Skip to content
PoliticalRepoPoliticalRepo

United States · Bill · S

S. 273 (117th)

Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

8 February 2021

Last action

17 September 2021 · Floor

Status

Held at the desk.

Sponsors

Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA], Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

6 December 2025

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act This bill addresses certain driftnet fishing. Driftnet fishing is a method of fishing in which a gillnet composed of a panel or panels of webbing, or a series of such gillnets, is placed in the water and allowed to drift with the currents and winds for the purpose of entangling fish in the webbing. Currently, the use of large-scale drift gillnets with a total length of 2.5 kilometers or more is prohibited in the United States. The bill expands the definition of large-scale driftnet fishing to prohibit the use of gillnets with a mesh size of 14 inches or greater. This expanded prohibition does not apply within the U.S. exclusive economic zone for five years. The Department of Commerce must conduct a transition program to facilitate the phase out of large-scale driftnet fishing and to promote the adoption of alternative fishing practices that minimize the incidental catch of living marine resources. Commerce must award grants to program participants. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council may recommend and Commerce may approve regulations that require charter operators to pay fees on vessels that harvest Pacific halibut in specific International Pacific Halibut Commission regulatory areas.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 8 February 2021

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S574-575)

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 8 February 2021

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 14 September 2021

    Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6480-6481)

    Source: Floor

  4. 14 September 2021

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.(text: CR S6481)

    Source: Floor

  5. 14 September 2021

    Discharge

    Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Discharge

  6. 14 September 2021

    Committee

    Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Committee

  7. 15 September 2021

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  8. 17 September 2021

    Floor

    Held at the desk.

    Source: Floor

  9. 17 September 2021

    Floor

    Received in the House.

    Source: Floor

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

6 official files

Engrossed in Senate (text)

View fileDownload file

This file cannot be previewed here. Use View or Download.

Leesvertaling

Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Engrossed in Senate (text)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 14 September 2021

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

  • Engrossed in Senate (PDF)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 14 September 2021

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Passed Senate

    summary · EN · 14 September 2021

    Open at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Introduced in Senate (text)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 8 February 2021

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Introduced in Senate (PDF)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 8 February 2021

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 8 February 2021

    Open at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

Sponsors

Related records

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.