To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to provide for the regulation of fishing in marine national monuments.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8904
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-03: Subcommittee Hearings Held
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-05T15:23:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation aims to limit how fishing activities are managed in marine national monuments by shifting regulatory authority away from presidential action and back to the existing fishery management framework.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 304 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act by adding a new subsection (j).
- Prohibits the use of presidential proclamations under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to ban or restrict fishing in marine national monuments, including those already established.
- Requires that fishing in these areas continue to be managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Prevents future or existing presidential proclamations from overriding or altering fishing rules in marine national monuments.
- Establishes that the Magnuson-Stevens Act remains the primary mechanism for regulating fishing, even within monument boundaries.
Potential Impacts
- Limits executive branch flexibility in using monument designations to control fishing.
- May affect how federal agencies coordinate between monument protections and fishery management.
- Could influence commercial and recreational fishing operations in designated marine areas.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Commercial and recreational fishing industries.
- Federal agencies responsible for fisheries and marine resource management.
- Communities and businesses dependent on fishing near marine national monuments.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Represents a congressional effort to restrict the scope of the Antiquities Act when applied to marine areas.
- Raises questions about the balance of authority between the legislative and executive branches in managing public lands and waters.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Del. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-03: Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 2026-05-29: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
- 2026-05-19: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2026-05-19: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-19: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to provide for the regulation of fishing in marine national monuments. — issued 2026-05-19 — PDF (2 pages)