Bill Summary
The Climate-Ready Fisheries Act of 2019 is a bill that aims to address the impacts of climate change on United States fisheries. It requires the Comptroller General of the United States to submit a report to Congress within a year of its enactment, which will examine the efforts of the Regional Fishery Management Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the National Marine Fisheries Service to prepare and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The bill recognizes that climate change is rapidly altering fish stocks and has already affected many commercially and recreationally targeted species. It also acknowledges the economic importance of fisheries and the need to ensure they are well prepared for changing ocean conditions. The report will examine current and previous efforts to adapt to climate change, any guidance provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service, and recommendations for addressing gaps in knowledge and funding. It will also provide recommendations for enhancing the capacity of the National Marine Fisheries Service to monitor and manage fisheries under changing conditions due to climate change.
Possible Impacts
1. The Climate-Ready Fisheries Act of 2019 could affect fishermen and fishing communities by requiring a report on the impacts of climate change on fishery management. This could lead to changes in regulations or management strategies that may impact the livelihoods of those who rely on fishing for income.
2. The legislation could also affect tribal communities that rely on subsistence fishing for food security and cultural practices. The report required by the Act may identify gaps in knowledge or funding that could hinder their ability to adapt to the impacts of climate change on fish stocks.
3. The recommendations for enhancing the capacity of the National Marine Fisheries Service to monitor and manage fisheries under changing conditions due to climate change could benefit the marine ecosystem as a whole, and ultimately impact the general public by ensuring the sustainability of fish populations for future generations.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4679 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 527
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4679
[Report No. 116-642]
To require the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to
Congress a report examining efforts by the Regional Fishery Management
Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the
National Marine Fisheries Service to prepare and adapt United States
fishery management for the impacts of climate change, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 15, 2019
Mr. Cunningham (for himself, Mr. Mast, Mr. Rooney of Florida, and Mr.
Huffman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
December 14, 2020
Additional sponsors: Mr. Gaetz, Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire, Mr.
Malinowski, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Mr. Case, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Ted Lieu of
California, Mr. Langevin, Mr. Kim, Mr. Cooper, Ms. Lofgren, Mr.
Keating, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms.
Brownley of California, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Ms. Mucarsel-Powell, Mr.
Aguilar, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Golden, Ms. Wild, Mr. Rutherford, and Mrs.
Napolitano
December 14, 2020
Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources; committed to the
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to
be printed
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to
Congress a report examining efforts by the Regional Fishery Management
Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the
National Marine Fisheries Service to prepare and adapt United States
fishery management for the impacts of climate change, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Climate-Ready Fisheries Act of
2019''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) According to the Fourth National Climate Assessment,
climate change, which results in ocean warming, acidification,
and oxygen loss, is rapidly altering the abundance,
productivity, and distribution of fish stocks.
(2) United States commercial and recreational fisheries
generate approximately $210 billion in sales impacts each year
and are a critical economic driver for thousands of coastal
communities.
(3) Changing water temperatures have already affected many
commercially and recreationally targeted fish stocks.
(4) Changing conditions and effects on fish stocks are
impacting subsistence fishing, which is critical to food
security and culture for Alaska Native and American Indian
tribes, and fishing communities throughout the Nation,
according to the Fourth National Climate Assessment.
(5) The impacts of climate change on fish are resulting in
a cascade of management and sustainability challenges, which
negatively affect marine ecosystems, fishermen, and fishing
communities.
(6) A better understanding of current efforts underway by
the Regional Fishery Management Councils, the Atlantic States
Marine Fisheries Commission, and the National Marine Fisheries
Service to address the impact of climate change on fishery
management is needed to ensure our fisheries and their marine
ecosystems are well prepared for changing ocean conditions.
SEC. 3. REPORT ON EFFORTS TO PREPARE AND ADAPT UNITED STATES FISHERY
MANAGEMENT FOR THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit
a report to Congress examining efforts by the Regional Fishery
Management Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission,
and the National Marine Fisheries Service to prepare and adapt to the
impacts of climate change.
(b) Contents of Study.--The report required under subsection (a)
shall include--
(1) an examination of current or previous efforts, and
whether those efforts have resulted in changes to management,
by the Regional Fishery Management Councils, the Atlantic
States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the National Marine
Fisheries Service to prepare and adapt Federal and jointly
managed fisheries for the impacts of climate change;
(2) an examination of any guidance issued to the Regional
Fishery Management Councils by the National Marine Fisheries
Service to prepare and adapt Federal fishery management for the
impacts of climate change and whether and how that guidance has
been utilized;
(3) identification of and recommendations for how best to
address the most significant economic, social, ecological, or
other knowledge gaps, as well as key funding gaps, that would
increase the ability of the Regional Fishery Management
Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, or
the National Marine Fisheries Service to prepare and adapt
fishery management for the impacts of climate change;
(4) recommendations for how the Regional Fishery Management
Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and
the National Marine Fisheries Service can better adapt fishery
management and prepare associated fishing industries and
dependent communities for the impacts of climate change; and
(5) recommendations for how to enhance the capacity of the
National Marine Fisheries Service to monitor climate-related
changes to fisheries and marine ecosystems, to understand the
mechanisms of change, to evaluate risks and priorities, to
provide forecasts and projections of future conditions, to
communicate scientific advice, and to better manage fisheries
under changing conditions due to climate change.
Union Calendar No. 527
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4679
[Report No. 116-642]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to
Congress a report examining efforts by the Regional Fishery Management
Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the
National Marine Fisheries Service to prepare and adapt United States
fishery management for the impacts of climate change, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
December 14, 2020
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union
and ordered to be printed