Healthy Fisheries through Better Science Act

To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to require the Secretary of Commerce to develop a plan to conduct stock assessments for all stocks of fish for which a fishery management plan is in effect under that Act, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Healthy Fisheries through Better Science Act 2. Definition of stock assessment Section 3 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1802 (43) The term stock assessment (A) a range of life history characteristics for such stock, including— (i) the geographical boundaries of such stock; and (ii) information on age, growth, natural mortality, sexual maturity and reproduction, feeding habits, and habitat preferences of such stock; and (B) fishing for the stock. . 3. Stock assessment plan (a) In general Section 404 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 18881c (e) Stock assessment plan (1) In general The Secretary shall develop and publish in the Federal Register, on the same schedule as required for the strategic plan required under section 404(b) of such Act, a plan to conduct stock assessments for all stocks of fish for which a fishery management plan is in effect under this Act. (2) Contents The plan shall— (A) for each stock of fish for which a stock assessment has previously been conducted— (i) establish a schedule for updating the stock assessment that is reasonable given the biology and characteristics of the stock; and (ii) subject to the availability of appropriations, require completion of a new stock assessment, or an update of the most recent stock assessment— (I) every 5 years; or (II) within such other time period specified and justified by the Secretary in the plan; (B) for each stock of fish for which a stock assessment has not previously been conducted— (i) establish a schedule for conducting an initial stock assessment that is reasonable given the biology and characteristics of the stock; and (ii) subject to the availability of appropriations, require completion of the initial stock assessment within 3 years after the plan is published in the Federal Register unless another time period is specified and justified by the Secretary in the plan; and (C) identify data and analysis, especially concerning recreational fishing, that, if available, would reduce uncertainty in and improve the accuracy of future stock assessments, including whether such data and analysis could be 10 provided by nongovernmental sources, including fishermen, fishing communities, universities, and research institutions. (3) Waiver of stock assessment requirement Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A)(ii) and (B)(ii), a stock assessment is not required for a stock of fish in the plan if the Secretary determines that such a stock assessment is not necessary and justifies such determination in the Federal Register notice required by this subsection. . (b) Deadline Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of section 404(e) of such Act, as amended by this section, the Secretary of Commerce shall issue the first stock assessment plan under such section by not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. 4. Improving science (a) Incorporation of information from wide variety of sources Section 2(a)(8) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1801 Fisheries management is most effective when it incorporates information provided by governmental and nongovernmental sources, including State and Federal agency staff, fishermen, fishing communities, universities, research institutions, and other appropriate entities. As appropriate, such information should be considered the best scientific information available and form the basis of conservation and management measures as required by this Act. (b) Improving data collection and analysis (1) In general Section 404 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1881c (f) Improving data collection and analysis (1) In general The Secretary, in consultation with the science and statistical committee of the Councils established under section 302(g), shall develop and publish in the Federal Register guidelines that will facilitate greater incorporation of data, analysis, and stock assessments from nongovernmental sources, including fishermen, fishing communities, universities, and research institutions, into fisheries management decisions. (2) Content The guidelines shall— (A) identify types of data and analysis, especially concerning recreational fishing, that can be reliably used as the best scientific information available for purposes of this Act and the basis for establishing conservation and management measures as required by section 303(a)(1), including setting standards for the collection and use of such data and analysis in stock assessments and for other purposes; (B) provide specific guidance for collecting data and performing analyses identified as necessary to reduce the uncertainty referred to in section 404(e)(2)(C); and (C) establish a registry of persons providing such information. (3) Acceptance and use of data and analyses The Secretary and Regional Fishery Management Councils shall— (A) use all data and analyses that meet the guidelines published under paragraph (1) as the best scientific information available for purposes of this Act in fisheries management decisions, unless otherwise determined by the science and statistical committee of the Councils established pursuant to section 302(g) of the Act; (B) explain in the Federal Register notice announcing the fishery management decision how such data and analyses have been used to establish conservation and management measures; and (C) if any such data or analysis is not used, provide in the Federal Register notice announcing the fishery management decision an explanation developed by such science and statistical committee of why such data or analysis was not used. . (c) Deadline The Secretary of Commerce shall develop and publish guidelines under the amendment made by subsection (a) by not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. 5. Cost reduction report Within 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Regional Fishery Management Councils, shall submit a report to Congress that, with respect to each fishery governed by a fishery management plan in effect under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. (1) identifies the goals of the applicable programs governing monitoring and enforcement of fishing that is subject to such plan; (2) identifies methods to accomplish those goals, including human observers, electronic monitoring, and vessel monitoring systems; (3) certifies which such methods are most cost-effective for fishing that is subject to such plan; and (4) explains why such most-cost-effective methods are not required, if applicable. 6. Cost sharing Section 304(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1854(d) (3) The Secretary shall not collect any fee under this section or section 313(a) before preparing an analysis that identifies the costs that will be recovered by the fee and the costs that will not be recovered by the fee. Such analysis shall be included in the applicable fisheries management plan. .

Summary: Healthy Fisheries through Better Science Act This bill amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to require the Department of Commerce to develop and publish a plan to conduct stock assessments for all stocks of fish for which a fishery management plan is in effect. A "stock assessment" is an evaluation of the past, present, and future status of a stock of fish, including: (1) a range of life history characteristics, including the stock's geographical boundaries, age, growth, natural mortality, sexual maturity and reproduction, feeding habits, and habitat preferences; and (2) fishing for the stock. The plan must be developed and published on the same schedule as required for the fisheries research strategic plan. The plan must: (1) establish schedules for conducting initial stock assessments and updating previously conducted assessments, and (2) identify data and analysis that would reduce uncertainty in and improve the accuracy of future stock assessments. A stock assessment is not required for a stock of fish in the plan if Commerce determines that the assessment is not necessary and justifies the determination in the Federal Register notice. Commerce must develop and publish in the Federal Register guidelines to incorporate data, analysis, and stock assessments from nongovernmental sources into fisheries management decisions and to establish a registry of information providers. Commerce and Regional Fishery Management Councils must use all data and analyses that meet the guidelines published as the best scientific information available in fisheries management decisions, unless otherwise determined by the science and statistical committees of the Councils. Commerce may not collect certain fishing permit fees and North Pacific Council fisheries research plan implementation fees before identifying the costs that will be recovered by such fee.