With the FISHES Act now officially law, the landmark policy promises to cut through catastrophic delays in disaster relief that have long left fishing communities twisting in the wind. Led by Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), the bipartisan bill will speed up federal agency responses to natural and economic disasters at fisheries, providing much-needed recovery funds to families and businesses. 

The newly-minted Act will enforce stricter timelines for federal agencies to process disaster declarations and distribute funds. In the past, the process often dragged on for years, preventing fishing communities from recovering. By shortening agency deadlines, the FISHES Act intends to make sure that relief reaches impacted communities faster. 

A long-awaited boost for fishing families

NAMA supports this victory, and we believe this common-sense bill will expedite federal relief for fisheries disasters, a process that has been so delayed and bureaucratic that, more often than not, it has been useless for the fishing communities suffering most.

James Mitchell, NAMA’s Legislative Director, explains that timely relief can make all the difference. “Disasters are becoming more frequent, and the FISHES Act is a much-needed boost for our family fishermen, who struggle to recover from the shocks these disasters bring,” he said. “We applaud the congressional members for prioritizing the livelihoods of our fishing communities and look forward to working toward making our coastal communities stronger so they can weather future storms.”

“During a time of natural disaster, time can often be the difference between life and death,” said Bruce Westerman (R-AR), the chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources. “For our nation’s fisheries, delays in disaster requests can cause catastrophic destruction to these vital resources and coastal communities.

Rep. Byron Donalds, who sponsored the House version of the bill, called attention to the urgent need for change. “Waterways are the lifeblood of our economy and our community,” Rep. Byron Donalds’ office said in a recent press release. “It has always been my commitment to advocate for the vitality of water — which ultimately benefits countless families, businesses, and the overall development of the Sunshine State.”

Congresswoman Auma Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-AS), from American Samoa, cosponsored the House version of the bill. “We live in harmony with a beautiful ocean, but it is capable of sudden, powerful disasters, which we have experienced,” her office said in a press release. “Our bipartisan FISHES Act supports and instructs NOAA in providing strong and rapid response after emergencies to restore fisheries, and direct resources where most needed in those cases.”

Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), the bill’s lead sponsor on the Senate side, asserted how the Act can be a reliable safety net. “Floridians know better than anyone that when disaster strikes, families and small businesses can’t be left wondering whether the federal government is going to show up,” his office wrote in a recent press release. “The FISHES Act ensures our fishing industry in Florida and across the country has a reliable partner in Washington.”

Alaskan senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) also led the way on the Senate side, advocating for their communities at home. “We need to get money, federal money, when there’s a fisheries disaster to communities when they need it,” Senator Sullivan said in May to Gray DC News. “Not, you know, seven years later.”

“Alaska’s fisheries have faced challenges at every turn in recent years – and we will likely see more in the future,” Senator Murkowski said in a press release when the Senate bill was introduced. “From the Yukon River to Prince William Sound to the Bering Sea, nearly every fishery has relied on disaster relief funding to help them through these difficult times. Unfortunately, these fishermen often wait years to see that relief. This common-sense approach applies time limits on agency review so that Alaskans get the help they need, when they need it.”

Applauding the fix, advocating for the cure

The FISHES Act is undeniably a victory for disaster relief, yet it also points to the need for more proactive fisheries policies.

NAMA aims for policies that address root causes, such as ecological, socioeconomic, and systemic issues that drive so many fisheries disasters. These are the kinds of policies that build real resilience from the ground (or water) up. One example is reform to the disastrous catch shares fisheries management system, which has for years exploited America’s fishing communities, essentially revoking their right to fish. Through our growing Catch Share Reform Coalition, we’re pushing for meaningful policy changes. 

Another example of forward-thinking policymaking is the Domestic Seafood Policy Act (DSPA), a bill designed to fund seafood infrastructure projects for under-resourced fishing and mariculture communities. DSPA addresses some of the challenges that these communities face as a result of our consolidated seafood system. The bill would also invest in seafood worker training programs to attract and prepare the next generation, revitalizing a shrinking industry.

Speedy relief is absolutely vital and we owe it to every affected fishing family. Yet, it’s just as important to make sure these coastal communities can survive – or, better yet, thrive – within our nation’s current seafood policy climate. 

A real tag-team team effort

This win for fisheries wouldn’t have been possible without a broad coalition of lawmakers and advocacy groups. In addition to NAMA, more than 100 groups supported the bill, including the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association, New England Young Fishermen’s Alliance, Florida Commercial Watermen’s Conservation, Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association, Louisiana Shrimp Association, and the Southeastern Fisheries Association.

On the Hill, 48 lawmakers in the House and 4 lawmakers in the Senate helped push the bill across the finish line. Their collective work confirms how bipartisan collaboration can lead to tangible wins for fishing families. 

Casting a line toward the future

The FISHES Act marks a solid step in getting fishing communities the relief they deserve, but it’s just a beginning. As climate-related disasters grow more severe, the need for proactive, system-wide solutions and resilience-building approaches will only become more glaring.

For now, we celebrate this win, but we’ll keep pushing for a future where fishing communities aren’t just recovering from disasters — they’re thriving in the face of them!

Bill Supporters:

48 Bipartisan House Cosponsors:

Representatives Mary Peltola (D-AK), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Troy Carter (D-LA), Troy Nehls (R-TX), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), James Moylan (R-GU), Stacey Plaskett (D-VI), John Rutherford (R-FL), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Auma Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-AS), Brian Mast (R-FL), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Glenn Grothmann (R-WI), Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY), Nick LaLota (R-NY), Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR), Randy Weber (R-TX), Nancy Mace (R-SC), Don Davis (D-NC), Russell Fry (R-SC), Jerry Carl (R-AL), Michael Waltz (R-FL), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Greg Steube (R-FL), Josh Harder (D-CA), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ), Jim Costa (D-CA), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Dean Phillips (D-MN), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Bill Posey (R-FL), Lois Frankel (D-FL), David Rouzer (R-NC), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), and Timothy Kennedy (D-NY) 

4 Senate Supporters:

Senate-lead Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL); Senators Lisa Murkowski (R- AK), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK)