Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
This bill implements the international Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels in U.S. law by establishing protections for these seabirds and authorizing conservation activities. The legislation prohibits the harmful taking of covered albatrosses and petrels in U.S. waters and by American vessels globally, while allowing limited exceptions for scientific research, indigenous practices, military activities, and emergency response. The bill directs the Secretaries of Interior and Commerce to coordinate efforts to conserve these species through habitat restoration, invasive species management, marine debris reduction, and bycatch mitigation in fisheries, with particular focus on monitoring interactions between fishing gear and these birds. The legislation requires a report to Congress within one year of enactment and every four years thereafter detailing the conservation status of covered species and necessary measures, and it promotes international cooperation with other countries to share conservation data and techniques. The bill becomes effective 180 days after enactment and does not repeal or modify any existing federal wildlife laws.
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