H.R. 4800

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to make certain freshwater fisheries eligible for fishery resource disaster relief.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · July 29, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Higgins of Louisiana · Committee: Committee on Natural Resources

Table of contents

• H.R. 4800
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Certain freshwater fisheries eligible for fishery resource disaster relief

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Fisheries Modernization Act of 2025.

SEC. 2. Certain freshwater fisheries eligible for fishery resource disaster relief

• (a) In general
  • Section 312(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act () is amended— 16 U.S.C. 1861a(a)
    • in paragraph (1)—
      • in subparagraph (A), by inserting after ;
      • by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (G) as subparagraphs (F) through (H), respectively; and
        • (E) Infrastructure-related cause
          • The term infrastructure-related cause means an event—
            • (i) caused by the operation or failure of Federal or State infrastructure, including—
            • flood control systems;
            • spillways;
            • levees; and
            • diversions; and
            • (ii) that results in measurable disruption to commercial or subsistence fishery activity, aquatic habitat, or water quality.
      • by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
    • in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting after ;
    • in paragraph (3)(B)(v)—
      • in subclause (III), by striking and at the end;
      • in subclause (IV), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and
        • with respect to the red swamp crawfish (Procambarus clarkii) and white river crawfish (Procambarus zonangulus) fisheries, information related to hydrological conditions, water quality degradation, extreme flooding or drought, or other environmental disruptions that directly impact viability.
      • by adding at the end the following:
    • in paragraph (5)—
      • in subparagraph (A)—
        • (i) by redesignating clauses (iii) and (iv) as clauses (iv) and (v), respectively;
        • (ii) by inserting after clause (ii) the following:
          • (iii) an infrastructure-related cause;
        • (iii) in clause (iv), as so redesignated, by striking a combination of a natural cause and an anthropogenic causeand inserting any combination of clauses (i) through (iii); and
      • in subparagraph (D), by striking and safety,and inserting and safety, and including a disaster affecting the red swamp crawfish (Procambarus clarkii) and white river crawfish (Procambarus zonangulus) fisheries,.
• (b) Rule of construction
  • Nothing in this section may be construed to limit, reduce, or otherwise affect the eligibility of any marine or anadromous fishery for fishery resource disaster assistance under section 312 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (). 16 U.S.C. 1861a