117 HR 404 IH: Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act of 2021 U.S. House of Representatives 2021-01-21 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 404IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJanuary 21, 2021Mr. Lieu (for himself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Wittman, Mr. Lowenthal, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Mast, Mr. Palazzo, Mr. Case, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Harder of California, Mr. Griffith, Mr. Thompson of California, Ms. Norton, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Mr. Buchanan, and Mr. Blumenauer) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural ResourcesA BILLTo improve the management of driftnet fishing.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act of 2021.

2.

Definition

Section 3(25) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1802(25)) is amended by inserting , or with a mesh size of 14 inches or greater, after more.

3.

Findings and policy

(a)

Findings

Section 206(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1826(b)) is amended—(1)in paragraph (6), by striking and at the end;(2)in paragraph (7), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and(3)by adding at the end the following:(8)within the exclusive economic zone, large-scale driftnet fishing that deploys nets with large mesh sizes causes significant entanglement and mortality of living marine resources, including myriad protected species, despite limitations on the lengths of such nets..(b)

Policy

Section 206(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1826(c)) is amended—(1)in paragraph (2), by striking and at the end;(2)in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and(3)by adding at the end the following—(4)prioritize the phase out of large-scale driftnet fishing in the exclusive economic zone and promote the development and adoption of alternative fishing methods and gear types that minimize the incidental catch of living marine resources..

4.

Transition program

Section 206 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1826) is amended—(1)by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and(2)by inserting after subsection (g) the following:(h)

Fishing gear transition program

(1)

In general

During the 5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act of 2021, the Secretary shall conduct a transition program to facilitate the phase-out of large-scale driftnet fishing and adoption of alternative fishing practices that minimize the incidental catch of living marine resources, and shall award grants to eligible permit holders who participate in the program.(2)

Permissible uses

Any permit holder receiving a grant under paragraph (1) may use such funds only for the purpose of covering—(A)any fee originally associated with a permit authorizing participation in a large-scale driftnet fishery, if such permit is surrendered for permanent revocation, and such permit holder relinquishes any claim associated with the permit;(B)a forfeiture of fishing gear associated with a permit described in subparagraph (A); or(C)the purchase of alternative gear the use of which is likely to result in minimal incidental catch of living marine resources, if the fishery participant is authorized to continue fishing using such alternative gear.(3)

Certification

The Secretary shall certify that, with respect to each participant in the program under this subsection, any permit authorizing participation in a large-scale driftnet fishery has been permanently revoked and that no new permits will be issued to authorize such fishing..

5.

Exception

Section 307(1)(M) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1857(1)(M)) is amended by inserting before the semicolon the following: “, unless such large-scale driftnet fishing—(i)deploys, within the exclusive economic zone, a net with a total length of less than two and one-half kilometers and a mesh size of 14 inches or greater; and(ii)is conducted within 5 years of the date of enactment of the Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act of 2021.