HR6939-119

What This Bill Does

The Bycatch Reduction and Research Act of 2026 builds a research and gear-innovation program for Alaska-origin salmon and fishing bycatch in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska. NOAA must reconstitute the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force as the Bycatch Reduction and Research Task Force and Commerce must add academic experts in groundfish ecology and invertebrate ecology. NOAA must enter public-private research partnerships with State agencies, nonprofits, universities, Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations, research institutions, Alaska Natives, fishing industry representatives, commercial fishermen, subsistence-use experts, and vessel owners, including satellite or intelligent tagging, genetic stock identification, distribution, migration, diet, health, and bycatch research. NOAA must also enter a partnership to build a flume tank for testing fishing gear and technology that reduces bycatch and benthic habitat contact, and create assistance for prototypes, devices, instruments, sensors, gear designs, workforce, and training. The bill directs NOAA to streamline exempted fishing permits and electronic monitoring pilots, hold stakeholder consultations every three years, integrate electronic monitoring data into science center workflows, and require NMFS regional offices to publish review guidance. It authorizes $4 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for bycatch reduction and creates a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation-managed donation fund for fishermen and vessel owners to purchase or modify gear, equipment, and technology.

Who Benefits and How

Alaska salmon runs, benthic habitats, and subsistence communities benefit from research and gear testing aimed at reducing bycatch and trawl contact. Commercial fishermen and vessel owners benefit from financial assistance to purchase or modify gear, equipment, prototypes, instruments, sensors, and technology. Universities, research institutions, Alaska Native experts, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and nonprofits benefit from public-private research partnerships. Electronic monitoring providers and data scientists benefit from pilot projects, standards review, and data integration. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation benefits from a defined fund-administration role.

Who Bears the Burden and How

NOAA, NMFS regional offices, regional science centers, Commerce, and the Bycatch Reduction and Research Task Force must manage research, partnerships, permit streamlining, stakeholder consultation, data integration, flume tank development, and public reporting. Fishing vessel owners and fishermen using assistance must comply with permit, monitoring, gear, and reporting requirements. Councils and science centers must consult with the Foundation on fund use. Federal taxpayers fund the $4 million annual authorization, while donors and the Foundation must manage private contributions transparently.

Key Provisions

• Reconstitutes the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force as the Bycatch Reduction and Research Task Force and adds ecology experts.
• Requires NOAA public-private research partnerships on Alaska-origin salmon, bycatch, tagging, stock identification, migration, and subsistence knowledge.
• Requires a flume tank and assistance for innovative gear, sensors, prototypes, and workforce training to reduce bycatch and benthic contact.
• Requires streamlined exempted fishing permits, electronic monitoring pilots, stakeholder consultation, and data integration.
• Authorizes $4 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 and creates a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation bycatch mitigation fund.