,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cjfc ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,august #b1 #bjac ,mr4 ,wittman introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,magnuson-,stevens ,fishery ,conservation and ,management ,act to require the ,secretary of ,commerce to develop a plan to conduct stock assessments for all stocks of fish for which a fishery management plan is in effect under that ,act1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,healthy ,fisheries through ,better ,science ,act4 #b4 ,definition of stock assessment ,section #c of the ,magnuson-,stevens ,fishery ,conservation and ,management ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ahjb7 is amended by redesignating the paragraphs after paragraph 7#db7 in order as paragraphs 7#dd7 through 7#eb71 and by inserting after paragraph 7#db7 the following3 7#dc7 ,the term stock assessment means an evaluation of the past1 present1 and future status of a stock of fish1 that includes-- 7,a7 a range of life history characteristics for such stock1 including-- 7i7 the geographical boundaries of such stock2 and 7ii7 information on age1 growth1 natural mortality1 sexual maturity and reproduction1 feeding habits1 and habitat preferences of such stock2 and 7,b7 fishing for the stock4 4 #c4 ,stock assessment plan 7a7 ,in general ,section #djd of the ,magnuson-,stevens ,fishery ,conservation and ,management ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ahhha;c7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7e7 ,stock assessment plan 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall develop and publish in the ,federal ,register1 on the same schedule as required for the strategic plan required under section #djd7;b7 of such ,act1 a plan to conduct stock assessments for all stocks of fish for which a fishery management plan is in effect under this ,act4 7#b7 ,contents ,the plan shall-- 7,a7 for each stock of fish for which a stock assessment has previously been conducted-- 7i7 establish a schedule for updating the stock assessment that is reasonable given the biology and characteristics of the stock2 and 7ii7 subject to the availability of appropriations1 require completion of a new stock assessment1 or an update of the most recent stock assessment-- 7,i7 every #e years2 or 7,,ii7 within such other time period specified and justified by the ,secretary in the plan2 7,b7 for each stock of fish for which a stock assessment has not previously been conducted-- 7i7 establish a schedule for conducting an initial stock assessment that is reasonable given the biology and characteristics of the stock2 and 7ii7 subject to the availability of appropriations1 require completion of the initial stock assessment within #c years after the plan is published in the ,federal ,register unless another time period is specified and justified by the ,secretary in the plan2 and 7,c7 identify data and analysis1 especially concerning recreational fishing1 that1 if available1 would reduce uncertainty in and improve the accuracy of future stock assessments1 including whether such data and analysis could be #aj provided by nongovernmental sources1 including fishermen1 fishing communities1 universities1 and research institutions4 7#c7 ,waiver of stock assessment requirement ,notwithstanding subparagraphs 7,a77ii7 and 7,b77ii71 a stock assessment is not required for a stock of fish in the plan if the ,secretary determines that such a stock assessment is not necessary and justifies such determination in the ,federal ,register notice required by this subsection4 4 7b7 ,deadline ,notwithstanding paragraph 7#a7 of section #djd7;e7 of such ,act1 as amended by this section1 the ,secretary of ,commerce shall issue the first stock assessment plan under such section by not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act4 #d4 ,improving science 7a7 ,incorporation of information from wide variety of sources ,section #b7;a77#h7 of the ,magnuson-,stevens ,fishery ,conservation and ,management ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ahja7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 ,fisheries management is most effective when it incorporates information provided by governmental and nongovernmental sources1 including ,state and ,federal agency staff1 fishermen1 fishing communities1 universities1 research institutions1 and other appropriate entities4 ,as appropriate1 such information should be considered the best scientific information available and form the basis of conservation and management measures as required by this ,act44 7b7 ,improving data collection and analysis 7#a7 ,in general ,section #djd of the ,magnuson-,stevens ,fishery ,conservation and ,management ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ahha;c71 as amended by this ,act1 is further amended by adding at the end the following3 7f7 ,improving data collection and analysis 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the science and statistical committee of the ,councils established under section #cjb7;g71 shall develop and publish in the ,federal ,register guidelines that will facilitate greater incorporation of data1 analysis1 and stock assessments from nongovernmental sources1 including fishermen1 fishing communities1 universities1 and research institutions1 into fisheries management decisions4 7#b7 ,content ,the guidelines shall-- 7,a7 identify types of data and analysis1 especially concerning recreational fishing1 that can be reliably used as the best scientific information available for purposes of this ,act and the basis for establishing conservation and management measures as required by section #cjc7;a77#a71 including setting standards for the collection and use of such data and analysis in stock assessments and for other purposes2 7,b7 provide specific guidance for collecting data and performing analyses identified as necessary to reduce the uncertainty referred to in section #djd7;e77#b77;,c72 and 7,c7 establish a registry of persons providing such information4 7#c7 ,acceptance and use of data and analyses ,the ,secretary and ,regional ,fishery ,management ,councils shall-- 7,a7 use all data and analyses that meet the guidelines published under paragraph 7#a7 as the best scientific information available for purposes of this ,act in fisheries management decisions1 unless otherwise determined by the science and statistical committee of the ,councils established pursuant to section #cjb7;g7 of the ,act2 7,b7 explain in the ,federal ,register notice announcing the fishery management decision how such data and analyses have been used to establish conservation and management measures2 and 7,c7 if any such data or analysis is not used1 provide in the ,federal ,register notice announcing the fishery management decision an explanation developed by such science and statistical committee of why such data or analysis was not used4 4 7b7 ,deadline ,the ,secretary of ,commerce shall develop and publish guidelines under the amendment made by subsection 7a7 by not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act4 #e4 ,cost reduction report ,within #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,commerce1 in consultation with the ,regional ,fishery ,management ,councils1 shall submit a report to ,congress that1 with respect to each fishery governed by a fishery management plan in effect under the ,magnuson-,stevens ,fishery ,conservation and ,management ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ahja et seq47-- 7#a7 identifies the goals of the applicable programs governing monitoring and enforcement of fishing that is subject to such plan2 7#b7 identifies methods to accomplish those goals1 including human observers1 electronic monitoring1 and vessel monitoring systems2 7#c7 certifies which such methods are most cost-effective for fishing that is subject to such plan2 and 7#d7 explains why such most-cost-effective methods are not required1 if applicable4 #f4 ,cost sharing ,section #cjd7;d7 of the ,magnuson-,stevens ,fishery ,conservation and ,management ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ahed7;d77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#c7 ,the ,secretary shall not collect any fee under this section or section #cac7;a7 before preparing an analysis that identifies the costs that will be recovered by the fee and the costs that will not be recovered by the fee4 ,such analysis shall be included in the applicable fisheries management plan4 4