Investing in cleaner fishing gear and healthy seafloor habitats

(a) Reauthorization of the NOAA national marine fisheries service bycatch reduction engineering program Section 316 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1865) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d), as subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e), respectively; (2) by inserting before subsection (b), as so redesignated, the following: (a) Purpose The purpose of the bycatch reduction program established under subsection (b) is to develop technological devices and other conservation engineering changes to improve fishing practices and minimize bycatch, seabird interactions, bycatch mortality, unobserved fishing mortality, and post-release mortality in Federally managed fisheries.; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.. (b) Bycatch mitigation and habitat protection assistance fund Title III of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1851 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 322. Bycatch mitigation and habitat protection assistance fund (a) In general There is established in the general fund of the Treasury of the United States an account to be known as the Bycatch Mitigation and Habitat Protection Assistance Fund, which shall— (1) be administered by the Foundation; and (2) consist of donations of amounts accepted pursuant to subsection (c). (b) Use The Foundation shall use the amounts in the Fund to reduce or mitigate bycatch, and reduce marine benthic habitat contact from mobile or fixed fishing gear, including by providing financial assistance to fishing industry organizations, associations, fishermen and owners and operators of commercial fishing vessels to purchase or modify fishing gear, equipment, and technology, including innovative technology, prototypes, instruments, or sensors. (c) Donations The Foundation may solicit and accept donations of amounts for deposit into the Fund. (d) Consultation In administering the Fund, the Foundation shall consult with the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, each Council, and each of the regional offices and science centers of the National Marine Fisheries Service to ensure that, to the maximum extent practicable, amounts in the Fund are used in an efficient and cost-effective manner. (e) Report Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this section, and biennially thereafter, the Foundation shall publish and post online in a manner available to the public information regarding the use of the Fund during— (1) with respect to the first publication of information, the preceding 3 years; and (2) with respect to each subsequent publication of information, the preceding 2 years. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Foundation The term Foundation means the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. (2) Fund The term Fund means the Bycatch Mitigation and Habitat Protection Assistance Fund established under subsection (a)..