Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act

To improve the management of driftnet fishing. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act 2. Definition Section 3(25) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1802(25) , or with a mesh size of 14 inches or greater, more 3. Findings and policy (a) Findings Section 206(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1826(b) (1) in paragraph (6), by striking and (2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period and inserting ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (8) within the exclusive economic zone, large-scale driftnet fishing that deploys nets with large mesh sizes causes significant entanglement and mortality of living marine resources, including myriad protected species, despite limitations on the lengths of such nets. . (b) Policy Section 206(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1826(c) (1) in paragraph (2), by striking and (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting ; and (3) by adding at the end the following— (4) prioritize the phase out of large-scale driftnet fishing in the exclusive economic zone and promote the development and adoption of alternative fishing methods and gear types that reduce the incidental catch of living marine resources to the maximum extent possible. . 4. Transition program Section 206 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1826 (i) Fishing gear transition program (1) In general The Secretary shall conduct a transition program to facilitate the phase-out of large-scale driftnet fishing and adoption of alternative fishing practices that minimize the incidental catch of living marine resources. (2) Permissible uses (A) In general The Secretary is authorized to provide funding to fishery participants for one or more of the following: (i) Any fee originally associated with a permit authorizing participation in a large-scale driftnet fishery, if such permit is surrendered for permanent revocation, and such permit holder relinquishes any claim associated with the permit. (ii) A forfeiture of fishing gear associated with a permit described in clause (i). (iii) The purchase of alternative gear with minimal incidental catch of living marine resources, if the fishery participant is authorized to continue fishing using such alternative gears. (B) Payment condition The Secretary may not make a payment to a fishery participant under subparagraph (A) unless the Secretary certifies that the permit authorizing participation has been permanently revoked and that no new permits will be issued to authorize such fishing. (3) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated for purposes of carrying out this subsection, $450,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2020. . 5. Exception Section 307(1)(M) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1857(1)(M) (i) deploys, within the exclusive economic zone, a net with a total length of less than two and one-half kilometers and a mesh size of 14 inches or greater; and (ii) is conducted prior to January 1, 2020. .

Summary: Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act This bill addresses certain driftnet fishing. (Driftnet fishing is a method of fishing in which a gillnet composed of a panel or panels of webbing, or a series of such gillnets, is placed in the water and allowed to drift with the currents and winds for the purpose of entangling fish in the webbing.) Currently, the use of large-scale drift gillnets with a total length of 2.5 kilometers or more is prohibited in the United States.The bill expands the definition of large-scale driftnet fishing to prohibit the use of gillnets with a mesh size of 14 inches or greater. This expanded prohibition does not apply within the U.S. exclusive economic zone prior to January 1, 2020. The Department of Commerce must conduct a transition program to facilitate the phase out of large-scale driftnet fishing and to promote the adoption of alternative fishing practices that minimize the incidental catch of living marine resources. Commerce may award grants to program participants.