H.R. 4690 — what changed

changed This Act may be cited as the “Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2021”.2022”.

changed The table of contents for this Act is the following:as follows:

In this Act:

removed The table of contents is amended to read as follows:

Section 2 (16 U.S.C. 1801) is amended—

“(2) Certain stocks of fish have declined to the point where their survival is threatened, and other stocks of fish have been so substantially reduced in number that they could become similarly threatened as a consequence of—

“(A) increased fishing pressure;

“(B) the inadequacy of fishery resource conservation and management practices and controls;

“(C) direct and indirect habitat losses which have resulted in a diminished capacity to support existing fishing levels; or

“(D) changing environmental conditions, including those associated with climate change.”

“(9) One of the greatest long term threats to the viability of commercial and recreational fisheries is the continuing degradation of marine ecosystems, including the loss of marine, estuarine, and other aquatic habitats, including as a result of changing environmental conditions associated with climate change. Habitat and ecosystem considerations should receive increased attention for the conservation and management of fishery resources of the United States.”

“(14) Environmental changes associated with climate change, including changes in water temperature, ocean acidification, and deoxygenation, are rapidly altering the abundance, productivity, and distribution of fish and are affecting commercial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries.

changed “(15) The impacts of climate change on fish and their habitats are resulting in management and sustainability challenges that threaten to negatively impact marine ecosystems, fishery resources, and coastal communities.”communities.

added “(16) Many factors beyond the direct impacts of fishing can contribute to a decline in abundance of a stock of fish, resulting in depleted fish stocks and threatening the stability of ecosystems and fishing communities, including climate change, pollution, habitat and watershed degradation, inadequate freshwater resources, and industrial uses of the ocean. The designation of a stock of fish as overfished indicates that it is depleted and management actions are necessary to allow the stock to rebuild, regardless of the cause of depletion.”

“(5) to establish Regional Fishery Management Councils to exercise sound judgement in the stewardship of fishery resources through the preparation, monitoring, and revision of such plans under circumstances—

“(A) which will enable the States, the fishing industry, consumer and environmental organizations, and other interested persons to participate in, and advise on, the establishment and administration of such plans;

“(B) which take into account the social and economic needs of the States; and

changed “(C) which address the impacts of environmental conditions associated with climate change on stocks of fish, marine ecosystems, fisheries management, and coastal communities.”communities;”

“(8) to promote management that accounts for changes in stocks of fish and the marine environment that result from climate change; and

“(9) to ensure that the research, resource management, and expenditures to prepare fisheries and fishing communities for climate change promote racial and socioeconomic equity with respect to environmental, economic, and social outcomes across fisheries and regions.”

removed “(3) assess and specify the present and probable future condition of, and the maximum sustainable yield and optimum yield from, the fishery under prevailing and anticipated future environmental conditions, and include a summary of the information used in making such specification;”

“(16) assess and describe the anticipated impacts of climate change and other environmental and ecological changes on the fishery, including an assessment of whether and how the management measures contained in the plan or plan amendment have accounted for these changes, and a summary of the information used in these assessments;

“(17) describe and identify the current range and distribution of, and fishing patterns on, fish stocks managed under the plan, including areas outside the jurisdiction of the Council having authority to issue the plan, and for fish stocks whose distribution crosses management boundaries, describe the measures used for coordination with other relevant management bodies for the conservation and management of the fish stock; and”

“322. Increasing resilience of fish stocks to climate change

changed “(a) Vulnerability assessment—Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2021 2022 and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall—

“(1) assess the vulnerability of fish stocks within each Council’s geographical area of authority to climate change;

changed “(2) notify each Council of the vulnerability of fish stocks within such Council’s geographical area of authority; area; and

changed “(3) make recommendations to each Council for measures to conserve and protect such increase the resilience of fish stocks.stocks within such geographical area identified as vulnerable to climate change.

“(b) Council prioritization plans

changed “(1) In general—No later than 1 one year after receiving a notification from the Secretary under subsection (a), each Council shall publish a plan to prioritize identifying management actions to increase resilience of the fish stocks identified as vulnerable to climate change and begin implementing such plan.management actions.

changed “(2) Highly migratory species—With respect to stocks managed under section 302(a)(3), not later than 1 one year after issuing a notification under subsection (a), the Secretary shall publish a plan to prioritize identifying management actions to increase resilience of such fish stocks.stocks identified as vulnerable to climate change and begin implementing such management actions.

“(3) Report—Not later than 3 years after publishing a plan under paragraph (1), each Council shall report to the Secretary on the actions the Council has taken to implement such plan or provide an explanation for not taking such action.

changed “(c) Report to Congress—Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2021 2022 and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress—

“(1) describing the vulnerability of fish stocks to climate change;

“(2) identifying the risks posed by climate change to the conservation and management of fish stocks; and

“(3) summarizing the steps taken by the Secretary and the Councils to mitigate and address the impacts on and risks of climate change to fish stocks.”

changed “(n) Guidance—Not later than 1 year 2 years after the date of enactment of the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2021, 2022, the Secretary shall issue regulations guidelines to assist the Councils in preparing and adapting fishery management for the impacts of climate change, including for consideration of climate change in the conservation and management of fish stocks under each Council's geographical area of authority.”

“(f) Fisheries under authority of more than one council

changed “(1) Secretarial review of areas of authority—The Secretary shall review the geographical area of authority of each Council in order to determine if a substantial portion of any federally managed fishery within such area is within the area of authority of another council—

“(A) upon request of such Council; or

“(B) not less frequently than every 5 years.

changed “(2) Designation of Council to prepare plan—If the Secretary determines under paragraph (1) that a substantial portion of a fishery is located in the geographical area of authority of more than one Council, the Secretary shall—shall, not later than 6 months after making such determination—

changed “(A) not later than 6 months after the date designate one of the determination under paragraph (1), notify the Councils concerned; andconcerned to prepare the fishery management plan for such fishery and any amendment to such plan, if required under this Act; or

changed “(B) require, not later than 1 year after the date on which the notification is made under subparagraph (A), designate that each of the Councils concerned, such plan and any such amendment, if required under this Act, be prepared jointly by a majority of the voting members present and voting—Councils concerned.

changed “(i) designate one “(3) Deadline for submission of plan—Not later than 2 years after the Secretary makes a designation under paragraph (2), the Council or Councils concerned to shall prepare the and submit a fishery management plan for such fishery and any or amendment to such plan, if required under in accordance with this Act; orAct.

changed “(ii) agree to jointly prepare the fishery management plan for such fishery and any amendment to such plan, if required under this Act.“(4) Termination of cross-jurisdictional authority

removed “(3) Secretarial designation—If the Councils concerned are unable to meet the requirements of paragraph (2)(B) within the relevant time period, the Secretary shall—

removed “(A) designate one of the Councils concerned to prepare the fishery management plan and any amendment to such plan, if required under this Act; or

removed “(B) require that such plan and any such amendment, if required under this Act, be prepared jointly by the Councils concerned.

removed “(4) Deadline for submission of plan—Not later than 2 years after the date on which the Councils concerned make a decision pursuant to paragraph (2)(B)(ii), or the date on which the Secretary makes a decision pursuant to paragraph (3), and at such other times as required under this Act, the Council required under paragraph (2)(B) or (3) (as applicable) to prepare the fishery management plan or any such plan amendment, if required under this Act, shall prepare and submit such plan or amendment (with implementing regulations as needed) in accordance with this Act.

removed “(5) Termination of cross-jurisdictional authority

“(A) Request of Council—At the request of a Council or as a result of the review pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary shall determine whether a fishery described in paragraph (2) no longer has a substantial portion located in the geographical area of authority of more than one Council.

added “(B) Termination

added “(i) In general—If the Secretary determines under subparagraph (A) that a fishery no longer has a substantial portion located in the geographical area of authority of more than one Council—

added “(I) the Secretary shall determine which Council has predominant geographic authority over the fishery; and

added “(II) not later than 2 years after the date on which the determination under subclause (I) is made, and at such other times as required under this Act, the Council determined under such subclause shall adopt any existing fishery management plan for the fishery, and shall prepare and submit any plan amendments necessary for transitioning to single-Council management as well as for any other purposes, in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

added “(ii) Repeal of prior plan—Notwithstanding subsection (h), upon the date of adoption of a fishery management plan under clause (i)(II), any preceding fishery management plan with respect to such fishery is repealed.

changed “(B) Termination—If the “(5) Establishment of criteria—The Secretary determines shall, by regulation, identify criteria for determining under subparagraph (A) that a fishery no longer has paragraphs (1) and (5) whether a substantial portion of a fishery is located in the geographical area of authority of more than one Council—Council.

changed “(i) the “(6) Establishment of boundaries—The Secretary shall determine which Council has predominant establish the boundaries between the geographic areas of authority over the fishery; andof adjacent Councils.

changed “(ii) not later than 2 years after the date on which the determination under clause (i) is made, and at such other times as “(7) Requirement for majority of voting members—No jointly prepared plan or amendment required to be prepared under this Act, subsection may be submitted to the Council determined under Secretary unless such clause shall directly and individually adopt any previously existing joint fishery management plan for or amendment is approved by a majority of the fishery, and shall prepare voting members, present and submit any plan amendments necessary for tran­si­tion­ing to single-Council management as well as for any other purposes, in accordance with the provisions voting, of this Act.each Council concerned.

changed “(6) Establishment of criteria—The Secretary shall, by regulation, identify criteria for determining under paragraphs (1) and (5) whether a substantial portion of a fishery is located “(8) Highly migratory species in the geographical area of authority of more than one Council.certain fisheries—This subsection shall not apply with respect to any fishery to which section 302(a)(3) applies.”

removed “(7) Establishment of boundaries—The Secretary shall establish the boundaries between the geographic areas of authority of adjacent Councils.

removed “(8) Requirement for majority of voting members—No jointly prepared plan or amendment required to be prepared under this subsection may be submitted to the Secretary unless such plan or amendment is approved by a majority of the voting members, present and voting, of each Council concerned.

removed “(9) Highly migratory species in certain fisheries—This subsection shall not apply with respect to any fishery to which section 302(a)(3) applies.”

Section 305(a) (16 U.S.C. 1855(a)) is amended—

“(1) The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register, subject to paragraph (3), and after notice and an opportunity for public comment—

changed “(A) a list of all fisheries, identified fisheries managed under this Act, organized by corresponding Council or Federal region (or Secretarial management under section 302(a)(3)—302(a)(3), as applicable); and

removed “(i) located entirely or in part in the exclusive economic zone; or

removed “(ii) located outside of the exclusive economic zone but managed by the United States;

“(B) with respect to each such fishery—

“(i) the types of fishing gear authorized for use in such fishery;

added “(ii) the jurisdiction (State, Federal, interstate, or otherwise) exercising management authority over such fishery;

removed “(ii) the jurisdiction (whether State, Federal, interstate, or otherwise) exercising management authority over such fishery;

“(iii) whether a Fishery Management Plan or analogous management structure exists for the fishery; and

“(iv) the species authorized to be caught and retained in such fishery.”

added “(A) when a fishery is sufficiently different from those listed as to constitute a new fishery; and

added “(B) minimum criteria for a fishery to be considered managed under paragraph (1)(A), which, for federally managed fisheries, must include having a fishery management plan and associated regulations under this Act.”

changed “(3) Not later than 18 24 months after the date of enactment of the ____ Act, Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2022, and at least once every 5 years thereafter, each Council (or the Secretary for fisheries to which section 302(a)(3) applies) shall review the fisheries and gear for which the Council is responsible on the list that are required under its authority paragraph (1)(A) and submit to the Secretary proposed changes to such list in specific and narrow terms, including geographic range, to ensure that only active managed fisheries and gear are included on the list. The Secretary shall review proposed changes pursuant to the guidelines established under paragraph (2) and publish a revised list, after notice and an opportunity for public comment, upon receiving proposed changes from a Council (or from the Secretary for fisheries to which section 302(a)(3) applies).list.

changed “(4) The Secretary may permit, shall review proposed changes pursuant to section 318(d), on a limited interim basis, fishing activity that is not included on the guidelines established under paragraph (2) and publish a revised list, if—after notice and an opportunity for public comment.

changed “(A) the experimental “(5) The Secretary may permit, pursuant to section 318(d), on a limited interim basis, fishing permit activity that is designed and implemented so as to yield information necessary and currently lacking for not included on the analysis required under paragraph (6);list, if—

changed “(B) the Council collects, evaluates, and makes public the data generated by “(A) the experimental fishing activity at the end of each permit year, is designed and based on such evaluation, renders a determination of whether the fishery or fishing gear should be continued, either in the form of a subsequent year of experimental fishing under this paragraph, or in implemented so as to yield information necessary and currently lacking for the form development of a proposal under paragraph (5) for a new fishery management plan or fishing gear to be added amendment to the list; andsuch plan under section 302(h)(1) and section 303;

changed “(C) “(B) the data collected from, Secretary collects, evaluates, and notwithstanding section 402(b), makes public the Council’s evaluation of, data generated by the experimental fishing activity are included in any proposal under paragraph (5) for at the end of each permit year, and based on such evaluation, the Council renders a new fishery or determination of whether the fishing gear that may result from activity should be continued, either in the form of a subsequent year of experimental fishing permit.under this paragraph, or in the form of a fishery managed under a fishery management plan pursuant to section 302(h)(1) and section 303; and

changed “(5) The Secretary may authorize a new “(C) the data collected from, and the Secretary’s evaluation of, the fishing activity are included in any fishery management plan or fishing gear amendment that is not included on the list, upon receiving a proposal prepared for a new fishery or management of the fishing gear from a Council, if—activity.

changed “(A) the Secretary determines that “(6) No person or vessel may employ fishing gear or engage in a sufficient analysis supporting fishery not included on the proposal, list, except as specified provided in paragraph (7), has been conducted by (4). A Council may request the Council;Secretary to promulgate emergency regulations under subsection (c) to prohibit any persons or vessels from using an unlisted fishing gear or engaging in an unlisted fishery.”

removed “(B) the Secretary determines that the new fishery or fishing gear, as specified in the proposal and the accompanying fishery management plan or amendment and regulations under subparagraph (C), is consistent with conservation and management requirements in this Act and other applicable laws; and

removed “(C) the Council has prepared and submitted for Secretarial approval pursuant to section 304, concurrently with the proposal for a new fishery or fishing gear, a fishery management plan for the new fishery or fishing gear or an amendment to an existing fishery management plan, including proposed regulations to implement the plan or amendment, in accordance with section 303. If the new fishery or fishing gear will include one or more stocks of fish that also substantially exist in the geographical area of authority of another Council, the fishery management plan or amendment, and implementing regulations, shall be prepared pursuant to section 304(f).

removed “(6) The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register, after notice and an opportunity for public comment, all authorizations for new fisheries or fishing gear, including revisions to the list of fisheries and gear as appropriate, and shall make public all supporting documentation and analysis. The Secretary also shall publish in the Federal Register, after notice and an opportunity for public comment, all decisions to not authorize the development of a new fishery or fishing gear under this paragraph, including the reasons for the decision.

removed “(7)

removed “(A) A Council shall analyze, for purposes of paragraph (4)(A)—

removed “(i) the potential impacts of a new fishery or fishing gear on the proposed target stock, stocks of fish, or stock complexes as well as on other stocks of fish and species, and the marine ecosystem;

removed “(ii) the potential impacts of a new fishery or fishing gear on existing fisheries and fishing communities, both within the Council’s jurisdiction and, if relevant, in neighboring jurisdictions;

removed “(iii) different potential management strategies for the new fishery or fishing gear, including identifying any significant differences across management strategies with respect to the potential impacts described in clauses (i) and (ii);

removed “(iv) whether the proposed target stock, stocks of fish, or stock complexes occur in any neighboring jurisdictions, and if so, whether it or they are managed by those jurisdictions; and

removed “(v) whether the proposed fishing activity should be managed under an existing fishery management plan, or a new plan.

removed “(B) The Secretary shall issue guidance for sufficient analysis of these topics, to be used in making determinations under paragraph (5)(A).

removed “(8) No person or vessel may employ fishing gear or engage in a fishery not included on the list, except as provided in paragraph (4). A Council may request the Secretary to promulgate emergency regulations under subsection (c) to prohibit any persons or vessels from using an unlisted fishing gear or engaging in an unlisted fishery.”

added Section 312(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1861a(a)) is amended to read as follows:

added “(a) Fishery resource disaster relief

added “(1) Definitions—In this subsection:

added “(A) Allowable cause—The term allowable cause means a natural cause, discrete anthropogenic cause, or undetermined cause.

added “(B) Anthropogenic cause—The term anthropogenic cause means an anthropogenic event, such as an oil spill or spillway opening—

added “(i) that could not have been addressed or prevented by fishery management measures; and

added “(ii) that is otherwise beyond the control of fishery managers to mitigate through conservation and management measures, including regulatory restrictions imposed as a result of judicial action or to protect human health or marine animals, plants, or habitats.

added “(C) Fishery resource disaster—The term fishery resource disaster means a disaster that is determined by the Secretary in accordance with this subsection and—

added “(i) is an unexpected large decrease in fish stock biomass or other change that results in significant loss of access to the fishery resource, which may include loss of fishing vessels and gear for a substantial period of time and results in significant revenue loss or negative subsistence impacts due to an allowable cause; and

added “(ii) does not include—

added “(I) reasonably predictable, foreseeable, and recurrent fishery cyclical variations in species distribution or stock abundance; or

added “(II) reductions in fishing opportunities resulting from conservation and management measures taken pursuant to this Act.

added “(D) Indian tribe—The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given such term in section 102 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, and the term Tribal means of or pertaining to such an Indian tribe.

added “(E) Natural cause—The term natural cause—

added “(i) means a weather, climatic, hazard, or biology-related event, such as—

added “(I) a hurricane;

added “(II) a flood;

added “(III) a harmful algal bloom;

added “(IV) a tsunami;

added “(V) a hypoxic zone;

added “(VI) a drought;

added “(VII) El Nin6o effects on water temperature;

added “(VIII) a marine heat wave; or

added “(IX) disease; and

added “(ii) does not mean a normal or cyclical variation in a species distribution or stock abundance.

added “(F) 12-month revenue loss—The term 12-month revenue loss—

added “(i) means the percentage reduction, as applicable, in commercial, charter, headboat, or processor revenue for the affected fishery for the 12 months during which the fishery resource disaster occurred, when compared to average annual revenue in the most recent 5 years when no fishery resource disaster occurred or equivalent for stocks with cyclical life histories; and

added “(ii) shall not include any revenue loss resulting from the same distinct cause as a previously determined fishery resource disaster.

added “(G) Undetermined cause—The term undetermined cause means a cause in which the current state of knowledge does not allow the Secretary to identify the exact cause, and there is no current conclusive evidence supporting a possible cause of the fishery resource disaster.

added “(2) General authority

added “(A) In general—The Secretary shall have the authority to determine the existence, extent, and beginning and end dates of a fishery resource disaster under this subsection in accordance with this subsection.

added “(B) Availability of funds—After the Secretary determines that a fishery resource disaster has occurred, the Secretary is authorized to make sums available, from funds appropriated for such purposes, to be used by the affected State, Tribal government, or interstate marine fisheries commission, or by the Secretary in cooperation with the affected State, Tribal government, or interstate marine fisheries commission.

added “(C) Savings clause—The requirements under this subsection shall take effect only with respect to requests for a fishery resource disaster determination submitted after the date of enactment of the Fishery Resource Disasters Improvement Act.

added “(3) Initiation of a fishery resource disaster review

added “(A) Eligible requesters—Not later than 1 year after the date of the conclusion of the fishing season, a request for a fishery resource disaster determination may be submitted to the Secretary, if the Secretary has not independently determined that a fishery resource disaster has occurred, by—

added “(i) the Governor of an affected State;

added “(ii) an official Tribal representative or Tribal resolution; or

added “(iii) any other comparable elected or politically appointed representative as determined by the Secretary.

added “(B) Required information—A complete request for a fishery resource disaster determination under subparagraph (A) shall include—

added “(i) identification of all presumed affected fish stocks;

added “(ii) identification of the fishery as Federal, non-Federal, or both;

added “(iii) the geographical boundaries of the fishery, as determined by the eligible requester, including geographic boundaries that are smaller than the area represented by the eligible requester;

added “(iv) preliminary information on causes of the fishery resource disaster, if known; and

added “(v) information needed to support a finding of a fishery resource disaster, including—

added “(I) information demonstrating the occurrence of an unexpected large decrease in fish stock biomass or other change that results in significant loss of access to the fishery resource, which could include the loss of fishing vessels and gear, for a substantial period of time;

added “(II) significant—

added “(aa) 12-month revenue loss for the affected fishery; or

added “(bb) negative subsistence impact for the affected fishery, or if a fishery resource disaster has occurred at any time in the previous 5-year period, the most recent 5 years when no fishery resource disaster occurred, but shall not include any impacts resulting from the same distinct cause as a previously determined fishery resource disaster;

added “(III) if applicable, information on lost resource tax revenues assessed by local communities, such as a raw fish tax and local sourcing requirements; and

added “(IV) if applicable and available, information on affected fishery 12-month revenue loss for charter, headboat, or processors related to the information provided under subclause (I), subject to section 402(b).

added “(C) Assistance—The Secretary may provide data and analysis assistance to an eligible requester described in paragraph (1), if—

added “(i) the assistance is so requested;

added “(ii) the Secretary is in possession of the required information described in subparagraph (B); and

added “(iii) the data is not available to the requester, in carrying out the complete request under subparagraph (B).

added “(D) Initiation of review—The Secretary shall have the discretion to initiate a fishery resource disaster review without a request.

added “(4) Review process

added “(A) Interim response—Not later than 20 days after receipt of a request under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall provide an interim response to the individual that—

added “(i) acknowledges receipt of the request;

added “(ii) provides a regional contact within the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration;

added “(iii) outlines the process and timeline by which a request shall be considered; and

added “(iv) requests additional information concerning the fishery resource disaster, if the original request is considered incomplete.

added “(B) Evaluation of requests

added “(i) In general—The Secretary shall complete a review, within the time frame described in clause (ii), using the best scientific information available, in consultation with the affected fishing communities, States, or Tribes, of—

added “(I) the information provided by the requester and any additional information relevant to the fishery, which may include—

added “(aa) fishery characteristics;

added “(bb) stock assessments;

added “(cc) the most recent fishery independent surveys and other fishery resource assessments and surveys conducted by Federal, State, or Tribal officials;

added “(dd) estimates of mortality; and

added “(ee) overall effects; and

added “(II) the available economic information, which may include an analysis of—

added “(aa) landings data;

added “(bb) revenue;

added “(cc) the number of participants involved;

added “(dd) the number and type of jobs and persons impacted, which may include—

added “(AA) fishers;

added “(BB) charter fishing operators;

added “(CC) subsistence users;

added “(DD) United States fish processors; and

added “(EE) an owner of a related fishery infrastructure or business affected by the disaster, such as a marina operator, recreational fishing equipment retailer, or charter, headboat, or tender vessel owner, operator, or crew;

added “(ee) an impacted Indian Tribe;

added “(ff) other forms of disaster assistance made available to the fishery, including prior awards of disaster assistance for the same event;

added “(gg) the length of time the resource, or access to the resource, has been restricted;

added “(hh) status of recovery from previous fishery resource disasters;

added “(ii) lost resource tax revenues assessed by local communities, such as a raw fish tax; and

added “(jj) other appropriate indicators to an affected fishery, as determined by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

added “(ii) Time frame—The Secretary shall complete the review described in clause (i), if the fishing season, applicable to the fishery—

added “(I) has concluded or there is no defined fishing season applicable to the fishery, not later than 120 days after the Secretary receives a complete request for a fishery resource disaster determination;

added “(II) has not concluded, not later than 120 days after the conclusion of the fishing season; or

added “(III) is expected to be closed for the entire fishing season, not later than 120 days after the Secretary receives a complete request for a fishery resource disaster determination.

added “(C) Fishery resource disaster determination—The Secretary shall make the determination of a fishery resource disaster based on the criteria for determinations listed in paragraph (5).

added “(D) Notification—Not later than 14 days after the conclusion of the review under this paragraph, the Secretary shall notify the requester and the Governor of the affected State or Tribal representative of the determination of the Secretary.

added “(5) Criteria for determinations

added “(A) In general—The Secretary shall make a determination about whether a fishery resource disaster has occurred, based on the revenue loss thresholds under subparagraph (B), and, if a fishery resource disaster has occurred, whether the fishery resource disaster was due to—

added “(i) a natural cause;

added “(ii) an anthropogenic cause;

added “(iii) a combination of a natural cause and an anthropogenic cause; or

added “(iv) an undetermined cause.

added “(B) Revenue loss thresholds

added “(i) In general—Based on the information provided or analyzed under paragraph (4)(B), the Secretary shall apply the following 12-month revenue loss thresholds in determining whether a fishery resource disaster has occurred:

added “(I) Losses greater than 80 percent may result in a positive determination that a fishery resource disaster has occurred, based on the information provided or analyzed under paragraph (4)(B).

added “(II) Losses between 35 percent and 80 percent shall be evaluated to determine whether economic impacts are severe enough to determine that a fishery resource disaster has occurred.

added “(III) Losses less than 35 percent shall not be eligible for a determination that a fishery resource disaster has occurred.

added “(ii) Charter fishing—In making a determination of whether a fishery resource disaster has occurred, the Secretary shall consider the economic impacts to the charter fishing industry to ensure financial coverage for charter fishing businesses.

added “(iii) Negative subsistence impacts—In considering negative subsistence impacts, the Secretary shall evaluate the severity of negative impacts to the fishing community instead of applying the revenue loss thresholds described in clause (i).

added “(C) Ineligible fisheries—A fishery subject to overfishing in any of the 3 years preceding the date of a determination under this subsection is not eligible for a determination of whether a fishery resource disaster has occurred unless the Secretary determines that overfishing was not a contributing factor to the fishery resource disaster.

added “(D) Exceptional circumstances—In an exceptional circumstance where substantial economic impacts to the affected fishery and fishing community have been subject to a disaster declaration under another statutory authority, such as in the case of a natural disaster or from the direct consequences of a Federal action taken to prevent, or in response to, a natural disaster for purposes of protecting life and safety, the Secretary may determine a fishery resource disaster has occurred notwithstanding the requirements under paragraph (3) and subparagraph (B).

added “(6) Disbursal of appropriated funds

added “(A) Authorization—The Secretary shall allocate funds available under paragraph (9) for fishery resource disasters.

added “(B) Allocation of Appropriated fishery resource disaster assistance

added “(i) Notification of funding availability—When there are appropriated funds for 1 or more fishery resource disasters, the Secretary shall notify—

added “(I) the public; and

added “(II) representatives of affected fishing communities with a positive disaster determination that is unfunded; of the availability of funds, not more than 14 days after the date of the appropriation or the determination of a fishery resource disaster, whichever occurs later.

added “(ii) Extension of deadline—The Secretary may extend the deadline under clause (i) by 90 days to evaluate and make determinations on eligible requests.

added “(C) Considerations—In determining the allocation of appropriations for a fishery resource disaster, the Secretary shall consider commercial, charter, headboat, or seafood processing revenue losses and negative impacts to subsistence and Tribal ceremonial fishing opportunity, for the affected fishery and may consider the following factors:

added “(i) Direct economic impacts.

added “(ii) Uninsured losses.

added “(iii) Losses of recreational fishing opportunity.

added “(iv) Aquaculture operations revenue loss.

added “(v) Direct revenue losses to a fishing community.

added “(vi) Treaty obligations.

added “(vii) Other economic impacts.

added “(D) Spend plans—To receive an allocation from funds available under paragraph (9), a requester with an affirmative fishery resource disaster determination shall submit a spend plan to the Secretary, not more than 120 days after receiving notification that funds are available, that shall include the following information, if applicable:

added “(i) Objectives and outcomes, with an emphasis on addressing the factors contributing to the fishery resource disaster and minimizing future uninsured losses, if applicable.

added “(ii) Statement of work.

added “(iii) Budget details.

added “(E) Regional contact—If so requested, the Secretary shall provide a regional contact within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to facilitate review of spend plans and disbursal of funds.

added “(F) Disbursal of funds

added “(i) Availability—Funds shall be made available to grantees not later than 90 days after the date the Secretary receives a complete spend plan.

added “(ii) Method—The Secretary may provide an allocation of funds under this subsection in the form of a grant, direct payment, cooperative agreement, loan, or contract.

added “(iii) Eligible uses

added “(I) In general—Funds allocated for fishery resources disasters under this subsection shall restore the fishery affected by such a disaster, prevent a similar disaster in the future, or assist the affected fishing community, and shall prioritize the following uses, which are not in order of priority:

added “(aa) Habitat conservation and restoration and other activities, including scientific research, that reduce adverse impacts to the fishery or improve understanding of the affected species or its ecosystem.

added “(bb) The collection of fishery information and other activities that improve management of the affected fishery.

added “(cc) In a commercial fishery, capacity reduction and other activities that improve management of fishing effort, including funds to offset budgetary costs to refinance a Federal fishing capacity reduction loan or to repay the principal of a Federal fishing capacity reduction loan.

added “(dd) Developing, repairing, or improving fishery-related public infrastructure.

added “(ee) Direct assistance to a person, fishing community (including assistance for lost fisheries resource levies), or a business to alleviate economic loss incurred as a direct result of a fishery resource disaster, particularly when affected by a circumstance described in paragraph (5)(D) or by negative impacts to subsistence and Tribal ceremonial fishing opportunity.

added “(ff) Hatcheries and stock enhancement to help rebuild the affected stock or offset fishing pressure on the affected stock.

added “(II) Displaced fishery employees—Where appropriate, individuals carrying out the activities described in items (aa) through (dd) of subclause (I) shall be individuals who are, or were, employed in a commercial, charter, or Tribal fishery for which the Secretary has determined that a fishery resource disaster has occurred.

added “(7) Limitations

added “(A) Federal share

added “(i) In general—Except as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii), the Federal share of the cost of any activity carried out under the authority of this subsection shall not exceed 75 percent of the cost of that activity.

added “(ii) Waiver—The Secretary may waive the non-Federal share requirements of this subsection, if the Secretary determines that—

added “(I) no reasonable means are available through which the recipient of the Federal share can meet the non-Federal share requirement; and

added “(II) the probable benefit of 100 percent Federal financing outweighs the public interest in imposition of the non-Federal share requirement.

added “(iii) Exception—The Federal share shall be equal to 100 percent in the case of—

added “(I) direct assistance as described in paragraph (6)(F)(iii)(I)(ee); or

added “(II) assistance to subsistence or Tribal fisheries.

added “(B) Limitations on administrative expenses

added “(i) Federal—Not more than 3 percent of the funds available under this subsection may be used for administrative expenses by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.

added “(ii) State or Tribal governments—Of the funds remaining after the use described in clause (i), not more than 5 percent may be used by States, Tribal governments, or interstate marine fisheries commissions for administrative expenses.

added “(C) Fishing capacity reduction program

added “(i) In general—No funds available under this subsection may be used as part of a fishing capacity reduction program in a fishery unless the Secretary determines that adequate conservation and management measures are in place in such fishery.

added “(ii) Assistance conditions—As a condition of providing assistance under this subsection with respect to a vessel under a fishing capacity reduction program, the Secretary shall—

added “(I) prohibit the vessel from being used for fishing in Federal, State, or international waters; and

added “(II) require that the vessel be—

added “(aa) scrapped or otherwise disposed of in a manner approved by the Secretary;

added “(bb) donated to a nonprofit organization and thereafter used only for purposes of research, education, or training; or

added “(cc) used for another non-fishing purpose provided the Secretary determines that adequate measures are in place to ensure that the vessel cannot reenter any fishery anywhere in the world.

added “(D) No fishery endorsement

added “(i) In general—A vessel that is prohibited from fishing under subparagraph (C)(ii)(I) shall not be eligible for a fishery endorsement under section 12113(a) of title 46, United States Code.

added “(ii) Noneffective—A fishery endorsement for a vessel described in clause (i) shall not be effective.

added “(iii) No sale—A vessel described in clause (i) may not be sold to a foreign owner or reflagged.

added “(8) Public information on data collection—The Secretary shall make available and update as appropriate, information on data collection and submittal best practices for the information described in paragraph (4)(B).

added “(9) Authorization of Appropriations—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $377,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2023 through 2028.”

removed “(a) Fishery resource disaster relief

removed “(1) Definitions—In this subsection:

removed “(A) Allowable cause—The term allowable cause means a natural cause, discrete anthropogenic cause, or undetermined cause.

removed “(B) Anthropogenic cause—The term anthropogenic cause means an anthropogenic event, such as an oil spill or spillway opening—

removed “(i) that could not have been addressed or prevented by fishery management measures; and

removed “(ii) that is otherwise beyond the control of fishery managers to mitigate through conservation and management measures, including regulatory restrictions imposed as a result of judicial action or to protect human health or marine animals, plants, or habitats.

removed “(C) Fishery resource disaster—The term fishery resource disaster means a disaster that is determined by the Secretary in accordance with this subsection and—

removed “(i) is an unexpected large decrease in fish stock biomass or other change that results in significant loss of access to the fishery resource, which may include loss of fishing vessels and gear for a substantial period of time and results in significant revenue or subsistence loss due to an allowable cause; and

removed “(ii) does not include—

removed “(I) reasonably predictable, foreseeable, and recurrent fishery cyclical variations in species distribution or stock abundance; or

removed “(II) reductions in fishing opportunities resulting from conservation and management measures taken pursuant to this Act.

removed “(D) Indian tribe—The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given such term in section 102 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5130), and the term Tribal means of or pertaining to such an Indian Tribe.

removed “(E) Natural cause—The term natural cause—

removed “(i) means a weather, climatic, hazard, or biology-related event, such as—

removed “(I) a hurricane;

removed “(II) a flood;

removed “(III) a harmful algal bloom;

removed “(IV) a tsunami;

removed “(V) a hypoxic zone;

removed “(VI) ocean acidification;

removed “(VII) a drought;

removed “(VIII) El Niño effects on water temperature;

removed “(IX) a marine heat wave; or

removed “(X) disease; and

removed “(ii) does not mean a normal or cyclical variation in a species distribution or stock abundance.

removed “(F) 12-month revenue loss—The term 12-month revenue loss means the percentage reduction, as applicable, in commercial, charter, headboat, or processor revenue for the 12 months during which the fishery resource disaster occurred, if compared to average annual revenue in the most recent 5-years during which no fishery resource disaster occurred or equivalent for stocks with cyclical life histories.

removed “(G) Undetermined cause—The term undetermined cause means a cause in which the current state of knowledge does not allow the Secretary to identify the exact cause, and there is no current conclusive evidence supporting a possible cause of the fishery resource disaster.

removed “(2) General authority

removed “(A) In general—The Secretary shall have the authority to determine the existence, extent, and beginning and end dates of a fishery resource disaster under this subsection in accordance with this subsection.

removed “(B) Availability of funds—After the Secretary determines that a fishery resource disaster has occurred, the Secretary is authorized to make sums available, from funds appropriated for such purposes, to be used by the affected State, Tribal government, or interstate marine fisheries commission, or by the Secretary in cooperation with the affected State, Tribal government, or interstate marine fisheries commission.

removed “(C) Savings clause—The requirements under this subsection shall take effect only with respect to requests for a fishery resource disaster determination submitted after the date of enactment of the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2021.

removed “(3) Initiation of a fishery resource disaster review

removed “(A) Eligible requesters—Not later than 1 year after the date of the conclusion of the fishing season, a request for a fishery resource disaster determination may be submitted to the Secretary, if the Secretary has not independently determined that a fishery resource disaster has occurred, by—

removed “(i) the Governor of an affected State;

removed “(ii) an official Tribal resolution; or

removed “(iii) any other comparable elected or politically appointed representative as determined by the Secretary.

removed “(B) Required information—A complete request for a fishery resource disaster determination under subparagraph (A) shall include—

removed “(i) identification of all presumed affected fish stocks;

removed “(ii) identification of the fishery as Federal, non-Federal, or both;

removed “(iii) the geographic boundaries of the fishery;

removed “(iv) preliminary information on causes of the fishery resource disaster, if known; and

removed “(v) information needed to support a finding of a fishery resource disaster, including—

removed “(I) information demonstrating the occurrence of an unexpected large decrease in fish stock biomass or other change that results in significant loss of access to the fishery resource, which could include the loss of fishing vessels and gear, for a substantial period of time;

removed “(II) 12-month revenue loss or subsistence loss for the affected fishery, or if a fishery resource disaster has occurred at any time in the previous 5-year period, the most recent 5-year period during which no fishery resource disaster occurred;

removed “(III) if applicable, information on lost resource tax revenues assessed by local communities, such as a raw fish tax or a local sourcing requirement; and

removed “(IV) if applicable and available, information on 12-month revenue loss for charter, headboat, or processors related to the information provided under subclause (I), subject to section 402(b).

removed “(C) Assistance—The Secretary may provide data and analysis assistance to an eligible requester described in paragraph (1), if—

removed “(i) the assistance is so requested;

removed “(ii) the Secretary is in possession of the required information described in subparagraph (B); and

removed “(iii) the data is not available to the requester, in carrying out the complete request under subparagraph (B).

removed “(D) Initiation of review—The Secretary shall have the discretion to initiate a fishery resource disaster review without a request.

removed “(4) Review process

removed “(A) Interim response—Not later than 20 days after receipt of a request under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall provide an interim response to the individual that—

removed “(i) acknowledges receipt of the request;

removed “(ii) provides a regional contact within the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration;

removed “(iii) outlines the process and timeline by which a request shall be considered; and

removed “(iv) requests additional information concerning the fishery resource disaster, if the original request is considered incomplete.

removed “(B) Evaluation of requests

removed “(i) In general—Based on the information provided or analyzed under paragraph (4), the Secretary shall complete a review, within the time frame described in clause (ii), using the best scientific information available, in consultation with the affected fishing communities, States, or Tribes, of—

removed “(I) the information provided by the requester and any additional information relevant to the fishery, which may include—

removed “(aa) fishery characteristics;

removed “(bb) stock assessments;

removed “(cc) the most recent fishery independent surveys and other fishery resource assessments and surveys conducted by Federal, State, or Tribal officials;

removed “(dd) estimates of mortality; and

removed “(ee) overall effects; and

removed “(II) the available economic information, which may include an analysis of—

removed “(aa) landings data;

removed “(bb) revenue;

removed “(cc) the number of participants involved;

removed “(dd) the number and type of jobs and persons impacted, which may include—

removed “(AA) fishers;

removed “(BB) charter fishing operators;

removed “(CC) subsistence users;

removed “(DD) United States fish processors; and

removed “(EE) an owner of a related fishery infrastructure or business affected by the disaster, such as a marina operator, recreational fishing equipment retailer, or charter, headboat, or tender vessel owner, operator, or crew;

removed “(ee) an impacted Indian Tribe;

removed “(ff) other forms of disaster assistance made available to the fishery, including prior awards of disaster assistance for the same event;

removed “(gg) the length of time the resource, or access to the resource, has been restricted;

removed “(hh) status of recovery from previous fishery resource disasters;

removed “(ii) lost resource tax revenues assessed by local communities, such as a raw fish tax; and

removed “(jj) other appropriate indicators to an affected fishery, as determined by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

removed “(ii) Time frame—The Secretary shall complete the review described in clause (i), if the fishing season, applicable to the fishery—

removed “(I) has concluded or there is no defined fishing season applicable to the fishery, not later than 120 days after the Secretary receives a complete request for a fishery resource disaster determination;

removed “(II) has not concluded, not later than 120 days after the conclusion of the fishing season; or

removed “(III) is expected to be closed for the entire fishing season, not later than 120 days after the Secretary receives a complete request for a fishery resource disaster determination.

removed “(C) Fishery resource disaster determination—The Secretary shall make the determination of a fishery resource disaster based on the criteria for determinations listed in paragraph (5).

removed “(D) Notification—Not later than 14 days after the conclusion of the review under this paragraph, the Secretary shall notify the requester and the Governor of the affected State or Tribal representative of the determination of the Secretary.

removed “(5) Criteria for determinations

removed “(A) In general—The Secretary shall make a determination about whether a fishery resource disaster has occurred, based on the revenue loss thresholds under subparagraph (B), and, if a fishery resource disaster has occurred, whether the fishery resource disaster was due to—

removed “(i) a natural cause;

removed “(ii) an anthropogenic cause;

removed “(iii) a combination of a natural cause and an anthropogenic cause; or

removed “(iv) an undetermined cause.

removed “(B) Revenue loss thresholds

removed “(i) In general—Based on the information provided or analyzed under paragraph (4)(B), the Secretary shall apply the following 12-month revenue loss thresholds in determining whether a fishery resource disaster has occurred:

removed “(I) Losses greater than 80 percent shall result in a positive determination that a fishery resource disaster has occurred.

removed “(II) Losses between 35 percent and 80 percent shall be evaluated to determine whether economic impacts are severe enough to declare that a fishery resource disaster has occurred, based on the information provided or analyzed under paragraph (4)(B).

removed “(III) Losses less than 35 percent shall not be eligible for a determination that a fishery resource disaster has occurred, except in a case in which the Secretary determines there are extenuating circumstances that justify using a lower threshold in making the determination.

removed “(ii) Charter fishing—In making a determination of whether a fishery resource disaster has occurred, the Secretary shall consider the economic impacts to the charter fishing industry to ensure financial coverage for charter fishing businesses.

removed “(iii) Subsistence loss—In considering subsistence loss, the Secretary shall evaluate the severity of loss to the fishing community instead of applying the revenue loss thresholds described in clause (i).

removed “(C) Ineligible fisheries—A fishery subject to overfishing in any of the 3 years preceding the date of a determination under this subsection is not eligible for a determination of whether a fishery resource disaster has occurred unless the Secretary determines that overfishing was not a contributing factor to the fishery resource disaster.

removed “(D) Exceptional circumstances—In an exceptional circumstance in which substantial economic impacts to the affected fishery and fishing community have been subject to a disaster declaration under another statutory authority, such as in the case of a natural disaster or from the direct consequences of a Federal action taken to prevent, or in response to, a natural disaster for purposes of protecting life and safety, the Secretary may determine a fishery resource disaster has occurred without a request.

removed “(6) Disbursal of appropriated funds

removed “(A) Authorization—The Secretary shall allocate funds available under paragraph (9) for fishery resource disasters.

removed “(B) Allocation of appropriated fishery resource disaster assistance

removed “(i) Notification of funding availability—If there are appropriated funds for 1 or more fishery resource disasters, the Secretary shall notify—

removed “(I) the public; and

removed “(II) representatives of affected fishing communities with a positive disaster determination that is unfunded,

removed “(ii) Extension of deadline—The Secretary may extend the deadline under clause (i) by 90 days to evaluate and make determinations on eligible requests.

removed “(C) Considerations—In determining the allocation of appropriations for a fishery resource disaster, the Secretary shall consider commercial, charter, headboat, or seafood processing revenue losses and may consider the following factors:

removed “(i) Direct economic impacts.

removed “(ii) Uninsured losses.

removed “(iii) Losses of subsistence and Tribal ceremonial fishing opportunity.

removed “(iv) Losses of recreational fishing opportunity.

removed “(v) Aquaculture operations revenue loss.

removed “(vi) Direct revenue losses to a fishing community.

removed “(vii) Treaty obligations.

removed “(viii) Other economic impacts.

removed “(D) Spend plans—To receive an allocation from funds available under paragraph (9), a requester with an affirmative fishery resource disaster determination shall submit a spend plan to the Secretary, not more than 120 days after receiving notification that funds are available, that shall include the following information, if applicable:

removed “(i) Objectives and outcomes, with an emphasis on addressing the factors contributing to the fishery resource disaster and minimizing future uninsured losses, if applicable.

removed “(ii) Statement of work.

removed “(iii) Budget details.

removed “(E) Regional contact—If so requested, the Secretary shall provide a regional contact within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to facilitate review of spend plans and disbursal of funds.

removed “(F) Disbursal of funds

removed “(i) Availability—Funds shall be made available to grantees not later than 90 days after the date the Secretary receives a complete spend plan.

removed “(ii) Method—The Secretary may provide an allocation of funds under this subsection in the form of a grant, direct payment, cooperative agreement, loan, or contract.

removed “(iii) Eligible uses

removed “(I) In general—Funds allocated for fishery resources disasters under this subsection shall restore the fishery affected by such a disaster, prevent a similar disaster in the future, or assist the affected fishing community, and shall prioritize the following uses, which are not in order of priority:

removed “(aa) Habitat conservation and restoration and other activities, including scientific research, that reduce adverse effects on the fishery or improve understanding of the affected species or its ecosystem.

removed “(bb) The collection of fishery information and other activities that improve management of the affected fishery.

removed “(cc) In a commercial fishery, capacity reduction and other activities that improve management of fishing effort, including funds to offset budgetary costs to refinance a Federal fishing capacity reduction loan or to repay the principal of a Federal fishing capacity reduction loan.

removed “(dd) Developing, repairing, or improving fishery-related public infrastructure.

removed “(ee) Direct assistance to a person, fishing community (including assistance for lost fisheries resource levies), or a business to alleviate economic loss incurred as a direct result of a fishery resource disaster, particularly if affected by a circumstance described in paragraph (5)(D).

removed “(ff) Hatcheries and stock enhancement to help rebuild the affected stock or offset fishing pressure on the affected stock.

removed “(II) Displaced fishery employees—If appropriate, individuals carrying out the activities described in items (aa) through (ff) of subclause (I) shall be individuals who are, or were, employed in a commercial, charter, or Tribal fishery for which the Secretary has determined that a fishery resource disaster has occurred.

removed “(7) Limitations

removed “(A) Federal share

removed “(i) In general—Except as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii), the Federal share of the cost of any activity carried out under the authority of this subsection shall not exceed 75 percent of the cost of that activity.

removed “(ii) Waiver—The Secretary may waive the non-Federal share requirements of this subsection, if the Secretary determines that—

removed “(I) no reasonable means are available through which the recipient of the Federal share can meet the non-Federal share requirement; and

removed “(II) the probable benefit of 100 percent Federal financing outweighs the public interest in imposition of the non-Federal share requirement.

removed “(iii) Exception—The Federal share shall be equal to 100 percent in the case of—

removed “(I) direct assistance as described in paragraph (6)(F)(iii)(I)(hh); or

removed “(II) assistance to subsistence or Tribal fisheries.

removed “(B) Limitations on administrative expenses

removed “(i) Federal—Not more than 3 percent of the funds available under this subsection may be used for administrative expenses by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.

removed “(ii) State or tribal governments—Of the funds remaining after the use described in clause (i), not more than 5 percent may be used by States, Tribal governments, or interstate marine fisheries commissions for administrative expenses.

removed “(C) Fishing capacity reduction program

removed “(i) In general—No funds available under this subsection may be used as part of a fishing capacity reduction program in a fishery unless the Secretary determines that adequate conservation and management measures are in place in such fishery.

removed “(ii) Assistance conditions—As a condition of providing assistance under this subsection with respect to a vessel under a fishing capacity reduction program, the Secretary shall—

removed “(I) prohibit the vessel from being used for fishing in Federal, State, or international waters; and

removed “(II) require that the vessel be—

removed “(aa) scrapped or otherwise disposed of in a manner approved by the Secretary;

removed “(bb) donated to a nonprofit organization and thereafter used only for purposes of research, education, or training; or

removed “(cc) used for another non-fishing purpose provided the Secretary determines that adequate measures are in place to ensure that the vessel cannot reenter any fishery anywhere in the world.

removed “(D) No fishery endorsement

removed “(i) In general—A vessel that is prohibited from fishing under subparagraph (C)(ii)(I) shall not be eligible for a fishery endorsement under section 12113(a) of title 46, United States Code.

removed “(ii) Nonreflective—A fishery endorsement for a vessel described in clause (i) shall not be effective.

removed “(iii) No sale—A vessel described in clause (i) shall not be sold to a foreign owner or reflagged.

removed “(8) Public information on data collection—The Secretary shall make available and update as appropriate, information on data collection and submission best practices for the information described in paragraph (4)(B).”

removed “(b) Additional information—In addition to the information described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (a), the report shall include—

removed “(1) a description of the actions taken to carry out the provisions of section 206 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1826), including—

removed “(A) an evaluation of the progress of those efforts, the impacts on living marine resources, including available observer data, and specific plans for further action;

removed “(B) a list and description of any new fisheries developed by nations that conduct, or authorize their nationals to conduct, large-scale driftnet fishing beyond the exclusive economic zone of any nation; and

removed “(C) a list of the nations that conduct, or authorize their nationals to conduct, large-scale driftnet fishing beyond the exclusive economic zone of any nation in a manner that diminishes the effectiveness of or is inconsistent with any international agreement governing large-scale driftnet fishing to which the United States is a party or otherwise subscribes; and

removed “(2) a description of the actions taken to carry out the provisions of section 202(h) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1822(h)).

removed “(c) Certification—If, at any time, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, identifies any nation that warrants inclusion in the list described under subsection (b)(1)(C), due to large scale drift net fishing, the Secretary shall certify that fact to the President. Such certification shall be deemed to be a certification for the purposes of section 8(a) of the Fishermen's Protective Act of 1967 (22 U.S.C. 1978(a)).”

“(42A)

changed “(A) Subsistence fishing—The term “subsistence fishing” subsistence fishing means fishing in which the fish harvested are intended for customary and traditional uses, including—

changed “(i) for direct personal or family consumption sharing personal, family, or community consumption, including as food food, shelter, clothing, or clothing;tools;

changed “(ii) for the making or selling of handicraft articles out of nonedible byproducts taken for personal or family consumption, for barter, or sharing for personal or family consumption; andof subsistence fishing;

changed “(iii) for customary trade.barter; and

added “(iv) for customary trade.

“(B) In this paragraph—

removed “(i) the term “family” means all persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption, or any person living within the household on a permanent basis; and

changed “(ii) “(i) the term “barter” family means all persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption, or any person living within the exchange of household on a fish or fish part—permanent basis; and

added “(ii) the term barter means the exchange of a fish or fish part harvested through subsistence fishing—

“(I) for another fish or fish part; or

“(II) for other food or for nonedible items other than money if the exchange is of a limited and noncommercial nature.”

added The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

added “320. Working Waterfronts Grant Program

added “(a) Working waterfronts task force

added “(1) Establishment and functions—The Secretary shall establish a task force to work directly with coastal States, user groups, and coastal stakeholders to identify and address critical needs with respect to working waterfronts.

added “(2) Membership—The members of the task force shall be appointed by the Secretary, and shall include—

added “(A) experts in the unique economic, social, cultural, ecological, geographic, and resource concerns of working waterfronts; and

added “(B) representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Coastal Management, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Geological Survey, the Navy, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Economic Development Administration, and such other Federal agencies as the Secretary considers appropriate.

added “(3) Functions—The task force shall—

added “(A) identify and prioritize critical needs with respect to working waterfronts in States that have a management program approved by the Secretary pursuant to section 306, in the areas of—

added “(i) economic and cultural importance of working waterfronts to communities;

added “(ii) changing environments and threats working waterfronts face from environmental changes, trade barriers, sea level rise, extreme weather events, ocean acidification, and harmful algal blooms; and

added “(iii) identifying working waterfronts and highlighting them within communities;

added “(B) outline options, in coordination with coastal States and local stakeholders, to address such critical needs, including adaptation and mitigation where applicable;

added “(C) identify Federal agencies that are responsible for addressing such critical needs; and

added “(D) recommend Federal agencies best suited to address any critical needs for which no agency is responsible under existing law.

added “(4) Information to be considered—In identifying and prioritizing policy gaps pursuant to paragraph (3), the task force shall consider the findings and recommendations contained in section VI of the report entitled “The Sustainable Working Waterfronts Toolkit: Final Report”, dated March 2013.

added “(5) Report—Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this section, the task force shall submit a report to Congress on its findings.

added “(6) Implementation—The head of each Federal agency identified in the report pursuant to paragraph (3)(C) shall take such action as is necessary to implement the recommendations contained in the report by not later than one year after the date of issuance of the report.

added “(b) Working waterfronts grant program

added “(1) Establishment—The Secretary shall establish a Working Waterfront Grant Program, in cooperation with appropriate State, regional, and other units of government, under which the Secretary may make a grant to any coastal State for the purpose of implementing a working waterfronts plan approved by the Secretary under subsection (c).

added “(2) Grants—The Secretary shall award matching grants under the Working Waterfronts Grant Program to coastal States with approved working waterfronts plans through a regionally equitable, competitive funding process in accordance with the following:

added “(A) The Governor, or an agency designated by the Governor for coordinating the implementation of this section, in consultation with any appropriate local government, shall determine that the application is consistent with the State’s or territory’s approved coastal zone plan, program, and policies prior to submission to the Secretary.

added “(B) In developing guidelines under this section, the Secretary shall consult with coastal States, other Federal agencies, and other interested stakeholders with expertise in working waterfronts planning.

added “(C) Coastal States may allocate grants to local governments, agencies, or nongovernmental organizations eligible for assistance under this section.

added “(3) Considerations—In awarding a grant to a coastal State, the Secretary shall consider—

added “(A) the economic, cultural, and historical significance of working waterfronts to the coastal State;

added “(B) the demonstrated working waterfronts needs of the coastal State as outlined by a working waterfronts plan approved for the coastal State under subsection (c), and the value of the proposed project for the implementation of such plan;

added “(C) the ability to leverage funds among participating entities, including Federal agencies, regional organizations, State and other government units, landowners, corporations, or private organizations;

added “(D) the potential for rapid turnover in the ownership of working waterfronts in the coastal State, and where applicable the need for coastal States to respond quickly when properties in existing or potential working waterfronts areas or public access areas as identified in the working waterfronts plan submitted by the coastal State come under threat or become available; and

added “(E) the impact of the working waterfronts plan approved for the coastal State under subsection (c) on the coastal ecosystem and the users of the coastal ecosystem.

added “(4) Timeline for approval—The Secretary shall approve or reject an application for such a grant not later than 60 days after receiving an application for the grant.

added “(c) Working waterfronts plans

added “(1) Development and submission of plan—To be eligible for a grant under subsection (b), a coastal State shall submit to the Secretary a comprehensive working waterfronts plan in accordance with this subsection, or be in the process of developing such a plan and have an established working waterfronts program at the State or local level.

added “(2) Plan requirements—Such plan—

added “(A) shall provide for preservation and expansion of access to coastal waters to persons engaged in commercial fishing, marine recreational and tourism businesses, aquaculture, boatbuilding, or other water-dependent, coastal-related business;

added “(B) shall include—

added “(i) an assessment of the economic, social, cultural, and historic value of working waterfronts to the coastal State;

added “(ii) a description of relevant State and local laws and regulations affecting working waterfronts in the geographic areas identified in the working waterfronts plan;

added “(iii) identification of geographic areas where working waterfronts are currently under threat of conversion to uses incompatible with commercial and recreational fishing, recreational fishing and boating businesses, other marine recreational and tourism businesses, aquaculture, boatbuilding, or other water-dependent, coastal-related business, and the level of that threat;

added “(iv) identification of geographic areas with a historic connection to working waterfronts where working waterfronts are not currently available, and, where appropriate, an assessment of the environmental impacts of any expansion or new development of working waterfronts on the coastal ecosystem;

added “(v) identification of other working waterfronts needs including improvements to existing working waterfronts and working waterfronts areas;

added “(vi) a strategic and prioritized plan for the preservation, expansion, and improvement of working waterfronts in the coastal State;

added “(vii) for areas identified under clauses (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi), identification of current availability and potential for expansion of public access to coastal waters;

added “(viii) a description of the degree of community support for such strategic plan; and

added “(ix) a contingency plan for properties that revert to the coastal State pursuant to determinations made by the coastal State under subsection (g)(4)(C);

added “(C) may include detailed descriptions of environmental impacts on working waterfronts, including hazards, sea level rise, inundation exposure, and other resiliency issues;

added “(D) may be part of the management program approved under section 306;

added “(E) shall utilize to the maximum extent practicable existing information contained in relevant surveys, plans, or other strategies to fulfill the information requirements under this paragraph; and

added “(F) shall incorporate the policies and regulations adopted by communities under local working waterfronts plans or strategies in existence before the date of the enactment of this section.

added “(3) A working waterfront plan—

added “(A) shall be effective for purposes of this section for the 5-year period beginning on the date it is approved by the Secretary;

added “(B) must be updated and re-approved by the Secretary before the end of such period; and

added “(C) shall be complimentary to and incorporate the policies and objectives of regional or local working waterfronts plan as in effect before the date of the enactment of this section or as subsequently revised.

added “(4) The Secretary may—

added “(A) award planning grants to coastal States for the purpose of developing or revising comprehensive working waterfronts plan;

added “(B) award grants consistent with the purposes of this section to States undertaking the working waterfronts planning process under this section, for the purpose of preserving and protecting working waterfronts during such process; and

added “(C) determine that a preexisting coastal land use plan for that State is in accordance with the requirements of this subsection.

added “(5) Any coastal State applying for a working waterfronts grant under this title shall—

added “(A) develop a working waterfronts plan, using a process that involves the public and those with an interest in the coastal zone;

added “(B) coordinate development and implementation of such a plan with other coastal management programs, regulations, and activities of the coastal State; and

added “(C) if the coastal State allows qualified holders (other than the coastal State) to enter into working waterfronts covenants, provide as part of the working waterfronts plan under this subsection a procedure to ensure that the qualified holders are fulfilling such qualified holder's obligations under the working waterfronts covenant.

added “(d) Uses, terms, and conditions—A grant under this section may be used—

added “(1) to acquire a working waterfronts, or an interest in a working waterfront;

added “(2) to make improvements to a working waterfronts, including the construction or repair of wharfs, boat ramps, or related facilities; or

added “(3) for necessary climate change adaptation or mitigation.

added “(e) Public access requirement—A working waterfronts project funded by grants made under this section must provide for expansion, improvement, or preservation of reasonable and appropriate public access to coastal waters at or in the vicinity of a working waterfront, except for commercial fishing or other industrial access points where the coastal State determines that public access would be unsafe.

added “(f) Limitations

added “(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a grant awarded under this section may be used to purchase working waterfronts or an interest in working waterfronts, including an easement, only from a willing seller and at fair market value.

added “(2) A grant awarded under this section may be used to acquire working waterfronts or an interest in working waterfronts at less than fair market value only if the owner certifies to the Secretary that the sale is being entered into willingly and without coercion.

added “(3) No Federal, State, or local entity may exercise the power of eminent domain to secure title to any property or facilities in connection with a project carried out under this section.

added “(g) Allocation of grants to local governments and other entities

added “(1) Designation of qualified holder—Subject to the approval of the Secretary, a coastal State may, as part of an approved working waterfront plan, designate as a qualified holder any unit of State or local government or nongovernmental organization, if the coastal State is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the property will be managed in a manner that is consistent with the purposes for which the land entered into the program.

added “(2) Allocation—A coastal State or a qualified holder designated by a coastal State may allocate to a unit of local government, nongovernmental organization, fishing cooperative, or other entity, a portion of any grant made under this section for the purpose of carrying out this section, except that such an allocation shall not relieve the coastal State of the responsibility for ensuring that any funds so allocated are applied in furtherance of the coastal State’s approved working waterfronts plan.

added “(3) Exceptions—A qualified holder may hold title to or interest in property acquired under this section, except that—

added “(A) all persons holding title to or interest in working waterfronts affected by a grant under this section shall enter into a working waterfronts covenant;

added “(B) such covenant shall be held by the coastal State or a qualified holder designated under paragraph (1);

added “(C) if the coastal State determines, on the record after an opportunity for a hearing, that the working waterfronts covenant has been violated—

added “(i) all right, title, and interest in and to the working waterfronts covered by such covenant shall, except as provided in subparagraph (D), revert to the coastal State; and

added “(ii) the coastal State shall have the right of immediate entry onto the working waterfronts; and

added “(D) if a coastal State makes a determination under subparagraph (C), the coastal State may convey or authorize the qualified holder to convey the working waterfront or interest in working waterfronts to another qualified holder.

added “(h) Matching contributions

added “(1) In general—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall require that each coastal State that receives a grant under this section, or a qualified holder designated by that coastal State under subsection (g), shall provide matching funds in an amount equal to at least 25 percent of the total cost of the project carried out with the grant. As a condition of receipt of a grant under this section, the Secretary shall require that a coastal State provide to the Secretary such assurances as the Secretary determines are sufficient to demonstrate that the share of the cost of each eligible project that is not funded by the grant awarded under this section has been secured.

added “(2) Waiver—The Secretary may waive the application of paragraph (1) for any qualified holder that is an underserved community, a community that has an inability to draw on other sources of funding because of the small population or low income of the community, or for other reasons the Secretary considers appropriate.

added “(3) In-kind contributions—A local community designated as a qualified holder under subsection (g) may use funds or other in-kind contributions donated by a nongovernmental partner to satisfy the matching funds requirement under this subsection.

added “(4) Funding from other Federal source—If financial assistance under this section represents only a portion of the total cost of a project, funding from other Federal sources may be applied to the cost of the project.

added “(5) Value of a working waterfront—The Secretary shall treat as non-Federal match the value of a working waterfront or interest in a working waterfront, including conservation and other easements, that is held in perpetuity by a qualified holder, if the working waterfront or interest is identified in the application for the grant and acquired by the qualified holder not later than three years of the grant award date, or not later than three years after the submission of the application and before the end of the grant award period. Such value shall be determined by an appraisal performed at such time before the award of the grant as the Secretary considers appropriate.

added “(6) Other considerations—The Secretary shall treat as non-Federal match the costs associated with acquisition of a working waterfront or an interest in a working waterfront, and the costs of restoration, enhancement, or other improvement to a working waterfront, if the activities are identified in the project application and the costs are incurred within the period of the grant award, or, for working waterfront described in paragraph (6), within the same time limits described in that paragraph. Such costs may include either cash or in-kind contributions.

added “(i) Limit on administrative costs—The Secretary may not use more than 5 percent of the funds made available under this section may for planning or administration of the program under this section.

added “(j) Other technical and financial assistance

added “(1) The Secretary may use up to 5 percent of the funds appropriated under this section to provide technical assistance as described in this subsection.

added “(2) The Secretary shall—

added “(A) provide technical assistance to coastal States and local governments in identifying and obtaining other sources of available Federal technical and financial assistance for the development and revision of a working waterfronts plan and the implementation of an approved working waterfronts plan;

added “(B) provide technical assistance to States and local governments for the development, implementation, and revision of comprehensive working waterfronts plans, which may include, subject to the availability of appropriations, planning grants and assistance, pilot projects, feasibility studies, research, and other projects necessary to further the purposes of this section;

added “(C) assist States in developing other tools to protect working waterfronts;

added “(D) collect and disseminate to States guidance for best stormwater management practices in regards to working waterfronts;

added “(E) provide technical assistance to States and local governments on integrating resilience planning into working waterfronts preservation efforts; and

added “(F) collect and disseminate best practices on working waterfronts and resilience planning.

added “(k) Reports

added “(1) The Secretary shall—

added “(A) develop performance measures to evaluate and report on the effectiveness of the program under this section in accomplishing the purpose of this section; and

added “(B) submit to Congress a biennial report that includes such evaluations, an account of all expenditures, and descriptions of all projects carried out using grants awarded under this section.

added “(2) The Secretary may submit the biennial report under paragraph (1)(B) by including it in the biennial report required under section 316.

added “(l) Definitions—In this section, the following definitions apply:

added “(1) Qualified holder—The term qualified holder means a coastal State or a unit of local or coastal State government or a non-State organization designated by a coastal State under subsection (g).

added “(2) Working waterfront—The term working waterfront means real property (including support structures over water and other facilities) that provides access to coastal waters to persons engaged in commercial and recreational fishing, recreational fishing and boating businesses, other marine recreational and tourism businesses, boatbuilding, aquaculture, or other water-dependent, coastal-related business and is used for, or that supports, commercial and recreational fishing, recreational fishing and boating businesses, boatbuilding, other marine recreational and tourism businesses, aquaculture, or other water-dependent, coastal-related business.

added “(3) Working waterfront covenant—The term working waterfront covenant means an agreement in recordable form between the owner of working waterfront and one or more qualified holders, that provides such assurances as the Secretary may require that—

added “(A) the title to or interest in the working waterfront will be held by a grant recipient or qualified holder in perpetuity, except as provided in subparagraph (C);

added “(B) the working waterfront will be managed in a manner that is consistent with the purposes for which the property is acquired pursuant to this section, and the property will not be converted to any use that is inconsistent with the purpose of this section;

added “(C) if the title to or interest in the working waterfront is sold or otherwise exchanged—

added “(i) all working waterfront owners and qualified holders involved in such sale or exchange shall accede to such agreement; and

added “(ii) funds equal to the fair market value of the working waterfront or interest in working waterfront shall be paid to the Secretary by parties to the sale or exchange, and such funds shall, at the discretion of the Secretary, be paid to the coastal State in which the working waterfront is located for use in the implementation of the working waterfront plan of the State approved by the Secretary under this section; and

added “(D) such covenant is subject to enforcement and oversight by the coastal State or by another person as determined appropriate by the Secretary.

added “(m) Authorization of appropriations—There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027 to carry out this section.”

removed “320. Working Waterfronts Grant Program

removed “(a) Working waterfront task force

removed “(1) Establishment and functions—The Secretary of Commerce shall establish a task force to work directly with coastal States, user groups, and coastal stakeholders to identify and address critical needs with respect to working waterfronts.

removed “(2) Membership—The members of the task force shall be appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, and shall include—

removed “(A) experts in the unique economic, social, cultural, ecological, geographic, and resource concerns of working waterfronts; and

removed “(B) representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Coastal Management, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Geological Survey, the Navy, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Economic Development Agency, and such other Federal agencies as the Secretary considers appropriate.

removed “(3) Functions—The task force shall—

removed “(A) identify and prioritize critical needs with respect to working waterfronts in States that have a management program approved by the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to section 306, in the areas of—

removed “(i) economic and cultural importance of working waterfronts to communities;

removed “(ii) changing environments and threats working waterfronts face from environment changes, trade barriers, sea level rise, extreme weather events, ocean acidification, and harmful algal blooms; and

removed “(iii) identifying working waterfronts and highlighting them within communities;

removed “(B) outline options, in coordination with coastal States and local stakeholders, to address such critical needs, including adaptation and mitigation where applicable;

removed “(C) identify Federal agencies that are responsible under existing law for addressing such critical needs; and

removed “(D) recommend Federal agencies best suited to address any critical needs for which no agency is responsible under existing law.

removed “(4) Information to be considered—In identifying and prioritizing policy gaps pursuant to paragraph (3), the task force shall consider the findings and recommendations contained in section VI of the report entitled “The Sustainable Working Waterfronts Toolkit: Final Report”, dated March 2013.

removed “(5) Report—Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this section, the task force shall submit a report to Congress on its findings.

removed “(6) Implementation—The head of each Federal agency identified in the report pursuant to paragraph (3)(C) shall take such action as is necessary to implement the recommendations contained in the report by not later than 1 year after the date of the issuance of the report.

removed “(b) Working Waterfront Grant Program

removed “(1) The Secretary shall establish a Working Waterfront Grant Program, in cooperation with appropriate State, regional, and other units of government, under which the Secretary may make a grant to any coastal State for the purpose of implementing a working waterfront plan approved by the Secretary under subsection (c).

removed “(2) Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall award matching grants under the Working Waterfronts Grant Program to coastal States with approved working waterfront plans through a regionally equitable, competitive funding process in accordance with the following:

removed “(A) The Governor, or the lead agency designated by the Governor for coordinating the implementation of this section, where appropriate in consultation with the appropriate local government, shall determine that the application is consistent with the State’s or territory’s approved coastal zone plan, program, and policies prior to submission to the Secretary.

removed “(B) In developing guidelines under this section, the Secretary shall consult with coastal States, other Federal agencies, and other interested stakeholders with expertise in working waterfront planning.

removed “(C) Coastal States may allocate grants to local governments, Indian Tribes, agencies, or nongovernmental organizations eligible for assistance under this section.

removed “(3) In awarding a grant to a coastal State, the Secretary shall consider—

removed “(A) the economic, cultural, and historical significance of working waterfront to the coastal State;

removed “(B) the demonstrated working waterfront needs of the coastal State as outlined by a working waterfront plan approved for the coastal State under subsection (c), and the value of the proposed project for the implementation of such plan;

removed “(C) the ability to successfully leverage funds among participating entities, including Federal programs, regional organizations, State and other government units, landowners, corporations, or private organizations;

removed “(D) the potential for rapid turnover in the ownership of working waterfront in the coastal State, and where applicable the need for coastal States to respond quickly when properties in existing or potential working waterfront areas or public access areas as identified in the working waterfront plan submitted by the coastal State come under threat or become available; and

removed “(E) the impact of the working waterfront plan approved for the coastal State under subsection (c) on the coastal ecosystem and the users of the coastal ecosystem.

removed “(4) The Secretary shall approve or reject an application for such a grant within 60 days after receiving an application for the grant.

removed “(c) Working waterfront plans

removed “(1) To be eligible for a grant under subsection (b), a coastal State must submit and have approved by the Secretary a comprehensive working waterfront plan in accordance with this subsection, or be in the process of developing such a plan and have an established working waterfront program at the State or local level, or the Secretary determines that an existing coastal land use plan for that State is in accordance with this subsection.

removed “(2) Such plan—

removed “(A) must provide for preservation and expansion of access to coastal waters to persons engaged in commercial fishing, recreational fishing and boating businesses, aquaculture, boatbuilding, or other water-dependent, coastal-related business;

removed “(B) shall include one or more of—

removed “(i) an assessment of the economic, social, cultural, and historic value of working waterfront to the coastal State;

removed “(ii) a description of relevant State and local laws and regulations affecting working waterfront in the geographic areas identified in the working waterfront plan;

removed “(iii) identification of geographic areas where working waterfronts are currently under threat of conversion to uses incompatible with commercial and recreational fishing, recreational fishing and boating businesses, aquaculture, boat­build­ing, or other water-dependent, coastal-related business, and the level of that threat;

removed “(iv) identification of geographic areas with a historic connection to working waterfronts where working waterfronts are not currently available, and, where appropriate, an assessment of the environmental impacts of any expansion or new development of working waterfronts on the coastal ecosystem;

removed “(v) identification of other working waterfront needs including improvements to existing working waterfronts and working waterfront areas;

removed “(vi) a strategic and prioritized plan for the preservation, expansion, and improvement of working waterfronts in the coastal State;

removed “(vii) for areas identified under clauses (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi), identification of current availability and potential for expansion of public access to coastal waters;

removed “(viii) a description of the degree of community support for such strategic plan; and

removed “(ix) a contingency plan for properties that revert to the coastal State pursuant to determinations made by the coastal State under subsection (g)(4)(C);

removed “(C) may include detailed environmental impacts on working waterfronts, including hazards, sea level rise, inundation exposure, and other resiliency issues;

removed “(D) may be part of the management program approved under section 306;

removed “(E) shall utilize to the maximum extent practicable existing information contained in relevant surveys, plans, or other strategies to fulfill the information requirements under this paragraph; and

removed “(F) shall incorporate the policies and regulations adopted by communities under local working waterfront plans or strategies in existence before the date of the enactment of this section.

removed “(3) A working waterfront plan—

removed “(A) shall be effective for purposes of this section for the 5-year period beginning on the date it is approved by the Secretary;

removed “(B) must be updated and re-approved by the Secretary before the end of such period; and

removed “(C) shall be complimentary to and incorporate the policies and objectives of regional or local working waterfront plans as in effect before the date of enactment of this section or as subsequently revised.

removed “(4) The Secretary may—

removed “(A) award planning grants to coastal States for the purpose of developing or revising comprehensive working waterfront plans; and

removed “(B) award grants consistent with the purposes of this section to States undertaking the working waterfront planning process under this section, for the purpose of preserving and protecting working waterfronts during such process.

removed “(5) Any coastal State applying for a working waterfront grant under this title shall—

removed “(A) develop a working waterfront plan, using a process that involves the public and those with an interest in the coastal zone;

removed “(B) coordinate development and implementation of such a plan with other coastal management programs, regulations, and activities of the coastal State; and

removed “(C) if the coastal State allows qualified holders (other than the coastal State) to enter into working waterfront covenants, provide as part of the working waterfront plan under this subsection a mechanism or procedure to ensure that the qualified holders are complying their duties to enforce the working waterfront covenant.

removed “(d) Uses, terms, and conditions

removed “(1) Each grant made by the Secretary under this section shall be subject to such terms and conditions as may be appropriate to ensure that the grant is used for purposes consistent with this section.

removed “(2) A grant under this section may be used—

removed “(A) to acquire a working waterfront, or an interest in a working waterfront;

removed “(B) to make improvements to a working waterfront, including the construction or repair of wharfs, boat ramps, or related facilities; or

removed “(C) for necessary climate adaptation mitigation.

removed “(e) Public access requirement—A working waterfront project funded by grants made under this section must provide for expansion, improvement, or preservation of reasonable and appropriate public access to coastal waters at or in the vicinity of a working waterfront, except for commercial fishing or other industrial access points where the coastal State determines that public access would be unsafe.

removed “(f) Limitations

removed “(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a grant awarded under this section may be used to purchase working waterfront or an interest in working waterfront, including an easement, only from a willing seller and at fair market value.

removed “(2) A grant awarded under this section may be used to acquire working waterfront or an interest in working waterfront at less than fair market value only if the owner certifies to the Secretary that the sale is being entered into willingly and without coercion.

removed “(3) No Federal, State, or local entity may exercise the power of eminent domain to secure title to any property or facilities in connection with a project carried out under this section.

removed “(g) Allocation of grants to local governments and other entities

removed “(1) The Secretary shall encourage coastal States to broadly allocate amounts received as grants under this section among working waterfronts identified in working waterfront plans approved under subsection (c).

removed “(2) Subject to the approval of the Secretary, a coastal State may, as part of an approved working waterfront plan, designate as a qualified holder any unit of State or local government or nongovernmental organization, if the coastal State is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the property will be managed in a manner that is consistent with the purposes for which the land entered into the program.

removed “(3) A coastal State or a qualified holder designated by a coastal State may allocate to a unit of local government, nongovernmental organization, fishing cooperative, or other entity, a portion of any grant made under this section for the purpose of carrying out this section, except that such an allocation shall not relieve the coastal State of the responsibility for ensuring that any funds so allocated are applied in furtherance of the coastal State's approved working waterfront plan.

removed “(4) A qualified holder may hold title to or interest in property acquired under this section, except that—

removed “(A) all persons holding title to or interest in working waterfront affected by a grant under this section, including a qualified holder, private citizen, private business, nonprofit organization, fishing cooperative, or other entity, shall enter into a working waterfront covenant;

removed “(B) such covenant shall be held by the coastal State or a qualified holder designated under paragraph (2);

removed “(C) if the coastal State determines, on the record after an opportunity for a hearing, that the working waterfront covenant has been violated—

removed “(i) all right, title, and interest in and to the working waterfront covered by such covenant shall, except as provided in subparagraph (D), revert to the coastal State; and

removed “(ii) the coastal State shall have the right of immediate entry onto the working waterfront;

removed “(D) if a coastal State makes a determination under subparagraph (C), the coastal State may convey or authorize the qualified holder to convey the working waterfront or interest in working waterfront to another qualified holder; and

removed “(E) nothing in this subsection waives any legal requirement under any Federal or State law.

removed “(h) Matching contributions

removed “(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall require that each coastal State that receives a grant under this section, or a qualified holder designated by that coastal State under subsection (g), shall provide matching funds in an amount equal to at least 25 percent of the total cost of the project carried out with the grant.

removed “(2) The Secretary may waive the application of paragraph (1) for any qualified holder that is an underserved community, a community that has an inability to draw on other sources of funding because of the small population or low income of the community, or for other reasons the Secretary considers appropriate.

removed “(3) A local community designated as a qualified holder under subsection (g) may utilize funds or other in-kind contributions donated by a nongovernmental partner to satisfy the matching funds requirement under this subsection.

removed “(4) As a condition of receipt of a grant under this section, the Secretary shall require that a coastal State provide to the Secretary such assurances as the Secretary determines are sufficient to demonstrate that the share of the cost of each eligible project that is not funded by the grant awarded under this section has been secured.

removed “(5) If financial assistance under this section represents only a portion of the total cost of a project, funding from other Federal sources may be applied to the cost of the project. Each portion shall be subject to match requirements under the applicable provision of law.

removed “(6) The Secretary shall treat as non-Federal match the value of a working waterfront or interest in a working waterfront, including conservation and other easements, that is held in perpetuity by a qualified holder, if the working waterfront or interest is identified in the application for the grant and acquired by the qualified holder within 3 years of the grant award date, or within 3 years after the submission of the application and before the end of the grant award period. Such value shall be determined by an appraisal performed at such time before the award of the grant as the Secretary considers appropriate.

removed “(7) The Secretary shall treat as non-Federal match the costs associated with acquisition of a working waterfront or an interest in a working waterfront, and the costs of restoration, enhancement, or other improvement to a working waterfront, if the activities are identified in the project application and the costs are incurred within the period of the grant award, or, for working waterfront described in paragraph (6), within the same time limits described in that paragraph. These costs may include either cash or in-kind contributions.

removed “(i) Limit on administrative costs—No more than 5 percent of the funds made available to the Secretary under this section may be used by the Secretary for planning or administration of the program under this section.

removed “(j) Other technical and financial assistance

removed “(1) Up to 5 percent of the funds appropriated under this section may be used by the Secretary for purposes of providing technical assistance as described in this subsection.

removed “(2) The Secretary shall—

removed “(A) provide technical assistance to coastal States and local governments in identifying and obtaining other sources of available Federal technical and financial assistance for the development and revision of a working waterfront plan and the implementation of an approved working waterfront plan;

removed “(B) provide technical assistance to States and local governments for the development, implementation, and revision of comprehensive working waterfront plans, which may include, subject to the availability of appropriations, planning grants and assistance, pilot projects, feasibility studies, research, and other projects necessary to further the purposes of this section;

removed “(C) assist States in developing other tools to protect working waterfronts;

removed “(D) collect and disseminate to States guidance for best storm water management practices in regards to working waterfronts;

removed “(E) provide technical assistance to States and local governments on integrating resilience planning into working waterfront preservation efforts; and

removed “(F) collect and disseminate best practices on working waterfronts and resilience planning.

removed “(k) Reports

removed “(1) The Secretary shall—

removed “(A) develop performance measures to evaluate and report on the effectiveness of the program under this section in accomplishing the purpose of this section; and

removed “(B) submit to Congress a biennial report that includes such evaluations, an account of all expenditures, and descriptions of all projects carried out using grants awarded under this section.

removed “(2) The Secretary may submit the biennial report under paragraph (1)(B) by including it in the biennial report required under section 316.

removed “(l) Definitions—In this section:

removed “(1) The term qualified holder means a coastal State or a unit of local or coastal State government or a non-State organization designated by a coastal State under subsection (g).

removed “(2) The term Secretary means the Secretary, acting through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

removed “(3) The term working waterfront means real property (including support structures over water and other facilities) that provides access to coastal waters to persons engaged in commercial and recreational fishing, recreational fishing and boating businesses, boatbuilding, aquaculture, or other water-dependent, coastal-related business and is used for, or that supports, commercial and recreational fishing, recreational fishing and boating businesses, boatbuilding, aquaculture, or other water-dependent, coastal-related business.

removed “(4) The term working waterfront covenant means an agreement in recordable form between the owner of working waterfront and one or more qualified holders, that provides such assurances as the Secretary may require that—

removed “(A) the title to or interest in the working waterfront will be held by a grant recipient or qualified holder in perpetuity, except as provided in subparagraph (C);

removed “(B) the working waterfront will be managed in a manner that is consistent with the purposes for which the property is acquired pursuant to this section, and the property will not be converted to any use that is inconsistent with the purpose of this section;

removed “(C) if the title to or interest in the working waterfront is sold or otherwise exchanged—

removed “(i) all working waterfront owners and qualified holders involved in such sale or exchange shall accede to such agreement; and

removed “(ii) funds equal to the fair market value of the working waterfront or interest in working waterfront shall be paid to the Secretary by parties to the sale or exchange, and such funds shall, at the discretion of the Secretary, be paid to the coastal State in which the working waterfront is located for use in the implementation of the working waterfront plan of the State approved by the Secretary under this section; and

removed “(D) such covenant is subject to enforcement and oversight by the coastal State or by another person as determined appropriate by the Secretary.

removed “(m) Authorization of appropriations—There is authorized to be appropriated to the Grant Program $15,000,000.”

removed “321. Working Waterfronts Preservation Loan Fund

removed “(a) Fund—There is established in the Treasury a separate account that shall be known as the “Working Waterfronts Preservation Loan Fund” (in this section referred to as the “Fund”).

removed “(b) Use

removed “(1) Subject to the availability of appropriations, amounts in the Fund may be used by the Secretary to make loans to coastal States for the purpose of implementing a working waterfront plan approved by the Secretary under section 320(c) through preservation, improvement, restoration, rehabilitation, acquisition of working waterfront properties under criteria established by the Secretary.

removed “(2) Upon enactment of this section, the Secretary of Commerce shall conduct a feasibility study on the administration of the development and management of a Working Waterfronts Preservation Loan Fund.

removed “(3) Upon the completion of the study under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall establish a fund in accordance with the results of that study, and establish such criteria as referenced in subsection (c) in consultation with States that have a management program approved by the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to section 306 and local government coastal management programs.

removed “(c) Award criteria—The Secretary shall award loans under this section through a regionally equitable, competitive funding process, and in accordance with the following:

removed “(1) The Governor, or the lead agency designated by the Governor for coordinating the implementation of this section, where appropriate in consultation with the appropriate local government, shall determine that an application for a loan is consistent with the State’s approved coastal zone plan, program, and policies prior to submission to the Secretary.

removed “(2) In developing guidelines under this section, the Secretary shall consult with coastal States, other Federal agencies, and other interested stakeholders with expertise in working waterfront planning.

removed “(3) Coastal States may allocate amounts loaned under this section to local governments, Indian Tribes, agencies, or nongovernmental organizations eligible for loans under this section.

removed “(4) In awarding a loan for activities in a coastal State, the Secretary shall consider—

removed “(A) the economic and cultural significance of working waterfront to the coastal State;

removed “(B) the demonstrated working waterfront needs of the coastal State as outlined by a working waterfront plan approved for the coastal State under section 320(c), and the value of the proposed loan for the implementation of such plan;

removed “(C) the ability to successfully leverage loan funds among participating entities, including Federal programs, regional organizations, State and other government units, landowners, corporations, or private organizations;

removed “(D) the potential for rapid turnover in the ownership of working waterfront in the coastal State, and where applicable the need for coastal States to respond quickly when properties in existing or potential working waterfront areas or public access areas as identified in the working waterfront plan submitted by the coastal State come under threat or become available;

removed “(E) the impact of the loan on the coastal ecosystem and the users of the coastal ecosystem; and

removed “(F) the extent of the historic connection between working waterfronts for which the loan will be used and the local communities within the coastal State.

removed “(d) Loan amount and terms

removed “(1) The amount of a loan under this section—

removed “(A) shall be not less than $100,000; and

removed “(B) shall not exceed 15 percent of the amount in the Fund as of July 1 of the fiscal year in which the loan is made.

removed “(2) The interest rate for a loan under this section shall not exceed 4 percent.

removed “(3) The repayment term for a loan under this section shall not exceed 20 years.

removed “(e) Deadline for approval—The Secretary shall approve or reject an application for a loan under this section within 60 days after receiving an application for the loan.

removed “(f) Limit on administrative costs—No more than 5 percent of the funds made available to the Secretary under this section may be used by the Secretary for planning or administration of the program under this section.

removed “(g) Definitions—The definitions in section 320(l) shall apply to this section.

removed “(h) Authorization of appropriations—There is authorized to be appropriated to the Fund $15,000,000.”

removed Section 303A(c) (16 U.S.C. 1853a(c)) is amended—

“(L) consider the needs of fishing communities and provide a process for fishing communities to participate in the limited access privilege program in accordance with subsection (c)(3).”

“(3) Fishing communities

“(A) Eligibility—To be eligible to participate in a limited access privilege program to harvest fish, a fishing community shall—

“(i) be located within the management area of the relevant Council;

added “(ii) consist of residents who conduct commercial or recreational fishing, processing, or fishery-dependent support businesses within the Council's management area;

added “(iii) seek to participate in such program for a purpose other than perfecting or realizing a security interest in such access; and

added “(iv) develop and submit a community sustainability plan to the Council and the Secretary that demonstrates how the plan will address the social and economic development needs of coastal communities, including those that have not historically had the resources to participate in the fishery, for approval.

removed “(ii) consist of residents who conduct commercial or recreational fishing, processing, or fishery-dependent support businesses within the Council's management area; and

removed “(iii) develop and submit a community sustainability plan to the Council and the Secretary that demonstrates how the plan will address the social and economic development needs of coastal communities, including those that have not historically had the resources to participate in the fishery, for approval.

“(B) Community sustainability plan approval

added “(i) In general—A community sustainability plan submitted by a fishing community to a Council and the Secretary for approval shall include the following components:

added “(I) A description of the entity and the Board and governance for the entity that will receive the allocation.

removed “(i) In general—A community sustainability plan submitted by a fishing community to a Council for approval shall include the following components:

removed “(I) A description of the Board and governance for the entity that will receive the allocation.

“(II) A description of the quota allocation process that will be used by the fishing community entity, including an appeals process within the entity.

“(III) Provisions for monitoring and enforcement of the community sustainability plan.

“(IV) Goals and objectives for the fishing community and how the entity will use the allocation to meet those goals and objectives.

“(V) A description of how the entity will sustain the participation of the fishing community in the fisheries, including providing for new entry and intergenerational transfer, encouraging active participation and addressing economic barriers to access to the fisheries.

added “(VI) A description of how the community sustainability plan will address the projected economic and social impacts associated with the implementation of the limited access privilege program, including the potential for strengthening economic conditions in remote fishing communities lacking the resources to participate in harvesting activities in the fishery.

added “(VII) A description of how the community sustainability plan will ensure the benefits of participating in the limited access privilege program accrue to the fishing community and participants, including limitations or measures necessary to prevent an inequitable concentration of limited access privileges within the fishing community.

added “(ii) Previously adopted plan—A community sustainability plan submitted before the date of enactment of the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2022 shall not be invalidated by failure to comply with clause (i) unless such plan is amended after such date.”

removed “(VI) A description of how the community sustainability plan will address the projected economic and social impacts associated with the implementation of the limited access program, including the potential for strengthening economic conditions in remote fishing communities lacking the resources to participate in harvesting activities in the fishery.

removed “(VII) A description of how the community sustainability plan will ensure the benefits of participating in the limited access privilege program accrue to the fishing community and participants.

removed “(ii) Previously adopted plan—A community sustainability plan submitted before the date of enactment of the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2021 shall not be invalidated by failure to comply with clause (i) unless such plan is amended after such date.”

changed Section 2(a)(3) (16 U.S.C. 1802(a)(3)) 1801(a)(3)) is amended to read as follows:

changed “(3) Commercial Commercial, recreational, and recreational fishing (including charter fishing) constitutes a fishing constitute major source sources of employment and contributes contribute significantly to the economy of the Nation. nation. Many coastal areas are dependent upon fishing and related activities, and their economies have been badly damaged by the overfishing of fishery resources; ensuring sustainable use of fishery resources is essential to the economic well-being of these areas.”

“(7) Tribal representative on North Pacific Council

changed “(A) Appointment—The Secretary shall appoint to the North Pacific Council 2 individuals described in subparagraph (B) to serve as representatives of Indian tribes Tribes in Alaska that are identified (including parenthetically) on the most current list (as of the date of the enactment of this paragraph) published by the Secretary under section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131) from a list submitted by the Tribal governments. governments of those Tribes. The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Interior and the Interior, Tribal governments Governments, and the Alaska Federation of Natives, shall determine establish by regulation the procedure for submitting a list under this subparagraph.

changed “(B) Representation—Representation shall be rotated among affected tribal regions, taking into consideration—Required qualifications—An individual is described in this subparagraph if such individual possesses knowledge of the region’s anadramous fish, of the marine resources managed by the Council, of the effects of the Council’s actions on such resources ,and of the region’s subsistence uses, customs, and traditions relating to such resources and—

added “(i) possesses knowledge of commercial and sport uses of anadramous fish and marine resources in the region; or

added “(ii) demonstrates leadership through involvement in local or regional fish and wildlife management organizations.

added “(C) Representation—Representation shall be rotated among affected tribal regions, taking into consideration—

“(i) the qualifications of the individuals on the list described in subparagraph (A);

“(ii) the degree to which the Indian tribes in the region are dependent on anadromous fish and marine resources in the area managed by the Council and the impact of Council actions on such resources; and

“(iii) the geographic area in which the tribe of the representative is located.

added “(D) Filling of vacancy—A vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of any term shall be filled in the same manner as set out in subparagraphs (A) and (C), except that the Secretary may use the list from which the vacating representative was chosen.

added “(E) Designation of alternate—The tribal representative appointed under subparagraph (A) may designate as an alternate an individual knowledgeable concerning tribal rights and fishing practices, Indigenous traditional knowledge, tribal law, and other marine resources of the geographical area concerned.

added “(F) Term of appointment—An individual appointed under subparagraph (A) shall serve on the North Pacific Council until such time as a new appointment to the tribal seat is made under subparagraph (A).”

removed “(C) Filling of vacancy—A vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of any term shall be filled in the same manner as set out in subparagraphs (A) and (B), except that the Secretary may use the list from which the vacating representative was chosen.

removed “(D) Designation of alternate—The tribal representative appointed under subparagraph (A) may designate as an alternate an individual knowledgeable concerning tribal rights and fishing practices, Indigenous traditional knowledge, tribal law, and other marine resources of the geographical area concerned.

removed “(E) Term of appointment—An individual appointed under subparagraph (A) shall serve on the North Pacific Council until such time as new appointment to the tribal seat is made under subparagraph (A).”

Section 302(a) (16 U.S.C. 1852(a)) is amended—

changed “(4) Requirements for liaison—The Secretary may only shall appoint an individual to be a liaison between 2 the Councils under this subsection if such individual described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) who has expertise in a fishery that spans the geographical areas of both such Councils.”

“(6) To the extent possible, each Council shall—

“(A) seek to hold meetings in person; and

“(B) ensure the availability of remote meeting participation and voting.”

“(G) Each Council shall make available on the website of the Council—

changed “(i) to the extent practicable, possible, a webcast or a live audio or video broadcast of each meeting of the Council, and of the Council Coordination Committee established under subsection (l), that is not closed in accordance with paragraph (3); and

“(ii) an audio or video recording (if the meeting was in person or by video conference), or a searchable audio recording or written transcript, of each meeting of the Council and of the meetings of committees referred to in section 302(g)(1)(B) of the Council, by not later than 30 days after the conclusion of the meeting.

changed “(H) The Secretary shall maintain and make available to the public public, for a period of not less than 5 years beginning on the date of a meeting, an archive of Council and scientific and statistical committee meeting audio and video recordings and transcripts made available under clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (G).”

removed “(8) Council, committee, and advisory panel members shall be subject to all law, rules, and policies regarding ethics and sexual harassment and assault that apply to Federal employees. Council, committee, and advisory panel members found to have violated such laws, rules, or policies shall be held individually liable for their actions. The Secretary may impose civil penalties for violations including suspension or expulsion from participation or membership in a council, advisory body, or related entity or activity.”

removed “(B) the term “designated official” means an attorney employed in the Office of the General Counsel of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with an expertise in Federal conflict-of-interest requirements who is designated by the Secretary, in consultation with the Council, to attend Council meetings and make determinations under paragraph (7)(B).”

removed “(m) Lobbying

removed “(1) Prohibition on council lobbying—Regional Fishery Management Council members, members of Council advisory bodies, and Council employees and contractors, are prohibited from using Federal funds to attempt to influence the introduction, advancement, enactment, amendment, or repeal of Federal or State legislation, as well as the issuance, advancement, modification, or overturning of an executive order, Presidential proclamation, or similar Presidential directive or decree. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such individuals may provide a technical and factual presentation directly related to the performance of a Council’s duties, through hearing testimony or written statements, if such presentation is in response to a documented request and is made available under paragraph (4).

removed “(2) Adjudicating violations

removed “(A) Initiation by Secretary—The Secretary may initiate an investigation of a potential violation of this subsection.

removed “(B) Complaint—The Secretary shall investigate a complaint submitted by any person or government entity regarding a potential violation of this subsection.

removed “(3) Penalties—If the Secretary determines that an individual violated paragraph (1), such individual shall be subject to civil penalties including suspension or expulsion from participation in, membership of, or employment by a council, advisory body, or related entity or activity.

removed “(4) Content of communications—Councils shall maintain and make publicly available Council websites—

removed “(A) copies of all documents and communication relevant to paragraph (1), including any relevant Council meeting minutes, briefing book materials, and correspondence, including with a office of general counsel of a regional office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

removed “(B) copies of all communication with Federal or State legislators, or any communication with executive branch officials on subjects other than routine fishery management in the region; and

removed “(C) documentation of verbal communication with Federal or State legislators or with Federal executive branch officials on subjects other than routine fishery management in the region.

removed “(5) Training—The Secretary shall provide training to individuals described in paragraph (1) on compliance with rules issued under this subsection and general limits of Federal grant recipients on contacts with members and staff of the Executive and Legislative branches.

removed “(6) Report—The Secretary shall submit an annual report to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate that describes—

removed “(A) the funding provided to implement this subsection;

removed “(B) complaints received of and investigations into potential violations of this subsection; and

removed “(C) barriers associated with and proposals to improve implementation of this subsection.

removed “(7) Regulations—Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2021, the Secretary shall issue implementing regulations for this subsection.”

“(A) Required expertise—In making appointments to the Council under this section, the Secretary shall appoint an individual who, by reason of occupational or other experience, scientific expertise, or training, is knowledgeable regarding—

“(i) the conservation and management, or the commercial, recreational, or subsistence harvest, of the fishery resources of the geographic area concerned; or

“(ii) ecosystem-based fishery management or climate science.”

added “(B) Apportionment—The Secretary, in making appointments under this section, shall, to the extent practicable, ensure a fair and balanced apportionment, on a rotating or other basis, of active participants (or their representatives) in the commercial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries under the jurisdiction of the Council and of members of the conservation community, scientists, non-consumptive users, and indigenous and tribal communities as applicable, and of the active participants (or their representatives) in the commercial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries under the jurisdiction of the Council. The Secretary shall, on an annual basis, submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report on the actions taken by the Secretary to ensure that such fair and balanced apportionment is achieved. The report shall—

removed “(B) Apportionment—The Secretary, in making appointments under this section, shall, to the extent practicable, ensure a fair and balanced apportionment, on a rotating or other basis, of active participants or representatives of such participants in the commercial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries under the jurisdiction of the Council and of members of the conservation community, scientists, non-consumptive users, and indigenous and tribal communities as applicable, and of the active participants (or their representatives) in the commercial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries under the jurisdiction of the Council. The Secretary shall, on an annual basis, submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report on the actions taken by the Secretary to ensure that such fair and balanced apportionment is achieved. The report shall—

“(i) list the fisheries under the jurisdiction of each Council, outlining for each fishery the type and quantity of fish harvested, fishing and processing methods employed, the number of participants, the duration and range of the fishery, and other distinguishing characteristics;

“(ii) assess the membership of each Council in terms of the apportionment of the active participants in each such fishery and of members of the conservation community, scientists, non-consumptive users, indigenous and tribal communities; and

“(iii) state the Secretary's plans and schedule for actions to achieve a fair and balanced apportionment on the Council for the active participants in any such fishery and for the categories of members listed in clause (ii).”

“(C) Appointments

“(i) List from Governor

“(I) Appointment from list—The Secretary shall appoint the members of each Council from a list of individuals submitted by the Governor of each applicable constituent State.

“(II) Requirements for list—in submitting a list for the purposes of subclause (I), a Governor—

“(aa) may only submit the name of an individual if such Governor has determined such individual is qualified under the requirements of subparagraph (A); and

“(bb) shall include the names and pertinent biographical data of not less than 3 individuals for each applicable vacancy and shall be accompanied by a statement by the Governor explaining how each such individual meets the requirements of subparagraph (A).

“(III) Review—The Secretary shall review each list submitted under this subparagraph. If the Secretary determines that any individual does not meet the requirements of this paragraph, the Secretary shall notify the appropriate Governor.

“(IV) Response to review—If a Governor receives notice under subclause (III), the Governor may submit a revised list or resubmit the original list with an additional explanation of the qualifications of the individual in question.

added “(ii) Individuals who do not have a financial interest—The Secretary shall appoint to each Council at least one individual who does not have a financial interest in matters before the Council.

removed “(ii) Individuals who do not have a financial interest—The Secretary shall appoint to each Council at least 1 individual who does not have a financial interest in matters before the Council.

“(iii) Financial disclosure requirements—An individual is not eligible for appointment by the Secretary until that individual complies with the applicable financial disclosure requirements under subsection (j).”

added “(F) Geographic representation—In appointing at-large members to the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, the Secretary shall ensure geographic representation across all constituent states of the Council.”

added “(B) the term designated official means an attorney employed in the Office of the General Counsel of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with an expertise in Federal conflict-of-interest requirements who is designated by the Secretary, in consultation with the Council, to attend Council meetings and make determinations under paragraph (7)(B).”

added “(m) Lobbying

added “(1) Prohibition on council lobbying

added “(A) In general—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), Regional Fishery Management Council members, members of Council advisory bodies, and Council employees and contractors, are prohibited from using Federal funds to attempt to influence the—

added “(i) introduction, advancement, enactment, amendment, or repeal of Federal or State legislation; or

added “(ii) issuance, modification, or overturning of an executive order, Presidential proclamation, or similar Presidential directive or decree.

added “(B) Technical and factual presentations—Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), such individuals may provide a technical and factual presentation directly related to the performance of a Council’s duties, through hearing testimony or written statements, if such presentation is in response to a documented request and is made available under paragraph (4).

added “(2) Adjudicating violations

added “(A) Initiation by Secretary—The Secretary may initiate an investigation of a potential violation of this subsection.

added “(B) Complaint—The Secretary shall investigate a complaint submitted by any person or government entity regarding a potential violation of this subsection.

added “(3) Penalties—If the Secretary determines that an individual violated paragraph (1), such individual shall be subject to disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion from participation in, membership of, or employment by a council, advisory body, or related entity or activity.

added “(4) Training—The Secretary shall provide training to individuals described in paragraph (1) on compliance with rules issued under this subsection and general limits of Federal grant recipients on contacts with members and staff of the Executive and Legislative branches.

added “(5) Report—The Secretary shall submit an annual report to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate that describes—

added “(A) the funding provided to implement this subsection;

added “(B) complaints received of and investigations into potential violations of this subsection; and

added “(C) barriers associated with and proposals to improve implementation of this subsection.

added “(6) Regulations—Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2022, the Secretary shall issue implementing regulations for this subsection.”

changed “(F) In appointing at-large members to the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, the Secretary shall ensure geographic representation across all constituent states of the Council.”“(n) Workplace harassment prevention

added “(1) Prohibition—The Secretary shall prohibit any person from harassing a covered individual during the conduct of duties under this Act.

added “(2) Harassment prevent training—Council members and staff shall, as a condition of employment, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2022 or such individual’s first day of employment by a Council and not less often than every 2 years thereafter, complete 2 hours of workplace harassment prevention training approved by the office authorized by section 3541 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017.

added “(3) Definitions—In this subsection:

added “(A) Covered individual—The term covered individuals means—

added “(i) council members;

added “(ii) council staff;

added “(iii) advisory panel members;

added “(iv) committee members;

added “(v) Federal fishery permit holders; or

added “(vi) staff, crew, employees, or contractors associated with a federally permitted vessel or a facility providing services to such vessels.

added “(B) Harassment—The term harassment means unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct based on race, color, national origin, religion, age (40 and above), sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), disability, genetic information, or prior Equal Employment Opportunity activity.”

changed Section 204(e) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1824(e)) is amended—

added “(v) western Pacific community based demonstration projects under section 112(b) of the Sustainable Fisheries Act and other coastal improvement projects in waters beyond the seaward boundary (as such term is defined in section 4 of the Submerged Lands Act) of any state to foster and promote the management, conservation, and economic enhancement of the Pacific Insular Areas.”

added “(B) In the case of American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, the appropriate Governor of the applicable Pacific Insular Area shall develop the marine conservation plan described in subparagraph (A) and submit such plan to the Secretary for approval. In the case of other Pacific Insular Areas, the Secretary and the appropriate Governor of the applicable Pacific Insular Area shall jointly develop the marine conservation plan described in subparagraph (A).”

added “(C) providing such funds as remain in the Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund after the funding requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B) have been satisfied to the Governor of Hawaii to meet conservation and management objectives in the State of Hawaii.”

removed “(A) In general

removed “(i) Requirement—Prior to entering into a Pacific Insular Area fishery agreement, the Western Pacific Council and the appropriate Governor shall develop a 3-year marine conservation plan including detailing uses for funds to be collected by the Secretary pursuant to such agreement.

removed “(ii) Process—Not later than 30 days before submitting a marine conservation plan to the Secretary for approval, the Western Pacific Council shall issue a public notice of intent to submit such plan to the Secretary, including publishing such plan.

removed “(iii) Contents—The marine conservation management plan required by clause (i) shall be consistent with any applicable fishery management plan, identify conservation and management objectives (including criteria for determining when such objectives have been met), and prioritize planned marine conservation projects. Conservation and management objectives shall include—

removed “(I) Pacific Insular Area observer programs, or other monitoring programs, that the Secretary determines are adequate to monitor the harvest, bycatch, and compliance with the laws of the United States by foreign fishing vessels that fish under Pacific Insular Area fishing agreements;

removed “(II) conduct of marine and fisheries research, including development of systems for information collection, analysis, evaluation, and reporting;

removed “(III) conservation, education, and enforcement activities related to marine and coastal management, such as living marine resource assessments, habitat monitoring and coastal studies;

removed “(IV) grants to the University of Hawaii for technical assistance projects by the Pacific Island Network, such as education and training in the development and implementation of sustainable marine resources development projects, scientific research, and conservation strategies; and

removed “(V) western Pacific community-based demonstration projects under section 112(b) of the Sustainable Fisheries Act and other coastal improvement projects in waters beyond the seaward boundary (as such term is defined in section 4 of the Submerged Lands Act) of any State to foster and promote the management, conservation, and economic enhancement of the Pacific Insular Areas.

removed “(iv) Applicability of recusal requirements—The development of a marine conservation plan under this subparagraph shall be a Council decision for the purposes of section 302(j).”

removed “(7) Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund—There is established in the United States Treasury a Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund into which any payments received by the Secretary under a Pacific Insular Area fishery agreement and any funds or contributions received in support of conservation and management objectives under a marine conservation plan for any Pacific Insular Area other than American Samoa, Guam, or the Northern Mariana Islands shall be deposited. The Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund shall be made available, without appropriation or fiscal year limitation, to the Secretary, who shall provide such funds only—

removed “(A) for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this subsection, as determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Western Pacific Sustainable Fishery Fund Advisory panel under paragraph (9), including implementation of a marine conservation plan approved under paragraph (4);

removed “(B) to the Secretary of State for mutually agreed upon travel expenses for no more than 2 Federal representatives incurred as a direct result of complying with paragraph (1)(B); and

removed “(C) to meet conservation and management objectives in the State of Hawaii if funds remain in the Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund after the funding requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B) have been satisfied.”

added “(9) Western pacific sustainable fishery fund advisory panel

added “(A) In general—To assist in carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall establish and convene an advisory panel under section 302(g) to evaluate, determine the relative merits of, and annually rank applications for grants for implementation of approved marine conservation plans approved under paragraph (4). The panel shall consist of members such that—

added “(i) the Governor of each applicable Pacific Insular Area selects one member; and

added “(ii) no member shall be a member or employee of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council.

added “(B) Award not in accordance with rank—If the Secretary awards a grant for a project not in accordance with the rank given to such project by the advisory panel, the Secretary shall provide a detailed written explanation of the reasons for such award.

added “(C) Notice—The Secretary shall provide to the public timely notice of each meeting of the advisory panel.

added “(D) Minutes—Minutes of each meeting of the advisory panel shall be kept by the Secretary and shall be made available to the public.

added “(E) Reports—The Secretary shall, with the assistance of the Western Pacific Sustainable Fishery Fund Advisory Panel, submit an annual report to Congress identifying any projects that were funded in the previous year and the status and progress of projects carried out under this subsection.

added “(F) Exemption from Federal Advisory Committee Act—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App) shall not apply to the advisory panel.”

removed “(9) Western Pacific Sustainable Fishery Fund Advisory panel

removed “(A) Establishment—The Secretary shall establish an advisory panel under section 302(g) to evaluate and annually rank applications for grants under paragraph (7).

removed “(B) Membership—The Secretary shall appoint to such advisory panel the following individuals who shall not be members or employees of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council:

removed “(i) One individual selected by the Governor of Hawaii.

removed “(ii) One individual selected by the Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands.

removed “(iii) One individual selected by the Governor of Guam.

removed “(iv) One individual selected by the by the Governor of American Samoa.

removed “(10) Written explanation—In any case in which the Secretary issues a grant that is inconsistent with the ranking given by such advisory panel under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall provide a detailed written explanation of such deviation.

removed “(11) Notice—The Secretary shall provide timely notice to the public of each meeting of such advisory panel.

removed “(12) Minutes—The Secretary shall publish minutes of each meeting of such advisory panel.

removed “(13) Report—The Secretary shall, in consultation with such advisory panel, submit an annual report to Congress identifying any projects funded in the previous year under this subsection and the status and progress of projects carried out under this subsection.

removed “(14) Exemption from Federal Advisory Committee Act—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App) shall not apply to such advisory panel.”

“(1) In general—Not later”

“(2) Included personnel—The individuals who work with or conduct business on behalf of the Administration referred to in paragraph (1) include the following:

“(A) Observers and at-sea monitors required by the National Marine Fisheries Service to be aboard commercial fishing vessels and other privately owned vessels, barges, or platforms for—

“(i) commercial fisheries observation required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act;

“(ii) protected species or endangered species observation required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 or the Endangered Species Act of 1973; or

“(iii) platform removal observation.

changed “(B) Voting members and Council members, executive and administrative staff staff, and advisory panel and committee members of regional fishery management councils established by under section 302 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.”Act.

added “(C) Federal fishery permit holders and staff, crew, employees, and contractors associated with federally permitted vessels under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. DA”

“(C) A synopsis of each case and the disciplinary action taken (if any) in each case.”

“(1) In general—Not later”

“(2) Included personnel—The individuals who work with or conduct business on behalf of the Administration referred to in paragraph (1) include the individuals described in section 3541(a)(2).”

“(2) Victim advocates—For purposes of this subsection, a victim advocate is a full-time permanent employee of the Administration trained in and responsible solely for matters relating to sexual assault and the comprehensive policy developed under subsection (a).”

“(5) A summary of the number of change of station, unit transfer, and change of work location requests submitted to the Under Secretary under section 3544(a), including the number of such requests that were denied.

“(6) A summary of the number of cases referred to the Coast Guard under section 3550.

“(7) The number of alleged sexual assaults and sexual harassment cases involving fisheries, protected species, and endangered species observers, including—

“(A) a synopsis of each case and the status;

“(B) the disposition of any investigation; and

“(C) a description of the fishery management region and fishery or the geographic region and type of permitted operation in which the assault or harassment is alleged to have occurred, as appropriate.”

“3548. Exceptions regarding anonymity of survivors in certain cases

“(a) In general—In any case in which an employee, member of the commissioned officer corps, or individual conducting business on behalf of the administration elects anonymous reporting under section 3541(b)(3)(B) or 3542(b)(5)(B), disclosure of such person’s personally identifying information is authorized to the following persons or organizations when disclosure would be for the following reasons:

“(1) To National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration staff or law enforcement personnel, when authorized by the survivor in writing.

“(2) To National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration staff or law enforcement personnel to prevent or lessen a serious or imminent threat to the health or safety of the survivor or another person.

“(3) To a victim advocate or healthcare provider, when required for the provision of victim services.

“(4) To a State or Federal court, when ordered by such court or if disclosure is required by Federal or State statute.

“(b) Notice of disclosure and privacy protection—In any case in which information is disclosed under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

“(1) make reasonable attempts to provide notice to the employee, member, or individual whose personally identifying information is disclosed; and

“(2) take such action as is necessary to protect the privacy and safety of the employee, member, or individual.

“3549. Restricted reporting

“(a) In general—Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, shall develop a mechanism to provide a system of restricted reporting.

changed “(b) Restricted reporting defined—In this section the term “restricted reporting” restricted reporting means a system of reporting that allows employees of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, members of the Commissioned Officer Corps of the Administration, and individuals who work with or conduct business on behalf of the Administration who are sexually assaulted to confidentially disclose the details of such person’s assault to specified individuals and receive the services outlined in this subtitle title—

“(1) without the dissemination of such persons’s personally identifying information except as necessary for the provision of such services; and

“(2) without automatically triggering an investigative process.

“3550. Mariner referral

“The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, acting through the Director of the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations and in consultation with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, develop and implement a policy to report to the Coast Guard Suspension and Revocation National Center of Expertise, the names of personnel of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who—

“(1) are the subject of a claim of an act or offense detrimental to good discipline and safety at sea, such as sexual harassment or sexual assault that is substantiated by an investigation under section 3546, or any other substantiated claim of an act or offense for which suspension or revocation of a credential is either mandatory or sought pursuant to part 5 of title 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations; and

“(2) are—

“(A) employees or contractors of the Administration required to hold a valid merchant mariner credential as a condition of employment; or

“(B) crew of a vessel that, at the time of such act or offence, was operating under a contract with the Administration.”

“(4) Section 657, relating to prohibition on service by individuals convicted of certain sexual offenses.”

changed “(8) require the collection of data necessary for the conservation and management of the fishery to be collected from a vessel of the United States engaged in fishing for species that are subject to the plan while that vessel is at-sea through—

“(A) electronic monitoring or other electronic technology; or

changed “(B) on-board observation, observers carried onboard such vessel, except that such a vessel shall not be required to carry an observer on board if the facilities of the vessel for the quartering of an observer, or for carrying out observer functions, are so inadequate or unsafe that the health or safety of the observer or the safe operation of the vessel would be jeopardized;”

“(3) Secretarial review—Not less often than once every 5 years, the Secretary shall review the procedures and policies by which information is collected, managed, and used to manage fisheries and revise information collection programs and policies needed to integrate data collection and management, improve the timeliness, quality, usability, cost-effectiveness, and to reduce unnecessary duplication within and across fishery management plans and regions. Upon the completion of each such review, the Secretary shall publish a report for the public describing the findings of such review and planned revisions to information collection programs.”

changed Not later than 1 one year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall report to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, on the National Marine Fisheries Service’s progress on prioritizing and improving stock assessments. Such report shall—

“(b) Eligible projects—The Secretary shall make funds available under the program for the support of cooperative research and management projects to address critical needs identified by the Councils. Each Council shall provide a list of such needs to the Secretary on an annual basis, identifying and prioritizing such needs. The program shall promote and encourage efforts to use sources of data maintained by other Federal agencies, State agencies, local and traditional knowledge, or academia for use in such projects.”

“(c) Priorities—In making funds available the Secretary shall award funding on a competitive basis and based on regional fishery management needs, select programs that form part of a coherent program of cooperative research or management projects focused on addressing priority issues identified by the Councils, and shall give priority to the following projects:

“(1) Projects to collect data to improve, supplement, or enhance stock assessments, including the use of fishing vessels or acoustic or other marine technology.

“(2) Projects to improve fishery dependent data collection, intake, use, and access including—

“(A) to assess the amount and type of bycatch or post-release mortality occurring in a fishery;

“(B) expanding the use of electronic technology and modernizing data management systems; and

“(C) improving monitoring coverage through the expanded use of electronic technology.

“(3) Conservation engineering or management projects designed to reduce bycatch, including avoidance of post-release mortality, reduction of bycatch in high seas fisheries, and transfer of such fishing technologies and methods to other nations, or other regional entities, including fishing communities, regional fishery associations, and fishing sectors.

“(4) Projects for the identification of habitat areas of particular concern and for habitat conservation.

“(5) Projects designed to collect and compile economic and social data for which electronic technologies can be added.

“(6) Projects to test and expand electronic technologies for monitoring, reporting, observer coverage, and other functions.

changed “(7) Projects that use electronic technologies to monitor changing ocean conditions, improve methods, support adaptive management, and ensure enhance climate resilient resilience in fisheries.

“(8) Projects designed to identify the impacts of anticipated changing ocean conditions, including climate change, on fish stocks, fisheries, and fishing communities or designed to develop conservation and management strategies to adapt to those impacts.

changed “(9) Cooperative management projects that make use of data collected under this section.”section.

added “(10) Projects to better understand shark depredation, what causes increases in the behavior, and how to best address the behavior.”

“(e) Cooperative management agreements

changed “(1) In general—Not later than 1 one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Councils and with input from the public, shall issue guidance to facilitate a transparent, timely, uniform, and regionally based process for the development, oversight, and management of cooperative management agreements.

“(2) Process for approval—The Secretary may use the process developed pursuant to (d) to approve cooperative management agreements as if such agreements are cooperative fishing agreements.

“(3) Performance standards—An agreement authorized by this subsection shall be subject to performance standards and accountability measures specified in a fishery management plan or otherwise established by the Secretary, in consultation with the Councils, and shall not allow catch in excess of annual catch limits or bycatch in excess of bycatch caps or limits.

“(4) Pre-existing agreements—This subsection shall not apply to a cooperative management agreement submitted to, proposed by or approved by the Secretary before the date of enactment of this Act.”

changed “(g) “(h) Public report of data—With respect to any cooperative research project funded or experimental fishing permit issued under this section, the appropriate Council shall publish a report of results and data generated by such project or under such permit.

changed “(h) “(i) Progress report—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries shall provide a report to Congress on progress in implementing the recommendations of the Cooperative Research and Cooperative Management Working Group report entitled “NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS–F/SPO–156” and published in August 2015 and on the development and implementation of any subsequent recommendations by such Working Group.”

changed “(l) Recreational data improvement—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2021, 2022, the Secretary shall establish guidelines for recreational catch data, which shall include the development of data standards to improve timeliness, accuracy, precision and validation of data produced by recreational surveys in order to facilitate the use of such data in assessments, for use in management actions, and for other uses as applicable. The Secretary’s guidelines shall consider the relevant recommendations developed under section 404(e), subsections (g)(4)(C) and (h) of section 401, and section 201(b) of the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2018 (16 U.S.C. 1881 note). If recreational catch data for a stock of fish come from more than one survey program, such as Federal and non-Federal sources, including from States or Marine Fisheries Commissions, the Secretary shall implement measures, which may include the use of calibration methods, as needed for the timely integration of such data to ensure consistent methods and approaches are used for monitoring of catch against the relevant annual catch limits and for other fishery science and management purposes.”

“409. Recreational data improvement program

“(a) In general—The Secretary shall initiate and maintain a comprehensive program to implement the requirements and associated guidelines in section 305(l). In executing the program, the Secretary shall coordinate with programs established in subsection 401(g) and promote collaboration with State and Federal partners.

changed “(b) Strategic plan—Not later than one year after the date of enactment of the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2021, 2022, and not less frequently than once every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall develop and publish in the Federal Register a strategic plan for recreational data improvements for the 5 years immediately following such publication. The plan shall—

“(1) improve coordination between Federal programs that implement recreational fishing surveys and other data from non-Federal sources, including data from States or Marine Fisheries Commissions;

“(2) improve the timeliness, accuracy, precision, and validation of data produced by surveys;

“(3) describe processes to calibrate data sources with historical time series data prior to being used for management;

“(4) develop methods to integrate recreational data collected from more than one source for use in assessments;

“(5) create goals, objectives, and timeframes for achievement of paragraphs (1) through (4);

“(6) consider the use and effectiveness of experimental fishing permits to carry out such research; and

“(7) describe the role of fishery participants in the program. In developing the strategic plan and subsequent plans, the Secretary shall cooperate with the Councils and affected States, provide for coordination with the Councils, affected States, and other research and data collection entities, and allow for public input.

“(c) Areas of research—In initiating and maintaining the program, the Secretary shall prioritize research and improvement in the following areas:

“(1) Development of data standards and validation processes for survey programs collecting data on recreational fishing catch and effort, including those produced by State agencies and considered integral or supplemental to Federal surveys.

“(2) Research to understand how surveys of recreational fishing can more effectively account for differences in fishing rate and effort, including among fishermen who use private or public access points, and fishermen who are State residents or non-residents.

“(3) Methods and policies to improve the estimation of discards in recreational fisheries, including estimation of discarded fish both during and outside of fishing seasons.

“(4) To improve understanding of best practices for minimizing discard mortality as well as estimation of adoption rates of such practices by fishermen.

“(5) To assess changes in discard mortality estimates when best fishing practices are adequately and verifiably applied.

“(6) Research on how the use of electronic applications can be used to collect data in recreational fisheries, including spatial information, depth, discard rate and disposition, release method, and socioeconomic information, while meeting data and validation standards.

“(7) Research on how electronic technologies can most effectively be incorporated into survey designs.

“(8) Research of methods to integrate recreational catch data from more than one survey source for use in assessments.

“(9) The use of approaches to improve recreational data, including the use of tag and endorsement measures to fund such data improvement, stock-wide regional effort surveys, and species-specific oversampling.

changed “(d) Public notice—In developing the plan required under subsection (b), the Secretary shall consult with relevant Federal, State, and international agencies, scientific and technical experts, and other interested persons, public and private, and shall publish a proposed plan in the Federal Register for the purpose of receiving public comment on the plan. Upon final publication in the Federal Register, the plan shall be submitted by the Secretary to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.”

“(8) conducting research and analysis to prepare and adapt fisheries and fishing communities to the effects of climate change.”

“(d) Allocation

“(1) In general—Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), the Secretary shall, every 2 years, apportion amounts from the Fund among the 8 Council regions according to recommendations of the Councils, based on regional priorities identified through the Council process.

“(2) Minimum allocation—In the case of amounts deposited in the Fund pursuant to subsection (c)(2), unless specified otherwise, the Secretary shall allocate not less than 5 percent of the Fund in each allocation period to each region.

“(3) Specifically apportioned funds—The Secretary may apportion amounts from the Fund to a specific project or region if such amounts were identified by the Council that designated such amounts for inclusion in the Fund under subsection (c)(1), or by the appropriation Act, State, public source, or nonprofit or organization from which they were received under subsection (c)(2), as being deposited for that specific project or region.”

changed The Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, shall enter into a cooperative agreement to fund such survey mitigation programs, additional stock assessments assessments, and fisheries and marine wildlife research as may be necessary as a result of actions by such Bureau related to the development of offshore wind energy.

“(2) Consultations regarding Federal agency action with adverse effects on essential fish habitat

“(A) Requirement to avoid or mitigate adverse effects—With respect to any Federal agency action that may have an adverse effect on—

“(i) essential fish habitat, each Federal agency shall, in consultation with the Secretary, ensure that any action authorized, funded, or undertaken by such agency avoids the adverse effect of such action on essential fish habitat or, to the extent that the adverse effect cannot be avoided, the agency shall minimize and mitigate the adverse effect; and

“(ii) a habitat area of particular concern, each Federal agency shall, in consultation with the Secretary—

changed “(I) for the entire period during which such adverse effect is likely to occur, monitor or require monitoring for possible such adverse effects;effect;

changed “(II) for the entire period during which such adverse effect is likely to occur, take action to minimize and mitigate any such adverse effect of the action on—

changed “(aa) the habitat area of particular concern;concern; and

changed “(bb) the species for with respect to which the habitat area of particular concern is designated; anddesignated;

removed “(cc) for the entire period during which such adverse effects are likely to occur; and

“(III) evaluate the effectiveness of measures described in subclause (II) and report the results of such evaluation to the Secretary annually.

“(B) Considerations—In consulting with a Federal agency under subparagraph (A) for projects seeking to restore and improve the long-term resilience of habitat, particularly in estuarine environments heavily impacted by sea level rise and other climate change factors, the Secretary shall account for the consequences of not pursuing such restoration and habitat resilience projects and the long-term positive impacts on fish populations of such activities.

added “(C) Regulations—The Secretary shall establish regulations for the consultation process required by subparagraph (A), including to ensure that recommendations made by the Secretary pursuant to such subparagraph would result in the avoidance, of adverse effects on essential fish habitat and, to the extent adverse effects cannot be avoided, the minimization and mitigation of any such adverse effects.

removed “(C) Regulations—The Secretary shall establish regulations for the consultation process required by subparagraph (A), including to ensure that recommendations made by the Secretary pursuant to such subparagraph would result in the avoidance, if possible, of adverse effects on essential fish habitat and, if avoidance is not possible, the minimization and mitigation of any such adverse effects.

“(3) Information to council—The Secretary shall inform each Council that has authority over an affected fishery of any consultation carried out under paragraph (2), including information on the proposed action and any potential adverse effects, and each such Council—

“(A) may comment on and make recommendations to the Secretary and any Federal or State agency concerning the underlying action if, in the view of the Council, such action may affect the habitat of a fishery resource under the authority of such Council; and

“(B) shall comment on and make recommendations to the Secretary and any Federal or State agency concerning the underlying action if, in the view of the Council, such action is likely to adversely affect the habitat of an anadromous fishery resource under the authority of such Council.

“(4) Information from other sources

“(A) Receipt of information—If the Secretary receives information from any source and determines that an action taken, funded, or authorized or proposed to be taken, funded, or authorized by a State or Federal agency may have an adverse effect on an essential fish habitat identified under this Act, the Secretary shall recommend to such agency measures that avoid such adverse effects and to the extent the adverse effects cannot be avoided, minimize and mitigate such adverse effects.

added “(B) Required response—Not later than 30 days after receiving a recommendation under subparagraph (A), a Federal, State, or local agency shall provide a detailed response in writing to any Council comment under paragraph (3) and the Secretary regarding the matter. The response shall include a description of measures proposed by the agency for avoiding the adverse effects, or to the extent the adverse effects cannot be avoided, mitigating the adverse effects of the action on such essential fish habitat. In the case of a response that is inconsistent with the recommendations of the Secretary, the Federal, State, or local agency shall explain how the alternative measures proposed will avoid the adverse effects of such action on essential fish habitat or, to the extent that adverse effects cannot be avoided, minimize and mitigate the adverse effects.

removed “(B) Required response—Not later than 30 days after receiving a recommendation under subparagraph (A), a Federal, State, or local agency shall provide a detailed response in writing to any Council comment under paragraph (3) and the Secretary regarding the matter. The response shall include a description of measures proposed by the agency for avoiding the adverse effects, or to the extent the adverse effects cannot be avoided, mitigating the adverse effects of the action on such essential fish habitat. In the case of a response that is inconsistent with the recommendations of the Secretary, the Federal agency shall explain how the alternative measures proposed will avoid the adverse effects of such action on essential fish habitat or, to the extent that adverse effects cannot be avoided, minimize and mitigate the adverse effects.

“(C) Publication—The Secretary shall make available to the public—

“(i) any recommendation made under subparagraph (A) on the date on which such recommendation is made; and

“(ii) any response made by an agency under subparagraph (B) on the date on which such response is received.

“(D) Monitoring—The Secretary shall monitor measures taken by each Federal agency to meet the requirements of this subsection.

added “(E) Report to Congress—Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2022 and not less frequently than every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report—

removed “(E) Report to Congress—Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2021 and not less frequently than every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report—

“(i) describing the effectiveness of measures taken by the Secretary to ensure the conservation and enhancement of essential fish habitat; and

“(ii) identifying opportunities for partnerships between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in consultation with other Federal agencies, State agencies, and non-Federal partners to enhance data collection, research, and monitoring of essential fish habitat.”

“(7) describe and identify—

“(A) essential fish habitat for the fishery based on the guidelines established by the Secretary under section 305(b)(1)(A), minimize adverse effects on essential fish habitat caused by fishing, and identify other actions to encourage the conservation and enhancement of essential fish habitat; and

“(B) habitat areas of particular concern based on the guidelines established by the Secretary under section 305(b)(1)(A), avoid adverse effects on such habitat caused by fishing, monitor efficacy of actions to avoid adverse effects, and identify other actions to encourage the conservation and enhancement of such habitat;”

changed “(1) Adverse effect—The term “adverse effect” adverse effect means, with respect to essential fish habitat, any impact that reduces the quality or quantity of essential fish habitat.”

changed “(19A) Habitat areas of particular concern—The term “habitat habitat areas of particular concern” concern means specific types or areas of habitat that are part of or within essential fish habitat that—

“(A) provide important ecological function, including for maintaining and restoring the biomass, demographic, spatial and genetic characteristics of fish populations;

“(B) are sensitive to human-induced environmental degradation;

“(C) are or will be significantly stressed by human activities;

“(D) due to prevailing or anticipated future environmental conditions, are or may become important to the health of managed species; or

“(E) are rare.”

“(9) Conservation and management measures shall—

“(A) minimize bycatch; and

“(B) to the extent bycatch cannot be avoided, minimize the mortality of such bycatch.”

“(13) consider full retention requirements for species with high catch mortality rates; and”

“(k) Standardized bycatch reporting program

changed “(1) Establishment—Not later than 2 3 years after the date of enactment of the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2021, 2022, the Secretary shall establish a national standardized reporting program (referred to in this subsection as “the program”) to assess the amount and type of bycatch occurring in each fishery and across fisheries, determine the contribution of bycatch to the total fishing-related mortality of each fishery, and evaluate the effects of bycatch on relevant fisheries and the ecosystem.

“(2) Methodology and standards—The Secretary shall, acting through the program—

“(A) identify appropriate methodologies and standards for collecting and producing statistically accurate and precise information regarding bycatch; and

“(B) require consistent data reporting, collection, and assessment for all fisheries managed under fishery management plans.

“(3) Multiple jurisdictions—In a case in which a species is caught in areas under the jurisdiction of more than one Council or fishery management plan, the Secretary shall require consistent reporting mechanisms across jurisdictions to ensure that data can be aggregated and compared.

“(4) Coordination with States—The Secretary shall coordinate with State fishery managers to carry out paragraph (3).”

“(3) provide information, outreach, technical assistance, and training to Councils, Tribes, and fishery participants that will encourage adoption and use of technologies and methods developed under the program; and

“(4) provide for routine consultation with the Councils in order to maximize opportunities to incorporate results of the program in Council actions and provide incentives for adoption of technologies and methods developed under the program in fishery management plans, actions, and other measures developed by the Councils or the Secretary.”

changed “(4) includes a cumulative description of all bycatch reduction technologies and methods developed, tested, or supported by the Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program, an assessment of the effectiveness of those techniques, and a summary on of how and in which fisheries those techniques have been fully implemented such technologies and to what degree, and, if those techniques methods have not been implemented into fishery management, or an explanation for why those techniques such technologies and methods have not been used and an estimate of the reduction of bycatch that could be achieved if those techniques were implemented.”

changed Section 304(e) (16 U.S.C. 1854(e)) is amended—amended to read as follows:—

added “(e) Rebuilding overfished fisheries and ending overfishing

added “(1) Determination of status

added “(A) In general—The Secretary shall, determine, based on the best scientific information available and at any time, for stocks within each Council's geographic area of authority, (or the Secretary, for stocks managed under section 302(a)(3)), whether such stock of fish is each of the following:

added “(i) Subject to overfishing.

added “(ii) Overfished.

added “(iii) Approaching a condition of being overfished.

added “(B) Criteria for determination

added “(i) Criteria provided by managing document—In making a determination under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall, with respect to a stock of fish managed under a stock of fish management plan or international agreement, use the criteria specified in such plan or agreement.

added “(ii) Approaching a condition of being overfished—In making a determination under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall classify a stock of fish as approaching a condition of being overfished if, based on trends in fishing effort, fishery resource size, and other appropriate factors, the Secretary estimates that the stock of fish will become overfished within 2 years.

added “(iii) Stocks lacking criteria—For stocks that lack criteria as required under section 303(a)(10), the Secretary shall determine whether the stock is overfished or subject to overfishing using the best available scientific information.

added “(2) Publication

added “(A) In general—The Secretary shall publish each determination made under paragraph (1) in the Federal Register.

added “(B) Notification of Council—If the Secretary determines that a stock of fish is subject to overfishing, overfished, or approaching a condition of being overfished under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall immediately notify the appropriate Council and request that action be taken—

added “(i) to end overfishing with respect to the stock of fish immediately;

added “(ii) for a stock of fish that is overfished, to end overfishing immediately and to implement conservation and management measures to rebuild affected the stock of fish; or

added “(iii) for a stock of fish that is approaching an overfished condition, to end overfishing immediately and prevent the stock of fish from reaching a overfished condition.

added “(C) Annual report—The Secretary shall submit an annual report to Congress and the Councils. Such report—

added “(i) shall list each determination made with respect to a stock of fish under paragraph (1) during the preceding year;

added “(ii) shall identify each stock of fish managed under this Act that is under a rebuilding plan or in need of a rebuilding plan (as specified by this section), including—

added “(I) specifying the number of years the stock of fish has been in a rebuilding plan;

added “(II) the anticipated length in years of the stock of fish’s current rebuilding plan;

added “(III) the number of rebuilding plans that have been implemented for the stock of fish; and

added “(IV) whether a lack of adequate progress toward ending overfishing and rebuilding has been found for the stock of fish; and

added “(iii) may use, as appropriate, the term depleted to further describe an overfished stock of fish that has been significantly impacted by environmental factors in addition to (or in absence of) fishing pressure.

added “(3) Required action by Council

added “(A) Determination that requires action—Not later than 2 years after date on which the Secretary makes any of the following determinations, the appropriate Council (or the Secretary, for fisheries managed under section 302(a)(3)) shall take an action described in subparagraph (B):

added “(i) A determination that a stock of fish is subject to overfishing, overfished, or approaching a condition of being overfished.

added “(ii) A determination that a rebuilding plan has failed under paragraph (7)(C).

added “(iii) A determination that a stock of fish has reached the end of the time period for a rebuilding plan under paragraph (8).

added “(B) Actions—The actions described in this subparagraph are—

added “(i) with respect to a stock of fish that is subject to overfishing, to end overfishing immediately and prevent overfishing of the stock;

added “(ii) with respect to a stock of fish that is overfished, to end overfishing immediately and to rebuild the stock of fish; or

added “(iii) with respect to a stock of fish that is approaching an overfished condition, to end overfishing immediately and prevent the stock of fish from reaching an overfished condition.

added “(4) Rebuilding plan required—For a stock of fish that is overfished, any management document prepared pursuant to paragraph (3) or paragraph (5) for such fishery shall—

added “(A) specify a time period for rebuilding the stock of fish that shall—

added “(i) be as short as possible, taking into account the status and biology of overfished stocks of fish, the needs of fishing communities, recommendations by international organizations in which the United States participates, and the interaction of the overfished stock of fish within the marine ecosystem; and

added “(ii) not exceed the time the stock of fish would be rebuilt in the absence of any fishing mortality plus one mean generation;

added “(B) allocate both overfishing restrictions and recovery benefits fairly and equitably among sectors of the fishery;

added “(C) for a stock of fish managed under an international agreement, reflect traditional participation in the stock of fish, relative to other nations, by fishermen of the United States; and

added “(D) contain objective and measurable criteria for evaluating rebuilding progress.

added “(5) Secretarial plan—If a Council does not meet the deadline described in paragraph (3)(A) to submit a management document the Secretary shall, not later than 9 months after the expiration of such deadline, prepare such management document for the affected fish stock under subsection (c).

added “(6) Interim measures—During the development of a management document for a stock of fish required by this subsection, a Council may request that the Secretary implement interim measures to reduce overfishing under section 305(c) until such measures can be replaced by such management document. Such measures, if otherwise in compliance with the provisions of this Act, may be implemented even though they are not sufficient to stop overfishing of a fishery.

added “(7) Assessment of rebuilding plan

added “(A) Secretarial review—The Secretary shall review each management document relating to a stock of fish required by this subsection not less often than once every 2 years to determine whether such management document has resulted in adequate progress toward rebuilding affected stocks of fish. The Secretary shall find a lack of adequate progress toward rebuilding an affected stock of fish if—

added “(i) the status of the stock is not improving sufficiently such that it becomes unlikely that the stock will be rebuilt within the rebuilding time period;

added “(ii) the applicable fishing mortality rate or annual catch limits are exceeded, and the causes and rebuilding consequences of such exceedances have not been corrected;

added “(iii) new scientific information demonstrates that assumptions regarding the stock's biology that formed the basis for the rebuilding plan, such as stock productivity, were fundamentally inaccurate, and such inaccuracies render the current rebuilding plan unable to address the stock's rebuilding needs; or

added “(iv) for such other reasons as the Secretary determines appropriate.

added “(B) Finding of inadequate progress—Except as provided in subparagraph (C), if the Secretary finds after a review under subparagraph (A) that a management document has not resulted in adequate progress toward rebuilding affected fish stocks, the Secretary shall—

added “(i) in the case of a stock of fish to which section 302(a)(3) applies, immediately make revisions necessary to achieve adequate progress toward rebuilding by the deadline established under paragraph (4); or

added “(ii) for all other stocks of fish, immediately notify the appropriate Council, which must make revisions necessary to achieve adequate progress toward rebuilding by not later than the deadline established under paragraph (4). If the Council fails to complete such action by the date that is 9 months after the date of such notification, the Secretary shall, not later than 18 months after the date of such notification, make such revisions as are needed to ensure adequate progress toward rebuilding by not later than the rebuilding deadline established under paragraph (4).

added “(C) Failed rebuilding plan—If the Secretary finds that revisions pursuant to subparagraph (B) cannot achieve adequate progress within the time period set under paragraph (4), the Secretary may find that the rebuilding plan has failed.

added “(D) Publication—The Secretary shall publish the results of a review performed under this paragraph in the Federal Register, including a determination of adequate progress or inadequate progress, and the basis for such determination.

added “(8) Subsequent rebuilding plan—If a rebuilding time period established under paragraph (4) expires and the relevant fish stock has not been rebuilt, or the Secretary determines that an existing rebuilding plan has failed under paragraph (7)(C), the Council (or Secretary in the case of a stock to which section 302(a)(3) applies) shall prepare a new rebuilding plan pursuant to paragraphs (3) through (6), except that such plan shall have not less than a 75 percent chance of rebuilding the stock of fish by the end of the new rebuilding time period set under paragraph (4). Management measures intended to rebuild the stock shall remain in effect during such preparation of a rebuilding plan.

added “(9) Management document—In this subsection, the term management document means a management plan, management plan amendment, or proposed regulations for a stock of fish.”

removed “(1) The Secretary shall report annually to the Congress and the Councils on the status of fisheries within each Council's geographical area of authority. In this report, the Secretary shall do the following:

removed “(A) Identify those fisheries that are subject to overfishing, are depleted, or are approaching a condition of being depleted. For those fisheries managed under a fishery management plan or international agreement, the status shall be determined using the criteria for overfishing and depleted status specified in such plan or agreement. For stocks that lack criteria as required under Sec 303(a)(10), the Secretary shall determine whether the stock is depleted or subject to overfishing using the best available scientific information. A fishery shall be classified as approaching a condition of being depleted if, based on trends in fishing effort, fishery resource size, and other appropriate factors, the Secretary estimates that the fishery will become depleted within 2 years.

removed “(B) Identify those stocks that are under a rebuilding plan or in need of a rebuilding plan (as specified by this section), including specifying the number of years the stock has been in a rebuilding plan, the length in years of the stock’s current rebuilding plan, the number of rebuilding plans that have been implemented for the stock, and whether a lack of adequate progress toward ending overfishing and rebuilding has been found for the stock.”

removed “(2) If the Secretary determines at any time that a fishery is subject to overfishing, is depleted, or is approaching a depleted status, the Secretary shall immediately notify the appropriate Council and request that action be taken—

removed “(A) to end overfishing in the fishery immediately and prevent overfishing in the fishery;

removed “(B) for stocks that are depleted, to end overfishing immediately in the fishery and to implement conservation and management measures to rebuild affected stocks of fish; or

removed “(C) for stocks that are approaching a depleted condition, to end overfishing in the fishery immediately and prevent the stock from reaching a depleted condition.”

removed “(3) Not later than 2 years after the date on which a fishery is newly identified as or determined to be depleted or approaching a depleted condition under paragraph (1)(A) or paragraph (2), a fishery’s rebuilding plan has been found to have failed under paragraph (7)(C), or a fishery reaches the end of the time period for rebuilding pursuant to paragraph (8), the appropriate Council (or the Secretary, for fisheries under section 302(a)(3)) shall prepare and implement a fishery management plan, plan amendment, or proposed regulations for the fishery to which the identification or notice applies—

removed “(A) for stocks that are depleted, to end overfishing immediately in the fishery and to rebuild affected stocks of fish; or

removed “(B) for stocks that are approaching a depleted condition, to end overfishing immediately and prevent the stock from reaching a depleted condition.”

removed “(ii) not exceed the time the stock of fish would be rebuilt without fishing occurring plus one mean generation, unless management measures under an international agreement in which the United States participates dictate otherwise;”

removed “(D) contain objective and measurable criteria for evaluating rebuilding progress.”

removed “(5) If, during the 2-year period beginning on the date of identification or notification, the Council does not submit to the Secretary a fishery management plan, plan amendment, or proposed regulations required by paragraph (3), the Secretary shall prepare under subsection (c) not later than 6 months after the end of such 2-year period, a fishery management plan or plan amendment and any accompanying regulations to, for stocks that are depleted, end overfishing immediately and rebuild affected stocks of fish, or, for stocks that are approaching an depleted condition, to end overfishing immediately and prevent the stock from reaching an depleted condition.”

removed “(7)

removed “(A) The Secretary shall review any fishery management plan, plan amendment, or regulations required by this subsection at routine intervals that may not exceed 2 years to determine whether such plan, amendment, or regulations have resulted in adequate progress toward rebuilding affected fish stocks. The Secretary shall find a lack of adequate progress toward rebuilding an affected fish stock if—

removed “(i) the status of the stock is not improving sufficiently such that it becomes unlikely that the stock will be rebuilt within the rebuilding time period;

removed “(ii) the applicable fishing mortality rate or annual catch limits are exceeded, and the causes and rebuilding consequences of such exceedances have not been corrected;

removed “(iii) new scientific information demonstrates that assumptions regarding the stock's biology that formed the basis for the rebuilding plan, such as stock productivity, were fundamentally inaccurate, and such inaccuracies render the current rebuilding plan unable to address the stock's rebuilding needs; or

removed “(iv) for other reasons, as appropriate.

removed “(B) If, as a result of the review, the Secretary finds that such plan, amendment, or regulations have not resulted in adequate progress toward rebuilding affected fish stocks, the Secretary shall—

removed “(i) in the case of a fishery to which section 302(a)(3) applies, immediately make revisions necessary to achieve adequate progress toward rebuilding by the deadline established under paragraph (4); or

removed “(ii) for all other fisheries, immediately notify the appropriate Council, which must make revisions necessary to achieve adequate progress toward rebuilding by not later than the deadline established under paragraph (4). If the Council fails to take such action by the date that is 9 months after the date of such notification, the Secretary shall, not later than 15 months after such date, make such revisions as are needed to ensure adequate progress toward rebuilding by not later than the deadline established under paragraph (4).

removed “(C) If, as a result of the review, the Secretary finds that revisions pursuant to subparagraph (B) cannot achieve adequate progress within the time period set under paragraph (4), the Secretary may find that the rebuilding plan has failed. Upon such a finding, the Council (or the Secretary in the case of a stock to which section 302(a)(3) applies) shall prepare and implement a new rebuilding plan pursuant to the requirements in paragraph (8).

removed “(D) The Secretary shall publish the results of a review performed under this paragraph in the Federal Register, including a determination of adequate progress or lack of adequate progress, and the basis for such determination.”

removed “(8) If the time period established under a plan, amendment, or regulations pursuant to this subsection expires, or the Secretary determines that an existing rebuilding plan has failed under paragraph (7)(C), but relevant stock has not rebuilt, the Council (or Secretary in the case of a stock to which section 302(a)(3) applies) shall prepare a new rebuilding plan pursuant to paragraphs (3) through (6) of this subsection, except that such plan shall have no less than a 75 percent chance of rebuilding the fishery by the end of the new time period set under paragraph (4). Management measures intended to rebuild the stock shall remain in effect during such preparation of a rebuilding plan.”

removed “(8A) Depleted

removed “(A) Definition—The term “depleted” means, with respect to a stock or stock complex, that its biomass has declined below the level at which the capacity of the stock or stock complex to produce maximum sustainable yield on a continuing basis is jeopardized. A depleted condition may be caused by numerous factors, alone or in combination, such as fishing effort, habitat loss, ecosystem changes or climate change, overfishing, inadequate forage, or other characteristics of or stressors on the stock or stock complex.

removed “(B) Inclusion of case law—The term “depleted” has the meaning given to the term “overfished” by this section before the date of enactment of the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2021 for the purposes of determining the application of any court precedent issued before such date.”

removed “(34) Overfishing—The term “overfishing” means a rate or level of fishing mortality that jeopardizes the capacity of a fishery to produce the maximum sustainable yield on a continuing basis.”

added “(B) Each scientific and statistical committee shall provide its Council with ongoing scientific advice for fishery management decisions, including—

removed “(B) Each scientific and statistical committee shall provide the appropriate Council with ongoing scientific advice for fishery management decisions, including—

“(i) recommendations for accounting for all sources of mortality in establishing management measures, for the acceptable biological catch levels, for preventing overfishing, for maximum sustainable yield, and for achieving rebuilding targets and promoting resilience of fish stocks to climate change;

added “(ii) objective and measurable criteria for determining whether a stock is overfished or experiencing overfishing; and

removed “(ii) objective and measurable criteria for determining whether a stock is depleted or experiencing overfishing; and

“(iii) reports on stock status and health, sources of mortality, bycatch, habitat status, social, ecological, and economic impacts of management measures, and sustainability of fishing practices, and prevailing and anticipated future impacts of climate change on fish stocks, fishing communities, and fishery sectors.”

added “(10) specify objective and measurable criteria for identifying when the fish stock to which the plan applies is overfished or subject to overfishing (with an analysis of how the criteria were determined and the relationship of the criteria to the reproductive potential of stocks of fish in that fishery), which may not be less precautionary than the recommendation of the scientific and statistical committees for such fishery, and, in the case of a fishery which the Council or the Secretary has determined is approaching an overfished condition or is overfished, contain conservation and management measures to prevent overfishing or end overfishing and rebuild the fishery.”

“301. Rule of construction

“Nothing in this Act, including the amendment made by section 102(a)(3), shall be construed as modifying the requirements of sections 301(a), 302(h)(6), 303(a)(15), or 304(e) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, or the equal application of such requirements and other standards and requirements under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to commercial, charter, and recreational fisheries, including each component of mixed-use fisheries.”

Section 304(c)(1) (16 U.S.C. 1854(c)) is amended—

Section 302(h) (16 U.S.C. 1852(h)) is amended—

“(B) prioritize fisheries and habitats experiencing or expected to experience shifts in geographic range, spatial distribution, or productivity;”

changed “(8) approve, for each of its managed stocks, objective and measurable criteria for identifying whether the stock is depleted overfished or experiencing overfishing, which may not be less precautionary than the recommendation of its scientific and statistical committee;

changed “(9) develop and implement a habitat protection plan to protect essential fish habitat in the region of the Council from adverse effects caused by fishing that shall include—

“(A) quantitative and measurable targets and goals for increasing quality, quantity, and representativeness of essential fish habitat; and

changed “(B) conservation and management measures in a fishery management plan to implement the habitat protection plan;

“(10) at routine intervals not less frequently than every 7 years and based on scientific evidence or other relevant information, review habitat protection plans developed under paragraph (9) by such Council and each designation of essential fish habitat and habitat areas of particular concern under section 303(a)(7) by such Council, and amend such Council’s fishery management plans as necessary and appropriate;”

changed “(m) Forage fish—Not later than 6 12 months after the date of enactment of the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2021, 2022, the Secretary shall issue establish by regulation, in consultation with the Regional Fishery Management Councils, a definition of the term “forage fish” forage fish for the purposes of this Act. In defining such term, the Secretary shall consider factors including whether a species covered by such definition, throughout such species’ lifecycle—

“(1) is at a low trophic level;

“(2) is generally small- to intermediate-sized;

“(3) occurs in schools or other dense aggregations;

“(4) contributes significantly to the diets of other fish, marine mammals, or birds; and

“(5) serves as a conduit for energy transfer to species at a higher trophic level.”

“(18A) Forage fish—The term forage fish—

“(A) has the meaning given the term by the Secretary under section 305(m); and

“(B) with respect to a species in a fishery managed pursuant to a fishery management plan or plan amendment that is approved by the Secretary under section 304(a), means any species identified in such plan as a forage fish.”

“(D) in the case of a forage fish, is reduced, pursuant to subparagraph (B), to provide for the diet needs of fish species and other marine wildlife, including marine mammals and birds, for which forage fish is a significant dietary component.”

“(iv) maintaining a sufficient abundance, diversity, and localized distribution of forage fish populations to support the role of such populations in marine ecosystems.”

changed “(12) develop and submit to the Secretary for approval a list of unmanaged forage fish occurring in the area under its authority and prohibit for which the development of any new directed forage fish fishery is prohibited until the Council has—

“(A) considered the best scientific information available and evaluated the potential impacts of forage fish harvest on existing fisheries, fishing communities, and the marine ecosystem;

“(B) determined whether conservation and management of the forage fish fishery is needed;

“(C) if a determination is made that conservation and management is needed, prepared and submitted to the Secretary a fishery management plan or amendment consistent with section 303; and

“(D) received final, approved regulations from the Secretary pursuant to section 304(b)(3); and”

“(18) when setting annual catch limits for forage fish fisheries, assess, specify, and reduce such limits by the diet needs of fish species and other marine wildlife, such as marine mammals and birds, for which forage fish is a significant part of their diet.”

“(l) Forage fish management guidelines

changed “(1) In general—Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2021, 2022, the Secretary shall establish by regulation guidelines to assist the Councils in implementing sections 302(h)(12), 302(h)(12) and 303(a)(16).303(a)(18).

changed “(2) Workshops—In developing the guidelines under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall conduct workshops with Councils and other scientific, fisheries, and conservation interests.”interests.

added “(m) Forage fish prohibition—In accordance with section 302(h)(12), the Secretary shall prohibit the development of any new directed forage fish fishery.”

changed There Section 304(g)(1) (16 U.S.C. 1854(g)(1)) is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary the following amounts to carry out the provisions of this Act:amended—

added “(C) for stocks not managed pursuant to the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975, develop annual catch limits that may not exceed the fishing level recommendations of the scientific and statistical committee;”