Once again, the U.S. House of Representatives lawmakers have introduced legislation to reauthorize and update the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA).

The MSA was last revised in 2006, and being the primary legislation governing U.S. fisheries, it is critical to ensure that federal law reflects today’s fisheries challenges across the country.

Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA), James Moylan (R-Guam), and Ed Case (D-HI) reintroduced the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act. The bill will implement the necessary changes to the MSA. To include as many viewpoints as possible, Huffman and Case held eight listening sessions across seven management regions during their fisheries listening tour. They heard from 80 different experts and stakeholders, in addition to public comments from dozens of individuals.

Similar efforts have been made in 2022 and 2020 to reauthorize the MSA, but they fell short.

“The Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act makes significant advancements to our U.S. fisheries management system and will contribute to the economic betterment, cultural enrichment, and health benefit of people and communities nationwide. This bipartisan bill will improve catch data and stock assessments, which are the bedrock of our successful science-based fisheries management, while also giving working waterfronts and fishing communities the infrastructure improvements and funding support they need to meet the challenges of the future,” stated Robert C. Vandermark, executive director of the Maine Fish Conservation Network. “The Marine Fish Conservation Network thanks Representatives Huffman, Moylan, and Case for their work to further the health and productivity of our oceans and fisheries that sustain our economy, nutritional wellbeing, and way of life.”

The bill includes key updates to better incorporate climate science, protect critical habitats, promote equitable access, and strengthen fisheries data collection and oversight. It also includes several bipartisan pieces of legislation and provisions that were part of previous MSA legislation.

The Marine Fish Conservation Network is a coalition of commercial and recreational fishing associations, regional and national conservation groups, aquaria, sustainable seafood suppliers, and marine science organizations committed to sustaining fish populations, healthy marine ecosystems, and robust fishing communities.

Read the full bill here.