Bill (HR 5946)
 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Congress on Saturday sent the White House legislation that updates laws designed to prevent overfishing in U.S. waters.

President George W. Bush is expected to sign into law the bill (HR 5946) which would require commercial fisheries to set conservation plans within a two-year period beginning in 2010. It also would create a 10-year permit system that would still allow limited access in some waters that have been overfished.

The legislation comes at a time when the United States has said it will step up efforts with other nations to eliminate ocean fishing practices seen as destructive, such as bottom trawling. Bush had urged Congress earlier this year to update the legislation known as the Magnuson-Stevens Fish Management Act that aims to rebuild depleted fisheries.


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