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HR 5638 115th Congress House Public Lands and Natural Resources Animal protection and human-animal relationships Fishes Hunting and fishing Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act

Introduced: April 26, 2018 Introduced by: Lieu, Ted Democratic · California See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 8, 2018
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.
Apr 26, 2018
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Apr 26, 2018
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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 prior to January 1, 2020.

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 may award grants to program participants.

What's happening now May 8, 2018

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 2773 Identical bill Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 1 Republican 1
D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Jun 20, 2018
 R
Fitzpatrick, Brian K.
Pennsylvania · Jun 1, 2018
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5638: Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-5638/
MLA
"H.R. 5638: Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-5638/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5638, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-5638/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5638: Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-5638/)
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