June 17, 2025
Mr. Scott of Florida introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to allow certain activities to be conducted with respect to sturgeon held in captivity or in a controlled environment, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Sturgeon Conservation and Sustainability Act
.
Sec. 2. Sturgeon held in captivity or controlled environments
Section 9(b) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1538(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(3) Sturgeon
(A) In general
Subsection (a)(1) and section 7(a)(2) shall not apply to—
(i)
a sturgeon farmed that is legally held in captivity or in a controlled environment as of the date of enactment of this paragraph, until such time as the sturgeon is intentionally returned to a wild state; or
(ii)
progeny of a sturgeon described in clause (i), until such time as the progeny is intentionally returned to a wild state.
(B) Demonstration; requirements
(i) In general
Any person holding any sturgeon or progeny described in subparagraph (A) shall—
(I)
be able to demonstrate that the sturgeon or progeny qualifies as a sturgeon or progeny, as applicable, described in that subparagraph; and
(II)
maintain and submit to the Secretary, on request of the Secretary, such inventories, documentation, and records as the Secretary may, by regulation, require as being reasonably appropriate to carry out the purposes of this paragraph.
(ii) Requirements
The requirements described in clause (i)(II) shall not unnecessarily duplicate the requirements of other rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary under this Act.