Rep. Calvert Reintroduces the FISH ACT

Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-41) reintroduced the Federally Integrated Species Health (FISH) Act, H.R. 872, to consolidate the management and regulation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), with respect to anadromous species, within the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Reps. Jim Costa (CA-21), Mike Simpson (ID-2), Tom McClintock (CA-5), Michelle Steel (CA-45), Jay Obernolte (CA-23), and Darrell Issa (CA-48) are original cosponsors of the bill. Currently, ESA authority is split between FWS and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) which can lead to contradictory federal water management decisions.

“The FISH Act will increase the effectiveness of our federal water systems by having a single federal agency manage all species,” said Rep. Calvert. “It’s simply common sense to consolidate management over our endangered species and rivers. The FISH Act will provide the government and stakeholders a more uniform approach to managing threatened and endangered species.”

The ESA is currently administered by FWS and the Commerce Department’s NMFS. The FWS has primary responsibility for terrestrial and freshwater organisms, while the responsibilities of NMFS are mainly marine wildlife such as whales and anadromous fish, such as salmon.  The Federally Integrated Species Health Act would transfer the NMFS’ ESA responsibilities for management of anadromous and catadromous species to the FWS.

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