Fisheries Data Modernization and Accuracy Act of 2025
H.R. 5699, titled the Fisheries Data Modernization and Accuracy Act of 2025, would require major reforms to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP), which gathers data on recreational fishing activity used in federal stock assessments and management. The bill would create new independent safeguards and structures (notably a standing committee within the National Academies) to review and guide MRIP, push for reductions in data error (PSE) for seasonal fisheries, and authorize states to develop their own recreational catch-and-effort data programs with standards and a federal grant program. It also expands stock assessment planning, requires fishery-independent surveys by independent entities, and strengthens transparency around scientific advice and public access to council meetings and records. The overall aim is to improve data accuracy, reduce uncertainty in management decisions, and broaden state and independent input into fishery science. In practical terms, the bill would shift more data, decision-making processes, and funding toward state programs and independent scientific inputs, while increasing federal oversight and public transparency. It contemplates using state-collected data in federal management (with appropriate calibration) and allows alternative data collection methods if MRIP improvements prove impracticable for certain seasonal or pulse-species fisheries. It also embedded longer-term planning for stock assessments and expanded involvement of independent scientists to estimate stock abundance.
Key Points
- 1Independent scientific oversight and reform of MRIP
- 2- Establishes a standing committee within the National Academies to advise on recreational fisheries data collection and management, operating independently of the Administrator.
- 3- Requires consultation with the committee when MRIP data for seasonal fisheries have high PSE (percent standard error) and directs reporting of options and rationale within defined timelines.
- 4- Allows alternative data collection methods if MRIP cannot reliably achieve a 30% PSE target, with peer review and validation before use in management.
- 5State recreational data programs and grant support
- 6- Allows states to run their own recreational catch-and-effort data programs, with universal standards to ensure comparability regionally and to support federal decision-making.
- 7- Requires state programs to report data to the NMFS and to ensure burden on anglers is not excessive.
- 8- Establishes a grant program to help states develop or improve programs, with funding priorities aimed at reducing data uncertainty, improving timeliness, and increasing accuracy.
- 9Use and calibration of state data in federal management
- 10- State-collected data can be used in federal stock assessments and regulatory actions.
- 11- If a state program’s data replaces MRIP data, the NMFS must use the state data in place of MRIP data; MRIP data may be calibrated to state data, but state data cannot be calibrated to MRIP data.
- 12- Funding for MRIP in a state is maintained as states receive grants and then continue to use state programs.
- 13Stock assessments and science modernization (Section 5)
- 14- Adds a formal Stock Assessment Plan requiring regular updates for priority stocks, with timelines (updates every 5 years for existing stocks; initial assessments within 3 years for new stocks, subject to appropriations).
- 15- Seeks data and analysis that could reduce uncertainty, including potential contributions from fishermen, fishing communities, universities, and research institutions, where appropriate.
- 16- Provides a possible waiver where a stock assessment is deemed unnecessary, with Federal register justification.
- 17Fishery-independent surveys by independent entities
- 18- Creates a program to contract with independent entities to conduct fishery-independent surveys to estimate absolute stock abundance for stocks on the Fish Stock Sustainability Index.
- 19- Requires peer review and allows data to inform management decisions if validated.
- 20Transparency, public process, and data accessibility
- 21- Mandates transparent, public-facing scientific advice from scientific and statistical committees.
- 22- Requires Council meetings (and non-closed sessions) to be webcast or publicly recorded, with transcripts or searchable archives available.
- 23Reporting and appropriations
- 24- Requires a National Academies report within one year on how reported studies should inform NMFS’ management decisions and how section 6 data should be incorporated.
- 25- Authorizes $15 million annually (2026–2031) to carry out the new recreational data and science provisions.