Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives have proposed a 22 percent cut to the 2025 budget for NOAA Fisheries, reducing funding to USD 865 million, which is USD 248 million less than the 2024 allocation and USD 239 million less than requested for 2025. This legislation impacts every major part of NOAA Fisheries’ budget, including reductions in fisheries science and management, protected resources, enforcement, and habitat conservation.
Subcommittee Chairman Hal Rogers emphasized the need for fiscal responsibility. The proposed cuts could hinder conservation efforts initiated by the Biden administration, such as the Columbia River Basin hatcheries project. Although the House bill does not specifically address these hatcheries, it allocates USD 7 million for backlog management plans.
Despite the cuts, the committee mandates specific spending increases: USD 26 million for Fishery Information Networks and USD 16 million for incorporating climate considerations into fishery regulations. Additionally, NOAA Fisheries is encouraged to expand electronic monitoring and reporting, though no extra funds are provided for this purpose.