Northeast Fisheries Heritage Protection Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 674

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Energy

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-01-23: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Last Updated

2025-03-04T20:34:44Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The legislation aims to permanently protect Lobster Management Area 1 (LMA1) in the Gulf of Maine from commercial offshore wind energy development, prioritizing the preservation of the New England fishing industry's historical, cultural, and economic role. It seeks to prevent conflicts between renewable energy projects and vital fishing grounds while mandating a study on environmental reviews for such projects.

Key Provisions

• Findings Section: Outlines the historical significance of New England's fishing industry (over 400 years), its economic value (e.g., $1.35 billion in 2023 landings), the importance of the U.S. lobster fishery (primarily in Maine and Massachusetts), and LMA1 as a productive area for species like lobster, tuna, and scallops. It references prior administrative actions, including a 2024 exclusion of LMA1 from wind energy areas and a Trump-era executive order withdrawing areas for wind leasing to protect marine life and fisheries.
• Prohibition on Development: Bans the issuance of any leases, licenses, permits, or authorizations for commercial offshore wind energy in LMA1, overriding relevant provisions of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), which governs federal offshore resource management.
• Environmental Review Study: Requires the Comptroller General (an independent auditor for Congress) to conduct a study within 120 days of enactment, evaluating the adequacy of environmental review processes by agencies like the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). The study must assess impacts on marine life (e.g., whales, fish, plankton), fishing industries, air quality, cultural resources, and fisheries-dependent communities, as well as how agencies select stakeholders and provide comment periods.
• Definition: Defines LMA1 as the "EEZ Nearshore Management Area 1" under federal regulations (EEZ refers to the Exclusive Economic Zone, U.S. waters extending 200 nautical miles from shore).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces a specific, permanent ban on commercial offshore wind activities in LMA1, which supersedes section 8 of the OCSLA (43 U.S.C. 1337). This act previously allowed for leasing outer continental shelf areas for energy development, including renewables, without such targeted exclusions for fisheries protection.
• Mandates a new, congressionally directed study on environmental reviews, which could lead to future reforms in how federal agencies like BOEM and NMFS evaluate offshore wind projects, potentially strengthening fisheries considerations in permitting processes.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: BOEM and NMFS may face restricted leasing options in the Gulf of Maine, requiring adjustments to wind energy planning. The mandated study could increase scrutiny and workload for these agencies, possibly influencing national renewable energy goals under laws like the Inflation Reduction Act.
• On Citizens: Protects jobs and communities reliant on fishing (e.g., thousands of fishermen and shoreside businesses in New England), preserving access to productive waters for commercial and recreational fishing. However, it may slow offshore wind expansion, potentially affecting regional efforts to reduce carbon emissions and create clean energy jobs.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could influence U.S. commitments to global renewable energy targets (e.g., under the Paris Agreement) by limiting development in a key Atlantic area, possibly drawing attention from international partners in wind energy.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Fishing Industry and Communities: Commercial and recreational fishermen, lobster harvesters (especially in Maine and Massachusetts), processors, markets, and tourism-dependent coastal towns, who benefit from protected fishing grounds.
• Renewable Energy Developers: Offshore wind companies, which face a ban on operations in LMA1, potentially delaying projects and investments in the Gulf of Maine.
• Environmental and Tribal Groups: Marine conservationists, wildlife advocates (e.g., for whales and fish habitats), and Tribal communities with cultural ties to the area, who may gain from the study on impacts to resources.
• Federal Agencies: BOEM (manages offshore energy leasing), NMFS (oversees fisheries and marine life), and the Comptroller General (conducts the required study).

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The prohibition directly limits executive branch authority under OCSLA, asserting congressional override for fisheries protection, which could set a precedent for balancing renewable energy with traditional resource use. The study enhances transparency in environmental impact assessments under laws like the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), potentially leading to litigation if reviews are deemed insufficient.
• Constitutional: Reinforces Congress's plenary power over federal lands and waters (including the outer continental shelf) under the Property Clause of the Constitution, while respecting state interests in fisheries management.
• Political: Highlights tensions between renewable energy advancement (a bipartisan priority for climate goals) and regional economic protection for fisheries, with references to actions by both Biden and Trump administrations underscoring partisan divides. It may influence future energy policy debates, favoring localized protections over national green energy expansion.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]

Recent Actions

• 2025-01-23: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
• 2025-01-23: Introduced in House
• 2025-01-23: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Northeast Fisheries Heritage Protection Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-23 — PDF (5 pages)