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 minimize the incidental catch of living marine resources. . 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 During the 5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act (2) Permissible uses Any permit holder receiving a grant under paragraph (1) may use such funds only for the purpose of covering— (A) 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; (B) a forfeiture of fishing gear associated with a permit described in subparagraph (A); or (C) 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. (3) Certification The Secretary shall certify that, with respect to each participant in the program under this subsection, any permit authorizing participation in a large-scale driftnet fishery has been permanently revoked and that no new permits will be issued to authorize such fishing. . 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 within 5 years of the date of enactment of the Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act . 6. Fees (a) In general The North Pacific Fishery Management Council may recommend, and the Secretary of Commerce may approve, regulations necessary for the collection of fees from charter vessel operators who guide recreational anglers who harvest Pacific halibut in International Pacific Halibut Commission regulatory areas 2C and 3A as those terms are defined in part 300 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations). (b) Use of fees Any fees collected under this section shall be available, without appropriation or fiscal year limitation, for the purposes of— (1) financing administrative costs of the Recreational Quota Entity program; (2) the purchase of halibut quota shares in International Pacific Halibut Commission regulatory areas 2C and 3A by the recreational quota entity authorized in part 679 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations); (3) halibut conservation and research; and (4) promotion of the halibut resource by the recreational quota entity authorized in part 679 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations).

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 for five years. 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 must award grants to program participants. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council may recommend and Commerce may approve regulations that require charter operators to pay fees on vessels that harvest Pacific halibut in specific International Pacific Halibut Commission regulatory areas.