Congress·In Committee·H.R. 6939

Congress targets salmon bycatch in Alaska with new NOAA research, electronic monitoring, and gear help

Bycatch Reduction and Research Act of 2026

3 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

Congress would direct NOAA to restart and expand a task force to guide research on salmon bycatch and ocean habitat impacts in Alaska waters.
NOAA would fund and run more salmon tracking and faster genetic testing so managers can identify where accidentally caught salmon are coming from during the season.
NOAA would study how trawl gear affects the seafloor and how ecosystem changes (like heatwaves, acidification, and disease) affect fish important for jobs, food, and subsistence.
The bill pushes faster, easier-to-use electronic monitoring and reporting on fishing boats, plus clearer online info about observer coverage rules.
It would support testing new gear (including a new flume tank facility) and create a donation-funded program to help fishermen buy or modify gear to reduce bycatch and seafloor contact.

EnvironmentAgricultureTechnologyArtificial Intelligence

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Mixed Impacts(3)

Small Business Owner

Neutral

Gig Worker

Neutral

Farmer Rancher

Neutral

Positive Impacts(2)

Tribal Member

Helps

Child Tax Credit

Helps

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Jan 6, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Jan 6, 2026

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

After the bill becomes law

NOAA reconstitutes the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force as the Bycatch Reduction and Research Task Force and adds 2 academic experts.

More formal oversight and priority-setting for research that can lead to new fishing rules, avoidance areas, or gear changes aimed at cutting salmon bycatch.

Within the first year after enactment

NOAA starts salmon tagging partnerships and launches the competitive genetic sampling grant program.

More at-sea and shoreside sampling could lead to faster identification of salmon stocks caught by accident, helping managers and fleets avoid sensitive runs during a season.

After enactment as projects are set up

NOAA begins ecosystem studies on trawl gear contact with the seafloor and major ecosystem changes (heatwaves, harmful blooms, sea ice changes, etc.).

Creates the evidence base for future changes to where and when trawling happens, and what gear is allowed, to protect habitat and key species.

After enactment

NOAA creates a clearer timeline/process to review and approve permits for new gear trials and electronic monitoring pilot projects.

Could reduce waiting time and paperwork for fishermen trying new bycatch-reducing gear or camera-based monitoring, as long as conservation goals are still met.

Soon after enactment

NOAA regional offices publish up-to-date observer coverage category requirements online in plain language.

Fishermen and communities can more easily see what monitoring is required in each federal fishery and how bycatch rules connect to observer coverage.

No later than 3 years after enactment

NOAA publishes the required research reports (salmon life history, ecosystem analyses, and integrating observer + electronic monitoring data) by the 3-year deadline.

These reports can drive future management decisions—like new avoidance areas, gear requirements, or monitoring approaches that affect fishing seasons and incomes.

No later than 3 years after the fund is created (if donations are received and grants are made)

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation posts the first public report on how the donation-based assistance fund was used.

Shows who received help to buy or modify gear and whether the fund is big enough to matter for real-world bycatch reduction.