Fisheries Science Modernization Act of 2026

(a) Establishment. There is established a coordinated, multi-agency initiative, to be known as the National Aquatic Biomolecular Coordination Network (in this section referred to as the Network), to improve the reliability and operational use of eDNA across freshwater, estuarine, coastal, and marine environments.

(b) Governance and structure

(1) Lead agency. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall serve as the lead agency of the Network.

(2) Co-chairs. The Network shall be co-chaired by the Administrator and a representative of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

(c) Participating agencies. The Network shall include one or more representatives from each of the following:

(1) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(2) The United States Geological Survey.

(3) The Environmental Protection Agency.

(4) The United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

(5) The National Science Foundation.

(6) The Department of Agriculture and the Forest Service.

(7) The Office of Naval Research.

(8) The Bureau of Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior.

(9) The Smithsonian Institution.

(10) The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

(11) The National Institutes of Health.

(12) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

(13) The Council on Environmental Quality.

(14) The Regional Fishery Management Councils.

(15) The National Institute of Standards and Technology.

(16) Such other agencies as the co-chairs of the Network may designate based on the roles of such agencies in aquatic or environmental monitoring, scientific standard-setting, or environmental review processes.

(d) Responsibilities. The Network shall coordinate Federal eDNA-related activities across the full aquatic continuum (including lakes, rivers, reservoirs, estuaries, coastal waters, and offshore environments), including by—

(1) developing national standards for the use of eDNA across freshwater, estuarine, coastal, and marine environments;

(2) developing a standardized approach for eDNA sampling, laboratory workflows, reporting practices, and analytical consistency;

(3) ensuring agencies use compatible methods and data formats, enabling eDNA results to be compared, combined, and jointly analyzed across programs and regions;

(4) designating pilot testbeds across the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, the National Estuary Program, the National Ecological Observatory Network, the National Aquatic Resource Surveys, the Integrated Ocean Observing System, the National Science Foundation Long-Term Ecological Research program, and other similar programs, to evaluate and intercalibrate methods under diverse environmental and operational conditions;

(5) establishing means of quality assurance and quality control training, method verification, proficiency testing, shared reference materials, and interagency calibration;

(6) coordinating with States, Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, Native Pacific Islander organizations in Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and regional partners to ensure broad applicability and uptake of national standards;

(7) developing open-access data practices with appropriate protections for Tribal data sovereignty;

(8) identifying opportunities to reduce duplication, integrate monitoring efforts, and align Federal investments in DNA-based monitoring tools; and

(9) coordinating with existing national and international frameworks, including observing systems, communities of practice, and established data-sharing and delivery systems.

(e) Annual meeting To gather information. In addition to the responsibilities described in section (d), the Network shall meet annually to gather information on non-aquatic applications of eDNA and eRNA methods, including sampling of terrestrial and atmospheric environments.

(f) Annual report

(1) In general. Not less frequently than once each year, the Administrator shall submit a performance report to the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

(2) Elements. Each report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A) Progress on standards and protocols.

(B) Updates on interagency coordination.

(C) Results from testbeds and method validation.

(D) Recommendations for future research and monitoring priorities.

(E) Identified gaps or resource needs.

(F) Identified non-aquatic applications of eDNA and eRNA methods as described in section (e).