H.R. 4800: Fisheries Modernization Act of 2025
Sponsor
Clay Higgins
Republican · LA-3
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Jul 29, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Why it matters
Introduced on 2025-07-29, HR4800 would immediately broaden federal fishery disaster relief rules so freshwater crawfish losses tied to levees, spillways, diversions, flooding, drought, or water quality damage can qualify for help.
Just as important, the bill includes a rule of construction saying nothing in HR4800 can be read to limit, reduce, or affect the eligibility of any marine or anadromous fishery for disaster assistance under 16 U.S.C. 1861a. So this is an expansion, not a tradeoff. The bill does not specify a dollar authorization, a new grant program, or a deadline for agency action in the text summarized here; instead, it broadens who can qualify and what causes NOAA and other federal decision-makers may consider.
What does H.R. 4800 do?
New disaster trigger added to 16 U.S.C. 1861a(a)
HR4800 amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1861a(a), to add “infrastructure-related cause” as a qualifying event for fishery resource disaster relief.
Infrastructure definition names 4 systems
The bill defines an “infrastructure-related cause” as an event caused by the operation or failure of Federal or State infrastructure, specifically including (I) flood control systems, (II) spillways, (III) levees, and (IV) diversions, if the event results in measurable disruption to commercial or subsistence fishery activity, aquatic habitat, or water quality.
2 crawfish species explicitly made eligible
Section 2(a)(2) specifically includes red swamp crawfish (Procambarus clarkii) and white river crawfish (Procambarus zonangulus) fisheries as eligible for disaster relief, removing doubt about whether these freshwater fisheries fit within existing federal relief rules.
Applicants must document 4 environmental factors
For red swamp crawfish and white river crawfish fisheries, applicants must provide information related to hydrological conditions, water quality degradation, extreme flooding or drought, and other environmental disruptions that directly impact viability.
Disaster rulings can use combined causes
The bill amends the disaster determination criteria so decisions may be based on any combination of clauses (i) through (iii) — natural causes, anthropogenic causes, and infrastructure-related causes — rather than forcing losses into only one bucket.
Marine and anadromous fisheries keep current eligibility
Section 2(b) states that nothing in the Act may be construed to limit, reduce, or affect the eligibility of any marine or anadromous fishery for disaster assistance under 16 U.S.C. 1861a, meaning the expansion for freshwater crawfish does not come at the expense of existing fishery claims.
Who benefits from H.R. 4800?
Red swamp crawfish fishery operators
Operators targeting red swamp crawfish, Procambarus clarkii, gain explicit eligibility for fishery resource disaster relief when losses are tied to infrastructure-related causes, hydrological conditions, water quality degradation, extreme flooding, drought, or similar direct environmental disruptions.
White river crawfish fishery operators
White river crawfish, Procambarus zonangulus, fisheries are specifically named in Section 2(a)(2), giving these operators a clearer route to relief under 16 U.S.C. 1861a(a) than before.
Commercial fishery businesses in affected freshwater areas
Commercial operators benefit because the bill recognizes measurable disruption caused by the operation or failure of Federal or State infrastructure, including 4 named systems: flood control systems, spillways, levees, and diversions.
Subsistence fishery users
The definition of infrastructure-related cause covers measurable disruption to subsistence fishery activity, not just commercial harvests, giving these users a recognized place in disaster determinations.
Who is affected by H.R. 4800?
Federal disaster relief decision-makers
Federal officials applying 16 U.S.C. 1861a(a) would have to evaluate a new category, “infrastructure-related cause,” and consider whether disruption to fishery activity, aquatic habitat, or water quality is measurable.
State governments operating water infrastructure
Because the bill covers events caused by the operation or failure of State infrastructure, states that manage levees, spillways, flood control systems, or diversions could see their infrastructure decisions become part of federal fishery disaster claims.
Applicants from crawfish fisheries
Applicants seeking relief for red swamp crawfish or white river crawfish losses would face specific documentation requirements, including information on hydrological conditions, water quality degradation, extreme flooding or drought, and other direct environmental disruptions.
Marine and anadromous fisheries
These fisheries are affected mainly by reassurance: Section 2(b) says HR4800 may not be construed to limit, reduce, or affect their existing eligibility for disaster assistance under 16 U.S.C. 1861a.
H.R. 4800 Common Questions
Can crawfish get federal fishery disaster relief under HR 4800?
Yes. The Fisheries Modernization Act of 2025 expressly makes red swamp crawfish and white river crawfish fisheries eligible for fishery resource disaster relief under Section 312(a) (Section 2(a)(2)).
Which crawfish species are specifically covered by the Fisheries Modernization Act of 2025?
Under the Fisheries Modernization Act of 2025, the covered species are red swamp crawfish (Procambarus clarkii) and white river crawfish (Procambarus zonangulus) (Section 2(a)(2)).
What are the 4 types of infrastructure that can trigger fishery disaster relief under HR 4800?
According to HR 4800 Section 2(a)(1)(C), infrastructure-related causes specifically include flood control systems, spillways, levees, and diversions when they measurably disrupt fishing, habitat, or water quality.
Can levee or spillway operations qualify crawfish losses for federal disaster assistance?
Yes. Under the Fisheries Modernization Act of 2025, operation or failure of levees or spillways can count as an infrastructure-related cause if it measurably disrupts fishery activity, habitat, or water quality (Section 2(a)(1)(C)).
Does HR 4800 let NOAA consider combined causes like flooding plus infrastructure failures in fishery disasters?
Yes. According to HR 4800 Section 2(a)(4)(A), disaster determinations may be based on any combination of natural causes, anthropogenic causes, and infrastructure-related causes.
What information do crawfish disaster relief applicants have to submit under HR 4800?
For the named crawfish fisheries, applicants must provide information on hydrological conditions, water quality degradation, extreme flooding or drought, and other environmental disruptions directly affecting viability (Section 2(a)(3)(C)).
Can water quality damage alone support a fishery disaster claim under the Fisheries Modernization Act of 2025?
It can if tied to an infrastructure-related event that measurably disrupts fishery activity, aquatic habitat, or water quality under the Fisheries Modernization Act of 2025 (Section 2(a)(1)(C)).
Does HR 4800 cover subsistence fisheries or only commercial fisheries?
It covers both. HR 4800 defines an infrastructure-related cause as one causing measurable disruption to commercial or subsistence fishery activity (Section 2(a)(1)(C)).
Can extreme drought or flooding be used in a federal crawfish disaster application under HR 4800?
Yes. Under the Fisheries Modernization Act of 2025, crawfish applicants must provide information on extreme flooding or drought as part of the required environmental documentation (Section 2(a)(3)(C)).
Does the Fisheries Modernization Act of 2025 reduce disaster relief eligibility for marine or anadromous fisheries?
No. The bill states that nothing in it may be construed to limit, reduce, or affect the eligibility of any marine or anadromous fishery for disaster assistance (Section 2(b)).
Based on H.R. 4800 bill text
HR4800 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Jul 29, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
About the Sponsor
Clay Higgins
Republican, Louisiana's 3rd congressional district · 9 years in Congress
Committees: House Select Subcommittee to Investigate the Remaining Questions Surrounding January 6, 2021, Oversight and Government Reform, Armed Services
View full profile →
Cosponsors (2)
All 2 cosponsors are Democrats. Cosponsors represent 1 state: Louisiana.
Committee Sponsors
Natural Resources Committee
0 of 43 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
24 Republicans across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 4800 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Natural Resources
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Introduced
- Jul 29, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Jul 29, 2025
Official Sources
Official bill page with text, actions, cosponsors, and committee status for the Fisheries Modernization Act of 2025.
Current codified text for 16 U.S.C. 1861a, the fishery resource disaster relief section amended by HR 4800.
NOAA overview of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the statute HR 4800 would amend.
Official NOAA Fisheries homepage for the federal agency that administers fishery disaster relief determinations and related fishery policy.
Official federal species profile for red swamp crawfish, one of the two species explicitly named in HR 4800.
Official federal species profile for white river crawfish, the second species explicitly named in the bill.
Official Corps website relevant because the bill identifies levees, spillways, diversions, and flood control systems as infrastructure-related causes of fishery disasters.
H.R. 4800 Bill Text
“To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to make certain freshwater fisheries eligible for fishery resource disaster relief.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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