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HR 2890 108th Congress House Sports and Recreation Administrative procedure Department of Commerce Fishery management Fishing Government Operations and Politics Law Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Freedom to Fish Act

Introduced: February 10, 2004 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 27, 2003
Executive Comment Requested from Commerce.
Jul 27, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans.
Jul 24, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
Jul 24, 2003
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Freedom to Fish Act - Amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to prohibit any fishery management plan prepared by a Regional Fishery Management Council or the Secretary of Commerce from establishing areas closed to recreational fishing unless: (1) there is a clear indication that recreational fishermen are the cause of a specific conservation problem and that less severe conservation measures will not adequately provide for conservation and management of the affected stocks of fish; (2) the closed area regulation includes specific measurable criteria to determine the conservation benefit of the closed area on such fish and provides a timetable for periodic review of the continued need for the closed area; (3) the closed area is no larger than that which is supported by the best available scientific information; or (4) provision is made to reopen the closed area to recreational fishing whenever any such condition that was the basis of the closure no longer exists.

What's happening now July 27, 2003

Executive Comment Requested from Commerce.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2890: Freedom to Fish Act. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2890/
MLA
"H.R. 2890: Freedom to Fish Act." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2890/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2890, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2890/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2890: Freedom to Fish Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2890/)
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