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National Fisheries Mitigation
Coordination Act–H.R.
537
The Issue: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
is currently paying for efforts to mitigate the effects of water development
projects on native and non-native fish stocks created by agencies outside
of the Service, putting its own fisheries program at a disadvantage.
Agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation
and the Tennessee Valley Authority receive fish for their mitigation
projects from federal hatcheries funded by the Service. The Service
has not been receiving compensation in return for the costs of operating
these hatcheries.
ASA’s Goal: To ensure that the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service is reimbursed for supporting the mitigation efforts
of other agencies.
Legislation: Representative Nathan Deal (R-GA
10th) has introduced a bill (H.R.
537)
that directs agencies with fishery mitigation activities on mandated
federal water projects to reimburse the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
for the cost of operating the hatcheries used in mitigation.
ASA’s Position: ASA fully supports Representative
Deal’s legislation.
