H.R. 6939

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6939 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6939

To address data and research gaps to improve marine environmental data 
collection, particularly in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf 
of Alaska, prioritize technology that supports research, bycatch 
reduction, and marine benthic habitat in Alaska fisheries, advance and 
streamline electronic monitoring and electronic reporting in United 
States fisheries, and establish a fund to provide financial assistance 
for fishermen purchasing gear and technology aimed at reducing bycatch 
and marine benthic habitat contact from trawl fishing gear.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 6, 2026

Mr. Begich introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To address data and research gaps to improve marine environmental data 
collection, particularly in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf 
of Alaska, prioritize technology that supports research, bycatch 
reduction, and marine benthic habitat in Alaska fisheries, advance and 
streamline electronic monitoring and electronic reporting in United 
States fisheries, and establish a fund to provide financial assistance 
for fishermen purchasing gear and technology aimed at reducing bycatch 
and marine benthic habitat contact from trawl fishing gear.

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 ``Bycatch Reduction and Research Act 
of 2026''.

SEC. 2. RESEARCH.

(a) Reconstitution of the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration (referred to in this Act as the 
``Administrator'') shall reconstitute the membership of the 
Alaska Salmon Research Task Force, as described in the Alaska 
Salmon Research Task Force Act (Public Law 117-328; 136 Stat. 
5271).
(2) Bycatch reduction and research task force.--The 
reconstituted membership described in paragraph (1) shall be 
referred to as the ``Bycatch Reduction and Research Task 
Force''.
(3) Members.--The Secretary of Commerce shall appoint an 
additional 2 representatives who are academic experts in 
groundfish ecology and invertebrate ecology to the Bycatch 
Reduction and Research Task Force.
(4) Duties.--The Bycatch Reduction and Research Task Force 
shall--
(A) review all research conducted and reports 
published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration under this section; and
(B) in consultation with the Administrator, provide 
priority recommendations for future work as described 
in subsection (d)(2)(B).
(5) Inapplicability of federal advisory committee act.--
Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as 
the ``Federal Advisory Committee Act''), shall not apply to the 
Bycatch Reduction and Research Task Force.
(b) Salmon Life History Research.--
(1) Salmon tagging.--
(A) In general.--The Administrator shall enter into 
public-private partnerships with State agencies, 
nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher 
education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))), Indian 
Tribes or Tribal organizations (as defined in section 4 
of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)), and research 
institutions to research the marine life history of 
Alaska origin salmon species in the Bering Sea, 
Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska.
(B) Partnerships.--In entering into partnerships 
described in subparagraph (A), the Administrator--
(i) shall involve a diverse group of Alaska 
salmon experts, including Alaska Natives, 
fishing industry representatives, commercial 
fishermen, and individuals who possess personal 
knowledge of, and direct experience with, 
subsistence uses in Alaska; and
(ii) may include cooperative research 
efforts with privately owned commercial or 
charter fishing vessel owners.
(C) Research.--At a minimum, the research required 
under subparagraph (A) shall include satellite tagging 
or other intelligent tagging methodologies to better 
understand migration and distributions of Alaska origin 
salmon during their marine life history in the Bering 
Sea, Aleutian Islands, or Gulf of Alaska.
(2) Genetic sampling grant program.--The Administrator 
shall conduct a competitive grant program to support improving 
the turnaround time of genetic analyses of biological samples 
collected at-sea or shoreside to provide real-time, or near-
real-time, in-season genetic stock identification and age 
composition estimates of Alaska origin salmon caught 
incidentally in commercial fisheries conducted in the exclusive 
economic zone (as defined in section 3 of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1802)).
(3) Reporting.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall publish a 
report--
(A) on the findings of the salmon life history 
research conducted under paragraph (1) and the findings 
of the genetic analyses grant program conducted under 
paragraph (2) that details how the research and genetic 
analyses can better inform Alaska origin salmon stock 
status and distributions; and
(B) that includes potential uses of artificial 
intelligence or machine learning technology to perform 
predictive modeling to inform potential Alaska salmon 
bycatch avoidance areas.
(c) Ecosystem Analyses.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator shall conduct--
(A) research, through studies and models that 
incorporate existing data, literature, and ongoing 
research, of how contact from non-pelagic trawl and 
pelagic trawl gear impact shallow shelves or other 
marine benthic habitats in the Bering Sea, Aleutian 
Islands, and Gulf of Alaska;
(B) a review of existing data, literature, and 
ongoing research efforts on fluctuations in Bering Sea, 
Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska marine ecosystems 
that may affect the survivability or energetic 
condition of commercially or culturally important wild 
marine and anadromous species, including examining--
(i) harmful algal blooms;
(ii) marine heatwaves;
(iii) in-river temperatures;
(iv) sea ice extent and thickness;
(v) ocean acidification;
(vi) diseases;
(vii) nutrient or prey availability;
(viii) density dependence;
(ix) shifting stock distributions;
(x) impacts from hatchery released species, 
with particular attention to foreign hatchery 
releases; and
(xi) predator-prey interactions; and
(C) new research, using the review of data, 
literature, and ongoing research efforts under 
subparagraph (B), to prioritize data collection that 
support conservation of commercially or culturally 
important wild marine and anadromous species.
(2) Diverse group involvement.--In conducting research 
under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall--
(A) enter into public-private partnerships with 
relevant entities, such as State agencies, nonprofit 
organizations, institutions of higher education (as 
defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))), and Indian Tribes or 
Tribal organizations (as defined in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 
(25 U.S.C. 5304)); and
(B) include a framework that involves a diverse 
group of experts in commercially or culturally 
important wild marine and anadromous species, including 
Alaska Natives, fishing industry representatives, 
commercial fishermen, and individuals who possess 
personal knowledge of, and direct experience with, 
subsistence uses in Alaska.
(d) Reports.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator shall publish interim 
annual reports and a final report (not later than 3 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act)--
(A) on findings and results of the research and 
review conducted under subsection (c)(1), and the 
status of milestones reached for all research 
initiatives under this section;
(B) on the results from the salmon tagging and 
genetic sampling research under subsection (b), 
including modeled Alaska origin salmon migration routes 
and potential applications to inform how best to 
minimize Alaska salmon bycatch; and
(C) that includes results from the ecosystem 
analyses under subsection (c).
(2) Recommendations; findings.--The reports described under 
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) recommendations for applying the results from 
the ecosystem analyses review to model potential 
impacts on commercially or culturally important wild 
marine and anadromous species in the Bering Sea, 
Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska to support 
informed management actions; and
(B) other findings and recommendations for future 
work under this section.

SEC. 3. FLUME TANK.

(a) In General.--The Administrator shall enter into a public-
private partnership to build a flume tank for the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, the fishing industry, and other researchers 
to test technology and improved fishing gear aimed at reducing bycatch 
and contact with Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska 
marine benthic habitats.
(b) Flume Tank Assistance Fund.--The Administrator shall establish 
a Flume Tank Assistance Fund to provide grants or other financial 
assistance to support entities that wish to test their innovative 
technology, including approaches that support prototype development and 
associated devices, instruments, sensors, or fishing gear designs aimed 
at reducing bycatch in fisheries and Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and 
Gulf of Alaska marine benthic habitat contact from non-pelagic trawl 
and pelagic trawl gear, including workforce and training programs on 
such technology or gear.

SEC. 4. OBSERVER COVERAGE.

(a) Electronic Monitoring and Reporting.--The Administrator shall--
(1) create a timeline and process for reviewing and 
approving exempted fishing permits to support innovating 
fishing gear types and technology for reducing bycatch and 
reducing marine habitat disturbances, including streamlining 
exempted fishing permits for fishermen and owners and operators 
of commercial fishing vessels who purchase or modify fishing 
gear, equipment, or technology with financial assistance 
provided under the Bycatch Mitigation and Habitat Protection 
Assistance Fund, established under section 322 of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, if approving 
such permits does not interfere with fishery conservation 
objectives;
(2) streamline the approval process for experimental or 
exempted fishing permits for electronic monitoring pilot 
projects, if approving such permits does not interfere with 
fishery conservation objectives;
(3) facilitate cooperative research programs and regional 
pilot frameworks;
(4) conduct a public stakeholder consultation process not 
less often than once every 3 years, which shall include public 
notice, listening sessions, and a written comment period of not 
less than 60 days, and solicit input from stakeholders, 
including service providers, regional management council 
technical teams, fishery industry participants, and data 
scientists, on--
(A) revisions to electronic monitoring and 
electronic reporting technical standards or operational 
guidance;
(B) improvements to cost-effectiveness or 
usability; and
(C) barriers to electronic monitoring adoption, 
particularly among small-scale fleets; and
(5) provide a data integration strategy that--
(A) incorporates electronic monitoring data 
directly into regional science center workflows and 
stock assessment models;
(B) aligns electronic monitoring data review and 
retention timelines and quality control protocols with 
those used in traditional observer data streams;
(C) reduces latency between data collection and 
management application; and
(D) supports the development of interoperable 
databases that facilitate real-time or near-real-time 
analysis and decision making.
(b) Transparency.--The Administrator shall require the regional 
offices of the National Marine Fisheries Service to publish, online and 
in layman's terms, up-to-date observer coverage category requirements 
for high-volume Federal fisheries specifying the Federal fishery under 
their jurisdiction, including prohibited species catch (bycatch) for 
each observer program category.
(c) Reporting.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall publish a report 
on how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and 
Regional Fishery Management Councils can improve and integrate 
the use of observer and electronic monitoring data to better 
inform spatio-temporal fishing activity and impacts to 
harvested and incidentally harvested populations, while 
ensuring the protection of proprietary information.
(2) Report to congress.--The Administrator shall submit a 
report to Congress and publish the report on the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's website that includes 
the data integration strategy for increasing data review 
efficiency and uniformity described in subsection (a)(5).
(3) Recommendations.--The reports required under paragraphs 
(1) and (2) shall include recommendations--
(A) for the use of any technologies identified as 
effective for sharing real-time, or near-real-time, 
catch information to identify bycatch hotspots and 
bycatch avoidance areas; and
(B) to minimize commercially or culturally 
important wild marine and anadromous species in the 
Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska origin 
salmon bycatch.

SEC. 5. BYCATCH REDUCTION AND MITIGATION.

(a) Reauthorization of Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program.--
Section 316 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1865) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $4,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.''.
(b) Bycatch Mitigation and Habitat Protection Assistance Fund.--
Title III of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1851 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``SEC. 322. BYCATCH MITIGATION AND HABITAT PROTECTION ASSISTANCE FUND.

``(a) In General.--There is established in the general fund of the 
Treasury of the United States an account to be known as the `Bycatch 
Mitigation and Habitat Protection Assistance Fund', which shall--
``(1) be administered by the Foundation; and
``(2) consist of donations of amounts accepted pursuant to 
subsection (c).
``(b) Use.--The Foundation shall use the amounts in the Fund to 
reduce or mitigate bycatch, and reduce marine benthic habitat contact 
from non-pelagic and pelagic trawl gear, including by providing 
financial assistance to fishermen and owners and operators of 
commercial fishing vessels to purchase or modify fishing gear, 
equipment, and technology, including innovative technology, prototypes, 
instruments, or sensors.
``(c) Donations.--The Foundation may solicit and accept donations 
of amounts for deposit into the Fund.
``(d) Consultation.--In administering the Fund, the Foundation 
shall consult with the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, each Council, and 
each of the regional science centers of the National Marine Fisheries 
Service to ensure that, to the maximum extent practicable, amounts in 
the Fund are used in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
``(e) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment 
of this section, and biennially thereafter, the Foundation shall 
publish and post online in a manner available to the public information 
regarding the use of the Fund during--
``(1) with respect to the first publication of information, 
the preceding 3 years; and
``(2) with respect to each subsequent publication of 
information, the preceding 2 years.
``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Foundation.--The term `Foundation' means the National 
Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
``(2) Fund.--The term `Fund' means the Bycatch Mitigation 
and Habitat Protection Assistance Fund established under 
subsection (a).''.
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