This bill establishes a new Fisheries and Ecological Resilience Program within the National Marine Fisheries Service to help the fishing industry adapt to changing ocean conditions and environmental challenges. The program will conduct research, develop management tools, and provide guidance to regional fishery councils on how to maintain sustainable fisheries in the face of shifting ecosystems, changing fish populations, and ocean climate impacts. The bill authorizes $30 million annually from 2025 through 2030 to support this program and related activities.
Additionally, the legislation requires the Government Accountability Office to submit a report within 180 days analyzing the competitiveness of U.S. seafood producers compared to other countries, identifying federal policies that affect production costs, and recommending a new national seafood trade policy. The report must also identify trade barriers that could be challenged through international agreements and propose strategies for resolving trade disputes.
The bill affects fishing communities, seafood producers, regional fishery management councils, and coastal economies that depend on marine resources. It modifies existing fishery management law to require that fishery management plans explicitly account for environmental and ecological changes when making conservation decisions.
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