This bill modernizes how the federal government collects and manages recreational fishing data by reforming the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) and establishing new oversight and flexibility for states. The legislation creates a National Academies standing committee to independently review MRIP data quality and triggers consultation requirements when data uncertainty exceeds 30 percent, while also authorizing states to develop their own fishing data collection programs with federal grants of up to $15 million annually through 2031—allowing state data to replace federal data for management decisions. The bill also mandates regular fish stock assessments, with previously studied stocks reassessed every 5 years and unstudied stocks evaluated within 3 years, and establishes competitive contracting for independent surveys. Finally, it increases transparency by requiring fishery councils to livestream and publicly record meetings and expand public participation in scientific advisory processes. These changes aim to improve the accuracy of fishing statistics and give both states and independent scientific entities greater roles in managing the nation's fish populations.
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