Florida Fisheries Improvement Act

To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to promote sustainable conservation and management for the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic fisheries and the communities that rely on them, and for other purposes. 1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Florida Fisheries Improvement Act (b) Table of contents The table of contents of this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. References to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. TITLE I—Conservation and management Sec. 101. Regional fishery management councils. Sec. 102. Contents of fishery management plans. Sec. 103. Rebuilding overfished and depleted fisheries. Sec. 104. Funding for stock assessments, surveys, and data collection. Sec. 105. Capital construction. Sec. 106. Fisheries disaster relief. Sec. 107. Regional fishery conservation and management authorities. Sec. 108. Study of allocations in mixed-use fisheries. TITLE II—Fishery information, research, and development Sec. 201. Fisheries research. Sec. 202. Improving science. Sec. 203. Focusing assets for improved fisheries outcomes. Sec. 204. Gulf of Mexico red snapper catch limits; repeal. 2. References to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). I Conservation and management 101. Regional fishery management councils (a) Voting members Section 302(b)(2)(D) ( 16 U.S.C. 1852(b)(2)(D) (1) in clause (i)— (A) by striking Fisheries Fishery (B) by inserting or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Management Council (2) by striking clause (iv). (b) Committees and advisory panels Section 302(g)(1)(B) ( 16 U.S.C. 1852(g)(1)(B) (B) Each scientific and statistical committee shall— (i) provide its Council ongoing scientific advice for fishery management decisions, including recommendations for acceptable biological catch, preventing overfishing, maximum sustainable yield, achieving rebuilding targets, and reports on stock status and health, bycatch, habitat status, social and economic impacts of management measures, and sustainability of fishing practices; and (ii) carry out the requirements of this subparagraph in a transparent manner, allowing for public involvement in the process. . (c) Functions Section 302(h) ( 16 U.S.C. 1852(h) (1) in paragraph (7)(C), by striking and (2) by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph (9); and (3) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following: (8) have the authority to use alternative fishery management measures in a recreational fishery (or the recreational component of a mixed-use fishery), including extraction rates, fishing mortality, and harvest control rules, to the extent they are in accordance with the requirements of this Act; and . (d) Webcasts of council meetings Section 302(i)(2) ( 16 U.S.C. 1852(i)(2) (G) Unless closed in accordance with paragraph (3), each Council shall, where practicable, make available on the Internet website of the Council a video or audio webcast of each meeting of the Council and each meeting of the scientific and statistical committee of the Council not later than 30 days after the date of the conclusion of such meeting. . 102. Contents of fishery management plans Section 303 ( 16 U.S.C. 1853 (d) Limitations (1) In general The requirements under subsection (a)(15) shall not— (A) apply to a species in a fishery that has a mean life cycle of 18 months or less, or to a species in a fishery with respect to which all spawning and recruitment occurs beyond State waters and the exclusive economic zone, unless the Secretary has determined the fishery is subject to overfishing of that species; and (B) limit or otherwise affect the requirements of section 301(a)(1) or 304(e) of this Act. (2) Construction Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to affect any effective date regarding the requirements under subsection (a)(15) otherwise provided for under an international agreement in which the United States participates. . 103. Rebuilding overfished and depleted fisheries Section 304(e)(4)(A) ( 16 U.S.C. 1854(e)(4)(A) (A) specify a time period for rebuilding the fishery that— (i) shall be as short as possible, taking into account the status and biology of any overfished stocks of fish, the needs of fishing communities, recommendations by international organizations in which the United States participates, and the interaction of the overfished stock of fish within the marine ecosystem; and (ii) except where management measures under an international agreement with the United States participates dictate otherwise, shall not exceed— (I) 10 years, except in cases where the biology of the stock of fish or other environmental conditions dictate otherwise; or (II) the sum of the time in which the affected stock of fish is expected to rebuild to its maximum sustainable yield biomass level in the absence of any fishing mortality, and the mean generation of time of the affected stock of fish, if those time values are the best scientific information available; . 104. Funding for stock assessments, surveys, and data collection Section 311(e)(1) ( 16 U.S.C. 1861(e)(1) (1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ; and (2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (3) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following: (G) the costs of stock assessments, surveys, and data collection in fisheries managed under this Act. . 105. Capital construction (a) Definitions; eligible and qualified fishery facilities Section 53501 (1) by striking (7) United states foreign trade (11) United States foreign trade (2) by striking (8) Vessel (12) Vessel (3) by redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), and (7) as paragraphs (8), (9), and (10), respectively; (4) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) as paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), respectively; (5) by redesignating paragraph (1) as paragraph (2); (6) by inserting before paragraph (2), as redesignated, the following: (1) Agreement fishery facility The term agreement fishery facility ; (7) by inserting after paragraph (2), as redesignated, the following: (3) Eligible fishery facility (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), the term “eligible fishery facility” means— (i) for operations on land— (I) a structure or an appurtenance thereto designed for unloading and receiving from a vessel, processing, holding pending processing, distribution after processing, or holding pending distribution, of fish from a fishery; (II) the land necessary for the structure or appurtenance described in subclause (I); and (III) equipment that is for use with the structure or appurtenance that is necessary to perform a function described in subclause (I); (ii) for operations not on land, a vessel built in the United States and used for, equipped to be used for, or of a type normally used for, processing fish; or (iii) for aquaculture, including operations on land or elsewhere— (I) a structure or an appurtenance thereto designed for aquaculture; (II) the land necessary for the structure or appurtenance; (III) equipment that is for use with the structure or appurtenance and that is necessary to perform a function described in subclause (I); and (IV) a vessel built in the United States and used for, equipped to be used for, or of a type normally used for, aquaculture. (B) Ownership requirement Under subparagraph (A), the structure, appurtenance, land, equipment, or vessel shall be owned by— (i) an individual who is a citizen of the United States; or (ii) an entity that is— (I) a citizen of the United States under section 50501 of this title; and (II) at least 75 percent owned by citizens of the United States, as determined under section 50501 of this title. ; and (8) by inserting after paragraph (6), as redesignated, the following: (7) Qualified fishery facility (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), the term qualified fishery facility (i) for operations on land— (I) a structure or an appurtenance thereto designed for unloading and receiving from a vessel, processing, holding pending processing, distribution after processing, or holding pending distribution, of fish from a fishery; (II) the land necessary for the structure or appurtenance; and (III) equipment that is for use with the structure or appurtenance and necessary to perform a function described in subclause (I); (ii) for operations not on land, a vessel built in the United States and used for, equipped to be used for, or of a type normally used for, processing fish; or (iii) for aquaculture, including operations on land or elsewhere— (I) a structure or an appurtenance thereto designed for aquaculture; (II) the land necessary for the structure or appurtenance; (III) equipment that is for use with the structure or appurtenance and necessary for performing a function described in subclause (I); and (IV) a vessel built in the United States. (B) Ownership requirement Under subparagraph (A), the structure, appurtenance, land, equipment, or vessel shall be owned by— (i) an individual who is a citizen of the United States; or (ii) an entity that is— (I) a citizen of the United States under section 50501 of this title; and (II) at least 75 percent owned by citizens of the United States, as determined under section 50501 of this title. . (b) Eligible fishery facilities (1) Definition of Secretary Paragraph (9)(A) of section 53501 (A) the Secretary of Commerce with respect to— (i) an eligible vessel or a qualified vessel operated or to be operated in the fisheries of the United States; or (ii) an eligible fishery facility or a qualified fishery facility; . (2) Establishing a capital construction fund Section 53503 (A) in subsection (a)— (i) by inserting or eligible fishery facility eligible vessel (ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting or fishery facility. (B) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: (b) Allowable purpose The purpose of the agreement shall be— (1) to provide replacement vessels, additional vessels, or reconstructed vessels, built in the United States and documented under the laws of the United States, for operation in the United States foreign, Great Lakes, noncontiguous domestic, or short sea transportation trade or in the fisheries of the United States; or (2) to provide for the acquisition, construction, or reconstruction of a fishery facility owned by— (A) an individual who is a citizen of the United States; or (B) an entity that is— (i) a citizen of the United States under section 50501; and (ii) at least 75 percent owned by citizens of the United States, as determined under section 50501. . (c) Agreement fishery facilities (1) Deposits and withdrawals Section 53504(b) or an agreement fishery facility. (2) Ceiling on deposits Section 53505 (A) in subsection (a)— (i) paragraphs (1), by inserting or agreement fishery facilities agreement vessels (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting or agreement fishery facilities; (iii) in paragraph (3) by inserting or agreement fishery facility agreement vessel (B) in subsection (b)— (i) by inserting or agreement fishery facility an agreement vessel (ii) by inserting or fishery facility the vessel (d) Qualified fishery facilities (1) Qualified withdrawals Section 53509(a) (A) in paragraph (1), by striking qualified vessel; or qualified vessel, or the acquisition, construction, or reconstruction of a qualified fishery facility; or (B) in paragraph (2), by striking qualified vessel. qualified vessel, or the acquisition, construction, or reconstruction, of a qualified fishery facility. (2) Tax treatment of qualified withdrawals and basis of property Section 53510 (A) in subsections (b) and (c), by striking or container container, or fishery facility (B) in subsection (d), by striking and containers containers, and fishery facilities (3) Tax treatment of nonqualified withdrawals Section 53511(e)(4) or fishery facility vessel (e) Technical amendment Paragraph (8)(A)(iii) of section 53501 trade trade trade 106. Fisheries disaster relief Section 312(a) ( 16 U.S.C. 1861a(a) (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (4) as paragraphs (3) through (5), respectively; and (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: (2) The Secretary shall make a decision regarding a request under paragraph (1) not later than 90 days after the date the Secretary receives a complete estimate of the economic impact of the fishery resource disaster from the affected State, tribal government, or fishing community. . 107. Regional fishery conservation and management authorities (a) In general Title III ( 16 U.S.C. 1851 et seq. 313A. Gulf of Mexico fisheries conservation and management At least once every 5 years, the Gulf Council shall review, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, any allocation of fishing privileges among the commercial, recreational, and charter components of a fishery managed under a fishery management plan prepared by the Council, except that the Council may delay action for not more than 3 additional 1 year periods if necessary. 313B. South Atlantic Fisheries conservation and management At least once every 5 years, the South Atlantic Council shall review, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, any allocation of fishing privileges among the commercial, recreational, and charter components of a fishery managed under a fishery management plan prepared by the Council, except that the Council may delay action for not more than 3 additional 1 year periods if necessary. . (b) Table of contents The table of contents is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 313, the following: 313A. Gulf of Mexico fisheries conservation and management. 313B. South Atlantic fisheries conservation and management. . 108. Study of allocations in mixed-use fisheries (a) Study requirements Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study— (1) to provide guidance on criteria that could be used for allocating fishing privileges, including consideration of the conservation and socioeconomic benefits of the commercial, recreational, and charter components of a fishery, to a Regional Fishery Management Council established under section 302 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1852 (2) to identify sources of information that could reasonably support the use of such criteria in allocation decisions. (b) Report Not later than 1 year after the date a contract is awarded under subsection (a), the National Academy of Sciences shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report on the study conducted under subsection (a). II Fishery information, research, and development 201. Fisheries research (a) Stock assessment plan Section 404 ( 16 U.S.C. 1881c (e) Stock assessment plan (1) In general The Secretary, in consultation with the Councils, shall develop and publish in the Federal Register, on the same schedule as required for the strategic plan required under subsection (b), 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) at least once every 5 years, except a Council may delay action for not more than 3 additional 1-year periods; or (II) within such other time period specified and justified by the Secretary in the plan; (B) for each economically important 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 not later than 3 years after the date that 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 that data and analysis could be 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) of paragraph (2), a stock assessment shall not be required for a stock of fish in the plan if the Secretary determines that such a stock assessment is not necessary and justifies the determination in the Federal Register notice required by this subsection. . (b) Deadline Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of section 404(e) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as added by this section, the Secretary of Commerce shall issue the first stock assessment plan under that section by not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 202. Improving science (a) Improving data collection and analysis (1) In general Section 404 ( 16 U.S.C. 1881c (f) Improving data collection and analysis (1) In general The Secretary, in consultation with the scientific and statistical committees of the Councils established under section 302(g), shall develop and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report on facilitating greater incorporation of data, analysis, stock assessments, and surveys from nongovernmental sources, including fishermen, fishing communities, universities, and research institutions, into fisheries management decisions. (2) Content The report under paragraph (1) shall— (A) identify types of data and analysis, especially concerning recreational fishing, that can be reliably used 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 that data and analysis in stock assessments and surveys and for other purposes; (B) provide specific recommendations for collecting data and performing analyses identified as necessary to reduce the uncertainty referred to in section 404(e)(2)(C); (C) consider the extent to which it is possible to establish a registry of persons providing such information; and (D) consider the extent to which the acceptance and use of data and analysis identified in the report in fishery management decisions is practicable. . (b) Deadline The Secretary of Commerce shall submit the report required under the amendment made by subsection (a) not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 203. Focusing assets for improved fisheries outcomes (a) In general Section 2(b) of the Act of August 11, 1939 ( 15 U.S.C. 713c–3(b) (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by striking beginning with the fiscal year commencing July 1, 1954, and ending on June 30, 1957, (B) by striking moneys monies (C) by striking shall be maintained in a separate fund only for shall only be used for the purposes described under subsection (c). (2) by striking paragraph (2). (b) Limitations on bills transferring funds Section 2(b) of the Act of August 11, 1939 ( 15 U.S.C. 713c–3(b) (2) Limitations on bills transferring funds (A) In general It shall not be in order in the Senate or the House of Representatives to consider any bill, resolution, amendment, or conference report that reduces any amount in the fund referred to in paragraph (1) in a manner that is inconsistent with such paragraph. (B) Limitation on changes to this paragraph It shall not be in order in the Senate or the House of Representatives to consider any bill, resolution, amendment, or conference report that would repeal or otherwise amend this paragraph. (C) Waiver A provision of this paragraph may be waived or suspended in the Senate only by the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. (D) Appeals An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on the point of order raised under this paragraph. (E) Rules of the Senate and the House of Representatives This paragraph is enacted by Congress— (i) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively, and is deemed to be part of the rules of each house, respectively, but applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in the House in the case of a bill, resolution, amendment, or conference report under this paragraph, and it supersedes other rules only to the extent that it is inconsistent with such rules; and (ii) with full recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change the rules (so far as they relate to the procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that House. . 204. Gulf of Mexico red snapper catch limits; repeal Section 407 ( 16 U.S.C. 1883

Summary: Florida Fisheries Improvement Act - Amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) to revise requirements for fishery management in the Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic. Gives regional fishery management councils authority to use alternative fishery management measures in a recreational fishery. Revises requirements for fishery management plans, especially by exempting certain species from fishery rebuilding requirements, changing how to determine the timelines for rebuilding fisheries, and repealing the requirement for plans to contain catch limits for the red snapper. Authorizes: (1) the collection of funds from fines, penalties, and forfeitures of property for violations of marine resource law to be used for the cost of stock assessments, surveys, and data collection on fisheries; and (2) a citizen owning or leasing an eligible fishery facilities to make an agreement with the Department of Commerce to establish a capital construction fund to provide for the acquisition or reconstruction of a facility. Requires the Department to make a decision on whether there is a commercial fishery failure because of a fishery resource disaster within 90 days of a receiving a complete estimate of the economic impact of the disaster. Requires the Gulf Council and the South Atlantic Council to review every five years the allocation of fishing privileges. Authorizes the Councils to delay the review for three one-year periods. Directs the Department to: (1) arrange for the National Academy of Sciences to study the process of allocating fishing privileges; (2) develop and publish a plan to conduct stock assessments for all stocks of fish for which a MSA fishery management plan is in effect, unless the assessment is not necessary; and (3) report on facilitating greater incorporation of data, analysis, stock assessments, and surveys from nongovernmental sources.