<enum>I</enum><header>Hunting Heritage Protection</header> <section section-type="subsequent-section" id="HCEC988938BFC478DA2D250C28CB611EA" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>101.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Hunting Heritage Protection Act</short-title></quote>.</text></section> <section id="H6797FCCC17A14BD288C1DC9682FFBDA7"><enum>102.</enum><header>Findings</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Congress finds the following:</text> <paragraph id="H45AF2270ADE14630927C3BB4AD135220"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Recreational hunting is an important and traditional recreational activity in which 13,000,000 people in the United States 16 years of age and older participate.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H32BED988B1A24D66A2A5C8CE5F659C63"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Hunters have been and continue to be among the foremost supporters of sound wildlife management and conservation practices in the United States.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H1FBC236AD3704AC881C3A900A4FED19"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Persons who hunt and organizations relating to hunting provide direct assistance to wildlife managers and enforcement officers of the Federal Government and State and local governments.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFCDE435A3DAE498183C1DF5BEF2648D"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Purchases of hunting licenses, permits, and stamps and excise taxes on goods used by hunters have generated billions of dollars for wildlife conservation, research, and management.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HC73200844A864D0FAD01900684DA5D83"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Recreational hunting is an essential component of effective wildlife management by—</text> <subparagraph id="H86D6274D24074E3BAA5094EB71BCFEA2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>reducing conflicts between people and wildlife; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H64190457C4F646A6BAE8B0F607FADEBA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>providing incentives for the conservation of—</text> <clause id="HDC074BA200CF4526B82719484CCE5558"><enum>(i)</enum><text>wildlife; and</text></clause> <clause id="H838D7D4BF99F496CAA83B8E6E83787EF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>habitats and ecosystems on which wildlife depend.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE92C6BAF81C248A0910800E64BF5A475"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Each State has established at least 1 agency staffed by professionally trained wildlife management personnel that has legal authority to manage the wildlife in the State.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H6E4EEFBA203D4DDA93F4C52E25B64968"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Recreational hunting is an environmentally acceptable activity that occurs and can be provided for on Federal public land without adverse effects on other uses of the land.</text></paragraph></section> <section id="H603974FFF06A4E15A6969DBF286D766C"><enum>103.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text> <paragraph id="H3DD4E47DA8A447659684A620503D6332"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Agency head</header><text>The term <term>agency head</term> means the head of any Federal agency that has authority to manage a natural resource or Federal public land on which a natural resource depends.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H122002EA60124ED09624A865547DDC05"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Federal public land</header> <subparagraph id="H632EBE562945480496D33DDDBB06FAE1"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>Federal public land</term> means any land or water that is—</text> <clause id="H3D496B3ED1734484A682ED00DB06B0CF"><enum>(i)</enum><text>publicly accessible;</text></clause> <clause id="H4A2B7A0BB3C0413A8078C829A3E06B8D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>owned by the United States; and</text></clause> <clause id="H9706BE633559464E81DC3C14EE62DA2B"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>managed by an executive agency for purposes that include the conservation of natural resources.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HF98AB0D5EC1F4F799B34356414DAD6DA"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exclusion</header><text>The term <term>Federal public land</term> does not include any land held in trust for the benefit of an Indian tribe or member of an Indian tribe.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H5679EC296EEA4E62A1EC75DA58163B3C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Hunting</header><text>The term <term>hunting</term> means the lawful—</text> <subparagraph id="H3399648F34994977803681626F3BC1A2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>pursuit, trapping, shooting, capture, collection, or killing of wildlife; or</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H561433BB5E764C4689195F2F2BEB6DE5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>attempt to pursue, trap, shoot, capture, collect, or kill wildlife.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></section> <section id="HF497DAEE9EC0409D0078003C3958AAAE"><enum>104.</enum><header>Recreational hunting</header> <subsection id="HBD63BC563316482B008573FDA3A68FB0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to valid existing rights, Federal public land shall be open to access and use for recreational hunting except as limited by—</text> <paragraph id="H04E42E55CB3B4E4BB938B8F0093C28A2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the agency head with jurisdiction over the Federal public land—</text> <subparagraph id="H712CB9F1EAC3407D828850D8DEBFCF7E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>for reasons of national security;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H0860D6EEFDF747CEB0E36F9940A5D2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>for reasons of public safety; or</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HC77160DF447A4C55A91E243E5FADBB59"><enum>(C)</enum><text>for any other reasons for closure authorized by applicable Federal law; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H328F12D570FE4329B9ED39F1841DB1F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any law (including regulations) of the State in which the Federal public land is located that is applicable to recreational hunting.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HE6117AC5C92243C900007F9BD6F26514"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Management</header><text>Consistent with subsection (a), each agency head shall manage Federal public land under the jurisdiction of the agency head—</text> <paragraph id="HECDE7FE4DF744D55AE60755E74CC8F36"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in a manner that supports, promotes, and enhances recreational hunting opportunities;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H628A7CF9336B4359A9AB39F48F8DB5EE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to the extent authorized under State law (including regulations); and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFC350C6E0159478B91995BC00018274E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in accordance with applicable Federal law (including regulations).</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HD08A6CD5A7E34D709D843BD390840103"><enum>(c)</enum><header>No net loss</header> <paragraph id="HB133849081184F2394FBDD582C1BFCB9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Federal public land management decisions and actions should, to the maximum extent practicable, result in no net loss of land area available for hunting opportunities on Federal public land.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFC4B92D4D76A46D400C95101D5FA49C9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Annual report</header><text>Not later than October 1 of each year, each agency head with authority to manage Federal public land on which recreational hunting occurs shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that describes—</text> <subparagraph id="H5C7956CB98DA44C7AAFA4C3B9FCA4AE"><enum>(A)</enum> <clause display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HD4C4EAD9959B4AC9975B56323EFEC6D0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>any Federal public land administered by the agency head that was closed to recreational hunting at any time during the preceding year; and</text></clause> <clause indent="subparagraph" id="H8DC1805ECF5042FA8D4357342C7384EC"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the reason for the closure; and</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H52010F9E61EA4398B5DC332C0F7F31"><enum>(B)</enum><text>areas administered by the agency head that were opened to recreational hunting to compensate for the closure of the areas described in subparagraph (A)(i).</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H4C01BC199C5B46808610A85FE993C16F"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Closures of 5,000 or more acres</header><text>The withdrawal, change of classification, or change of management status that effectively closes 5,000 or more acres of Federal public land to access or use for recreational hunting shall take effect only if, before the date of withdrawal or change, the agency head that has jurisdiction over the Federal public land submits to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate written notice of the withdrawal or change.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H810C4A3C848C45BDB9A9D4451729B627"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Areas not affected</header><text>Nothing in this title compels the opening to recreational hunting of national parks or national monuments under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H2E5685923C99415382D0F909D8492500"><enum>(e)</enum><header>No priority</header><text>Nothing in this title requires a Federal agency to give preference to hunting over other uses of Federal public land or over land or water management priorities established by Federal law.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H443EAD8C6988433DB1D96378BAC0AB91"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Authority of the States</header> <paragraph id="H0A17FCE2FDCD4956937E13723C6900C1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Savings</header><text>Nothing in this title affects the authority, jurisdiction, or responsibility of a State to manage, control, or regulate fish and wildlife under State law (including regulations) on land or water in the State, including Federal public land.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H5DC7D7251E5446C0AA4DD5083B352251"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Federal licenses</header><text>Nothing in this title authorizes an agency head to require a license or permit to hunt, fish, or trap on land or water in a State, including on Federal public land in the State.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H022D779C9CA04E35AE2726432BADDF8C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>State right of action</header> <subparagraph id="HFE168541F256495AAD1E416C72B2032E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Any State aggrieved by the failure of an agency head or employee to comply with this title may bring a civil action in the United States District Court for the district in which the failure occurs for a permanent injunction.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H328005630CB849729962368520EA7770"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Preliminary injunction</header><text>If the district court determines, based on the facts, that a preliminary injunction is appropriate, the district court may grant a preliminary injunction.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H1ED90F5279BC49718E879ED6C925945D"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Court costs</header><text>If the district court issues an injunction under this paragraph or otherwise finds in favor of the State, the district court shall award to the State any reasonable costs of bringing the civil action (including an attorney’s fee).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section>

Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Hunting Heritage and Fishing Preservation Act of 2004

<enum>I</enum><header>Hunting Heritage Protection</header> <section section-type="subsequent-section" id="HCEC988938BFC478DA2D250C28CB611EA" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>101.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Hunting Heritage Protection Act</short-title></quote>.</text></section> <section id="H6797FCCC17A14BD288C1DC9682FFBDA7"><enum>102.</enum><header>Findings</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Congress finds the following:</text> <paragraph id="H45AF2270ADE14630927C3BB4AD135220"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Recreational hunting is an important and traditional recreational activity in which 13,000,000 people in the United States 16 years of age and older participate.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H32BED988B1A24D66A2A5C8CE5F659C63"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Hunters have been and continue to be among the foremost supporters of sound wildlife management and conservation practices in the United States.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H1FBC236AD3704AC881C3A900A4FED19"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Persons who hunt and organizations relating to hunting provide direct assistance to wildlife managers and enforcement officers of the Federal Government and State and local governments.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFCDE435A3DAE498183C1DF5BEF2648D"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Purchases of hunting licenses, permits, and stamps and excise taxes on goods used by hunters have generated billions of dollars for wildlife conservation, research, and management.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HC73200844A864D0FAD01900684DA5D83"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Recreational hunting is an essential component of effective wildlife management by—</text> <subparagraph id="H86D6274D24074E3BAA5094EB71BCFEA2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>reducing conflicts between people and wildlife; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H64190457C4F646A6BAE8B0F607FADEBA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>providing incentives for the conservation of—</text> <clause id="HDC074BA200CF4526B82719484CCE5558"><enum>(i)</enum><text>wildlife; and</text></clause> <clause id="H838D7D4BF99F496CAA83B8E6E83787EF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>habitats and ecosystems on which wildlife depend.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE92C6BAF81C248A0910800E64BF5A475"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Each State has established at least 1 agency staffed by professionally trained wildlife management personnel that has legal authority to manage the wildlife in the State.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H6E4EEFBA203D4DDA93F4C52E25B64968"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Recreational hunting is an environmentally acceptable activity that occurs and can be provided for on Federal public land without adverse effects on other uses of the land.</text></paragraph></section> <section id="H603974FFF06A4E15A6969DBF286D766C"><enum>103.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text> <paragraph id="H3DD4E47DA8A447659684A620503D6332"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Agency head</header><text>The term <term>agency head</term> means the head of any Federal agency that has authority to manage a natural resource or Federal public land on which a natural resource depends.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H122002EA60124ED09624A865547DDC05"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Federal public land</header> <subparagraph id="H632EBE562945480496D33DDDBB06FAE1"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>Federal public land</term> means any land or water that is—</text> <clause id="H3D496B3ED1734484A682ED00DB06B0CF"><enum>(i)</enum><text>publicly accessible;</text></clause> <clause id="H4A2B7A0BB3C0413A8078C829A3E06B8D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>owned by the United States; and</text></clause> <clause id="H9706BE633559464E81DC3C14EE62DA2B"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>managed by an executive agency for purposes that include the conservation of natural resources.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HF98AB0D5EC1F4F799B34356414DAD6DA"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exclusion</header><text>The term <term>Federal public land</term> does not include any land held in trust for the benefit of an Indian tribe or member of an Indian tribe.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H5679EC296EEA4E62A1EC75DA58163B3C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Hunting</header><text>The term <term>hunting</term> means the lawful—</text> <subparagraph id="H3399648F34994977803681626F3BC1A2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>pursuit, trapping, shooting, capture, collection, or killing of wildlife; or</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H561433BB5E764C4689195F2F2BEB6DE5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>attempt to pursue, trap, shoot, capture, collect, or kill wildlife.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></section> <section id="HF497DAEE9EC0409D0078003C3958AAAE"><enum>104.</enum><header>Recreational hunting</header> <subsection id="HBD63BC563316482B008573FDA3A68FB0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to valid existing rights, Federal public land shall be open to access and use for recreational hunting except as limited by—</text> <paragraph id="H04E42E55CB3B4E4BB938B8F0093C28A2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the agency head with jurisdiction over the Federal public land—</text> <subparagraph id="H712CB9F1EAC3407D828850D8DEBFCF7E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>for reasons of national security;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H0860D6EEFDF747CEB0E36F9940A5D2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>for reasons of public safety; or</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HC77160DF447A4C55A91E243E5FADBB59"><enum>(C)</enum><text>for any other reasons for closure authorized by applicable Federal law; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H328F12D570FE4329B9ED39F1841DB1F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any law (including regulations) of the State in which the Federal public land is located that is applicable to recreational hunting.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HE6117AC5C92243C900007F9BD6F26514"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Management</header><text>Consistent with subsection (a), each agency head shall manage Federal public land under the jurisdiction of the agency head—</text> <paragraph id="HECDE7FE4DF744D55AE60755E74CC8F36"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in a manner that supports, promotes, and enhances recreational hunting opportunities;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H628A7CF9336B4359A9AB39F48F8DB5EE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to the extent authorized under State law (including regulations); and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFC350C6E0159478B91995BC00018274E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in accordance with applicable Federal law (including regulations).</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HD08A6CD5A7E34D709D843BD390840103"><enum>(c)</enum><header>No net loss</header> <paragraph id="HB133849081184F2394FBDD582C1BFCB9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Federal public land management decisions and actions should, to the maximum extent practicable, result in no net loss of land area available for hunting opportunities on Federal public land.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFC4B92D4D76A46D400C95101D5FA49C9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Annual report</header><text>Not later than October 1 of each year, each agency head with authority to manage Federal public land on which recreational hunting occurs shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that describes—</text> <subparagraph id="H5C7956CB98DA44C7AAFA4C3B9FCA4AE"><enum>(A)</enum> <clause display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HD4C4EAD9959B4AC9975B56323EFEC6D0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>any Federal public land administered by the agency head that was closed to recreational hunting at any time during the preceding year; and</text></clause> <clause indent="subparagraph" id="H8DC1805ECF5042FA8D4357342C7384EC"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the reason for the closure; and</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H52010F9E61EA4398B5DC332C0F7F31"><enum>(B)</enum><text>areas administered by the agency head that were opened to recreational hunting to compensate for the closure of the areas described in subparagraph (A)(i).</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H4C01BC199C5B46808610A85FE993C16F"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Closures of 5,000 or more acres</header><text>The withdrawal, change of classification, or change of management status that effectively closes 5,000 or more acres of Federal public land to access or use for recreational hunting shall take effect only if, before the date of withdrawal or change, the agency head that has jurisdiction over the Federal public land submits to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate written notice of the withdrawal or change.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H810C4A3C848C45BDB9A9D4451729B627"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Areas not affected</header><text>Nothing in this title compels the opening to recreational hunting of national parks or national monuments under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H2E5685923C99415382D0F909D8492500"><enum>(e)</enum><header>No priority</header><text>Nothing in this title requires a Federal agency to give preference to hunting over other uses of Federal public land or over land or water management priorities established by Federal law.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H443EAD8C6988433DB1D96378BAC0AB91"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Authority of the States</header> <paragraph id="H0A17FCE2FDCD4956937E13723C6900C1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Savings</header><text>Nothing in this title affects the authority, jurisdiction, or responsibility of a State to manage, control, or regulate fish and wildlife under State law (including regulations) on land or water in the State, including Federal public land.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H5DC7D7251E5446C0AA4DD5083B352251"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Federal licenses</header><text>Nothing in this title authorizes an agency head to require a license or permit to hunt, fish, or trap on land or water in a State, including on Federal public land in the State.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H022D779C9CA04E35AE2726432BADDF8C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>State right of action</header> <subparagraph id="HFE168541F256495AAD1E416C72B2032E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Any State aggrieved by the failure of an agency head or employee to comply with this title may bring a civil action in the United States District Court for the district in which the failure occurs for a permanent injunction.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H328005630CB849729962368520EA7770"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Preliminary injunction</header><text>If the district court determines, based on the facts, that a preliminary injunction is appropriate, the district court may grant a preliminary injunction.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H1ED90F5279BC49718E879ED6C925945D"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Court costs</header><text>If the district court issues an injunction under this paragraph or otherwise finds in favor of the State, the district court shall award to the State any reasonable costs of bringing the civil action (including an attorney’s fee).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section> <enum>II</enum><header>Freedom to Fish</header> <section section-type="subsequent-section" id="H159B9D63A6BD49D59B66684905E8A515" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>201.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Freedom to Fish Act</short-title></quote>.</text></section> <section id="H5CF4202DC7E8466DB8379331FE001ED0"><enum>202.</enum><header>Findings</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Congress finds the following:</text> <paragraph id="H243755DA935945D5B348877E01ED3BFB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Recreational fishing is traditionally the most popular outdoor sport with more than 50,000,000 participants of all ages, in all regions of the country.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HC391A8F2727F4E76962E91F87D1227F1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Recreational anglers makes a substantial contribution to local, State, and national economies and infuse $116,000,000,000 annually into the national economy.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H0913953EE68041A0A01D6B5220564BEB"><enum>(3)</enum><text>In the United States, more than 1,200,000 jobs are related to recreational fishing, a number that is approximately 1 percent of the entire civilian workforce in the United States. In communities that rely on seasonal tourism, the expenditures of recreational anglers result in substantial benefits to the local economies and small businesses in those communities.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HC75CA8D9699640CCB056BF773D18594B"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Recreational anglers have long demonstrated a conservation ethic. In addition to payment of Federal excise taxes on fishing equipment, motorboats and fuel, as well as license fees, recreational anglers contribute more than $500,000,000 annually to State fisheries conservation management programs and projects.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD147C2FA36624CCB8FD6D5AE108D631D"><enum>(5)</enum><text>It is a long-standing policy of the Federal Government to allow public access to public lands and waters for recreational purposes in a manner that is consistent with principles of sound conservation. This policy is reflected in the National Forest Management Act of 1976, the Wilderness Act, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H71114A84F2A44F61A6A7082BCBD7D1D1"><enum>(6)</enum><text>In most instances, recreational fishery resources can be maintained without restricting public access to fishing areas through a variety of management measures including take limits, minimum size requirements, catch and release requirements, gear adaptations, and closed seasons.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H960250192F944587A7A98E82D159BD34"><enum>(7)</enum><text>A clear policy is required to demonstrate to recreational anglers that recreational fishing can be managed without unnecessarily prohibiting such fishing.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HF085842B812E4C2B8EE8E492FFFDA594"><enum>(8)</enum><text>A comprehensive policy on the implementation, use, and monitoring of marine protected areas is required to maintain the optimum balance between recreational fishing and sustaining recreational fishery resources.</text></paragraph></section> <section id="H55B5CEFFE0CF4E4E89E8F185DE1E696D"><enum>203.</enum><header>Policy</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the policy of the United States to promote sound conservation of fishery resources by ensuring that—</text> <paragraph id="H38A9670624244B84B1D82D4E9E4CE346"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Federal regulations promote access to fishing areas by recreational anglers to the maximum extent practicable;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HC1F09F09461A4CAFB8C6503F256D69B1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>recreational anglers are actively involved in the formulation of any regulatory procedure that contemplates imposing restrictions on access to a fishing area; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H06FF4BCDC79242BDA0D1CF67491081B1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>limitations on access to fishing areas by recreational anglers are not imposed unless such limitations are scientifically necessary to provide for the conservation of a fishery resource.</text></paragraph></section> <section id="HD07BC67881B14181BCE7AD6FBF26768B"><enum>204.</enum><header>Limitation on closures under Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 303(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1853">16 U.S.C. 1853(a)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon at the end of paragraph (13), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (14) and inserting <quote>; and</quote>, and by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H912D452FCCA34C90917043307B005FFE"> <paragraph id="H0B7B9A71EBB6445395E284BA54537439"><enum>(15)</enum><text>not establish geographic areas where recreational fishing is prohibited unless—</text> <subparagraph id="HE5BB8C10E4CF4A8BB74424237D540088"><enum>(A)</enum><text>clear indication exists that recreational fishing in such area is the cause of a specific conservation problem in the fishery;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H20ED34A40B1B44CC80CA1C4932DB69C8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>no alternative conservation measures related to recreational fishing, such as gear restrictions, quotas, or closed seasons will adequately provide for conservation and management of the fishery;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H766AEC5ED1B640A586802CC3D119AE8E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the management plan—</text> <clause id="HF371AAC82C214BCCAC4654E76C1E0234"><enum>(i)</enum><text>provides for specific measurable criteria to assess whether the prohibition provides conservation benefits to the fishery; and</text></clause> <clause id="HEE1644E537064EE783DE706161E4FE32"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>requires a periodic review to assess the continued need for the prohibition not less than once every 3 years;</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H11BC01C9E1104F15B2C338A17FCA4F9E"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the best available scientific information supports the need to close the area to recreational fishing; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H331115B4A637490BBC4E00E2D408B0D2"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the prohibition is terminated as soon as the condition in subparagraph (A) that was the basis of the prohibition no longer exists.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section>