Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission Act

S. 1078 would create the Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission, a new federal body housed within the Department of the Interior. The commission would bring together state fisheries agencies, federal agencies including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey, and tribal nations to coordinate management of fish species and aquatic resources that cross state and jurisdictional boundaries. The commission would operate on a voluntary basis with decisions made by consensus, ensuring states maintain control over their own fisheries management while improving coordination.

The bill would provide dedicated federal funding to support the commission's work, including grants for habitat restoration, fisheries research, and control of invasive species like Asian carp that threaten native fish populations. The Mississippi River Basin spans 31 states and covers about 41 percent of the continental United States, making coordinated management difficult. By establishing this commission, the legislation aims to address long-standing challenges including invasive species control, habitat degradation, water quality concerns, and sustainable management of commercial and recreational fisheries that support thousands of jobs and livelihoods throughout the region.