On March 6, the Federally Integrated Species Health Act (FISH Act) was introduced by Representative Ken Calvert (R-Riverside County) in the 119th Congress. This measure seeks to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 by transferring certain functions from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under the Department of Commerce to the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) under the Department of the Interior. Specifically, the bill would consolidate the management of anadromous and catadromous species under FWS, aiming to streamline federal oversight and create a more uniform approach to species protection. Currently, ESA authority is split between FWS and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) which can lead to contradictory federal water management decisions.
In April 2023, The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries held a legislative field hearing in Tulare, California, where water authorities and agricultural stakeholders voiced support for the bill. Proponents argued that consolidating species management under the Interior Department would reduce bureaucratic conflicts and improve operational flexibility for water projects. However, the Department of the Interior opposed the transfer, stating it was not seeking changes to its existing Endangered Species Act responsibilities. The bill did not advance beyond the hearing last Congress.
The FISH Act has been introduced in every congress since the 115th.
RCRC continues to support this measure. For additional information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate Staci Heaton.