To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to allow certain activities to be conducted with respect to sturgeon held in captivity or in a controlled environment in the United States, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · September 20, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
This bill amends the Endangered Species Act to allow certain sturgeon farming and breeding activities in the United States without triggering protections that normally apply to endangered species. Specifically, it exempts sturgeon that are legally held in captivity or controlled environments as of the bill's enactment date, as well as their offspring, from most endangered species restrictions—but only until they are intentionally released back into the wild. The bill requires sturgeon farmers and handlers to maintain detailed records and documentation of their animals and submit them to the federal government upon request, though these record-keeping requirements should not duplicate other existing regulatory requirements. The legislation would primarily affect commercial sturgeon farming operations in the United States that rely on captive breeding. The bill does not specify any direct federal funding or implementation timelines, focusing instead on streamlining regulatory requirements for the aquaculture industry while maintaining protections once sturgeon are returned to wild populations.
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