Bycatch Reduction and Research Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 6939 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6939 To address data and research gaps to improve marine environmental data collection, particularly in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska, prioritize technology that supports research, bycatch reduction, and marine benthic habitat in Alaska fisheries, advance and streamline electronic monitoring and electronic reporting in United States fisheries, and establish a fund to provide financial assistance for fishermen purchasing gear and technology aimed at reducing bycatch and marine benthic habitat contact from trawl fishing gear. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 6, 2026 Mr. Begich introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To address data and research gaps to improve marine environmental data collection, particularly in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska, prioritize technology that supports research, bycatch reduction, and marine benthic habitat in Alaska fisheries, advance and streamline electronic monitoring and electronic reporting in United States fisheries, and establish a fund to provide financial assistance for fishermen purchasing gear and technology aimed at reducing bycatch and marine benthic habitat contact from trawl fishing gear. 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 ``Bycatch Reduction and Research Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. RESEARCH. (a) Reconstitution of the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force.-- (1) In general.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (referred to in this Act as the ``Administrator'') shall rec