Reef Assassin Act
Bill: H.R.6180 | Sponsor: Rep. Gaetz, Matt (R-FL)
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
Reef Assassin Act
This bill directs the Department of Commerce to issue regulations under which a participating state may allow individuals to exchange 100 lionfish for one tag that authorizes recreational or commercial fishing for covered species. (Covered species are red snapper, gag grouper, triggerfish, and amberjack.)

To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
   to encourage elimination of lionfish from United States waters by 
allowing individuals to exchange lionfish for tags authorizing fishing 
for certain species in addition to the number of such species otherwise 
  authorized to be taken by such individuals, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Reef Assassin Act''.

SEC. 2. ENCOURAGING ELIMINATION OF LIONFISH.

    (a) In General.--Title III of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1851 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 321. ENCOURAGING ELIMINATION OF LIONFISH.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall issue regulations under 
which a participating State may issue to an individual submitting 
lionfish taken in Federal or State waters a tag authorizing the taking 
of a fish of a covered species in Federal waters in addition to any 
other fish of that species the individual is authorized to take in 
Federal waters.
    ``(b) Requirements for Issuance of Tag.--The regulations shall 
require--
            ``(1) the submission of 100 lionfish for each tag issued;
            ``(2) that lionfish taken in State waters must be taken by 
        an individual holding a valid license to engage in such fishing 
        issued under the laws of such State; and
            ``(3) that each lionfish shall be submitted by removing the 
        tail, placing it in a resealable plastic bag, and submitting 
        such bag to a participating State before the tail has 
        significantly deteriorated.
    ``(c) No Limitation on Number of Tags.--The regulations shall not 
limit the number of tags that may be issued to an individual.
    ``(d) Use of Tags.--The regulations shall provide that a tag issued 
under the regulations--
            ``(1) shall be valid for the 5-year period beginning on the 
        date it is issued;
            ``(2) shall authorize only the recreational or commercial 
        taking of a fish that complies with any size limit that 
        otherwise applies to fishing for such fish in the waters in 
        which it is taken;
            ``(3) shall authorize such taking without regard to any 
        seasonal limitation that otherwise applies to the species of 
        fish taken;
            ``(4) shall authorize--
                    ``(A) the transfer of tags to any other person; and
                    ``(B) use of transferred tags in the same manner as 
                such tags may be used by the person to whom the tags 
                were issued; and
            ``(5) shall require that any fish taken under such tag 
        outside any seasonal limitation that otherwise applies to such 
        fish must have the tag fastened between the mouth and gill 
        before being placed in any cooler.
    ``(e) Approval of State To Participate.--
            ``(1) Conditions.--The regulations shall require that as a 
        condition of approving a State to issue tags under this section 
        the Secretary shall require the State to designate a repository 
        for lionfish submitted for such tags.
            ``(2) Provision of freezer.--The Secretary shall provide to 
        each participating State freezers in which to store submitted 
        lionfish, at a cost of not more than $500 for each freezer.
    ``(f) Additional Requirements.--The Secretary shall--
            ``(1) encourage participating States to use existing 
        infrastructure and staff or volunteers to conduct the State's 
        program under this section;
            ``(2) include on the webpage of the National Marine 
        Fisheries Service information about the program under this 
        section; and
            ``(3) encourage State and local governments to work with 
        retailers and distributors to advance the purchasing and 
        consumption of lionfish.
    ``(g) Other Provisions Not Affected.--
            ``(1) In general.--This section--
                    ``(A) is intended to protect species of fish that 
                are native to waters of the United States or the 
                exclusive economic zone; and
                    ``(B) shall not be construed to constrain any 
                fishery, fishing quota, or fishing allocation.
            ``(2) Limitation on consideration of tags.--This section 
        and tags issued or authorized to be issued under this section 
        shall not be considered in any determination of fishing levels, 
        quotas, or allocations.
    ``(h) Definition.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `covered fish'--
                    ``(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), means 
                red snapper, gag grouper, triggerfish, and amberjack; 
                and
                    ``(B) does not include any species included in a 
                list of endangered species or threatened species under 
                the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
                seq.); and
            ``(2) the term `participating State' means a State that has 
        applied and been approved by the Secretary to issue tags under 
        regulations under this section.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in the first section 
of such Act is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to 
title III the following:

``Sec. 321. Encouraging elimination of lionfish.''.
    (c) Deadline for Regulations.--The Secretary of Commerce shall 
issue regulations under the amendment made by subsection (a) by not 
later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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