Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Legislation in the 110th Congress

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Fish and marine mammals are important resources in open ocean and nearshore coastal areas;
many federal laws and regulations guide their management.
Commercial and sport fishing are jointly managed by the federal government and individual
states. States generally have jurisdiction within 3 miles of the coast. Beyond state jurisdiction and
out to 200 miles, the federal government manages fisheries under the MSFCMA through eight
regional fishery management councils. Beyond 200 miles, the United States participates in
international agreements relating to specific areas or species. Some of the fishery measures ^th
enacted by the 110 Congress included P.L. 110-28, providing $60.4 million for Pacific salmon
disaster assistance as well as $110 million for hurricane recovery assistance to the Gulf of Mexico
shrimp and fishing industries, P.L. 110-161 provided $13.395 million for alleviating economic
impacts on the Massachusetts groundfish fishery, and provisions in P.L. 110-246 transferred $170
million to NMFS for distribution to commercial and recreational members of the fishing
communities affected by the salmon fishery failure in California, Oregon, and Washington.
Provisions in P.L. 110-114 increased the authorization for research on Columbia and Snake River
salmon survival, including methods to reduce avian predation on juvenile salmon; coordinated
management of two aquatic nuisance species dispersal barriers on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship
Canal and authorized an Upper Mississippi River dispersal barrier project; authorized a feasibility
study of a dispersal barrier on the Lake Champlain Canal; modified oyster restoration programs in
Long Island Sound, Chesapeake Bay, and Delaware Bay; and modified Great Lakes fisheries
restoration, allowing nonfederal participants to provide as much as 100% of their nonfederal
share through in-kind contributions. P.L. 110-181 directed the Secretary of Transportation to
review ship disposal practices, including use of disposed vessels as artificial reefs. P.L. 110-243
directed the United States to initiate international discussions to negotiate an agreement for
managing fish stocks in the Arctic Ocean.
Aquaculture—the farming of fish, shellfish, and other aquatic animals and plants in a controlled
environment—is expanding rapidly abroad, with more modest advances in the United States. In
the United States, important species cultured include catfish, salmon, shellfish, and trout. The ^th
110 Congress enacted P.L. 110-85, authorizing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to
enhance inspection of aquaculture and seafood products and requiring FDA to report on
environmental risks associated with genetically engineered seafood products, and P.L. 110-246,
reauthorizing the National Aquaculture Act and enhancing various programs within the
Department of Agriculture that support aquaculture.
Marine mammals are protected under the MMPA. With few exemptions, the MMPA prohibits
harm or harassment (“take”) of marine mammals, unless restrictive permits are obtained. It
addresses specific situations of concern, such as dolphin mortality, primarily associated with the
eastern tropical Pacific tuna fishery.

Most Recent Developments.............................................................................................................1
Introduc tion ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Commercial and Sport Fisheries: Background and Issues.............................................................1
Magnuson-Stevens Act..............................................................................................................4
Implementation of P.L. 109-479.........................................................................................5
Congressional Action..........................................................................................................5
Pacific Salmon..........................................................................................................................7
Backgr ound ......................................................................................................................... 7
Congressional Action..........................................................................................................7
Miscellaneous Issues.................................................................................................................9
Assist ance ........................................................................................................................... 9
Seafood Safety and Nutrition..............................................................................................9
Invasive Species..................................................................................................................9
Habitat Protection and Restoration....................................................................................11
Hypoxia and Algal Blooms...............................................................................................12
Oysters ........................................................................................................................ ...... 12
Energy and Water Projects................................................................................................12
Great Lakes.......................................................................................................................13
Recreational Fishing.........................................................................................................13
International Fisheries.......................................................................................................14
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.............................................................................14
Fishing Vessels..................................................................................................................14
Tax Provisions...................................................................................................................14
Climate Change.................................................................................................................15
Coral.......................................................................................................................... ........ 16
National Marine Sanctuaries.............................................................................................17
Tuna .................................................................................................................................. 17
Marketing ...................................................................................................................... .... 17
Health Care.......................................................................................................................18
Tr ade .......................................................................................................................... ....... 18
Sharks ......................................................................................................................... ....... 18
Sea Turtles.........................................................................................................................18
Maritime Liens..................................................................................................................18
Aquaculture: Background and Issues............................................................................................19
Congressional Action..............................................................................................................20
Food Safety.......................................................................................................................20
Genetic Modification........................................................................................................20
Algal Biomass...................................................................................................................20
Assist ance ......................................................................................................................... 20
Resear ch ....................................................................................................................... ..... 21
National Aquaculture Act Reauthorization.......................................................................21
Animal Health...................................................................................................................21
Marketing ...................................................................................................................... .... 21
Crop Insurance..................................................................................................................21
National Marine Sanctuaries.............................................................................................21
Turtles...............................................................................................................................22

Open Ocean Aquaculture..................................................................................................22
Tr ade .......................................................................................................................... ....... 22
Asian Carp........................................................................................................................22
National Fish Hatcheries...................................................................................................22
Tax Provisions...................................................................................................................23
Marine Mammals: Background and Issues...................................................................................23
Marine Mammal Protection Act Reauthorization...................................................................24
Backgr ound ....................................................................................................................... 24
Congressional Action........................................................................................................24
Miscellaneous Issues...............................................................................................................25
Canadian Seal Hunt...........................................................................................................25
Polar Bear.........................................................................................................................25
Climate Change.................................................................................................................26
Whales .............................................................................................................................. 26
Military Sonar...................................................................................................................27
Fur Seals...........................................................................................................................27
Southern Sea Otter............................................................................................................27
NMFS Appropriations...................................................................................................................27
Figure 1. U.S. Commercial Fish and Shellfish Harvest, 1976-2007...............................................4
Table 1. NMFS Appropriations.....................................................................................................28
Author Contact Information..........................................................................................................29

On December 10, 2008, the House Committee on Appropriations reported H.R. 7322, containing
FY2009 NMFS appropriations totaling almost $810 million.. (Members and staff may request e-
mail notification of new CRS reports on marine and freshwater fisheries, aquaculture, and marine
mammal issues by contacting Gene Buck at gbuck@crs.loc.gov and requesting to be added to his
notification list.)

Increasing use of coastal and marine resources is driving proposals to alter relationships between
environmental protection and sustainable resource management. Recent reports note declines in
marine resources and shortcomings in the fragmented and limited approaches to resource
protection and management in federal and state waters. A further concern is the increasing
pressures and conflicts that arise from economic activity associated with continued human
population growth in coastal areas. A common concern is habitat loss or alteration, due to both
natural processes, such as climate variation, as well as development, changes in land management
practices, competition from invasive species, and other factors, nearly all related to economic,
political, or social interests. Congress faces the issue of how to balance these diverse interests
(which may fall on various sides of any given controversy) while promoting the sustainable
management of fishery and other marine resources.
In the final hours of the 109^th Congress, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and ¹
Management Act (MSFCMA) was reauthorized and extensively amended in P.L. 109-479. ^th
Reauthorization of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) was not finalized. The 110
Congress considered measures to reauthorize the MMPA, address aquatic habitat concerns,
modify or extend fishery disaster assistance, and address fishery-specific concerns, as well as
conducting oversight of MSFCMA implementation.

Historically, coastal states managed marine sport and commercial fisheries in nearshore waters,
where most seafood was caught. However, as fishing techniques improved, fishermen ventured
farther offshore. Before the 1950s, the federal government assumed limited responsibility for
marine fisheries, responding primarily to international fishery concerns and treaties (by enacting
implementing legislation for treaties, e.g., the Northern Pacific Halibut Act in 1937) as well as to
interstate fishery conflicts (by consenting to interstate fishery compacts, e.g., the Pacific Marine
Fisheries Compact in 1947). In the late 1940s and early 1950s, several Latin American nations
proclaimed marine jurisdictions extending 200 miles or further offshore. This action was
denounced by those within the United States and other distant-water fishing nations who sought

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to preserve access for far-ranging fishing vessels. Beginning in the 1950s (Atlantic) and 1960s
(Pacific), increasing numbers of foreign fishing vessels steamed into U.S. offshore waters to catch
the substantially unexploited seafood resources. Since the United States then claimed only a 3-
mile jurisdiction (in 1964, P.L. 88-308 prohibited fishing by foreign-flag vessels within 3 miles of
the coast; in 1966, P.L. 89-658 proclaimed an expanded 12-mile exclusive U.S. fishery
jurisdiction), foreign vessels could fish many of the same stocks caught by U.S. fishermen. U.S.
fishermen deplored this “foreign encroachment” and alleged that overfishing was causing stress ²
on, or outright depletion of, fish stocks. Protracted Law of the Sea Treaty negotiations in the
early and mid-1970s provided impetus for unilateral U.S. action.
The enactment of the Fishery Conservation and Management Act (FCMA) in 1976 (later renamed
the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act and more recently the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA; 16 U.S.C. §§ 1801, et seq.)
ushered in a new era of federal marine fishery management. The FCMA was signed into law on
April 13, 1976, after several years of debate. On March 1, 1977, marine fishery resources within
200 miles of all U.S. coasts, but outside state jurisdiction, came under federal jurisdiction, and an
entirely new multifaceted regional management system began allocating fishing rights, with
priority given to domestic enterprise.
Primary federal management authority was vested in the National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS, also popularly referred to as NOAA Fisheries) within the National Oceanic and ³
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The 200-mile
fishery conservation zone was superseded by an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), proclaimed by
President Reagan on March 10, 1983 (Presidential Proclamation 5030).
Eight Regional Fishery Management Councils were created by the FCMA.⁴ Council members are
appointed by the Secretary of Commerce from lists of candidates knowledgeable of fishery ⁵
resources, provided by coastal state governors. The councils prepare fishery management plans
(FMPs) for those fisheries that they determine require active federal management. After public
hearings, revised FMPs are submitted to the Secretary of Commerce for approval. Approved
plans are implemented through regulations published in the Federal Register. Together these
councils and NMFS have developed and implemented 40 FMPs for various fish and shellfish
resources, with 9 additional plans in various stages of development. Some plans are created for an
individual species or a few related ones (e.g., FMPs for red drum by the South Atlantic Council
and for shrimp by the Gulf of Mexico Council). Others are developed for larger species
assemblages inhabiting similar habitats (e.g., FMPs for Gulf of Alaska groundfish by the North
Pacific Council and for reef fish by the Gulf of Mexico Council). Many of the implemented plans
have been amended (one over 30 times), and three have been developed and implemented jointly ^th
by two or more councils. The MSFCMA was reauthorized in the final hours of the 109 Congress
by P.L. 109-479, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization ⁶
Act of 2006. The authorization of appropriations in § 7 of this act expires at the end of FY2013.

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Today, individual states manage marine fisheries in inshore and coastal waters, generally within 3
miles of the coast. Interstate coordination occurs through three regional (Atlantic, Gulf, and
Pacific) interstate marine fishery commissions, created by congressionally approved compacts.
Beyond state waters, out to 200 miles, the federal government manages fish and shellfish
resources for which FMPs have been developed under the MSFCMA. Individual states manage
fishermen operating state-registered vessels under state regulations consistent with any existing
federal FMP when fishing in inshore state waters and, in the absence of a federal FMP, wherever
they fish.
Under initial FCMA authority, a substantial portion of the fish catch from federal offshore waters
was allocated to foreign fishing fleets. However, the 1980 American Fisheries Promotion Act
(Title II of P.L. 96-561) and other FCMA amendments orchestrated a decrease in foreign catch
allocations as domestic fishing and processing industries expanded. Foreign catch from the U.S.
EEZ declined from about 3.8 billion pounds in 1977 to zero since 1992. Commensurate with the
decline of foreign catch, domestic offshore catch in federal EEZ waters increased dramatically, ⁷
from about 1.6 billion pounds (1977) to more than 6.3 billion pounds in 1986-1988. Since this
peak, annual landings have hovered around 6 billion pounds (Figure 1).
In 2007, U.S. commercial fishermen landed almost 7.5 billion pounds of edible, unprocessed fish
and shellfish from combined state, federal, and international waters, worth almost $3.9 billion at ⁸
the dock. Imports of mostly processed products supplied 5.3 billion pounds, worth $13.7 billion.
U.S. consumers spent an estimated $68.4 billion on edible seafood in 2007, with almost $45.8
billion of that amount spent in restaurants and other food service establishments. In addition,
marine recreational anglers caught an estimated 468 million fish in 2007, of which the retained ⁹
catch was about 255 million pounds. In 2006, a nationwide survey estimated that recreational ¹⁰
anglers spent more than $40 billion each year pursuing their sport.
NMFS reports annually on the status of fish stocks managed under the MSFCMA.¹¹ For 2007, ¹²
NMFS made determinations for 244 fish stocks and complexes, finding that 41 (17%) of them ¹³
were subject to overfishing and 203 (83%) were not. In addition, NMFS made determinations ¹⁴
for 190 stocks and complexes, finding that 45 (24%) were overfished and 145 (76%) were not.
These numbers reflect an improvement in the overfishing percentages compared to 2006 (when

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20% were subject to overfishing) as well as a slight improvement in the overfished numbers
compared to that year (when 25% were overfished).
Figure 1. U.S. Commercial Fish and Shellfish Harvest, 1976-2007
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In addition, NMFS developed a Fish Stock Sustainability Index (FSSI) in 2005 to evaluate ¹⁵
progress nationwide in addressing overfishing. Out of a possible maximum FSSI of 920, this
index has increased from 481.5 (third quarter of calendar year 2005) to 535 (third quarter of
calendar year 2008).
The MSFCMA was reauthorized in the final hours of the 109^th Congress in 2006 by P.L. 109-479, ¹⁶
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006.
Some of the major issues addressed by this comprehensive measure included:
• modifying requirements for the appointment and training of members of regional
councils as well as the conduct of business by regional council committees and
panels to enhance transparency of the regional council process;

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• setting a firm deadline to end overfishing by 2011 and modifying how depleted
fisheries are to be rebuilt;
• increasing the consideration of economic and social impacts in fishery
management;
• modifying research programs and improving data collection and management;
• increasing protection for deep sea corals and bottom habitat;
• implementing a pilot program of ecosystem-based management;
• promoting new gear technologies to further reduce bycatch;
• establishing national guidelines for individual fishing quota (limited access
privilege) programs;
• modifying regional council fishery management plan procedures, including better
coordinating environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA; 42 U.S.C. §§ 4321, et seq.); and
• strengthening the role of science in fishery management decision-making.¹⁷
NMFS has prepared a summary of tasks associated with implementing P.L. 109-479.¹⁸ Additional
information on NMFS’s implementation of P.L. 109-479 can be found at
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ ms a2007/.
On December 4, 2007, the Senate agreed to S.Res. 376, expressing the sense of the Senate that
the Secretary of Commerce should declare a commercial fishery failure for the groundfish fishery
for Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island and immediately propose
regulations to implement Section 312(a) of the MSFCMA. Title IV, Chapter 2, of P.L. 110-28
provided $110 million for recovery assistance to the Gulf of Mexico shrimp and fishing
industries. Division B, Title I, of P.L. 110-161 provided $13.395 million for alleviation of
economic impacts on the Massachusetts groundfish fishery. Title I, Chapter 2, of P.L. 110-329 ^th
provided $75 million for fishery disaster assistance in FY2009. In the 110 Congress, several
bills proposed to either amend the MSFCMA or modify how it would be implemented:
• H.R. 21 would have reoriented U.S. ocean policy (including fisheries),
emphasizing ecosystem management, creating a Council of Advisors on Ocean
Policy to advise the President, organizing Regional Ocean Partnerships, and
developing Ocean Ecosystem Resource Information Systems; on April 26, 2007,
the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans
held a hearing on this bill.

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• H.R. 27 would have designated the U.S. EEZ as the “Ronald Wilson Reagan
Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States.”
• Several bills would have amended either the MSFCMA (S. 741 and H.R. 2565)
or the Coastal Zone Management Act (H.R. 3223) to establish a grant program to
ensure waterfront access for commercial fishermen and aquaculture operators.
On February 28, 2008, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries,
Wildlife, and Oceans held a hearing on H.R. 3223.
• H.R. 2625 would have prohibited the commercial harvesting of Atlantic striped
bass in coastal waters and the EEZ; H.R. 2939 would have prohibited the
commercial harvesting of Atlantic blackfish (tautog) in coastal waters and the
EEZ; H.R. 3840 and H.R. 3841 would have prohibited the commercial harvesting
of Atlantic menhaden in coastal waters and the EEZ; the House Natural
Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans held a hearing on
these bills on May 8, 2008.
• Section 301(b) of H.R. 2830 would have amended the American Fisheries Act to
modify fishing vessel rebuilding and replacement provisions in Section 208(g);
modify vessel exemption provisions in Section 203(g); and modify the fishery
cooperative exit provisions in Section 210(b); on September 20, 2007, the House
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure reported, amended, this bill
(H.Rept. 110-338, Part I). On October 1, 2007, the House Committee on
Homeland Security reported, amended, H.R. 2830 (H.Rept. 110-338, Part II). On
October 30, 2007, the House Committee on the Judiciary reported (amended)
H.R. 2830 (H.Rept. 110-338, Part III). On April 24, 2008, the House passed this
measure (amended)
• On June 29, 2007, the Senate Committee on Appropriations reported S. 1745
(S.Rept. 110-124), containing language that would have authorized the Secretary
of Commerce to conduct a voluntary capacity reduction program to remove all
commercial fishing in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument prior
to June 15, 2011.
• As amended on the Senate floor on October 16, 2007, H.R. 3093 would have
amended the MSFCMA to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to maintain a list
of vessels and vessel owners engaged in illegal, unreported, or unregulated
fishing.
• H.R. 4087 and H.R. 5425 would have amended the MSFCMA to extend the
authorized time period for rebuilding certain overfished fisheries. On December
5, 2007, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and
Oceans held an oversight hearing on rebuilding overfished fisheries under the
MSFCMA.
• H.R. 5741 would have amended the MSFCMA to modify language related to the
prohibition of shark finning. The House Committee on Natural Resources
reported this bill (amended) on July 8, 2008 (H.Rept. 110-740), and the House
passed this measure (amended) on this date.
• H.R. 6683 would have clarified provisions of the Western Alaska Community
Development Quota Program.

Five species of salmon spawn in Pacific coastal rivers and lakes, after which juveniles migrate to
North Pacific ocean waters where they mature before returning to freshwater to spawn.
Management is complicated because these fish may cross several state and national boundaries
during their life spans. In addition to natural environmental fluctuations, threats to salmon include
hydropower dams blocking rivers and creating reservoirs, sport and commercial harvests, habitat
modification by competing resource industries and human development, and hatcheries seeking to
supplement natural production but sometimes unintentionally causing genetic or developmental
concerns. In response to declining salmon populations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and
California, discrete population units have been listed as endangered or threatened species under ¹⁹
the Endangered Species Act. On September 13, 2006, a San Joaquin Restoration Settlement
Agreement was announced, ending an 18-year legal dispute over the operation of Friant Dam,
CA. This Agreement provides for river channel improvements and water flow to sustain Chinook
salmon upstream from the confluence of the Merced River tributary while providing water supply
certainty to Friant Division water contractors.
To address some of their concerns about Pacific salmon management, the United States and
Canada negotiated a bilateral agreement on Pacific salmon in 1985. However, by the mid-1990s,
controversy stalled renegotiations to adjust cooperative management of these fish. This deadlock
was resolved in June 1999 when a new accord was concluded. Annex IV of this bilateral
agreement outlines, in detail, the fishery regimes to be followed by Canada and the United States
in cooperatively managing the six species of anadromous Pacific salmon and trout. Annex IV ²⁰
expires at the end of 2008 and is to be renegotiated.
Title V, Chapter 2, of P.L. 110-28 provided $60.4 million for Pacific salmon emergency disaster
assistance. Provisions in P.L. 110-114 required a feasibility study of fish passage improvements in
Oregon (Section 4073), increased the authorization for appropriations for research on Columbia
and Snake River salmon survival, including methods to reduce avian predation on juvenile
salmon (Section 5025), and retained Army Corps of Engineers authority over avian predator
management at McNary Dam, while transferring administrative jurisdiction to the Secretary of
the Interior (Section 3164). Section 113, Division F, Title I, of P.L. 110-161 (the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2008) required FWS to implement a system of mass marking of salmonid ²¹
stocks that are released from federally operated or federally financed hatcheries. Section 12034
of P.L. 110-246 transferred $170 million from the Commodity Credit Corporation to NMFS for
distribution to commercial and recreational members of the fishing communities affected by the

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salmon fishery failure in California, Oregon, and Washington. H.Res. 217 expressed the sense of ^th
the House of Representatives concerning the 50 anniversary of the flooding of Celilo Falls on ^th
the Columbia River and the changes this action imposed on Native Americans. In the 110
Congress, numerous other bills were introduced to address salmon issues:
• H.R. 24, H.R. 4074, S. 27 and Title X of S. 3213 would have authorized the
implementation of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement providing for
the reintroduction of Chinook salmon; the House Natural Resources
Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing on H.R. 24 on March 1, 2007,
and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power
held a hearing on S. 27 on May 3, 2007. On May 13, 2008, the House Committee
on Natural Resources reported H.R. 4074 (H.Rept. 110-633). On June 25, 2008,
the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources reported (amended) S.

27 (S.Rept. 110-400).

• S. 264 would have authorized federal participation in funding fish passage
improvements at Wallowa Lake Dam, OR; this bill was reported (amended) on
February 16, 2007, by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
(S.Rept. 110-23), deleting language related to fish passage improvements.
• Section 103 of H.R. 860 and S. 493 would have designated salmon restoration
areas in California.
• H.R. 1507 would have directed the Secretary of Commerce to seek scientific
analysis of federal efforts to restore salmon and steelhead populations listed
under the Endangered Species Act.
• H.R. 1769 would have amended the Marine Mammal Protection Act to authorize
taking of California sea lions to reduce their predation on endangered Columbia
River salmon.
• S. 1522 and H.R. 3830 would have reauthorized (through FY2014) and amended
the Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act of 2000; the Senate
Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing
on S. 1522 on July 26, 2007. On April 10, 2008, the Senate Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources reported (amended) S. 1522 (S.Rept. 110-297).
• H.R. 2733 would have established a Trinity River Restoration Fund; the House
Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing on this bill
on September 18, 2007.
• H.Con.Res. 184 would have expressed the sense of the Congress opposing the
removal of dams on the Columbia and Snake Rivers for fishery restoration
purposes.
• S. 1766 would have provided funds from a Climate Change Wildlife
Conservation sub-account in the Treasury for the Secretary of the Interior to
improve fish passage and dam removal and for the National Fish Habitat Plan (§

402(e)(3)(C)).

• On July 31, 2007, the House Committee on Natural Resources held an oversight
hearing on allegations of political intervention influencing scientific and policy
decisions at the Department of the Interior, with respect to Klamath River
salmon.

• Section 912 of S. 1892 and Section 10 of S. 2997, as reported by the Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on September 11, 2008
(S.Rept. 110-457), would have amended Title 46, U.S. Code, to exclude small
Alaska salmon fishing vessels from the definition of fish processing vessel; the
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation reported S. 1892
(amended) on February 5, 2008 (S.Rept. 110-261).
• S. 3608 would have established a Salmon Stronghold Partnership program to
protect wild Pacific salmon.
Title IV, Chapter 2 of P.L. 110-28 provided $110 million for recovery assistance to the Gulf of
Mexico shrimp and fishing industries. Division B, Title I, of P.L. 110-161 provided $13.395
million for alleviation of economic impacts on the Massachusetts groundfish fishery. Title I,
Chapter 2, of P.L. 110-329 provided $75 million for fishery disaster assistance in FY2009. S.Res.
376 expressed the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of Commerce should declare a
commercial fishery failure for the groundfish fishery for Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire,
and Rhode Island and immediately propose regulations to implement Section 312(a) of the
MSFCMA. Section 734 of S. 3289 would have amended the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act to expand the availability of Farm Credit Programs to commercial fishing.
Section 1006 of P.L. 110-85 (H.R. 3580) authorized the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to
enhance inspection of seafood products. Section 102 of H.R. 1148, S. 654, and H.R. 7143 would
have consolidated food safety and inspection programs, including seafood inspection. Section 3
of H.R. 1533 and Section 4 of S. 843 would have established an interagency national mercury
monitoring program, with provisions in subsection (d) focusing on aquatic plants and animals.
H.Con.Res. 125 would have expressed the sense of Congress in recognizing the health benefits of
eating seafood as part of a balanced diet, and supporting the goals and ideals of National Seafood
Month. H.R. 3077 would have amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to address
safety concerns with imported seafood and seafood products by requiring seafood importing
countries to be certified as having equivalent safety systems to the United States; S. 1776 would
have imposed this certification requirement on all imported food products. H.R. 4525 would have
modified the definition of “in airtight containers” to promote public health and safety. H.R. 5219
would have authorized appropriations for FDA’s seafood inspection regime. S. 2688, H.R. 5738,
and H.R. 5956 would have directed the Secretary of Commerce to establish a program to better
ensure that seafood in interstate commerce is fit for human consumption; on July 15, 2008, the
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation reported (amended) S. 2688
(S.Rept. 110-420). S. 2914 would have directed the Secretary of Health and Human Service to
refuse entry of certain seafood imports and specify actions to be taken on rejected shipments.
Provisions in P.L. 110-114 coordinated management of two dispersal barriers on the Chicago
Sanitary and Ship Canal (Section 3061), authorized an Upper Mississippi River dispersal barrier

project (Section 5016), and authorized a feasibility study for a Lake Champlain Canal dispersal ^th
barrier project (Section 5146). Several bills introduced in the 110 Congress focused primarily on ²²
invasive species concerns related to ballast water management but were not enacted:
• H.R. 801 would have amended the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention
and Control Act of 1990 to require all vessels to exchange ballast water or use
alternative ballast water management methods before entering any Great Lakes
port.
• Title I of H.R. 889 and S. 1578 would have amended the Nonindigenous Aquatic
Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to establish vessel ballast water
management requirements; the remainder of the bill focuses on improving
coordination among various national and international efforts at invasive species
control. On March 3, 2008, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation reported (amended) S. 1578 (S.Rept. 110-269).
• While Section 101 of H.R. 1350, Title I of S. 725, and Section 111 of S. 791
focused primarily on ballast water management, other sections of each bill would
have authorized various research, development, and demonstration programs to
address invasive species concerns, with H.R. 1350 and S. 791 focusing on the
Great Lakes region.
• H.R. 2423 and Title V of H.R. 2830 would have established a national ballast
water management program and national ballast water discharge standards. On
September 20, 2007, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
reported, amended, H.R. 2830 (H.Rept. 110-338, Part I). On October 1, 2007, the
House Committee on Homeland Security reported, amended, H.R. 2830 (H.Rept.
110-338, Part II). On October 30, 2007, the House Committee on the Judiciary
reported (amended) H.R. 2830 (H.Rept. 110-338, Part III). On April 24, 2008, the
House passed H.R. 2830 (amended).
• S. 2645 would have directed the Coast Guard to establish enforceable uniform
national vessel discharge standards, and restrict state regulation of vessel
discharges.
• Section 12 of S. 2881/H.R. 6434 would have expressed the sense of Congress
that strong, mandatory standards for ballast water management should be
enacted.
• On June 24, 2008, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and
Power held an oversight hearing on minimizing the impacts of quagga mussels.
Additional bills would have addressed other invasive species concerns:
• H.R. 83, S. 726, and Section 171 of S. 791 would have amended the Lacey Act to
add four species of carp to the list of injurious species that are prohibited from
being imported or shipped. H.R. 6031 would have directed the U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Service to study various approaches to eradicating Asian carp from the
Great Lakes and their tributaries.

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• H.R. 260 would have authorized various marine and freshwater research,
development, and demonstration programs to address invasive species concerns.
• H.R. 553, S. 336, and Section 172 of S. 791 would have directed the Army Corps
of Engineers to operate and maintain a system of dispersal barriers in the
Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. In addition, Section 172 of S. 791 would have
authorized a National Dispersal Barrier Program.
• H.R. 767 and S. 3366 would have authorized grants to control harmful nonnative
species at national wildlife refuges to protect and restore native fish and their
habitat. The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and
Oceans held a hearing on H.R. 767 on June 21, 2007. The Committee on Natural
Resources reported H.R. 767 (amended) on October 22, 2007 (H.Rept. 110-397);
and the House subsequently passed this measure (amended).
• S. 1949 would have established a 100^th Meridian Invasive Species State
Revolving Fund to fund projects to prevent and control invasive species moving ^th
west of the 100 Meridian.
• H.R. 6311 would have directed the Secretary of the Interior to promulgate
regulations that establish a process for assessing the risk of nonnative species
proposed for importation into the United States.
Section 1006 of P.L. 110-114 identified 43 small aquatic ecosystem restoration projects to be
studied by the Army Corps of Engineers. Section 601 of P.L. 110-343 amended the Secure Rural
Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 to reauthorize federal funding for
projects to protect, restore, and enhance fish habitat. H.Res. 853 expressed the sense of the House
honoring crabbers and fishermen who volunteered to assist in cleanup of an oil spill in San ^th
Francisco Bay, CA. In the 110 Congress, numerous other bills were introduced to address
various habitat restoration concerns, but were not enacted:
• S. 424 would have directed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to implement the
Penobscot River Restoration Project, benefitting endangered Atlantic salmon and
shortnose sturgeon.
• Section 106(d) of H.R. 1551 and S. 919, and Section 506(d) of H.R. 2401 would
have amended the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program to direct more attention to
fish habitat.
• S. 1029 would have amended the Food Security Act of 1985 to create a Stream
Habitat Improvement Program to provide incentives to landowners to protect and
improve stream habitat.
• Title III of H.R. 2262 would have modified environmental standards for mining
and reclamation to address concerns for fish and wildlife.
• S. 1766 would have provided funds from a Climate Adaptation Fund for the
Sport Fish Restoration Act (Section 402(a)(2)(D)(ii)) and from a Climate Change
Wildlife Conservation sub-account in the Treasury for the Secretary of the
Interior to improve fish passage and dam removal and for the National Fish
Habitat Plan as well as for the Secretary of Commerce to sustain fisheries, protect
marine species, and conserve marine habitat (Section 402(e)(3)(C)).

• Section 501 of S. 2231 would have authorized the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
to implement a Coastal Program to assess, conserve, and restore important
coastal habitats.
• H.R. 5594 and S. 2645 would have required the U.S. Coast Guard to evaluate and
review vessel discharges, other than ballast water, and initiate a program for
establishing enforceable uniform national discharge standards.
• S. 3189 and H.R. 7169 would have amended P.L. 106-392 to require the
Administrator of the Western Area Power Administration and the Commissioner
of Reclamation to maintain sufficient revenues in the Upper Colorado and San
Juan River Basin Fund for endangered fish restoration; S. 3189 was reported
(amended) by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on
September 16, 2008.
• H.R. 7051, S. 3576, and Section 106 of H.R. 6899 would have prohibited federal
oil or natural gas leases in any marine national monument or national marine
sanctuary or Georges Bank.
• S. 3552 and H.R. 7150 would have established a National Fish Habitat Board and
seek to conserve U.S. fish and aquatic communities through partnerships that
foster habitat conservation.
Section 5022 of P.L. 110-114 authorized the Army Corps of Engineers to participate in assessing
hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. Section 528, Division B, Title V, of P.L. 110-161 (the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008) reauthorized the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia
Research and Control Act of 1998 through FY2010. H.R. 6017 would have reduced phosphorus
inputs in the Great Lakes to ameliorate the effects of harmful algal blooms. S. 3191 would have
authorized a comprehensive plan for a national strategy to address harmful algal blooms and
hypoxia.
Provisions in P.L. 110-114 authorized restoring Long Island Sound oyster habitat at $25 million
(Section 3120), modified the authorization for oyster restoration in Chesapeake Bay and
increased authorized funding for this restoration to $50 million (Section 5021), and authorized a
study of how to improve the environmental quality of Delaware Bay for oyster restoration
(Section 1005(6)). H.R. 5014 would have extended the temporary suspension of duty on oysters
(other than smoked), prepared or preserved.
Section 2036 of P.L. 110-114 amended the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-
662; 33 U.S.C. §§ 2201 et seq.) to modify requirements for mitigating aquatic resource losses at
Army Corps of Engineers projects. Sections 633 and 634 of P.L. 110-140 require a research
program and report on the effects of marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy development on
fisheries and other marine resources. S. 1522, H.R. 3830, and Section 1202 of S. 3213 would
have reauthorized (through FY2015) and amended the Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation
Mitigation Act of 2000; the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and

Power held a hearing on S. 1522 on July 26, 2007. On April 10, 2008, the Senate Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources reported (amended) S. 1522 (S.Rept. 110-297).
Section 5011 of P.L. 110-114 modified Great Lakes fisheries restoration, including allowing
nonfederal participants to provide as much as 100% of their nonfederal share through in-kind
contributions. H.R. 469 would have authorized the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to
investigate the effects of migratory birds on fish stock productivity. H.R. 6017 would have
reduced phosphorus inputs in the Great Lakes to ameliorate the effects of harmful algal blooms.
Section 3503 of P.L. 110-181 directed the Secretary of Transportation to convene an interagency
study group to review ship disposal practices, including use of disposed vessels as artificial reefs.
Section 2606 of P.L. 110-246 established a grant program to encourage private landowners to
provide public access for fishing and other outdoor recreation. H.Res. 634 expressed the sense of
the House encouraging participation in fishing and supporting the goals of National Hunting and ^th
Fishing Day. In the 110 Congress, numerous other bills were introduced to address sport fishing
concerns, but were not enacted:
• Section 1(c) of S. 307 would have amended Section 9 of the Flood Control Act of

1944 to include maintenance of a healthy fishery on the Bighorn River, MT,

downstream from the Yellowtail Dam as one of the authorized purposes of the
Yellowtail Unit of the Pick-Sloan Missouri River Basin Program.
• H.R. 611 would have amended the Social Security Act to eliminate the
requirement that states collect Social Security numbers from applicants for
recreational licenses.
• H.Res. 458 would have expressed the sense of the House supporting the goals
and ideals of National Fishing and Boating Week.
• Section 402(a)(2)(D)(ii) of S. 1766 would have provided funds from a Climate
Adaptation Fund for the Sport Fish Restoration Act.
• H.R. 3227 would have directed the Secretary of the Interior to continue stocking
fish in certain lakes in the North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National
Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area; the House Natural
Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands held a
hearing on this measure on April 24, 2008. On July 14, 2008, the House
Committee on Natural Resources reported (H.Rept. 110-756) and the House
passed (amended) H.R. 3227.
• S. 2803 and H.R. 5850 would have authorized charter boat or recreational
fishermen to form associations to catch and market aquatic products, implement
vessel capacity reduction programs, and undertake research.
• Section 158 of H.R. 6001, Section 21 of H.R. 6108, Section 347 of H.R. 6165,
Section 121 of H.R. 6384, Section 217 of H.R. 6421, Section 22 of H.R. 6428,
Section 224 of H.R. 6779, and Section 220 of S. 3280 would have amended the
OCS Lands Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to issue regulations

permitting the use of decommissioned offshore oil and gas platforms as artificial
reefs, and required a study of how the removal of offshore oil and gas platforms
and other OCS facilities might affect existing fish stocks and coral populations.
• S. 3377 would have amended Title 46, United States Code, to waive the
biometric transportation security card requirement for certain small business
merchant mariners, including fishing guides.
• H.R. 6310 would have amended the Internal Revenue Code to require that the
manufacturers’ excise tax on sport fishing equipment be paid quarterly.
P.L. 110-243 directed the United States to initiate international discussions and take steps to
negotiate an agreement for managing migratory and transboundary fish stocks in the Arctic
Ocean. S.Res. 208 expressed the sense of the Senate encouraging the elimination of subsidies that
contribute to commercial fishing fleet overcapacity worldwide and lead to the overfishing. S.
2907 would have established uniform administrative procedures and penalties for the
enforcement of the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act and directed the
Secretary to establish an International Fisheries Enforcement Program in NMFS; the Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation reported this bill, amended, on September
17, 2008 (S.Rept. 110-469). Section 5(b)(3) of H.R. 7014 would have required that the President
consult with Congress before initiating any trade negotiations under the North American Free
Trade Agreement relating directly to fish or shellfish.
P.L. 110-281 (H.R. 3891) amended the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act
to increase the number of directors on the foundation’s board of directors.
P.L. 110-299 clarified circumstances during which the Environmental Protection Agency and
states could require discharge permits for fishing vessels. S. 687 would have amended the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a business credit against income for purchasing fishing safety
equipment. Section 307 of H.R. 2830 would have modified certain safety standards for
commercial fishing vessels and establish a fishing safety research grant program; on September
20, 2007, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure reported, amended, this bill
(H.Rept. 110-338, Part I). On October 1, 2007, the House Committee on Homeland Security
reported, amended, H.R. 2830 (H.Rept. 110-338- Part II). On October 30, 2007, the House
Committee on the Judiciary reported (amended) H.R. 2830 (H.Rept. 110-338, Part III). On April
24, 2009, the House passed H.R. 2830 (amended). S. 2865 would have permitted qualified
withdrawals from a Capital Construction Fund account for gear or equipment required for fishery
conservation or safety of life at sea without regard to the minimum cost requirement established
by regulation.
Section 504 of P.L. 110-343 provided income averaging of funds received from the Exxon Valdez
oil spill litigation. H.R. 2133, S. 3234, and Section 3 of H.R. 6804 would have amended the

Internal Revenue Code to provide commercial fishermen a temporary income tax credit to offset
high fuel costs. H.R. 2110 would have amended the Internal Revenue Code to provide for tax-
exempt qualified small issue bonds to finance fish processing property.
A number of bills were introduced dealing with aquatic and marine aspects of climate change, but
none were enacted:
• Section 202(b)(5) of H.R. 620, S. 280, H.R. 2338, and H.R. 4226; Section 7456
of H.R. 3220/H.R. 3221; Subtitle B, Part 2, of H.R. 6316; Section 114 of S. 2204;
Subtitle G of S. 2191, S. 3036, and H.R. 6186; and Title IV, Subtitle D, of H.R.
2337 would have authorized funding of efforts to strengthen and restore habitat
to improve the ability of fish and wildlife to adapt successfully to climate change.
The House passed H.R. 3221 (amended) on August 4, 2007; the Senate passed
this measure (amended) on April 10, 2008, without the House-passed provisions
related to habitat and climate change. On May 20, 2008, the Senate Committee
on Environment and Public Works reported (amended) S. 2191 (S.Rept. 110-

337).

• Section 301 of H.R. 620 and H.R. 4226, and Section 465 of H.R. 2337 would
have amended the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. §§ 1451, et
seq.) to require the Secretary of Commerce to prepare a report on the observed
and projected effects of climate change on marine life, habitat, and commercial
and recreational fisheries; on August 3, 2007, the House Committee on Natural
Resources reported (amended) H.R. 2337 (H.Rept. 110-296, Part I).
• S. 317, S. 1177, and S. 1554 would have amended the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C.
§§ 7401, et seq.) to fund (among many programs) efforts to identify coastal and
marine resources (such as coral reefs, submerged aquatic vegetation, shellfish
beds, and other coastal or marine ecosystems) at greatest risk of damage by
climate change; to monitor for impacts; and to restore damaged resources.
• S. 1766 would have provided funds from a Climate Adaptation Fund for the
Sport Fish Restoration Act (Section 402(a)(2)(D)(ii)) and from a Climate Change
Wildlife Conservation sub-account in the Treasury for the Secretary of the
Interior to improve fish passage and dam removal and for the National Fish
Habitat Plan as well as for the Secretary of Commerce to sustain fisheries, protect
marine species, and conserve marine habitat (Section 402(e)(3)(C)).
Several measures would have addressed ocean acidification:
• Section 7471 of H.R. 3220/H.R. 3221, Section 10 of S. 2355, and Section 201 of
S. 2211 would have directed the Secretary of Commerce to develop a national
strategy to predict, plan for, and mitigate climate change effects, including ocean
acidification, on ocean and coastal ecosystems to ensure the recovery, resiliency,
and health these ecosystems. The House passed H.R. 3221 (amended) on August
4, 2007; the Senate passed this measure (amended) on April 10, 2008, without the
House-passed provision related to ocean acidification. On June 5, 2008, the
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation reported
(amended) S. 2355 (S.Rept. 110-347).

• S. 485 would have amended the Clean Air Act to direct the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency to study ocean acidification and the ways that
process affects ocean ecosystems and U.S. fisheries.
• On May 10, 2007, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard held a
hearing on the effects of climate change and ocean acidification on living marine
resources.
• S. 1581, H.R. 4174, and Part VI of S. 3297 would have established an
interagency committee to develop an ocean acidification research and monitoring
plan as well as an ocean acidification program within NOAA; on May 22, 2008,
the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation reported
(amended) S. 1581 (S.Rept. 110-339). On June 5, 2008, the House Science and
Technology Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing on H.R.
4174; the House Committee on Science and Technology reported this bill
(amended) on July 9, 2008 (H.Rept. 110-749), and the House passed this bill,
amended, on this date.
• Section 7001 of S. 2191 and S. 3036 would have required the National Academy
of Sciences to analyze predicted changes in ocean acidity; on May 20, 2008, the
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works reported (amended) S.

2191 (S.Rept. 110-337).

H.Res. 1112 expressed the sense of the House, recognizing 2008 as the International Year of the ^th
Reef. In the 110 Congress, numerous other measures were introduced to address concerns
related to coral and coral reefs, but none were enacted:
• S. 485 and H.R. 1590 would have directed the National Academy of Sciences to
assess the probability of a loss of more than 40% of world coral reefs because of
increased ocean temperature or acidity.
• H.R. 1205, S. 1580, and S. 1583 would have reauthorized and amended the Coral
Reef Conservation Act of 2000. On March 6, 2007, the House Natural Resources
Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans held a hearing on H.R. 1205;
on June 28, 2007, the House Committee on Natural Resources reported this bill
(amended) on October 22, 2007 (H.Rept. 110-394, Part I), and the House
subsequently passed this measure (amended). On March 13, 2008, the Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation reported (amended) S.

1580 (S.Rept. 110-276).

• H.R. 1679 sought to protect Florida coral reefs and other coastal marine
resources from Cuban petroleum exploration and development.
• H.R. 2185, S. 2020, and Title IV, Subtitle D, of S. 3297 would have amended the
Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998 to provide debt relief to developing
countries that protect coral reefs and associated coastal marine ecosystems; on
October, 15, 2007, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations reported S. 2020
(S.Rept. 110-196). The House passed H.R. 2185 (amended) on October 9, 2007.

• H.Con.Res. 300 would have expressed the sense of Congress that the United
States maintains its leadership role in improving the health and promoting the
resiliency of coral reef ecosystems; the House agreed to this measure on May 21,

2008.

• Section 158 of H.R. 6001, Section 21 of H.R. 6108, Section 347 of H.R. 6165,
Section 121 of H.R. 6384, Section 217 of H.R. 6421, Section 22 of H.R. 6428,
Section 224 of H.R. 6779, and Section 220 of S. 3280 would have required a
study of how the removal of offshore oil and gas platforms and other OCS
facilities might affect existing coral populations.
Section 7(d)(8) of H.R. 1187 and S. 2635 would have promoted cooperative research and
education efforts with commercial fishermen operating within the Gulf of the Farallones National
Marine Sanctuary, the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, and the Monterey Bay National
Marine Sanctuary. The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and
Oceans held a hearing on H.R. 1187 on October 24, 2007. On March 31, 2008, the House
Committee on Natural Resources reported (amended) H.R. 1187 (H.Rept. 110-557), and the
House subsequently passed this bill, amended. On May 6, 2008, the Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and
Coast Guard held a hearing on H.R. 1187; the full committee reported this bill (amended) on
October 1, 2008 (S.Rept. 110-516). H.R. 6537 would have clarified the authority for fishery
management in National Marine Sanctuaries; on July 24, 2008, the House Natural Resources
Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans held a hearing on this measure.
S.Res. 368 expressed the sense of the Senate that the United States should seek a review of
compliance with the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)
conservation and management recommendations for Atlantic bluefin tuna and other species, and
that the United States should pursue a moratorium on the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean
bluefin tuna fishery in ICCAT. S.Res. 709 expressed the sense of the Senate that the United States ^th
should pursue the adoption of bluefin tuna conservation and management measures at the 16
Special Meeting of ICCAT; the Senate agreed to this measure on November 20, 2008. H.R. 3669
and Section 421 of H.R. 2830, as passed by the House on April 24, 2008, would have amended 46
U.S.C. relating to fishery endorsements to promote the U.S. distant water tuna fleet. H.R. 3165
would have amended the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to specifically provide
for duty-free treatment of certain tuna imported directly from U.S. insular possessions. H.R. 4525
would have modified the definition of “in airtight containers” to promote public health and safety.
H.R. 167 and H.R. 293 would have provided assistance for the construction, improvement, and
rehabilitation of farmers markets, including those selling local aquaculture and commercial
fishing products. Section 518 of S. 1082, as passed by the Senate (amended) on May 9, 2007,
would have required the Food and Drug Administration to prepare a report on the taxonomic and
consumer perception differences between lobster and langostino. H.R. 3115 and Section 14 of
H.R. 3610 would have amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to restrict the use of

carbon monoxide in meat, poultry, and seafood; the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee
on Health held a hearing on H.R. 3610 on September 26, 2007. H.Res. 582 would have expressed
the sense of the House supportive of local fishermen and fishing communities, education of
seafood consumers, and consumption of healthy seafood, especially locally caught products.
Section 2 of H.R. 241, Section 202 of H.R. 324, Section 101 of H.R. 1012, Section 402 of H.R.
5923, Section 201 of H.R. 5955 and S. 3072, and Section 112 of H.R. 6110 would have amended
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA; P.L. 93-406; 29 U.S.C. §§ 1001,
et seq.) to authorize fishing industry associations to provide health care plans for association
members. S. 2630 and H.R. 5404 would have amended the Public Health Service Act to establish
a grant program to increase health care coverage and access for workers and families in the
commercial fishing industry.
Section 321(b) of S. 122, Section 501(b) of H.R. 910, and Section 202 of H.R. 3801/S. 1848
would have amended the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. §§ 2271, et seq.) to clarify that
commercial fishermen are eligible for trade adjustment assistance. On July 18, 2007, the Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a listening session on the safety of
Chinese seafood imports, including oversight and analysis of the federal response. H.R. 5014
would have extended the temporary suspension of duty on oysters (other than smoked), prepared
or preserved.
H.R. 5741 and S. 3231 would have amended the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium
Protection Act to increase sanctions on nations that permit shark finning; the House Natural
Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans held a hearing on this bill on April

16, 2008. The House Committee on Natural Resources reported this bill (amended) on July 8,

2008 (H.Rept. 110-740); the House passed this measure (amended) on this date.

Section 901 of S. 1892 would have required a Coast Guard report on efforts taken from FY2000
through FY2007 to protect sea turtles; the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation reported this bill (amended) on February 5, 2008 (S.Rept. 110-261). H.R. 6862
would have reauthorized the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 through FY2014.
Section 505 of S. 1892 would have prohibits the attachment of maritime liens to fishing permits;
the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation reported this bill (amended) on
February 5, 2008 (S.Rept. 110-261).

Aquaculture is broadly defined as the farming or husbandry of fish, shellfish, and other aquatic ²³
animals and plants, usually in a controlled or selected environment. The diversity of aquaculture
is typified by such activities as: fish farming, usually applied to freshwater commercial ²⁴
aquaculture operations (e.g., catfish and trout farms); shellfish and seaweed culture; net-pen
culture, used by the salmon industry, wherein fish remain captive throughout their lives in marine
pens built from nets; and ocean ranching, used by the Pacific Coast salmon industry, whereby
juvenile salmon are cultured, released to mature in the open ocean, and caught when they return
as adults to spawn. Fish hatcheries can be either publicly or privately operated to raise fish for
recreational and commercial stocking as well as to mitigate aquatic resource and habitat damage.
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has characterized aquaculture as one of the
world’s fastest growing food production activities. World aquaculture production more than
doubled in 10 years, from about 10 million metric tons in 1984 to 25.5 million metric tons in

1994; by 2002, global aquaculture production had reached almost 40 million metric tons. By mid-²⁵

2006, FAO estimated that 43% of all fish consumed by humans came from aquaculture. FAO
has projected that aquaculture will surpass wild-harvested seafood as the source of more than

50% of global seafood consumption in 2008. In addition, FAO predicts that world aquaculture ²⁶

production could exceed 130 million metric tons by 2030.
U.S. aquaculture, until recently and with a few exceptions, has been considered a minor industry.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2005 Census of Aquaculture reported that U.S. sales of
aquaculture products had reached nearly $1.1 billion, with more than half this value produced in ²⁷
Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Despite considerable growth, the domestic
aquaculture industry faces strong competition from imports of foreign aquacultural products, ²⁸
from the domestic poultry and livestock industries, and from wild harvests. With growth,
however, aquaculture operations face increasing scrutiny for habitat destruction, pollution, and
other concerns. The major statute affecting U.S. aquaculture is the National Aquaculture Act of

1980, as amended (16 U.S.C. §§ 2801 et seq.).

In October 2007, NOAA released a 10-year plan for its marine aquaculture program.²⁹ The 110^th
Congress did not consider legislation the Administration drafted to modify the regulatory
environment and promote the development of U.S. offshore, open-ocean aquaculture.

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Section 1006 of P.L. 110-85 (H.R. 3580) authorized the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to
enhance inspection of aquaculture products. H.R. 1148, S. 654, and H.R. 7143 would have
established a Food Safety Administration, with food production facilities defined as including
aquaculture facilities in Section 3(14). H.R. 3077 would have amended the Federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act to address safety concerns with imported seafood and seafood products by
requiring seafood importing countries to be certified as having equivalent safety systems to the
United States; S. 1776 would have imposed this certification requirement on all imported food
products. H.R. 5219 would have authorized appropriations for FDA’s seafood inspection regime.
S. 2688, H.R. 5738, and H.R. 5956 would have directed the Secretary of Commerce to establish a
program to better ensure that seafood in interstate commerce is fit for human consumption; on
July 15, 2008, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation reported
(amended) S. 2688 (S.Rept. 110-420).
Section 1007 of P.L. 110-85 (H.R. 3580) required the Food and Drug Administration to prepare a
report on environmental risks associated with genetically engineered seafood products, including
their impact on wild fish stocks.
Section 228 of P.L. 110-140 required a report by the Secretary of Energy on the progress of
research and development on the use of algae as a feedstock for the production of biofuels. H.R.

6943 would have amended the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a credit for algae-

derived fuels.
P.L. 110-246, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, included several provisions (1)
providing drought coverage for aquaculture under the non-insured crop assistance program
(Section 12027); (2) authorizing a pilot program under the Conservation Reserve Program for
enrolling wetland areas, with eligible acreage including shallow water areas that were devoted to
a commercial pond-raised aquaculture operation any year from 2002 through 2007 (Section
2106); and (3) creating a new emergency disaster assistance program for farm-raised fish (Section
15101). Several bills proposed to amend either the MSFCMA (S. 741 and H.R. 2565) or the
Coastal Zone Management Act (H.R. 3223) to establish a grant program to ensure waterfront
access for aquaculture operators and commercial fishermen; on February 28, 2008, the House
Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans held a hearing on H.R. 3223.
Section 3109 of H.R. 1591 would have appropriated $5 million for the Department of Agriculture
to compensate aquaculture operators for losses due to limitations on fish transport in the Great
Lakes region to combat outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic septicemia; this bill was reported by the
House Committee on Appropriations on March 20, 2007 (H.Rept. 110-60). The House passed
H.R. 1591 on March 23, 2007. On March 29, 2007, the Senate passed H.R. 1591 (amended),
without the aquaculture operator compensation provision. On April 24, 2007, a conference report

was filed on H.R. 1591, without ethe aquaculture operator compensation provision (H.Rept. 110-

107); this conference report was agreed to by the House (April 25, 2007) and Senate (April 26,

2007). President Bush vetoed H.R. 1591 on May 1, 2007. Section 3 of H.R. 7196/S. 3644 and
Section 1102 of S. 3689 would have directed the Secretary of Agriculture to provide $50 million
in grants to states for assistance to aquaculture operators to offset feed costs or economic losses
caused by natural disasters.
The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, P.L. 110-246, included provisions that (1)
reauthorized various regional aquaculture research centers through FY2012 (Section 7140) and
(2) identified marine shrimp farming and viral hemorrhagic septicemia as high priorities for
research and extension grants (Section 7204).
Section 7414 of P.L. 110-246, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, reauthorized the
National Aquaculture Act through FY2012.
Section 11013 of P.L. 110-246 directed the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an advisory
committee to develop recommendations regarding the National Aquatic Animal Health Plan
developed by the National Aquatic Animal Health Task Force.
Section 11016 of P.L. 110-246 authorized a voluntary grading program for farm-raised domestic
catfish and other aquaculture species administered through the Agricultural Marketing Service,
and mandated safety inspection of such products by the Food Safety and Inspection Service. H.R.
167 and H.R. 293 would have provided assistance for the construction, improvement, and
rehabilitation of farmers markets, including those selling local aquaculture and commercial
fishing products. H.R. 3115 would have amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to
restrict the use of carbon monoxide in meat, poultry, and seafood. Section 3001 of S. 2228 would
have included aquacultural products in a grant program to enhance the competitiveness of
specialty crops.
Section 12023 of P.L. 110-246 amended the Federal Crop Insurance Act to expand aquaculture
and research coverage. Section 9016 of S. 1424 and Section 702 of H.R. 2144 would have
expanded the Adjusted Gross Revenue Insurance Pilot Program to include coverage for shellfish.
Section 6(b) of H.R. 1187 and S. 2635 would have prohibited most aquaculture in the Gulf of the
Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, and the
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on

Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans held a hearing on H.R. 1187 on October 24, 2007. On March 31,

2008, the House Committee on Natural Resources reported (amended) H.R. 1187 (H.Rept. 110-

557), and the House subsequently passed this bill, amended. On May 6, 2008, the Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere,
Fisheries, and Coast Guard held a hearing on H.R. 1187; the full committee reported this bill
(amended) on October 1, 2008 (S.Rept. 110-516).
H.R. 924 and S. 540 would have required the Food and Drug Administration to permit the sale of
baby turtles as pets so long as the seller uses proven methods to effectively treat Salmonella. On
May 1, 2007, this provision was also proposed as an amendment (Title VII) to S. 1082; this
amendment (as revised) was agreed to on May 8, 2007, and S. 1082 (amended) was passed by the
Senate on May 9, 2007. Subtitle C, Title XI, of H.R. 2419, as passed by the Senate (amended) on
December 14, 2007, would have required a study to determine the prevalence of Salmonella in
reptiles and amphibians sold as pets. On May 13, 2008, a conference report was filed on H.R.

2419, with the turtle provisions deleted (H.Rept. 110-627).

S. 533 would have amended the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 to prohibit issuing marine
aquaculture facility permits until permit requirements are enacted. H.R. 2010 and S. 1609 would
have authorized the Secretary of Commerce to establish and implement a regulatory system for
offshore aquaculture; on July 12, 2007, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries,
Wildlife, and Oceans held a hearing on H.R. 2010. H.R. 7109 would have prohibited the
Secretary of the Interior from authorizing commercial finfish aquaculture operations in the U.S.
EEZ.
Section 402 of S. 1848 would have amended the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. §§ 2271, et seq.)
to clarify that aquaculture producers are eligible for trade adjustment assistance. On July 18,
2007, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a listening session
on the safety of Chinese imports, including oversight and analysis of the federal response.
H.R. 83, S. 726, and Section 171 of S. 791 would have amended the Lacey Act to add four
species of carp to the list of injurious species that are prohibited from being imported or shipped.
H.R. 6031 would have directed the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service to study various approaches to
eradicating Asian carp from the Great Lakes and their tributaries.
Section 8(b) of S. 3473 would have directed the Secretary of the Interior, subject to the
availability of appropriations, to operate, maintain, rehabilitate, and upgrade the Alchesay-
Williams Creek National Fish Hatchery Complex.

H.R. 2110 would have amended the Internal Revenue Code to provide for tax-exempt qualified
small issue bonds to finance aquacultural processing property.

In 1972, Congress enacted the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. §§ 1361, et
seq.), due in part to the high level of dolphin mortality (estimated at more than 400,000 animals
per year) in the eastern tropical Pacific tuna purse-seine fishery. While some critics assert that the
MMPA is scientifically irrational because it identifies one group of organisms for special
protection unrelated to their abundance or ecological role, supporters note that the MMPA has
accomplished much by way of promoting research and increased understanding of marine life as
well as encouraging attention to incidental bycatch mortalities of marine life by the commercial
fishing and other maritime industries.
The MMPA established a moratorium on the “taking” of marine mammals in U.S. waters and by
U.S. nationals on the high seas. It also established a moratorium on importing marine mammals
and marine mammal products into the United States. The MMPA protected marine mammals
from “clubbing, mutilation, poisoning, capture in nets, and other human actions that lead to
extinction.” It also expressly authorized the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the
Interior to issue permits for the “taking” of marine mammals for certain purposes, such as
scientific research and public display.
Under the MMPA, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through NMFS, is responsible for the
conservation and management of whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and sea lions. The Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is responsible for walruses,
sea and marine otters, polar bears, manatees, and dugongs. This division of authority derives from
agency responsibilities as they existed when the MMPA was enacted. Title II of the MMPA
established an independent Marine Mammal Commission (MMC) and its Committee of Scientific
Advisors on Marine Mammals to oversee and recommend actions necessary to meet the
requirements of the MMPA.
Prior to passage of the MMPA, states were responsible for marine mammal management on lands
and in waters under their jurisdiction. The MMPA shifted marine mammal management authority
to the federal government. It provides, however, that management authority, on a species-by-
species basis, could be returned to states that adopt conservation and management programs
consistent with the purposes and policies of the MMPA. It also provides that the moratorium on
taking can be waived for specific purposes, if the taking will not disadvantage the affected species
or population. Permits may be issued to take or import any marine mammal species, including
depleted species, for scientific research or to enhance the survival or recovery of the species or
stock. The MMPA allows U.S. citizens to apply for and obtain authorization for taking small
numbers of mammals incidental to activities other than commercial fishing (e.g., offshore oil and
gas exploration and development) if the taking would have only a negligible impact on any
marine mammal species or stock, provided that monitoring requirements and other conditions are
met.
The MMPA’s moratorium on taking does not apply to any Native American (Indian, Aleut, or
Eskimo) who resides in Alaska near the coast of the North Pacific (including the Bering Sea) or

Arctic Ocean (including the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas), if such taking is for subsistence
purposes or for creating and selling authentic Native articles of handicrafts and clothing, and is
not done wastefully.
The MMPA also authorizes the taking of marine mammals incidental to commercial fishing
operations. In 1988, most U.S. commercial fish harvesters were exempted from otherwise
applicable rulemaking and permit requirements for a five-year period, pending development of an
improved system to govern the incidental taking of marine mammals in the course of commercial
fishing operations. This exemption expired at the end of FY1993, and was extended several times
until new provisions were enacted in 1994 by P.L. 103-238, which reauthorized the MMPA
through FY1999. The eastern tropical Pacific tuna fishery was excluded from the incidental take
regimes enacted in 1988 and 1994. Instead, the taking of marine mammals incidental to that
fishery is governed by separate provisions of the MMPA, and was substantially amended in 1997
by P.L. 105-42, the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act.
Section 319 of P.L. 108-136 amended the MMPA to provide a broad exemption for “national
defense.” This section also amended the definition of “harassment” of marine mammals, as it
applies to military readiness activities, to require greater scientific evidence of harm, and the
consideration of impacts on military readiness in the issuance of permits for incidental takings.
On January 23, 2007, the Department of Defense announced the authorization of a two-year ³⁰
exemption under these provisions for mid-frequency active sonar use.
The MMPA was reauthorized by P.L. 103-238, the Marine Mammal Protection Act Amendments
of 1994; the authorization for appropriations expired on September 30, 1999. The 1994
amendments indefinitely authorized the taking of marine mammals incidental to commercial
fishing operations and provided for assessing marine mammal stocks in U.S. waters, for
developing and implementing take-reduction plans for stocks that may be reduced or are being
maintained below their optimum sustainable population levels due to interactions with ³¹
commercial fisheries, and for studying pinniped-fishery interactions.
In the 109^th Congress, several bills were introduced, proposing to extensively amend the MMPA
and authorize appropriations for several marine mammal programs. Although the House passed ^th³²
H.R. 4075 (amended), no further action was taken before 109 Congress adjourned.
In the 110^th Congress, several bills were introduced to amend the MMPA, but none were enacted:

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• H.R. 1006 would have modified provisions of the John H. Prescott Marine
Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program, including reauthorizing funding for
the Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Event Fund; the House passed this bill on
March 19, 2007. On July 15, 2008, the Senate Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation reported (amended) this bill (S.Rept. 110-421).
• H.R. 1007 would have repealed the long-term goal for reducing the incidental
mortality and serious injury of marine mammals to zero in commercial fishing
operations, and to modify the goal of take reduction plans for reducing such
takings.
• H.R. 1769 would have authorized taking of California sea lions to reduce their
predation on endangered Columbia River salmon; the House Natural Resources
Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans held a hearing on this bill on
August 2, 2007.
• H.R. 2327 and S. 1406 would have deleted the authorization for importing polar
bear sport hunting trophies from Canada. H.R. 6936 would have allowed
importing polar bear trophies taken in Canadian sport hunts before the polar bear
was listed as a threatened species. H.R. 7171 would have amended the MMPA to
allow the importation of polar bear trophies taken in sport hunts in Canada.
• Section 901 of S. 1892 would have required a Coast Guard report on efforts taken
from FY2000 through FY2007 to enforce the MMPA; the Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation reported this bill (amended) on February

5, 2008 (S.Rept. 110-261).

• H.R. 3156 and S. 1860 would have modified how certain MMPA offenses might
be prosecuted.
• H.R. 5106 would have authorized the Marine Mammal Commission to establish
a national program to fund basic and applied research on marine mammals.
• H.R. 5429 would have amended the MMPA to authorize marine mammal
cooperative management agreements in Alaska.
• Section 33 of H.R. 6428, Section 238 of H.R. 6779, and Section 610 of H.R.
7239 would have directed the Secretary of the Interior to establish regional OCS
Joint Permitting Offices, with expertise in MMPA consultations and preparation
of documents.
H.Res. 427 expressed the sense of the House urging Canada to halt its commercial seal hunt.
H.R. 2327 and S. 1406 would have deleted the authorization in the MMPA for importing polar
bear sport hunting trophies from Canada. On June 26, 2007, the Senate Committee on
Appropriations reported S. 1696 (S.Rept. 110-91), in which § 120, in Title I would have

prohibited the expenditure of funds for issuing permits to import polar bear sport hunting trophies
during FY2008. This provision was not included in P.L. 110-161 (the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2008) signed by President Bush on December 26, 2007. On January 17,
2008, the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming held a hearing
on the delay by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in announcing their decision on whether to list ³³
polar bears as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. H.R. 5058 would have prohibited
the Secretary of the Interior from leasing any tract in the Chukchi Sea Lease Sale 193 off Alaska
until the Secretary determines whether to list the polar bear as a threatened or endangered species.
On January 30, 2008, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held an oversight
hearing to examine threats to and protection for the polar bear. H.R. 6057 would have amended
the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to prohibit oil and gas leasing and related activities in the
Beaufort and Chukchi Sea Planning Areas unless certain conditions are met.
Section 202(b)(5) of H.R. 620, H.R. 2338, S. 280, and H.R. 4226; Subtitle G of H.R. 6186, S.
2191, and S. 3036; Title IV, Subtitle D, of H.R. 2337; Subtitle B, Part 2, of H.R. 6316; and
Section 7456 of H.R. 3220/H.R. 3221 would have authorized funding for efforts to strengthen and
restore habitat to improve the ability of wildlife to adapt successfully to climate change; Section

301 of H.R. 620 also would have amended the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C.

§§ 1451, et seq.) to require the Secretary of Commerce to prepare a report on the observed and
projected effects of climate change on marine life and habitat. The House passed H.R. 3221
(amended) on August 4, 2007; the Senate passed this measure (amended) on April 10, 2008,
without the House-passed language on habitat and climate change. Section 101 of S. 317 would
have amended the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 7401, et seq.) to create a Climate Action Trust
Fund, funding (among many programs) efforts to identify coastal and marine resources (such as
coral reefs, submerged aquatic vegetation, shellfish beds, and other coastal or marine ecosystems)
at greatest risk of damage by climate change; to monitor for impacts; and to restore damaged
resources.
S.Res. 456 would have expressed the sense of the Senate that the United States should undertake
bilateral discussions with Canada to negotiate an agreement to conserve populations of large
whales that migrate along the Atlantic coast of North America. S. 2657 and H.R. 5536 would
have required the Secretary of Commerce to prescribe regulations limiting vessel speed to reduce
collisions with North Atlantic right whales; the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation reported S. 2657 (amended) on July 22, 2008 (S.Rept. 110-429). H.Con.Res. 350
and S.Con.Res. 86 would have expressed the sense of Congress that the United States, through
the International Whaling Commission, should use all appropriate measures to end commercial
whaling and strengthen the conservation and management of whale species. The House agreed to
H.Con.Res. 350 on June 18, 2008. H.R. 6624 and S. 3333 would have amended the Whaling
Convention Act so that it expressly applies to aboriginal subsistence whaling, and authorizes the
Secretary of Commerce to set bowhead whale catch limits in the event that the IWC fails to adopt
such limits.

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On May 11, 2007, the House Committee on Armed Services reported H.R. 1585 expressing
concern in the committee report (H.Rept. 110-146) about the Department of Defense authorizing ³⁴
a two-year MMPA exemption, in January 2007, for the use of mid-frequency sonar in naval
training exercises. In addition, the committee encouraged the Navy to assess the number and
species of marine mammals injured and killed as a result of activities conducted under the two-
year exemption. On May 17, 2007, the House passed H.R. 1585 (amended). The Senate passed
H.R. 1585 (amended) on October 1, 2007. A conference report was filed on H.R. 1585 on
December 6, 2007 (H.Rept. 110-477); the House (December 12, 2007) and Senate (December 14,
2007) agreed to the conference report. H.R. 1585 was pocket vetoed by President Bush on
December 28, 2007.
Section 918 of S. 1892 would have extended the authorization of the Fur Seal Act of 1966
through FY2009; the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation reported this
bill (amended) on February 5, 2008 (S.Rept. 110-261).
H.R. 3639 would have established a research program for the recovery of the southern sea otter;
the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans held a hearing on
this measure on April 24, 2008.

Signed by President Bush on December 26, 2007, P.L. 110-161 (the Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2008) provided more than $829 million for NMFS for FY2008.
On February 4, 2008, the Bush Administration released its FY2009 budget request, including
about $782 million for NMFS (see Table 1). The FY2009 request for funding for NMFS under
the Operations, Research, and Facilities (OR&F) Account is $15.87 million (2.24%) more than
funding enacted for FY2008. However, total NMFS funding would decrease by $46.76 million
(5.64%) from that enacted for FY2008, primarily due to decreases for Pacific Coastal Salmon
Recovery and Other Accounts.

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Table 1. NMFS Appropriations
^{(in thousands of doll}^ars)
^FY20⁰⁷^FY20⁰⁸^FY20⁰⁸^FY20⁰⁹^FY20⁰⁹^FY20⁰⁹
^Enacted^Request^Enacted^Request^{House Rpt}^{Senate Rpt}
^Fisheries^515,³⁰^{1 402,}⁰⁹⁶^409,²⁰^{9 424,}⁴⁸⁰^429,¹⁸⁴^460,⁶⁷²
^Protected^Resources^141,⁰¹^{5 165,}⁰⁹⁵^163,⁹⁹^{2 167,}²⁴¹^176,²⁴¹^178,¹⁰⁵
^Habitat^Conservation^43,5^{44 50,4}¹⁵^50,2^{45 43,4}⁰⁵^49,9⁰⁵^48,4⁰⁵
^Enforce^ment^78,1^{26 86,9}⁷³^84,8^{94 89,0}⁸⁵^89,0⁸⁵^90,0⁸⁵
^Surveillance
^{SUBTOTAL 828,}⁷¹⁶^a^704,⁵⁷⁹^708,³⁴^{0 724,}²¹¹^744,⁴¹⁵^777,²⁶⁷
^Procurement,
^Acquisition,^11,1^{90 0}^2,02^{1 0}⁰^4,60⁰
^Construction
^{Pacific Coastal Sa}^lmon^66,6^{38 66,8}²⁵^67,0^{00 35,0}⁰⁰^65,0⁰⁰^90,0⁰⁰
^Recovery
^Other^Ac^counts^27,3^{85 24,5}⁵⁰^51,7^{22 23,1}¹²⁰^54,0⁰⁰
^TOTAL^933,⁹²^{9 795,}⁹⁵⁴^829,⁰⁸^{3 782,}³²³^809,⁴¹⁵^925,⁸⁶⁷
^Sources:^{Budget J}^{ustifications, House and Senate Committee Rep}^{orts, and floor debate.}
^a.^{Includes $}⁵^{0.73 million for “Alaska Composite Research a}^{nd Development Program.”}
Major increases requested in excess of enacted FY2008 funding in NMFS’s portion of the OR&F
Account include:
^•^{Fisheries Research a}^{nd Ma}^nagem^{ent Programs:}^{+ $2}^{1.5 million}
^•^Expa^{nd An}^{nual Stock Assess}^ment^s:^{+ $8.5}^milli^on
^•^{Survey and}^{monitoring projects:}^{+ $8.2}^milli^on
^•^{Economics and social science res}^earch:^{+ $4.7}^milli^on
^•^{Atlantic salmon habitat restoration}^{+ $4.1}^{7 million}
^•^{Pacific Salmon Recovery and Research:}^{+ $3.1}^{7 million}
^•^{Recreational fisheries statistics:}^{+ $3}^milli^on
^•^Enforce^{ment of}^{IUU fishing:}^{+ $2.4}^milli^on
^•^{Sustainable ha}^{bitat manageme}^nt:^{+ $1.9}^{6 million}
^•^{Marine Ma}^{mmal Conservation an}^{d Recovery:}^{+ $1.5}^milli^on
Major decreases requested from enacted FY2008 funding in NMFS’s portion of the OR&F
Account include:
^•^Massach^{usetts g}^roundfis^{h su}^ppor^t:^{-$13.4 million}
^•^{Penobscot River habitat r}^estoration:^{-$10 million}
^•^Magnu^{son implementation off}^Alaska:^{-$7.3 million}
^•^{NW Hawaii Monume}^{nt fish}^{ery as}^sistance:^{-$6.7 million}
^•^{SE area monitoring and ass}^essme^nt:^{-$4.4 million}
^•^{Marine t}^urtles:^{-$3.7 million}

^•^{Alaska Sea Life Center:}^{-$3.5 million}
^•^{Community-based restoration a}ⁿ^d^{open rivers:}^{-$3.1 million}
On December 10, 2008, the House Committee on Appropriations reported H.R. 7322 (H.Rept.
110-919), containing FY2009 NMFS appropriations. The committee recommended almost $810
million for NMFS for FY2009, $19.7 million (-2.4%) less than the FY2008 enacted level and
$27.1 million (3.5%) more than the FY2009 request. Included in the House measure was an
additional $30 million for Pacific Coastal Salmon Restoration, in addition to what the
Administration had requested.
On June 23, 2008, the Senate Committee on Appropriations reported S. 3182 (S.Rept. 110-397),
recommending almost $926 million for NMFS for FY2009, $97.8 million (11.8%) more than the
FY2008 enacted level and $143.5 million (18.3%) more than the FY2009 request. In addition to
what the Administration had requested, the Senate bill included an additional $55 million for
Pacific Coastal Salmon Restoration, $50 million for fishery disaster mitigation, and $30 million
for various fishery management activities.
Division A of P.L. 110-329 provided continuing appropriations for NMFS, until March 6, 2009, at
the level of FY2008 appropriations.
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