Fisheries Data Modernization and Accuracy Act of 2025

Improved Data Accuracy and Management: The bill requires the Administrator to reform the MRPI to meet the unique needs of specific regions and States, ensuring data is more useful for management decisions (Section 3(a)).

Independent Oversight: By establishing a standing committee within the National Academies that operates independently of the Administrator, the bill introduces expert, unbiased oversight of recreational fisheries data (Section 3(b)(1)).

State Empowerment and Flexibility: States are given the opportunity to run their own catch and effort data collection programs, which can include universal standards that allow for flexibility based on specific State activities (Section 4(a)).

Financial Support for States: A grant program is established to help States develop or improve their own data collection programs, with $15,000,000 authorized for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2031 (Section 4(b) and 4(e)).

Better Science for Healthy Fisheries: The bill mandates a Stock Assessment Plan to evaluate the status of fish stocks, including their life history and fishing status, to improve the accuracy of future assessments (Section 5(b)).

Increased Public Access and Transparency: The bill requires scientific and statistical committees to develop advice transparently and mandates that Councils provide webcasts, audio, or video recordings of their meetings to the public (Section 8).

Increased Burden on Anglers: The bill explicitly directs officials to consider whether new data collection options are "burdensome to anglers" (Section 3(c)(3)(B)(i)) and requires State programs to ensure they are not "overly burdensome" to prevent noncompliance (Section 4(a)(2)(D)).

Management Adjustments: If data error rates (PSE) are too high, the Administrator may adjust the management of seasonal fisheries, which could include changes to management approaches or catch limits (Section 3(b)(2)(A)).