IB
Union Calendar No. 542
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4742
[Report No. 113–711]
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 23, 2014
Mr. Hastings of Washington introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
December 22, 2014
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic
For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 23, 2014
A BILL
To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to provide flexibility for fishery managers and stability for fishermen, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act
.
Table of contents
The table of contents for this Act is the following:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Title I—Amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
Sec. 101. Definitions.
Sec. 102. References.
Sec. 103. Flexibility in rebuilding fish stocks.
Sec. 104. Modifications to the annual catch limit requirement.
Sec. 105. Distinguishing between overfished and depleted.
Sec. 106. Transparency and public process.
Sec. 107. Limitation on future catch share programs.
Sec. 108. Report on fee.
Sec. 109. Data collection and data confidentiality.
Sec. 110. Cooperative research and management program.
Sec. 111. Council jurisdiction for overlapping fisheries.
Sec. 112. Gulf of Mexico fisheries cooperative research and red snapper management.
Sec. 113. North Pacific fishery management clarification.
Sec. 114. Ensuring consistent management for fisheries throughout their range.
Sec. 115. Limitation on harvest in North Pacific directed pollock fishery.
Sec. 116. Recreational fishing data.
Sec. 117. Stock assessments used for fisheries managed under Gulf of Mexico Council’s Reef Fish Management Plan.
Sec. 118. Estimation of cost of recovery from fishery resource disaster.
Sec. 119. Deadline for action on request by Governor for determination regarding fishery resource disaster.
Sec. 120. Prohibition on considering red snapper killed during removal of oil rigs.
Sec. 121. Prohibition on considering fish seized from foreign fishing.
Sec. 122. Subsistence fishing.
Sec. 123. Inter-sector trading of commercial catch share allocations in the Gulf of Mexico.
Sec. 124. Authorization of appropriations.
Title II—Revitalizing the Economy of Fisheries in the Pacific
Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Findings; purpose.
Sec. 203. Refinancing of Pacific Coast groundfish fishing capacity reduction loan.
Amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
Definitions
Any term used in this title that is defined in section 3 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1802) shall have the same meaning such term has under that section.
References
Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in this title an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a provision of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).
Flexibility in rebuilding fish stocks
General requirements
Section 304(e) (16 U.S.C. 1854(e)) is amended—
in paragraph (4)—
in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking possible
and inserting practicable
;
by amending subparagraph (A)(ii) to read as follows:
may not exceed the time the stock would be rebuilt without fishing occurring plus one mean generation, except in a case in which—
the biology of the stock of fish, other environmental conditions, or management measures under an international agreement in which the United States participates dictate otherwise;
the Secretary determines that the cause of the stock being depleted is outside the jurisdiction of the Council or the rebuilding program cannot be effective only by limiting fishing activities;
the Secretary determines that one or more components of a mixed-stock fishery is depleted but cannot be rebuilt within that time- frame without significant economic harm to the fishery, or cannot be rebuilt without causing another component of the mixed-stock fishery to approach a depleted status;
the Secretary determines that recruitment, distribution, or life history of, or fishing activities for, the stock are affected by informal transboundary agreements under which management activities outside the exclusive economic zone by another country may hinder conservation and management efforts by United States fishermen; and
the Secretary determines that the stock has been affected by unusual events that make rebuilding within the specified time period improbable without significant economic harm to fishing communities;
;
by striking and
after the semicolon at the end of subparagraph (B), by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as
subparagraphs (C) and (D), and by inserting after subparagraph (A) the
following:
take into account environmental condition including predator/prey relationships;
; and
by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (D) (as so redesignated) and inserting ; and
, and by adding at the end the following:
specify a schedule for reviewing the rebuilding targets, evaluating environmental impacts on rebuilding progress, and evaluating progress being made toward reaching rebuilding targets.
; and
by adding at the end the following:
A fishery management plan, plan amendment, or proposed regulations may use alternative rebuilding strategies, including harvest control rules and fishing mortality-rate targets to the extent they are in compliance with the requirements of this Act.
A Council may terminate the application of paragraph (3) to a fishery if the Council’s scientific and statistical committee determines and the Secretary concurs that the original determination that the fishery was depleted was erroneous, either—
within the 2-year period beginning on the effective date a fishery management plan, plan amendment, or proposed regulation for a fishery under this subsection takes effect; or
within 90 days after the completion of the next stock assessment after such determination.
.
Emergency regulations and interim measures
Section 305(c)(3)(B) (16 U.S.C. 1855(c)(3)(B)) is amended by striking 180 days after
and all that follows through provided
and inserting 1 year after the date of publication, and may be extended by publication in the Federal Register
for one additional period of not more than 1 year, if
.
Modifications to the annual catch limit requirement
Section 302 (16 U.S.C. 1852) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Considerations for modifications to annual catch limit requirements
Consideration of ecosystem and economic impacts
In establishing annual catch limits a Council may, consistent with section 302(h)(6), consider changes in an ecosystem and the economic needs of the fishing communities.
Limitations to annual catch limit requirement for special fisheries
Notwithstanding subsection (h)(6), a Council is not required to develop an annual catch limit for—
an ecosystem component species;
a fishery for a species that has a life cycle of approximately 1 year, unless the Secretary has determined the fishery is subject to overfishing; or
a stock for which—
more than half of a single-year class will complete their life cycle in less than 18 months; and
fishing mortality will have little impact on the stock.
Relationship to international fishery efforts
Each annual catch limit may, consistent with section 302(h)(6), take into account—
management measures under international agreements in which the United States participates;
informal transboundary agreements under which fishery management activities by another country outside the exclusive economic zone may hinder conservation efforts by United States fishermen for a fish species for which any of the recruitment, distribution, life history, or fishing activities are transboundary; and
in instances in which no transboundary agreement exists, activities by another country outside the exclusive economic zone that may hinder conservation efforts by United States fisherman for a fish species for which any of the recruitment, distribution, life history, or fishing activities are transboundary.
Authorization for multispecies complexes and multiyear annual catch limits
For purposes of subsection (h)(6), a Council may establish—
an annual catch limit for a stock complex; or
annual catch limits for each year in any continuous period that is not more than three years in duration.
Ecosystem component species defined
In this subsection the term ecosystem component species
means a stock of fish that is a nontarget, incidentally harvested stock of fish in a fishery, or a
nontarget, incidentally harvested stock of fish that a Council or the
Secretary has determined—
is not subject to overfishing, approaching a depleted condition or depleted; and
is not likely to become subject to overfishing or depleted in the absence of conservation and management measures.
.
Distinguishing between overfished and depleted
Definitions
Section 3 (16 U.S.C. 1802) is amended—
in paragraph (34), by striking The terms
and inserting overfishing
and overfished
meanThe term
; andoverfishing
means
by inserting after paragraph (8) the following:
The term ‘depleted' means, with respect to a stock of fish or stock complex, that the stock or stock complex has a biomass that has declined below a level that jeopardizes the capacity of the stock or stock complex to produce maximum sustainable yield on a continuing basis.
.
Substitution of term
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) is amended by
striking overfished
each place it appears and inserting depleted
.
Clarity in annual report
Section 304(e)(1) (16 U.S.C. 1854(e)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following: The report shall distinguish between fisheries that are depleted (or approaching that condition) as
a result of fishing and fisheries that are depleted (or approaching that
condition) as a result of factors other than fishing. The report shall
state, for each fishery identified as depleted or approaching that
condition, whether the fishery is the target of directed fishing.
.
Transparency and public process
Advice
Section 302(g)(1)(B) (16 U.S.C. 1852(g)(1)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following: Each scientific and statistical committee shall develop such advice in a transparent manner and
allow for public involvement in the process.
.
Meetings
Section 302(i)(2) (16 U.S.C. 1852(i)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Each Council shall make available on the Internet Web site of the Council—
to the extent practicable, a Webcast, an audio recording, or a live 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
audio, video (if the meeting was in person or by video conference), or a searchable audio 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.
The Secretary shall maintain and make available to the public an archive of Council and scientific and statistical committee meeting audios, videos, and transcripts made available under clauses (i) and (ii) subparagraph (G).
.
Fishery impact statements
Requirement
Section 303 (16 U.S.C. 1853) is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (9) and redesignating paragraphs (10) through (15) as paragraphs (9) through (14), respectively; and
by adding at the end the following:
Fishery impact statement
Any fishery management plan (or fishery management plan amendment) prepared by any Council or by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (a) or (b), or proposed regulations deemed necessary pursuant to subsection (c), shall include a fishery impact statement which shall assess, specify and analyze the likely effects and impact of the proposed action on the quality of the human environment.
The fishery impact statement shall describe—
a purpose of the proposed action;
the environmental impact of the proposed action;
any adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided should the proposed action be implemented;
a reasonable range of alternatives to the proposed action;
the relationship between short-term use of fishery resources and the enhancement of long-term productivity;
the cumulative conservation and management effects; and
economic, and social impacts of the proposed action on—
participants in the fisheries and fishing communities affected by the proposed action;
participants in the fisheries conducted in adjacent areas under the authority of another Council, after consultation with such Council and representatives of those participants; and
the safety of human life at sea, including whether and to what extent such measures may affect the safety of participants in the fishery.
A substantially complete fishery impact statement, which may be in draft form, shall be available not less than 14 days before the beginning of the meeting at which a Council makes its final decision on the proposal (for plans, plan amendments, or proposed regulations prepared by a Council pursuant to subsection (a) or (c)). Availability of this fishery impact statement will be announced by the methods used by the council to disseminate public information and the public and relevant government agencies will be invited to comment on the fishery impact statement.
The completed fishery impact statement shall accompany the transmittal of a fishery management plan or plan amendment as specified in section 304(a), as well as the transmittal of proposed regulations as specified in section 304(b).
The Councils shall, subject to approval by the Secretary, establish criteria to determine actions or classes of action of minor significance regarding subparagraphs (A), (B), (D), (E), and (F) of paragraph (2), for which preparation of a fishery impact statement is unnecessary and categorically excluded from the requirements of this section, and the documentation required to establish the exclusion.
The Councils shall, subject to approval by the Secretary, prepare procedures for compliance with this section that provide for timely, clear, and concise analysis that is useful to decisionmakers and the public, reduce extraneous paperwork and effectively involve the public, including—
using Council meetings to determine the scope of issues to be addressed and identifying significant issues related to the proposed action;
integration of the fishery impact statement development process with preliminary and final Council decisionmaking in a manner that provides opportunity for comment from the public and relevant government agencies prior to these decision points; and
providing scientific, technical, and legal advice at an early stage of the development of the fishery impact statement to ensure timely transmittal and Secretarial review of the proposed fishery management plan, plan amendment, or regulations to the Secretary.
Actions taken in accordance with the procedures of this section shall constitute fulfillment of the requirements the National Environmental Policy Improvement Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.) and all related implementing regulations.
.
Evaluation of adequacy
Section 304(a)(2) (16 U.S.C. 1854(a)(2)) is amended by striking and
after the semicolon at the end of subparagraph (B), striking the period at the end of subparagraph
(C) and inserting ; and
, and by adding at the end the following:
evaluate the adequacy of the accompanying fishery impact statement as basis for fully considering the environmental impacts of implementing the fishery management plan or plan amendment.
.
Review of regulations
Section 304(b) (16 U.S.C. 1854(b)) is amended by striking so much as precedes subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
Review of regulations
Upon transmittal by the Council to the Secretary of proposed regulations prepared under section
303(c), the Secretary shall immediately initiate an evaluation of the
proposed regulations to determine whether they are consistent with the
fishery management plan, plan amendment, this Act and other applicable
law. The Secretary shall also immediately initiate an evaluation of the
accompanying fishery impact statement as a basis for fully considering the
environmental impacts of implementing the proposed regulations. Within 15
days of initiating such evaluation the Secretary shall make a
determination
and—
.
Effect on time requirements
Section 305(e) (16 U.S.C. 1855(e)) is amended by inserting the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.),
after the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)
.
Limitation on future catch share programs
Catch share defined
Section 3 (16 U.S.C. 1802) is amended by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
The term catch share
means any fishery management program that allocates a specific percentage of the total allowable
catch for a fishery, or a specific fishing area, to an individual,
cooperative, community, processor, representative of a commercial sector,
or regional fishery association established in accordance with section
303A(c)(4), or other entity.
.
Catch share referendum pilot program
In general
Section 303A(c)(6)(D) (16 U.S.C. 1853a(c)(6)(D)) is amended to read as follows:
Catch share referendum pilot program
The New England, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico Councils may not submit a fishery management plan or amendment that creates a catch share program for a fishery, and the Secretary may not approve or implement such a plan or amendment submitted by such a Council or a secretarial plan or amendment under section 304(c) that creates such a program, unless the final program has been approved, in a referendum in accordance with this subparagraph, by a majority of the permit holders eligible to participate in the fishery. For multispecies permits in the Gulf of Mexico, any permit holder with landings from within the sector of the fishery being considered for the catch share program within the 5-year period preceding the date of the referendum and still active in fishing in the fishery shall be eligible to participate in such a referendum. If a catch share program is not approved by the requisite number of permit holders, it may be revised and submitted for approval in a subsequent referendum.
The Secretary may, at the request of the New England Fishery Management Council, allow participation in such a referendum for a fishery under the Council’s authority, by fishing vessel crewmembers who derive a significant portion of their livelihood from such fishing.
The Secretary shall conduct a referendum under this subparagraph, including notifying all permit holders eligible to participate in the referendum and making available to them—
a copy of the proposed program;
an estimate of the costs of the program, including costs to participants;
an estimate of the amount of fish or percentage of quota each permit holder would be allocated; and
information concerning the schedule, procedures, and eligibility requirements for the referendum process.
For the purposes of this subparagraph, the term permit holder eligible to participate
only includes the holder of a permit for a fishery under which fishing has occurred in 3 of the 5
years preceding a referendum for the fishery, unless sickness, injury, or
other unavoidable hardship prevented the permit holder from engaging in
such fishing.
The Secretary may not implement any catch share program for any fishery managed exclusively by the Secretary unless first petitioned by a majority of those permit holders eligible to participate in the fishery.
.
Limitation on application
The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall not apply to a catch share program that is submitted to, or proposed by, the Secretary of Commerce before the date of enactment of this Act.
Regulations
Before conducting a referendum under the amendment made by paragraph (1), the Secretary of Commerce shall issue regulations implementing such amendment after providing an opportunity for submission by the public of comments on the regulations.
Report on fee
Section 304(d)(2) (16 U.S.C. 1854(d)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
The Secretary shall report annually on the amount collected under this paragraph from each fishery and detail how the funds were spent in the prior year on a fishery-by-fishery basis, to—
Congress; and
each Council from whose fisheries the fee under this paragraph were collected.
.
Data collection and data confidentiality
Electronic monitoring
Issuance of regulations
Requirement
The Secretary shall issue regulations governing the use of electronic monitoring for the purposes of monitoring fisheries that are subject to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).
Content
The regulations shall—
distinguish between monitoring for data collection and research purposes and monitoring for compliance and enforcement purposes; and
include minimum criteria, objectives, or performance standards for electronic monitoring.
Process
In issuing the regulations the Secretary shall—
consult with the Councils and fishery management commissions;
publish the proposed regulations; and
provide an opportunity for the submission by the public of comments on the proposed regulations.
Implementation of monitoring
In general
Subject to subparagraph (B), and after the issuance of the final regulations, a Council, or the Secretary for fisheries referred to in section 302(a)(3) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1852(a)(3)), may, in accordance with the regulations, on a fishery-by-fishery basis and consistent with the existing objectives and management goals of a fishery management plan and the Act for a fishery issued by the Council or the Secretary, respectively, amend such plan—
to incorporate electronic monitoring as an alternative tool for data collection and monitoring purposes or for compliance and enforcement purposes (or both); and
to allow for the replacement of a percentage of on-board observers with electronic monitoring.
Comparability
Subparagraph (A) shall apply to a fishery only if the Council or Secretary, respectively, determines that such monitoring will yield comparable data collection and compliance results.
Pilot projects
Before the issuance of final regulations, a Council, or the Secretary for fisheries referred to in section 302(a)(3), may, subject to the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, on a fishery-by-fishery basis, and consistent with the existing objectives and management goals of a fishery management plan for a fishery issued by the Council or the Secretary, respectively, conduct a pilot project for the use of electronic monitoring for the fishery.
Deadline
The Secretary shall issue final regulations under this subsection by not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act.
Video and acoustic survey technologies
The Secretary shall work with the Regional Fishery Management Councils and nongovernmental entities to develop and implement the use pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) of video survey technologies and expanded use of acoustic survey technologies.
Confidentiality of information
In general
Section 402(b) (16 U.S.C. 1881a(b)) is amended—
in paragraph (1)—
by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:
to State or Marine Fisheries Commission employees as necessary for achievement of the purposes of this Act, subject to a confidentiality agreement between the State or Commission, respectively, and the Secretary that prohibits public disclosure of the identity of any person and of confidential information;
;
in subparagraph (E), by striking limited access
and inserting catch share
; and
in subparagraph (G), by striking limited access
and inserting catch share
;
in paragraph (2)—
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting , and information obtained through a vessel monitoring system or other technology used onboard a
fishing vessel for enforcement or data collection purposes,
after information
;
by striking or
after the semicolon at the end of subparagraph (B); and
by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following:
as authorized by any regulations issued under paragraph (6) allowing the collection of observer information, pursuant to a confidentiality agreement between the observers, observer employers, and the Secretary prohibiting disclosure of the information by the observers or observer employers, in order—
to allow the sharing of observer information among observers and between observers and observer employers as necessary to train and prepare observers for deployments on specific vessels; or
to validate the accuracy of the observer information collected; or
to other persons if the Secretary has obtained written authorization from the person who submitted such information or from the person on whose vessel the information was collected, to release such information for reasons not otherwise provided for in this subsection.
;
by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (6); and
by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
Any information submitted to the Secretary, a State fisheries management agency, or a Marine Fisheries Commission by any person in compliance with the requirements of this Act, including confidential information, may only be used for purposes of fisheries management and monitoring and enforcement under this Act.
The Secretary may enter into a memorandum of understanding with the heads of other Federal agencies for the sharing of confidential information to ensure safety of life at sea or for fisheries enforcement purposes, including information obtained through a vessel monitoring system or other electronic enforcement and monitoring systems, if—
the Secretary determines there is a compelling need to do so; and
the heads of the other Federal agencies agree—
to maintain the confidentiality of the information in accordance with the requirements that apply to the Secretary under this section; and
to use the information only for the purposes for which it was shared with the agencies.
The Secretary may not provide any vessel-specific or aggregate vessel information from a fishery that is collected for monitoring and enforcement purposes to any person for the purposes of coastal and marine spatial planning under Executive Order 13547, unless the Secretary determines that providing such information is important for maintaining or enhancing national security or for ensuring fishermen continued access to fishing grounds.
.
confidential information defined
Section 3 (16 U.S.C. 1802) is further amended by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
The term confidential information
means—
trade secrets;
proprietary information;
observer information; and
commercial or financial information the disclosure of which is likely to result in harm to the competitive position of the person that submitted the information to the Secretary.
.
Increased data collection and actions To address data-Poor fisheries
Section 404 (16 U.S.C. 1881c) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Use of the asset forfeiture fund for fishery independent data collection
In general
The Secretary, subject to appropriations, may obligate for data collection purposes in accordance with prioritizations under paragraph (3) a portion of amounts received by the United States as fisheries enforcement penalties.
Amounts may be obligated under this paragraph only in the fishery management region with respect to which they are collected.
Included purposes
The purposes referred to in paragraph (1) include—
the use of State personnel and resources, including fishery survey vessels owned and maintained by States to survey or assess data-poor fisheries for which fishery management plans are in effect under this Act; and
cooperative research activities authorized under section 318 to improve or enhance the fishery independent data used in fishery stock assessments.
Data-poor fisheries priority lists
Each Council shall—
identify those fisheries in its region considered to be data-poor fisheries;
prioritize those fisheries based on the need of each fishery for up-to-date information; and
provide those priorities to the Secretary.
Definitions
In this subsection:
The term data-poor fishery
means a fishery—
that has not been surveyed in the preceding 5-year period;
for which a fishery stock assessment has not been performed within the preceding 5-year period; or
for which limited information on the status of the fishery is available for management purposes.
The term fisheries enforcement penalties
means any fine or penalty imposed, or proceeds of any property seized, for a violation of this Act
or of any other marine resource law enforced by the Secretary.
Authorization of Appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for each fiscal year to carry out this subsection up to 80 percent of the fisheries enforcement penalties collected during the preceding fiscal year.
.
Cooperative research and management program
Section 318 (16 U.S.C. 1867) is amended—
in subsection (a), by inserting (1)
before the first sentence, and by adding at the end the following:
Within one year after the date of enactment of the Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act, and after consultation with the Councils, the Secretary shall publish a plan for implementing and conducting the program established in paragraph (1). Such plan shall identify and describe critical regional fishery management and research needs, possible projects that may address those needs, and estimated costs for such projects. The plan shall be revised and updated every 5 years, and updated plans shall include a brief description of projects that were funded in the prior 5-year period and the research and management needs that were addressed by those projects.
; and
in subsection (c)—
in the heading, by striking Funding
and inserting Priorities
; and
in paragraph (1), by striking all after including
and inserting an em dash, followed on the next line by the following:
the use of fishing vessels or acoustic or other marine technology;
expanding the use of electronic catch reporting programs and technology; and
improving monitoring and observer coverage through the expanded use of electronic monitoring devices.
.
Council jurisdiction for overlapping fisheries
Section 302(a)(1) (16 U.S.C. 1852(a)) is amended—
in subparagraph (A), in the second sentence—
by striking 18
and inserting 19
; and
by inserting before the period at the end and a liaison who is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to represent the
interests of fisheries under the jurisdiction of such Council
; and
in subparagraph (B), in the second sentence—
by striking 21
and inserting 22
; and
by inserting before the period at the end and a liaison who is a member of the New England Fishery Management Council to represent the
interests of fisheries under the jurisdiction of such Council
.
Gulf of Mexico fisheries cooperative research and red snapper management
Repeal
Section 407 (16 U.S.C. 1883), and the item relating to such section in the table of contents in the first section, are repealed.
Reporting and data collection program
The Secretary of Commerce shall—
in conjunction with the States, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, and the recreational fishing sectors, develop and implement a real-time reporting and data collection program for the Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery using available technology; and
make implementation of this subsection a priority for funds received by the Secretary and allocated
to this region under section 2 of the Act of August 11, 1939 (commonly
known as the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act
) (15 U.S.C. 713c–3).
Fisheries Cooperative research program
The Secretary of Commerce—
shall, in conjunction with the States, the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils, and the commercial, charter, and recreational fishing sectors, develop and implement a cooperative research program authorized under section 318 for the fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic regions, giving priority to those fisheries that are considered data-poor; and
may, subject to the availability of appropriations, use funds received by the Secretary under
section 2 of the Act of August 11, 1939 (commonly known as the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act
) (15 U.S.C. 713c–3) to implement this subsection.
Stock surveys and stock assessments
The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the National Marine Fisheries Service Regional Administrator of the Southeast Regional Office, shall for purposes of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.)—
develop a schedule of stock surveys and stock assessments for the Gulf of Mexico Region and the South Atlantic Region for the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and for every 5-year period thereafter;
direct the Southeast Science Center Director to implement such schedule; and
in such development and implementation—
give priority to those stocks that are commercially or recreationally important; and
ensure that each such important stock is surveyed at least every 5 years.
Use of fisheries information in stock assessments
The Southeast Science Center Director shall ensure that fisheries information made available through fisheries programs funded under Public Law 112–141 is incorporated as soon as possible into any fisheries stock assessments conducted after the date of the enactment of this Act.
State fisheries management in the Gulf of Mexico with respect to red snapper
Section 306(b) (16 U.S.C. 1856(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Notwithstanding section 3(11), for the purposes of managing the recreational sector of the Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery, the seaward boundary of a coastal State in the Gulf of Mexico is a line 9 miles seaward from the baseline from which the territorial sea of the United States is measured.
.
Funding of stock assessments
The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, shall enter into a cooperative agreement for the funding of stock assessments that are necessitated by any action by the Bureau with respect to offshore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico that adversely impacts red snapper.
North Pacific fishery management clarification
Section 306(a)(3)(C) (16 U.S.C. 1856(a)(3)(C)) is amended—
by striking was no
and inserting is no
; and
by striking on August 1, 1996
.
Ensuring consistent management for fisheries throughout their range
In general
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 4 the following:
Ensuring consistent fisheries management under certain other Federal laws
National Marine Sanctuaries Act and Antiquities Act of 1906
In any case of a conflict between this Act and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) or the Antiquities Act of 1906 (16 U.S.C. 431 et seq.), this Act shall control.
Fisheries restrictions under Endangered Species Act of 1973
To ensure transparency and consistent management of fisheries throughout their range, any restriction on the management of fish in the exclusive economic zone that is necessary to implement a recovery plan under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) shall be implemented—
using authority under this Act; and
in accordance with processes and time schedules required under this Act.
.
Clerical amendment
The table of contents in the first section is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 4 the following:
Sec. 5. Ensuring consistent fisheries management under certain other Federal laws.
.
Limitation on harvest in North Pacific directed pollock fishery
Section 210(e)(1) of the American Fisheries Act (title II of division C of Public Law 105–277; 16 U.S.C. 1851 note) is amended to read as follows:
Harvesting
Limitation
No particular individual, corporation, or other entity may harvest, through a fishery cooperative or otherwise, a percentage of the pollock available to be harvested in the directed pollock fishery that exceeds the percentage established for purposes of this paragraph by the North Pacific Council.
Maximum percentage
The percentage established by the North Pacific Council shall not exceed 24 percent of the pollock available to be harvested in the directed pollock fishery.
.
Recreational fishing data
Recreational data collection
Section 401(g) (16 U.S.C. 1881(g)) is amended by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5), and by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
Federal-State partnerships
Establishment
The Secretary shall establish partnerships with States to develop best practices for implementation of State programs established pursuant to paragraph (2).
Guidance
The Secretary shall develop guidance, in cooperation with the States, that details best practices for administering State programs pursuant to paragraph (2), and provide such guidance to the States.
Biennial Report
The Secretary shall submit to the Congress and publish biennial reports that include—
the estimated accuracy of the registry program established under paragraph (1) and of State programs that are exempted under paragraph (2);
priorities for improving recreational fishing data collection; and
an explanation of any use of information collected by such State programs and by the Secretary, including a description of any consideration given to the information by the Secretary.
States Grant Program
The Secretary shall make grants to States to improve implementation of State programs consistent with this subsection. The Secretary shall prioritize such grants based on the ability of the grant to improve the quality and accuracy of such programs.
.
Study on recreational fisheries data
Section 401(g) (16 U.S.C. 1881(g)) is further amended by adding at the end the following:
Study on program implementation
In general
Not later than 60 days after the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences to study the implementation of the programs described in this section. The study shall—
provide an updated assessment of recreational survey methods established or improved since the
publication of the Council’s report Review of Recreational Fisheries Survey Methods (2006)
;
evaluate the extent to which the recommendations made in that report were implemented pursuant to paragraph (3)(B); and
examine any limitations of the Marine Recreational Fishery Statistics Survey and the Marine Recreational Information Program established under paragraph (1).
Report
Not later than 1 year after entering into an agreement under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the results of the study under subparagraph (A).
.
Stock assessments used for fisheries managed under Gulf of Mexico Council’s Reef Fish Management Plan
In general
Title IV (16 U.S.C. 1881 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Stock assessments used for fisheries managed under Gulf of Mexico Council’s Reef Fish Management Plan
In general
The Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission shall conduct all fishery stock assessments used for management purposes by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council for the fisheries managed under the Council’s Reef Fish Management Plan.
Use of other information and assets
In general
Such fishery assessments shall—
incorporate fisheries survey information collected by university researchers; and
to the extent practicable, use State, university, and private assets to conduct fisheries surveys.
Surveys at artificial reefs
Any such fishery stock assessment conducted after the date of the enactment of the Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act shall incorporate fishery surveys conducted, and other relevant fisheries information collected, on and around natural and artificial reefs.
Constituent and stakeholder participation
Each such fishery assessment shall—
emphasize constituent and stakeholder participation in the development of the assessment;
contain all of the raw data used in the assessment and a description of the methods used to collect that data; and
employ an assessment process that is transparent and includes—
includes a rigorous and independent scientific review of the completed fishery stock assessment; and
a panel of independent experts to review the data and assessment and make recommendations on the most appropriate values of critical population and management quantities.
.
Clerical amendment
The table of contents in the first section is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 408 the following:
Sec. 409. Stock assessments used for fisheries managed under Gulf of Mexico Council's Reef Fish Management Plan.
.
Estimation of cost of recovery from fishery resource disaster
Section 312(a)(1) (16 U.S.C. 1861a(1)) is amended—
by inserting (A)
after (1)
;
by redesignating existing subparagraphs (A) through (C) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, of subparagraph (A) (as designated by the amendment made by paragraph (1)); and
by adding at the end the following:
The Secretary shall publish the estimated cost of recovery from a fishery resource disaster no later than 30 days after the Secretary makes the determination under subparagraph (A) with respect to such disaster.
.
Deadline for action on request by Governor for determination regarding fishery resource disaster
Section 312(a) (16 U.S.C. 1861a(a)) is amended by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (4) as paragraphs (3) through (5), and by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
The Secretary shall make a decision regarding a request from a Governor under paragraph (1) within 90 days after receiving an estimate of the economic impact of the fishery resource disaster from the entity requesting the relief.
.
Prohibition on considering red snapper killed during removal of oil rigs
Any red snapper that are killed during the removal of any offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico shall not be considered in determining under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) whether the total allowable catch for red snapper has been reached.
Prohibition on considering fish seized from foreign fishing
Any fish that are seized from a foreign vessel engaged in illegal fishing activities in the Exclusive Economic Zone shall not be considered in determining under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) the total allowable catch for that fishery.
Subsistence fishing
Definition
Section 3 (16 U.S.C. 1802) is amended by inserting after paragraph 43 the following:
The term subsistence fishing
means fishing in which the fish harvested are intended for customary and traditional uses,
including for direct personal or family consumption as food or clothing;
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; and for customary trade.
In this paragraph—
the term family
means all persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption, or any person living within the
household on a permanent basis; and
the term barter
means the exchange of a fish or fish part—
for another fish or fish part; or
for other food or for nonedible items other than money if the exchange is of a limited and noncommercial nature.
.
Council seat
Section 302(b)(2) (16 U.S.C. 1852(b)(2)) is amended—
in subparagraph (A), by striking or recreational
and inserting , recreational, or subsistence fishing
; and
in subparagraph (C), in the second sentence, by inserting , and in the case of the Governor of Alaska with the subsistence fishing interests of the State,
after interests of the State
.
Purpose
Section 2(b)(3) (16 U.S.C. 1801(b)(3)) is amended by striking and recreational
and inserting , recreational, and subsistence
.
Inter-sector trading of commercial catch share allocations in the Gulf of Mexico
Section 301 (16 U.S.C. 1851) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Inter-sector trading of commercial catch share allocations in the Gulf of Mexico
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, any commercial fishing catch share allocation in a fishery in the Gulf of Mexico may only be traded by sale or lease within the same commercial fishing sector.
.
Authorization of appropriations
Section 4 (16 U.S.C. 1803) is amended—
by striking this Act
and all that follows through (7)
and inserting this Act
; and
by striking fiscal year 2013
and inserting each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018
.
Revitalizing the Economy of Fisheries in the Pacific
Short title
This title may be cited as the Revitalizing the Economy of Fisheries in the Pacific Act
or the REFI Pacific Act
.
Findings; purpose
Findings
Congress makes the following findings:
In 2000, the Secretary of Commerce declared the West Coast groundfish fishery a Federal fisheries economic disaster due to low stock abundance, an overcapitalized fleet, and historically overfished stocks.
Section 212 of the Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2003 (title II of division B of Public Law 108–7; 117 Stat. 80) was enacted to establish a Pacific Coast groundfish fishing capacity reduction program, also known as a buyback program, to remove excess fishing capacity.
In 2003, Congress authorized the $35,700,000 buyback loan, creating the Pacific Coast groundfish fishing capacity reduction program through the National Marine Fisheries Service fisheries finance program with a term of 30 years. The interest rate of the buyback loan was fixed at 6.97 percent and is paid back based on an ex-vessel fee landing rate not to exceed 5 percent for the loan.
The groundfish fishing capacity reduction program resulted in the removal of limited entry trawl Federal fishing permits from the fishery, representing approximately 46 percent of total landings at the time.
Because of an absence of a repayment mechanism, $4,243,730 in interest accrued before fee collection procedures were established in 2005, over 18 months after the groundfish fishing capacity reduction program was initiated.
In 2011, the West Coast groundfish fishery transitioned to an individual fishing quota fishery, which is a type of catch share program.
By 2015, West Coast groundfish fishermen’s expenses are expected to include fees of approximately $450 per day for observers, a 3-percent cost recovery fee as authorized by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801) for catch share programs, and a 5-percent ex-vessel landings rate for the loan repayment, which could reach 18 percent of their total gross revenue.
In 2012, the West Coast groundfish limited entry trawl fishery generated $63,000,000, an increase from an average of $45,000,000 during the years 2006 to 2011. This revenue is expected to continue to increase post-rationalization.
Purpose
The purpose of this title is to refinance the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery fishing capacity reduction program to protect and conserve the West Coast groundfish fishery and the coastal economies in California, Oregon, and Washington that rely on it.
Refinancing of Pacific Coast groundfish fishing capacity reduction loan
In general
The Secretary of Commerce, upon receipt of such assurances as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States, shall issue a loan to refinance the existing debt obligation funding the fishing capacity reduction program for the West Coast groundfish fishery implemented under section 212 of the Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2003 (title II of division B of Public Law 108–7; 117 Stat. 80).
Applicable law
Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Secretary shall issue the loan under this section in accordance with subsections (b) through (e) of section 312 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1861a) and sections 53702 and 53735 of title 46, United States Code.
Loan term
In general
Notwithstanding section 53735(c)(4) of title 46, United States Code, a loan under this section shall have a maturity that expires at the end of the 45-year period beginning on the date of issuance of the loan.
Extension
Notwithstanding paragraph (1) and if there is an outstanding balance on the loan after the period described in paragraph (1), a loan under this section shall have a maturity of 45 years or until the loan is repaid in full.
Limitation on fee amount
Notwithstanding section 312(d)(2)(B) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1861a(d)(2)(B)), the fee established by the Secretary with respect to a loan under this section shall not exceed 3 percent of the ex-vessel value of the harvest from each fishery for where the loan is issued.
Interest rate
In general
Notwithstanding section 53702(b)(2) of title 46, United States Code, the annual rate of interest an obligor shall pay on a direct loan obligation under this section is the percent the Secretary must pay as interest to borrow from the Treasury the funds to make the loan.
Subloans
Each subloan under the loan authorized by this section—
shall receive the interest rate described in paragraph (1); and
may be paid off at any time notwithstanding subsection (c)(1).
Ex-Vessel landing fee
Calculations and accuracy
The Secretary shall set the ex-vessel landing fee to be collected for payment of the loan under this section—
as low as possible, based on recent landings value in the fishery, to meet the requirements of loan repayment;
upon issuance of the loan in accordance with paragraph (2); and
on a regular interval not to exceed every 5 years beginning on the date of issuance of the loan.
Deadline for initial ex-vessel landings fee calculation
Not later than 60 days after the date of issuance of the loan under this section, the Secretary shall recalculate the ex-vessel landing fee based on the most recent value of the fishery.
Authorization
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce to carry out this section an amount equal to 1 percent of the amount of the loan authorized under this section for purposes of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661 et seq.).
December 22, 2014
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed