[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8598 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8598
To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
to ensure representation for all fishery user groups on the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 30, 2026
Mr. Begich introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
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A BILL
To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
to ensure representation for all fishery user groups on the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``North Pacific Fishery Management
Council Representation Enhancement Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The North Pacific Fishery Management Council,
established under section 302(a)(1)(G) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C.
1852(a)(1)(G)), plays a critical role in managing fisheries in
the Arctic Ocean, Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of
Alaska seaward of Alaska, where diverse user groups--including
recreational (sport) fishers, non-industrial commercial
fishers, rural subsistence users, and urban subsistence users--
depend on sustainable fishery resources.
(2) Current council composition, while requiring fair and
balanced apportionment under section 302(b)(2)(B) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16
U.S.C. 1852(b)(2)(B)), does not mandate minimum representation
for those specific user groups, leading to potential
underrepresentation of recreational, non-industrial commercial,
and subsistence interests amid dominance by large-scale
commercial sectors.
(3) Subsistence fishing is vital to Alaska's cultural,
economic, and food security needs, with rural residents
harvesting an estimated 36.9 million pounds of wild foods
annually and urban residents contributing to an additional 13.4
million pounds through personal use and subsistence activities.
(4) Non-industrial commercial fishing, often involving
owner-operated vessels under 160 feet, supports local economies
and differs significantly from industrial operations,
warranting dedicated representation.
(5) Recreational fishing, including sport and charter
operations, contributes to tourism and community livelihoods
but lacks guaranteed voice in council decisions.
(6) Ensuring minimum appointments for these groups will
promote balanced management, address ongoing criticisms of bias
toward large-scale commercial interests, and align with the
goals of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) of conservation,
sustainability, and stakeholder inclusion-driven policymaking.
SEC. 3. NORTH PACIFIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL REPRESENTATION.
(a) In General.--The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 3 (16 U.S.C. 1802)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (31) through (50)
as paragraphs (32) through (51), respectively;
(B) by inserting after paragraph (30) the
following:
``(31) The term `non-industrial commercial fishing
interest' means a person that is or represents the interests of
a commercial fishing operation that--
``(A) is owner-operated;
``(B) utilizes only vessels less than 160 feet in
length; and
``(C) is not a participant in large-scale
industrial seafood harvesting or processing.'';
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (39) through (51),
as so redesignated, as paragraphs (40) through (52),
respectively;
(D) by inserting after paragraph (38), as so
redesignated, the following:
``(39) The term `recreational fishing interest' means a
person that is a participant in, or represents a person that is
a participant in, recreational fishing activities conducted for
noncommercial purposes, including sport fishing, charter
fishing, and guided fishing.'';
(E) by redesignating paragraphs (41) through (52),
as so redesignated, as paragraphs (42) through (53),
respectively;
(F) by inserting after paragraph (40), as so
redesignated, the following:
``(41) The term `rural subsistence user group' means a
person that represents residents of rural areas in Alaska who
rely on the noncommercial harvest of fish for purposes such as
food, cultural practices, or sharing.'';
(G) by redesignating paragraphs (51) through (53),
as so redesignated, as paragraphs (52) through (54);
and
(H) by inserting after paragraph (50), as so
redesignated, the following:
``(51) The term `urban subsistence user group' means a
person that represents residents of areas in Alaska that are
not rural areas who rely on the noncommercial harvest of fish
for purposes such as food, cultural practices, or sharing.'';
and
(2) in section 302 (16 U.S.C. 1852)--
(A) in subsection (a)(1)(G), by adding ``The 5
voting members of the North Pacific Council appointed
by the Secretary in accordance with subsection (b)(2)
from the State of Alaska shall include at least 1
representative of each of a non-industrial commercial
fishing interest, recreational fishing interest, rural
subsistence user group, and urban subsistence user
group.'' at the end; and
(B) in subsection (b)(2), by adding at the end the
following:
``(F) Requirement for Lists Submitted by Governor of Alaska.--With
respect to each list of individuals submitted by the Governor of Alaska
for appointment to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under
subparagraph (C), the Governor shall indicate whether an individual
included in the list is a representative of a non-industrial commercial
fishing interest, recreational fishing interest, rural subsistence user
group, or urban subsistence user group.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to appointments to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council
established by section 302(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1852(a)) made on or after
the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this
section.
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