King Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Modernize NOAA Fishery Stock Counts

September 08, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring legislation to update the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) capacity to track and protect fisheries. The Fisheries Science Modernization Act would incorporate environmental DNA (eDNA) and other biomolecular tools into NOAA's fisheries science programs, bolstering their ability to conduct more accurate and cost-effective stock assessment surveys. Today, NOAA's stock assessment methods are limited due to their high operational costs and limited vessel availability. This in turn results in gaps in survey coverage. The Fisheries Science Modernization Act would integrate eDNA into these assessments, a method that is already widely used in the private sector to close these gaps by enabling sampling in remote or hazardous environments while reducing costs. “Fisheries have long been an essential part of Maine’s economy and culture, and their enduring prominence depends upon their sustainability,” said Senator King. “The Fisheries Science Modernization Act would provide the NOAA with the advanced tools necessary to conduct more comprehensive surveys of our fisheries. By painting a more accurate picture of species health, we can be certain that our fisheries receive the attention they need, improving their sustainability and keeping them healthy for generations to come.” King is joined on the legislation by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Adam Schiff (D-CA). Senator King has long been a vocal advocate for the protections of Maine’s fisheries and marine ecosystems. Earlier this year, he introduced the American Seafood Competitiveness Act , legislation which would expand access to U.S. Department of Agriculture loan and grant programs for commercial fishermen, seafood processors, and mariculture-related businesses. In 2025, Senator King introduced the Help Our Kelp Act , investing in the protection of the kelp forests which provide sustenance for Maine’s fish. The year prior, in 2024, Senator King introduced the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act alongside his fellow members of the Maine delegation . This bill would gain congressional approval in December of 2024, leading to the construction of the Cherryfield Fishway, which allows anadromous fish such as herring, alewives, and the endangered Atlantic salmon to migrate upstream.
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