The Bottom Trawl Clarity Act of 2024 establishes a regulatory framework for where bottom trawling—a fishing method that drags nets or dredges along the ocean floor—can occur in U.S. waters. The bill requires regional fishing councils to define what constitutes "substantial bottom contact" versus "limited bottom contact" and to identify which areas have historically had bottom trawl fishing during the past seven years. Based on this information, the Secretary of Commerce must designate specific "Bottom Trawl Zones" where this fishing method is permitted, with the initial designations completed within approximately three years of the bill's enactment. The legislation protects environmentally sensitive areas by prohibiting bottom trawl zones in locations with deep sea corals and sponges or in areas already protected under fishery conservation laws. Once designated, bottom trawls will only be allowed in these designated zones, effectively restricting the practice from undesignated areas and providing clarity to fishing industry participants about where they can operate.
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