HR 1979 116th 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: March 28, 2019 Introduced by: Lieu, Ted Democratic · California See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

May 8, 2019

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Apr 18, 2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.

Mar 28, 2019

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Mar 28, 2019

Introduced in House

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 for five years.

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 must award grants to program participants.

What's happening now May 8, 2019

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Committees of jurisdiction 2