This Act establishes comprehensive federal conservation measures, strict permitting rules, and enforcement penalties to protect specific albatross and petrel species both domestically and internationally.
Jared Huffman
Representative
CA-2
The Albatross and Petrel Conservation Act of 2025 establishes comprehensive federal measures to protect vulnerable seabirds by restoring habitats, mitigating harm from human activities like pollution and fishing bycatch, and managing invasive species. It strictly prohibits the harming or interference with these birds unless specific permits are obtained for conservation or scientific purposes. The bill also creates the domestic structure necessary to uphold international conservation agreements and assigns enforcement penalties through existing federal wildlife and fisheries laws. Ultimately, this legislation aims to improve the survival rates of covered albatrosses and petrels through coordinated domestic action and global cooperation.
Seabird Safety Net: New Act Mandates Bycatch Reduction and Invasive Species Control for Albatrosses and Petrels
This bill, the Albatross and Petrel Conservation Act of 2025, is the federal government’s plan to implement a 2001 international treaty focused on protecting specific species of albatrosses and petrels. Essentially, it creates a comprehensive legal framework to safeguard these large, globally-ranging seabirds from threats like invasive species, pollution, and accidental capture in fishing gear.
The bill assigns the Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce the authority to start projects aimed at reestablishing these birds in their historic ranges (SEC. 101) and to actively develop and implement plans to control or eradicate nonnative species that threaten them (SEC. 102). Think of it as a massive, coordinated effort to clean up the birds’ neighborhoods, both on land at their breeding sites and in the ocean where they feed.
The Fine Print on Fishing: Who Pays the Cost of Conservation?
For anyone involved in commercial fishing, Title I, Section 104(c) is the part to watch. It directs the Secretary of Commerce to develop strategies to minimize bycatch—the accidental catching of these birds in fishing gear. This means the government will be assessing regional interactions, collecting data (potentially using onboard observers), and researching new, practical deterrents. If you’re a fisherman, this translates directly into new rules, new gear requirements, and mandatory reporting, all designed to ensure your operations don't accidentally harm these protected birds. This is a common trade-off in conservation: the cost of mitigation falls on the industry.
The New Rules of Engagement: What’s Banned and What’s Exempted
Title II lays down the law, making it illegal to take (harass, hunt, capture, kill, or possess) any covered albatross or petrel unless you have a specific permit. This is broad, covering U.S. citizens and vessels anywhere in the world (SEC. 201). If you’re a researcher, you can apply for a permit for scientific study or species reestablishment, but those permits come with strict limits on location and duration (SEC. 202).
However, the bill includes significant exemptions. Military activities by the Department of Defense and emergency responses by the Coast Guard are exempt from the take prohibition, even if they accidentally harm a bird (SEC. 203). While the Secretaries can issue guidelines to help the military reduce this incidental harm, the exemption itself is broad. This raises a potential concern: if the guidelines are voluntary, the highest-impact activities may have the least accountability for accidental harm to the protected birds.
Connecting the Dots: Habitat, Pollution, and Paperwork
This Act isn't just about the birds; it’s about the environment they live in. Section 104(a) allows the Secretaries to research how pollutants and marine debris are affecting these seabirds and create plans to cut down on that harm. For the average person, this means the government will be ramping up efforts to tackle ocean plastic and pollution, which is a win for everyone.
Finally, the entire bill is built on massive interagency coordination. The Secretaries of Interior and Commerce must work together, along with the Secretary of State, the Coast Guard, and even the National Science Foundation when dealing with Antarctica (SEC. 701). This level of mandatory consultation is designed to ensure the U.S. speaks with one voice globally and manages conservation holistically, addressing threats from land-based breeding sites to deep-sea fishing grounds. The public gets an update every four years, as the Secretary must report to Congress on the status of the birds and the actions taken (SEC. 402).