The Forage Fish Conservation Act of 2024 aims to improve how the federal government manages forage fish species—small fish like herring and anchovies that play a critical role in marine food webs by converting plankton into energy for larger fish, marine mammals, and birds. The bill requires the Secretary of Commerce to develop a formal definition of forage fish within 12 months and establish management guidelines within 18 months to help regional fishing councils protect these species and prevent new commercial fisheries from developing without careful environmental review. The legislation specifically mandates that Atlantic herring and mackerel fishery management plans be updated within 180 days to include river herring and shad as protected stocks, and requires at-sea observers or electronic monitoring on at least 50 percent of mid-water trawl fishing trips to monitor impacts on these species. The bill takes effect over several years, with most provisions becoming effective between 2 and 5 years after enactment, giving councils and federal agencies time to implement the new requirements. The changes apply to federal ocean fisheries managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and do not affect state fisheries or existing state authorities.
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