Congressional Corner

More funding is going to the fishing industry to provide relief from the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this year, the 117th U.S. Congress passed the American Rescue Plan, which provided another financial boost to fishers, seafood processors and the fishing industry. Funding totaling $255 million was allocated for fishery participants negatively affected by COVID-19 restrictions. Each state and territory is developing spend plans and will work with the interstate marine fisheries commissions to distribute the monies.

Potential changes to fisheries and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) are also working their way through Congress.

Congressman Young (R-AK) introduced H.R. 59, the “Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act,” that would require stock assessment plans to be published every three years. The bill would also:

• Authorize regional fishery management councils to use alternative fishery management measures in a recreational fishery.

• Consider changes in ecosystem and the economic needs of the fishing communities when establishing annual catch limits.

• Base fishery stock rebuilding time frames on science given the biology and characteristics of such stocks.

A draft bill that proposed changes to the MSA was circulated in late 2020, but has yet to be introduced in the House. Congressman Huffman (D-CA) and Congressman Case (D-HI) held listening sessions around the country to gather input on a potential MSA revision. The bill is expected to be introduced during this session, which ends Jan. 3, 2023. Other bills introduced in Congress address restoring coral reefs, eliminating shark sales and improving management of driftnet fishing and forage fish.

For up-to-date information on the bills that would affect your fishing, the fishing industry or the fishing community, visit www.congress.gov.