The U.S. Department of Commerce, under President Joe Biden’s administration, in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has announced an additional USD 20 million (EUR 18.9 million) in funding to address the impact of climate change on fisheries management. This funding, allocated through the Inflation Reduction Act, aims to support regional fishery management councils in their efforts to enhance climate resilience and responsiveness.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo emphasized the critical role of regional fishery management councils in developing conservation measures for the nation’s marine fisheries. The Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act is a key component of the broader economic strategy, known as Bidenomics.
The funding will be divided into two portions, with USD 3 million (EUR 2.8 million) distributed among the eight regional fishery management councils. The remaining USD 17 million (EUR 16 million) will be awarded to councils based on their identification of priority projects aligned with two key goals.
The first goal focuses on developing fishery management measures to enhance climate resilience and address climate impacts. The second goal involves determining effective implementation strategies for these measures, particularly in ways that benefit underserved communities.
Climate change has already prompted adjustments in fishery management strategies. For instance, the New England Fishery Management Council had to adapt its cod and haddock management approaches due to climate-induced changes in stock behaviour. The funding initiative reflects a broader recognition of the challenges posed by climate change on U.S. fisheries, with previous instances such as the closure of the Atlantic cod fishery in Maine in 2017.
Fishery management councils across the U.S. are increasingly grappling with the shifting dynamics of fish stocks resulting from climate change. The funding initiative aligns with efforts to use the best available science to develop and implement fisheries management strategies, with a focus on adapting to changing ocean conditions and mitigating social and economic impacts on fishing-dependent communities.
