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The Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) Act of 1954 (15 U.S.C. §713c-3) established a program to provide financial support for research and development of commercial fisheries. The S-K Act created a fund (known as the S-K fund) that is financed by a permanent appropriation of a portion of import duties on marine products. S-K funds are distributed by the Secretary of Commerce as grants and cooperative agreements to address needs of the U.S. fishing industry,including but not limited to harvesting, processing, marketing, and associated infrastructure. However, Congress allocates most funding to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to fund agency activities related to marine fisheries research and management. Some have questioned whether the allocation of S-K funds reflects the original intent of the S-K Act and whether the S-K Grant Program addresses the needs and priorities of the fishing industry. Since its creation, the S-K fund’s authorizing language and priorities have evolved with changes to the fishing industry, new or amended federal laws governing fisheries management, and changing federal agency responsibilities. In 1980, the American Fisheries Promotion Act (AFPA) amended the S-K Act to authorize a competitive grant program, known as the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program (S-K Grant Program) and the National Program to support fishing industry research and development projects. Both programs are administered by NMFS, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In the 1980s, the S-K Grant Program focused on fisheries development, but in subsequent years, as U.S. fisheries became fully or over exploited, priorities generally shifted to resource conservation and management. The S-K Grant Program has supported a variety of different projects, such as gear technology research, seafood marketing, aquaculture, and others. The S-K Grant Program is funded by a permanent appropriation of 30% of the previous calendar year’s customs receipts from imports of fish and fish products. These funds are transferred into NOAA’s Promote and Develop American Fisheries Products and Research Pertaining to American Fisheries Fund (P&D account).Transfers of revenue into the P&D account have grown steadily from $26.7 million in 1980 to $182.8 million in 2020. Congress subsequently transfers most funds into the Operations, Research, and Facilities (ORF) account within NOAA. Congress has directed NMFS to use funds allocated to the ORF account for specific activities including stock assessments, fishing information networks, survey and monitoring projects, cooperative research, and inter jurisdictional fisheries.The remaining funds are available for supporting the annual competitive S-K Grant Program and in some cases the National Program. Since the early 1980s, Congress has transferred most P&D account funds into the ORF discretionary account,sometimes leaving little or no funding for the specified purposes of the S-K Act. Some critics have questioned whether funds from the P&D account could be used more effectively by targeting fishing industry needs, as Congress originally intended. For example, in the 112th, 113th, and 114th Congresses, bills were introduced that would have used most S-K funds to establish a regional fisheries grant program. By contrast, some have expressed concerns that if significant funding is shifted away from NMFS fisheries management programs, additional funds would need to be appropriated or activities such as data collection and fish population assessments could be compromised. These NMFS activities provide information and analyses used to manage and conserve fish populations. Some also have questioned whether the S-K Grant Program could be modified to provide the fishing industry with more direct input into the S-K grant process. Currently, NMFS, in consultation with the fishing industry,identifies S-K Grant Program priorities and selects the recipients of S-K grants. Over the last several Congresses, bills have been introduced that would change the procedure for screening, evaluating, and awarding S-K grants. In the 116th Congress, the American Fisheries Advisory Committee Act (H.R. 1218 and S. 494) would establish an industry advisory committee to identify the needs of the fishing industry, develop requests for proposals, review grant applications, and select grant applications for approval. S. 494 was reported on August 16, 2019, by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; on June 6, 2020, H.R. 1218 was reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change poses a clear danger to salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River basin. Rising water temperatures increasingly limit their ability to migrate, spawn, and successfully produce the next generation of fish. Steve Wondzell, a research ecologist with the USDA Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Research Station, conducted a study on the upper Middle Fork of eastern Oregon's John Day River. By using computer modeling, he and colleagues found that adding shade was the single most effective way to cool the water and preserve habitat for salmon into the future. With enough added shade, they found that future water temperature in the river could be cooler than today, even as air temperatures warm. Adding sufficient shade involves strategically planting streamside vegetation that will grow tall enough to shield long sections of the river from sunlight. The Forest Service and other federal agencies, the state of Oregon, and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are leading an effort to do just this. They are also working to reconfigure sections of the river that were artificially straightened in the past. Wondzell's research confirms the importance of coupling riparian planting with those efforts and is helping the different parties involved direct their efforts in a more strategic way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that Secretary of Commerce is authorized to provide disaster assistance to fishing industry when fish populations decline cause economic losses. It mentions fishery resource disaster has occurred are provided in Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. It also mentions federal financial assistance has been provided to fishermen and fishing communities in the form of grants, job retraining, and low interest loans.

The anticipated sale of bankrupt US tuna business Bumble Bee's North American assets to Asian seafood giant FCF has come to fruition with the Taiwan-based company paying US$928m to seal the deal. San Diego-based Bumble Bee - previously owned by UK-based private-equity firm Lion Capital - announced its intention to sell its assets to FCF in November when it also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the face of criminal fines and lawsuits related to a price-fixing case. [Extracted from the article]

The article summarizes the statutory provisions under the Wilderness Act of 1964 and subsequent wilderness laws addressing the management of wilderness areas in the U.S. It discusses the management of designated areas in accordance with the wilderness laws, the creation of buffer zones around wilderness areas, and the state jurisdiction and responsibilities over fish and wildlife. It also details the jurisdiction and authorities of other agencies under several wilderness statutes.

Fish and marine mammals are important resources in open ocean and nearshore coastal areas; many federal laws and regulations guide their management as well as the management of their habitat 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 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA) through eight regional fishery management councils. Beyond 200 miles, the United States participates in international agreements relating to specific areas or species. The 111th Congress may oversee implementation of the MSFCMA as well as address individual habitat and management concerns for U.S. commercial and sport fisheries to achieve a sustainable balance between resource use and protection. Current concerns include whether additional effort should be taken to eliminate overfishing, how fishery disaster assistance should be funded, and whether to more aggressively encourage fishing vessel capacity reduction and limited access privilege programs. The 111th Congress has enacted P.L. 111-5, including language to broaden the basis for determining import increases for trade adjustment assistance for fishing and aquaculture to include wild-caught fish and seafood in addition to farmraised fish and seafood. In addition, P.L. 111-11 authorized implementation of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement providing for the reintroduction of Chinook salmon; extended the authorizations for the Upper colorado and San Juan River Basin endangered fish recovery programs through FY2023; directed the Secretary of Commerce to establish an ocean acidification program within NOAA, and to establish an interagency committee to develop an ocean acidification research and monitoring plan; and reauthorized (through FY2015) and amend the Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act of 2000. Aquaculture the farming of fish, shellfish, and other aquatic animals and plants in a controlled environment-is expanding rapidly abroad, with more modest growth in the United States. In the United States, important species cultured include catfish, salmon, shellfish, and trout. The 111th Congress has enacted P.L. 111-5, including language (1) providing as much as $50 million in total assistance to aquaculture producers for losses associated with high feed input costs during the 2008 calendar year and (2) including National Fish Hatcheries as eligible for $165 million in resource management funding as well as $115 million in construction funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Marine mammals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With few exceptions, the MMPA prohibits harm or harassment ("take") of marine mammals, unless restrictive permits are obtained. It also addresses specific situations of concern, such as dolphin mortality, primarily associated with the eastern tropical Pacific tuna fishery. The 111th Congress may consider bills to reauthorize and amend the MMPA as well as measures to address specific marine mammal habitat and management concerns, such as how to deal with the effects of increasing noise in the ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on Lower Colorado Multi-Species Conservation Program of 2005 to balance the use of the Colorado River water resources with the conservation of native species and their habitats. Topics include maintaining water and power supplies for farmers, tribes, and industries; enactment of program under Endangered Species Act; and creating habitat for listed species.

The article informs on Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program of 1997 established for providing water deliveries and conserve species at Glen Canyon Dam.

The article informs on San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program of 1992 established protecting the genetic integrity and population of listed species, conserve and restoring habitat, and monitoring species on the San Juan River.

The article offers information on Upper Colorado Endangered Fish Recovery Program of 1988 established for assisting in the recovery of four species of endangered fish, providing adequate instream flows for fish and their habitat, and restoring habitat in the Upper Colorado River Basin.

The article informs on the enactment of Endangered Species Act of 1973 under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for protecting and restoring fish species on the Colorado River.

The article discusses the conservation of the redspotted sunfish in Illinois. Limited distribution and low abundance are some of the reasons the redspotted sunfish was put in endangered category under the Endangered Species Act in 2009. A 2005 initiative by the Illinois Department of Natural Resoruces (IDNR) was made to take action on the issue. Surveying of the fish' status, examination of general diversity structure, and species network establishment are the three main phases of conservation.

The authorization of appropriations for the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act expired at the end of FY1999, although the ActUs requirements continue in force. At issue for the 107 th Congress are the terms and conditions of any provisions designed to reauthorize and amend the Act to address the concerns of various interest groups. CRS queried numerous interest groups to identify issues likely to arise in reauthorization debate. This document outlines a number of potential issues, including: individual quota management programs; regional council decisions; bycatch; marine protected areas; essential fish habitat; fishery management data collection; the definition of fishing community; the fishery management plan review process; highly migratory species; fees; and ecosystem health and long-term resource productivity. This report will be updated periodically as the reauthorization debate progresses to include and discuss legislative proposals and additional issues that arise. Information on legislation related to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act in the 106 th Congress can be found in CRS Report IB10010, Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Legislation in the 106 th Congress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents recommendations from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) on conserving U.S. salmon. As the result of habitat destruction, salmon and steelhead stocks in the Pacific Northwest are unhealthy, and several are listed as endangered. The federation suggests the removal of die four federal dams on the Lower Snake River to improve river and migration conditions for Snake River salmon. It also recommends to improve the management of the federal dams on the Columbia River to reduce the harm they cause migrating salmons and steelhead.

Historically, coastal states managed marine sport and commercial fisheries in nearshore waters, where most marine seafood was caught. However, as fishing techniques improved and offshore resources were discovered, more fishers ventured farther offshore. The role of the federal government in marine fisheries began to grow as foreign nations increased fishery catches off U.S. coasts in the 1950s. Enactment of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MFCMA) in 1976 extended federal fishery jurisdiction to 200 miles offshore and established the current federal fishery management regime. Today, individual states manage marine fisheries in inshore and coastal waters with interstate coordination accomplished through three regional (Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific) marine fishery commissions, created through interstate compacts approved by Congress. Beyond state jurisdiction (generally 3 miles) out to 200 miles, the federal government manages fish and shellfish resources for which management plans have been developed under the MFCMA. Under provisions of the MFCMA, eight Regional Fishery Management Councils were established for the New England, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific, Western Pacific, and North Pacific regions. The eight Councils prepare fishery management plans (FMPs) for fisheries requiring active federal management. The MFCMA was most recently reauthorized and extensively amended in 1990 (P.L. 101-627); the current authorization for appropriations expired at the end of FY1993. The issue for the 104th Congress was whether, and if so, under what conditions, to continue the existing regime for fishery conservation and management in offshore federal waters. Congress reviewed the direction and criteria provided by the MFCMA for allocating seafood catch among domestic interests in an era of mounting demands for these resources. Two primary reauthorization and amendment bills were introduced -- H.R. 39 and S. 39. S. 39 was passed by both the Senate and House in the last days of the 104th Congress, and was signed by President Clinton as P.L. 104-297 on Oct. 11, 1996. Both House and Senate bills focused on the major challenges facing marine fishery managers, which can be roughly grouped into four areas -- habitat degradation, overfishing, bycatch (discards and other waste), and funding. Provisions on individual transferable quotas (ITQs) are also controversial. (See CRS Report 95-849 for background.) Major issues addressed during reauthorization included: 1) how to better conserve fish stocks and restore overfished populations, 2) how to assure that membership on regional councils is fair and balanced, 3) whether to specify in more detail the approaches that should be taken to address overcapitalization through access limitation, 4) whether to remove the restriction on fee collection to permit user fees and other charges that could be directed to fund conservation and management activities, 5) whether to provide for more emphasis on social benefits that might better preserve traditional small fishers; and 6) how to strengthen provisions for habitat restoration and protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Declining fish populations threaten an important food source. Natural catastrophes, pollution, habitat destruction, and overfishing contribute to the depletion of fish stocks. Overexploitation of fishery resources often occurs when management allows expanding and increasingly efficient fishing fleets to continue harvesting dwindling supplies. International law acknowledges the right of states to exploit fishery resources in international waters. However, the 1958 Geneva Convention on the High Seas requires that such practices be conducted in consideration of other states' interests, including a basic obligation to cooperate in the conservation and management of living marine resources. However, the absence of formal regulations for fishing in international waters has encouraged states to exploit living marine resources without considering the sustainability of their catch quotas. Cooperative efforts to conserve fishery resources often were circumvented or not enforced. As fish stocks have diminished, the international community has recognized that several issues needed to be addressed. These included the practice of reflagging fishing vessels and the management of straddling and highly migratory fish stocks. The Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas promotes sustainable international fisheries by addressing fishing vessel reflagging. The accountability principles outlined in this Reflagging Agreement are the cornerstones of a further Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. This second Agreement creates a framework within which regional arrangements are to be developed to cope with conservation and management concerns, relying on international technological and scientific cooperation. A non-binding Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, developed by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), represents the culmination of these efforts. All of these recently negotiated agreements extend provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to promote better international fishery conservation and management. Through these agreements, the United States has an opportunity to ratify and implement several less-controversial provisions of UNCLOS. The United States has already implemented the Reflagging Agreement through Title I of P.L. 104-43. The Agreement Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks was signed by the United States on December 4, 1995, and will soon be transmitted to the Senate for advice and consent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]