Bill · H.R. 3714· House(119-HR-3714)
Forage Fish Conservation Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 6/4/2025
- Last activity
- 6/4/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Sponsored by
- Debbie Dingell
- Cosponsors
- - 4 - 2
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Forage Fish Conservation Act of 2025 aims to improve the management of forage fish species. It directs the Secretary to establish a formal definition for "forage fish" based on factors like trophic level and role in energy transfer. The bill mandates that scientific and statistical committees provide advice on maintaining forage fish populations to support marine ecosystems. It also requires Councils to develop lists of unmanaged forage fish and restricts new directed fisheries for these species until management plans are in place. Additionally, the bill requires amending specific fishery management plans to include shad and river herring. Finally, it directs the reallocation of resources for at-sea monitoring of certain fishing vessels.
Yes
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+5
The bill enhances marine ecosystem health through stricter management of forage fish populations.
Does this give the federal government more power?+3
The bill expands the Secretary of Commerce's authority to define and manage forage fish species.
Does this put more money into scientific research?+2
The bill mandates scientific advice and research priorities regarding forage fish populations.
The opposite
Would business owners be better off under this?-3
The bill imposes new restrictions and monitoring requirements on certain fishing operations.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Maintaining Ecosystem Health: The bill aims to maintain sufficient abundance, diversity, and localized distribution of forage fish populations to support their role in marine ecosystems (Section 4).
-
Sustainable Fisheries: By addressing the unique role of forage fish, the act seeks to maintain ecosystem function and sustainable fisheries (Section 2).
-
Diet-Based Catch Limits: When setting annual catch limits for forage fish, the bill requires assessing needs based on the diet of other marine wildlife, such as marine mammals and birds (Section 6).
-
Improved Monitoring: The bill directs the reallocation of resources to provide at-sea observers or electronic/video monitoring for at least 50 percent of relevant fishing trips for vessels using specific gear in the Atlantic herring and Atlantic mackerel fisheries (Section 8).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Restrictions on New Fisheries: The bill prohibits the development of any new directed forage fish fishery until a Council has evaluated impacts on existing fisheries, fishing communities, and the marine ecosystem, and submitted a management plan (Section 5).
-
Resource Reallocation: The bill requires the reallocation of existing resources to provide at-sea observers or electronic/video monitoring for specific vessels in the Atlantic herring and Atlantic mackerel fisheries (Section 8).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections+5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners-3
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+3
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+2
- 1/7/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/2/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/10/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 6/4/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Suzanne BonamiciDemocrat · Oregon
Bill FosterDemocrat · Illinois
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Jared HuffmanDemocrat · California
Henry JohnsonDemocrat · Georgia
Brian MastRepublican · Florida