FISH Act

HR 872, the FISH Act, transfers federal responsibility for managing anadromous fish (like salmon that spawn in fresh water and migrate to the ocean) and catadromous fish (like eels that spawn in the ocean and migrate to fresh water) from the Department of Commerce to the Department of the Interior. It amends the Endangered Species Act to update definitions and ensure all references to the managing agency now point to the Secretary of the Interior. The bill includes provisions to maintain continuity for existing permits, ongoing legal cases, and agency actions related to these fish species after the transfer. This change affects conservation programs, permits, and regulatory processes for these specific fish populations under federal law.