US HB5699

Requires NOAA to reform the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) to meet regional and state needs, and establishes a standing committee within the National Academies of Sciences to provide independent oversight of recreational fisheries data collection

Mandates consultation with the standing committee when percent standard error (PSE) for MRIP data exceeds 30% for seasonal fisheries, with options to reduce error or adjust management approaches including multi-year catch limits up to 3 years

Authorizes states to establish their own recreational fishing catch and effort data collection programs for federally managed species, with $15 million annually authorized for fiscal years 2026-2031 in grants to develop or improve these programs

Creates a program for NOAA to contract with independent entities (universities, National Academies) to conduct fishery-independent surveys estimating fish stock abundance, with results to be incorporated into management decisions after peer review

Amends the Magnuson-Stevens Act to require stock assessments every 5 years for priority fish stocks and increases transparency by mandating webcasts and recordings of Regional Fishery Management Council meetings be made publicly available online