US HB6939

Reconstitutes the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force as the "Bycatch Reduction and Research Task Force" with 2 additional academic experts in groundfish and invertebrate ecology, and requires public-private partnerships for salmon tagging research and a competitive grant program for genetic sampling to improve real-time stock identification.

Directs NOAA to conduct ecosystem research on trawl gear impacts to marine benthic habitats and review factors affecting wild marine species survivability, including harmful algal blooms, marine heatwaves, ocean acidification, and predator-prey interactions in Alaska waters.

Requires NOAA to build a flume tank through public-private partnership for testing bycatch reduction technology and fishing gear, and establishes a Flume Tank Assistance Fund to support prototype development and workforce training programs.

Streamlines electronic monitoring adoption by creating approval processes for exempted fishing permits, requiring stakeholder consultations every 3 years, and mandating online publication of observer coverage requirements for high-volume Federal fisheries.

Authorizes $4 million annually for fiscal years 2027-2031 for the Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program and establishes the Bycatch Mitigation and Habitat Protection Assistance Fund, administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, to provide financial assistance for fishermen purchasing gear to reduce bycatch and habitat contact.