I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8508 

To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 

to reauthorize the bycatch reduction engineering program and establish 

the Bycatch Mitigation Assistance Fund. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 22, 2024 

Mrs. PELTOLA (for herself, Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana, and Mr. HUFFMAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act to reauthorize the bycatch reduction 

engineering program and establish the Bycatch Mitigation Assistance Fund. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Bycatch Reduction and 

5 Mitigation Act of 2024’’. 

6 SEC. 2. BYCATCH REDUCTION AND MITIGATION. 

7 (a) REAUTHORIZATION OF BYCATCH REDUCTION

8 ENGINEERING PROGRAM.—Section 316 of the MagnusonVerDate Sep 11 2014 18:45 Jul 05, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8508.IH H8508

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1 Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 

2 U.S.C. 1865) is amended by adding at the end the fol3 lowing: 

4 ‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

5 is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 

6 out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 

7 through 2029.’’. 

8 (b) BYCATCH MITIGATION ASSISTANCE FUND.— 

9 Title III of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 

10 and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1851 et seq.) is amended 

11 by adding at the end the following: 

12 ‘‘SEC. 322. BYCATCH MITIGATION ASSISTANCE FUND. 

13 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the gen14 eral fund of the Treasury of the United States an account 

15 to be known as the ‘Bycatch Mitigation Assistance Fund’, 

16 which shall— 

17 ‘‘(1) be administered by the Foundation; and 

18 ‘‘(2) consist of donations of amounts accepted 

19 pursuant to subsection (c). 

20 ‘‘(b) USE.— 

21 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Foundation shall use 

22 the amounts in the Fund to reduce or mitigate by23 catch, including by providing financial assistance to 

24 fishermen and owners and operators of commercial 


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1 fishing vessels to purchase fishing gear, equipment, 

2 or technology. 

3 ‘‘(2) SMALL VESSELS.—In using the amounts 

4 in the Fund under paragraph (1), the Foundation 

5 shall distribute not less than 60 percent of such 

6 amounts to owners and operators of small commer7 cial fishing vessels. 

8 ‘‘(c) DONATIONS.—The Foundation may solicit and 

9 accept donations of amounts for deposit into the Fund. 

10 ‘‘(d) CONSULTATION.—In administering the Fund, 

11 the Foundation shall consult with the Secretary, acting 

12 through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 

13 Atmospheric Administration, each Council, and each of 

14 the regional science centers of the National Marine Fish15 eries Service to ensure that, to the maximum extent prac16 ticable, amounts in the Fund are used in an efficient and 

17 cost-effective manner. 

18 ‘‘(e) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date 

19 of the enactment of this section, and biennially thereafter, 

20 the Foundation shall publish and post online in a manner 

21 available to the public information regarding the use of 

22 the Fund during— 

23 ‘‘(1) with respect to the first publication of in24 formation, the preceding 3 years; and 


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1 ‘‘(2) with respect to each subsequent publica2 tion of information, the preceding 2 years. 

3 ‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

4 ‘‘(1) FOUNDATION.—The term ‘Foundation’ 

5 means the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. 

6 ‘‘(2) FUND.—The term ‘Fund’ means the By7 catch Mitigation Assistance Fund established under 

8 subsection (a). 

9 ‘‘(3) SMALL COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSEL.— 

10 The term ‘small commercial fishing vessel’ means a 

11 commercial fishing vessel that is 65 feet or less in 

12 length.’’. 

Æ 


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