striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall'';

    (2) in subparagraph
        (A) , by inserting ``not to exceed 2 
 years, or 9 months in the case of a management plan or 
 amendment subject to 

section 304

    (e)

    (7)
        (B) '' after ``time'';

    (3) in subparagraph
        (B) , by inserting ``not later than 180 
 days after the disapproval'' before the semicolon; and

    (4) by adding at the end the following:
``Not later than 30 days before the date on which a time period 
established in subparagraph
        (B) or
            (C) ends, the Secretary shall 
provide written notification to the affected Council that if such 
Council does not fulfill the requirements described in such 
subparagraph, the Secretary shall issue a Secretarial plan.''.

SEC. 507. COUNCILS.

 

Section 302

    (h) (16 U.S.C. 1852

    (h) ) is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (5) , by striking ``and'' at the end;

    (2) in paragraph

    (7) --
        (A) by redesignating subparagraphs
        (B) and
            (C) as 
 subparagraphs
            (C) and
            (D) , respectively; and
        (B) by inserting after subparagraph
        (A) the 
 following:
 ``
        (B) prioritize fisheries and habitats 
 experiencing or expected to experience shifts in 
 geographic range, spatial distribution, or 
 productivity;'';

    (3) by redesignating paragraphs

    (8) and

    (9) as paragraphs

    (11) and

    (12) , respectively; and

    (4) by inserting after paragraph

    (7) the following:
 ``

    (8) approve, for each of its managed stocks of fish, 
 objective and measurable criteria for identifying whether the 
 stock of fish is overfished or experiencing overfishing, which 
 may not be less precautionary than the recommendation of its 
 scientific and statistical committee;
 ``

    (9) develop and implement a habitat protection plan to 
 protect essential fish habitat in the region of the Council 
 from adverse effects caused by fishing, including--
 ``
        (A) quantitative and measurable targets and goals 
 to increase quality, quantity, and representativeness 
 of essential fish habitat; and
 ``
        (B) conservation and management measures in a 
 fishery management plan to implement the habitat 
 protection plan;
 ``

    (10) at routine intervals not less frequently than every 
 7 years and based on scientific evidence or other relevant 
 information, review habitat protection plans developed under 
 paragraph

    (9) by such Council and each designation of essential 
 fish habitat and habitat areas of particular concern under 
 

section 303

    (a)

    (7) by such Council, and amend fishery management 
 plans of such Council as necessary and appropriate;''.

SEC. 508. FORAGE FISH CONSERVATION.

    (a) 

=== Findings ===
-

Section 2

    (a) (16 U.S.C. 1801

    (a) ) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (17) Forage fish are generally small to intermediate-
 sized species, occurring in schools or dense aggregations, and 
 function as a main pathway for energy to flow from phyto- and 
 zooplankton to higher trophic level predators, including tuna, 
 Alaska pollock, and other wildlife, in marine ecosystems. While 
 most species function as prey of others at some life stage, 
 especially when small and young, forage fish maintain this 
 important trophic role throughout their life. Further, 
 fluctuations in their populations can result in significant 
 changes in marine communities and ecosystems. Therefore, 
 particular attention to management of forage fish species, and 
 addressing their unique role in marine ecosystems, is critical 
 to maintaining ecosystem function and sustainable fisheries.''.

    (b) 

=== Definitions. ===
-

    (1) Secretary to define forage fish.--

Section 305 (16 
 U.S.C. 1855) is amended by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (n) Forage Fish.--Not later than 12 months after the date of the 
enactment of the Sustaining America's Fisheries for the Future Act of 
2025, the Secretary, with advice from the Councils, shall issue a 
definition of the term `forage fish' for the purposes of this Act, 
giving due consideration to definitions of `forage fish' included in 
approved fishery management plans. In defining such term, the Secretary 
shall consider factors including whether a species covered by such 
definition, throughout the lifecycle of such species--
 ``

    (1) is at a low trophic level;
 ``

    (2) is generally small- to intermediate-sized;
 ``

    (3) occurs in schools or other dense aggregations;
 ``

    (4) contributes significantly to the diets of other fish, 
 marine mammals, or birds; and
 ``

    (5) serves as a conduit for energy transfer to species at 
 a higher trophic level.''.

    (2) === Definitions. ===
-

Section 3 (16 U.S.C. 1802) is amended--
        (A) by redesignating the second paragraph

    (33) as 
 paragraph

    (53) ;
        (B) by redesignating paragraphs

    (28) through

    (50) as paragraphs

    (30) through

    (52) , respectively;
            (C) by redesignating paragraphs

    (19) through

    (27) as paragraphs

    (20) through

    (28) , respectively;
            (D) by inserting after paragraph

    (18) the 
 following:
 ``

    (19) The term `forage fish'--
 ``
        (A) has the meaning given the term by the 
 Secretary under 

section 305

    (n) ; and
 ``
        (B) with respect to a species in a fishery 
 managed pursuant to a fishery management plan or plan 
 amendment that is approved by the Secretary, in 
 coordination with the Councils, under 

section 304

    (a) , 
 means any species identified in such plan as a forage 
 fish.''; and
        (E) by inserting after paragraph

    (28) , as so 
 redesignated by paragraph

    (3) of this section, the 
 following:
 ``

    (29) The term `low trophic level' means a position in the 
 marine food web in which the fish generally consume 
 plankton.''.
            (c) Scientific Advice.--

Section 302

    (g)

    (1)
        (B) (16 U.S.C. 
1852

    (g)

    (1)
        (B) ) is amended to read as follows:
 ``
        (B) Each scientific and statistical committee 
 shall provide its Council ongoing scientific advice for 
 fishery management decisions, including recommendations 
 for--
 ``
            (i) acceptable biological catch;
 ``
            (ii) preventing overfishing;
 ``
            (iii) maximum sustainable yield;
 ``
            (iv) achieving rebuilding targets;
 ``
            (v) maintaining a sufficient abundance, 
 diversity, and localized distribution of forage 
 fish populations to support their role in 
 marine ecosystems; and
 ``
            (vi) reports on stock status and health, 
 bycatch, habitat status, social and economic 
 impacts of management measures, and 
 sustainability of fishing practices.''.
            (d) Council Functions.--

    (1) Research priorities.--

Section 302

    (h)

    (7) (16 U.S.C. 
 1852

    (h)

    (7) ) is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph
        (A) , by inserting ``forage fish populations and distribution,'' 
 after ``habitats,''.

    (2) Unmanaged forage fish.--

Section 302

    (h) (16 U.S.C. 
 1852

    (h) ) is amended--
        (A) in paragraph

    (11) , as so redesignated by 
 

section 507 of this Act, by striking ``and'' at the 
 end;
        (B) by redesignating paragraph

    (12) , as so 
 redesignated by 

section 507 of this Act, as paragraph

    (13) ; and
            (C) by inserting after paragraph

    (11) the 
 following:
 ``

    (12) develop a list of unmanaged forage fish occurring in 
 the area under its authority and recommend within fishery 
 management plans the prohibition of the development of any new 
 directed forage fish fishery until the Council has--
 ``
        (A) considered the best scientific information 
 available and evaluated the potential impacts of forage 
 fish harvest on existing fisheries, fishing 
 communities, and the marine ecosystem;
 ``
        (B) determined whether conservation and 
 management of the forage fish fishery is needed;
 ``
            (C) if a determination is made that conservation 
 and management is needed, prepared and submitted to the 
 Secretary a fishery management plan or amendment 
 consistent with 

section 303; and
 ``
            (D) received final, approved regulations from the 
 Secretary pursuant to 

section 304

    (b)

    (3) ; and''.

    (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraphs

    (1) and

    (2) shall take effect 2 years after the date of the 
 enactment of this section.

    (e) Contents of Fishery Management Plans.--

    (1) Forage fish management.--

Section 303

    (a) (16 U.S.C. 
 1853

    (a) ) is amended--
        (A) in paragraph

    (16) , as added by 

section 102 of 
 this Act, by striking ``and'' at the end;
        (B) in paragraph

    (17) , as added by 

section 102 of 
 this Act, by striking the period at the end and 
 inserting ``; and''; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (18) when setting annual catch limits for forage fish 
 fisheries, assess and specify such limits by the diet needs of 
 fish species and other marine wildlife, such as marine mammals 
 and birds, for which forage fish is a significant part of their 
 diet.''.

    (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph

    (1) shall take effect 5 years after the date of the enactment of 
 this section.

    (f) Action by Secretary.--

Section 304 (16 U.S.C. 1854) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (l) Forage Fish Management Guidelines.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
 of the enactment of the Sustaining America's Fisheries for the 
 Future Act of 2025, the Secretary, in coordination with the 
 Councils, shall establish by regulation guidelines to assist 
 the Councils in implementing sections 3

    (19) , 302

    (h)

    (9) , and 
 303

    (a)

    (16) .
 ``

    (2) Workshops.--In developing the guidelines under 
 paragraph

    (1) , the Secretary shall conduct workshops with 
 Councils and other scientific, fisheries, and conservation 
 interests.''.

    (g) River Herring and Shad.--

    (1) === Definitions. ===
-In this subsection--
        (A) River herring.--The term ``river herring'' 
 means blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis) and alewife 
 (Alosa pseudoharengus).
        (B) Shad.--The term ``shad'' means American shad 
 (Alosa sapidissima) and hickory shad (Alosa mediocris).

    (2) Amendments of plans.--Not later than 180 days after the 
 date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall--
        (A) amend the fishery management plans for the 
 Atlantic herring and Atlantic mackerel, squid, and 
 butterfish fisheries for the New England and Mid-
 Atlantic regions to add shad and river herring as 
 managed stocks in such plans consistent with 

section 302

    (h)

    (1) (16 U.S.C. 1852

    (h)

    (1) );
        (B) initiate additional fishery management plan 
 amendments to be completed in not more than 1 year from 
 the date of the addition of the species identified in 
 paragraph

    (1) in order to develop and implement all 
 required conservation and management measures for such 
 stocks consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries 
 Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et 
 seq.) and all other applicable law; and
            (C) notwithstanding any other law, rule, or fishery 
 management plan provision, including conservation and 
 management measures under 

section 303

    (a)

    (11) (16 U.S.C. 
 1853

    (a)

    (11) ), reallocate existing resources to provide, 
 for not less than 50 percent of all relevant fishing 
 trips, not fewer than 1 at-sea observer or an onboard 
 electronic or video means of producing equivalent at-
 sea monitoring information, for any vessel using mid-
 water trawl or paired mid-water trawl fishing gear in 
 the Atlantic herring and Atlantic mackerel fisheries.

    (h) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed 
as--

    (1) extending or diminishing the jurisdiction or authority 
 of any State within its boundaries; or

    (2) affecting--
        (A) section 306 (16 U.S.C. 1856); or
        (B) the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative 
 Management Act (16 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.).

SEC. 509. FUNDING FOR MONITORING IMPLEMENTATION OF NORTHEAST 
 MULTISPECIES FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN.

 

Section 311

    (f)

    (4) (16 U.S.C. 1861

    (f)

    (4) ) is amended by striking 
``pursuant to this section to enforce that Plan'' and inserting ``to 
enforce and monitor (including electronic monitoring) implementation of 
such Plan''.

SEC. 510. HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES.

 

Section 304

    (g)

    (1) (16 U.S.C. 1854

    (g)

    (1) ) is amended--

    (1) in subparagraph
        (B) , by inserting ``a scientific and 
 statistical committee and'' after ``establish''; and

    (2) by amending subparagraph
            (C) to read as follows:
 ``
            (C) for stocks of fish not managed pursuant to the 
 Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.), 
 develop annual catch limits that may not exceed the fishing 
 level recommendations of the scientific and statistical 
 committee;''.

 TITLE VI--INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES MANAGEMENT

SEC. 601. CONSERVATION COMMISSIONER OF ATLANTIC TUNAS CONVENTION.

    (a) Appointment and Procedure of Commissioners.--

Section 3

    (a) of 
the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971a

    (a) ) is 
amended to read as follows:
 ``

    (a) Appointment and Number; Rules of Procedure; Term.--
 ``

    (1) Appointment.--The President shall appoint 4 
 Commissioners to serve as delegates of the United States to the 
 Commission as follows:
 ``
        (A) 1 Commissioner shall be a Federal employee 
 who shall serve as Chair.
 ``
        (B) 3 Commissioners shall not be Federal 
 employees, of whom--
 ``
            (i) 1 shall have knowledge and experience 
 regarding commercial fishing in the Atlantic 
 Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, or Caribbean Sea;
 ``
            (ii) 1 shall have knowledge and 
 experience regarding recreational fishing in 
 the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, or 
 Caribbean Sea; and
 ``
            (iii) 1 shall have knowledge and 
 experience in marine conservation and shall 
 represent the public interest in marine 
 conservation and nonconsumptive uses of the 
 Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Carribean 
 Sea.
 ``

    (2) Term of appointment.--
 ``
        (A) Length of term.--The term of a Commissioner 
 appointed under paragraph

    (1) shall be 3 years.
 ``
        (B) Consecutive terms.--No individual appointed 
 under paragraph

    (1) shall serve more than 2 consecutive 
 terms as Commissioner.
 ``
            (C) Pleasure of president.--Each Commissioner 
 appointed under paragraph

    (1) shall serve at the 
 pleasure of the President.
 ``

    (3) Representation of the united states.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--At meetings of the Commission, 
 Council, any Panel, or any other function as provided 
 for in the Convention, the United States shall be 
 represented by the Commissioner described in paragraph

    (1)
        (A) and 2 Commissioners described in paragraph

    (1)
        (B) .
 ``
        (B) Procedures for rotation.--The Secretary of 
 State, in consultation with the Secretary, shall 
 establish procedures under which the Commissioners 
 appointed described in paragraph

    (1)
        (B) rotate in 
 representing the United States to the Commission.
 ``
            (C) Right to participation.--Each Commissioner 
 appointed under paragraph

    (1) may--
 ``
            (i) attend all meetings of the 
 Commission, Council, any Panel, or any other 
 function as provided for in the Convention; and
 ``
            (ii) participate fully in all United 
 States preparatory activity for any activity 
 relating to the Convention.''.

    (b) Regulation May Not Decrease Allocation or Quota.--

Section 6
            (c) (3) of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 
971d
            (c) (3) ) is amended by striking ``or decreasing''.

SEC. 602. CONSERVATION COMMISSIONER OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL PACIFIC 
 FISHERIES CONVENTION.

 

Section 503

    (a) of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries 
Convention Implementation Act (16 U.S.C. 6902

    (a) ) is amended to read as 
follows:
 ``

    (a) In General.--
 ``

    (1) Representation.--The United States shall be 
 represented on the Commission by 5 United States Commissioners.
 ``

    (2) Appointment.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The President shall appoint 
 individuals to serve on the Commission.
 ``
        (B) Qualifications of commissioners.--In making 
 appointments under this paragraph, the President shall 
 select Commissioners from among individuals who are 
 knowledgeable or experienced concerning highly 
 migratory fish stocks and commercial fishing in the 
 Western and Central Pacific Ocean--
 ``
            (i) 1 of whom shall be an officer or 
 employee of the Department of Commerce;
 ``
            (ii) 1 of whom shall be the chairman or a 
 member of the Western Pacific Fishery 
 Management Council;
 ``
            (iii) 1 of whom shall be the chairman or 
 a member of the Pacific Fishery Management 
 Council; and
 ``
            (iv) 1 of whom shall be an individual 
 with knowledge and experience in marine 
 conservation who shall represent the public 
 interest in marine conservation and non-
 consumptive uses of the Western and Central 
 Pacific Ocean.
 ``

    (3) Pleasure of president.--Each individual appointed by 
 the President to serve on the Commission shall serve at the 
 pleasure of the President.
 ``

    (4) Rules of procedure.--The Commissioners shall be 
 entitled to adopt such rules of procedure as they find 
 necessary and to select a chairman from among members who are 
 officers or employees of the United States Government.''.

SEC. 603. CONSERVATION COMMISSIONER OF INTER-AMERICAN TROPICAL TUNA 
 COMMISSION.

 

Section 3

    (a) of the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950 (16 U.S.C. 952) is 
amended to read as follows:
 ``

    (a) Commissioners.--
 ``

    (1) Appointment.--The President shall appoint 4 
 individuals to represent the United States on the Commission.
 ``

    (2) Removal.--The Commissioners appointed under paragraph

    (1) shall be subject to supervision and removal by the 
 Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary.
 ``

    (3) Qualifications.--In making an appointment under 
 paragraph

    (1) , the President shall select Commissioners from 
 among individuals who are knowledgeable or experienced 
 concerning highly migratory fish stocks in the eastern tropical 
 Pacific Ocean--
 ``
        (A) 1 of whom shall be an officer or employee of 
 the Department of Commerce; and
 ``
        (B) 1 of whom shall be an individual with 
 knowledge and experience in marine conservation, and 
 who shall represent the public interest in marine 
 conservation and nonconsumptive uses of the eastern 
 tropical Pacific Ocean.
 ``

    (4) Limitation on appointments.--The President may not 
 appoint more than 2 Commissioners under paragraph

    (1) who 
 reside in a State other than a State the vessels of which 
 maintain a substantial fishery in the area of the 
 Convention.''.

SEC. 604. APPLICATION OF ANNUAL CATCH LIMIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES 
 REQUIREMENT.

 

Section 104

    (b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 (16 U.S.C. 1853 note) is amended 
to read as follows:
 ``

    (b) Effective Dates; Application to Certain Species.--The 
amendment made by subsection

    (a)

    (10) --
 ``

    (1) except as provided in paragraph

    (2) , shall apply to 
 any management plan for a stock of fish prepared by any Council 
 or the Secretary, including a management plan governing a stock 
 of fish managed under an international agreement in which the 
 United States participates; and
 ``

    (2) shall not apply to a management plan for a stock of 
 fish for a species that has a life cycle of approximately 1 
 year unless the Secretary has determined such stock of fish is 
 subject to overfishing with respect to such species; and
 ``

    (3) shall not limit or otherwise affect the requirements 
 of 

section 301

    (a)

    (1) or 304

    (e) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
 Conservation and Management Act.''.

SEC. 605. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

 There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary the 
following amounts to carry out the provisions of this Act:

    (1) For fiscal year 2026, $698,142,000.

    (2) For fiscal year 2027, $714,200,000.

    (3) For fiscal year 2028, $730,626,000.

    (4) For fiscal year 2029, $747,431,000.

    (5) For fiscal year 2030, $764,621,000.
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