Albatross and Petrel Conservation Act

Bill: 114-hr-4480
Sponsor: Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47]
Introduced: 2016-02-04 in the House
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Aquatic ecology
Birds
Congressional oversight
Department of Commerce
Department of the Interior
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Government information and archives
International law and treaties
International organizations and cooperation
Licensing and registrations
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution
Scientific communication
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: 

Albatross and Petrel Conservation Act

 
This bill authorizes the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to promulgate regulations to implement and enforce the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, done at Cape Town, South Africa, on February 2, 2001.
 
This bill authorizes USFWS and NMFS to take action to conserve albatrosses and petrels, including to:
 
 
 reestablish albatrosses and petrels;
 
prevent the introduction of, eradicate, or control invasive and nonnative species that have or may have an adverse effect on albatrosses and petrels; 
 
conserve, protect, and restore breeding sites; 
 
undertake measures for the conservation and protection of albatross and petrel habitat and other marine habitats that provide food for albatrosses and petrels; 
 
undertake scientific research to assess the effects of pollutants and marine debris on albatrosses and petrels; 
 
develop and implement measures to prevent, minimize, or mitigate the taking or disturbance of albatrosses and petrels in U.S. waters or by U.S. vessels; 
 
develop and undertake measures to minimize the bycatch of albatrosses and petrels; and 
 
share information on the conservation status of albatrosses and petrels, the threats facing albatrosses and petrels, and any actions taken under this bill.
 
 
This bill prohibits the taking of an albatross or petrel without a permit, authorization, or exemption. USFWS, in consultation with NMFS, may authorize the taking of an albatross or petrel under exceptional circumstances or incidental to otherwise lawful activities. 
 
This bill gives the USFWS, the NMFS, and the Coast Guard authority to enforce this bill. 
 
This bill authorizes cooperation with other countries to achieve and maintain a favorable conservation status of albatrosses and petrels. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
action_date: 2016-02-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Introduced in House