September 18, 2025 — On Sept. 3, the House Natural Resources Committee has advanced H.R. 3692, a bill to reauthorize the Young Fishermen’s Development Act (YFDA). The legislation, first passed in 2020, is aimed at addressing workforce challenges in the commercial fishing industry by providing training and business development support for new entrants.
The Fishing Communities Coalition (FCC), which said in a press release that it has backed the bill since its inception, welcomed the committee’s action. “The FCC has championed this legislation for more than a decade, now that we are beginning to see what a catalyst it is for the fishing industry we need to keep it going,” said Aubrey Church, fisheries policy director of the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance.
The proposed five-year reauthorization is intended to build on YFDA’s support for workforce development, safety training, and business education, the FCC press release said. According to the Coalition, nearly $2 million has already been distributed to training programs through the Sea Grant Program at NOAA, which administers the initiative.