I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 6546 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 1, 2023 Mr. Bentz introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to allow certain activities to be carried out with regard to certain fish held in captivity or a controlled environment.

1. Fish held in captivity or controlled environment 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) Fish held in captivity or controlled environment (A) Exception The provisions of subsection (a)(1) and section 7(a)(2) do not apply to— (i) a fish legally held in captivity or in a controlled environment in a manner that maintains physical separation of such fish from any wild population of the same species on the date of the enactment of this paragraph; or (ii) progeny of a fish described in clause (i) legally held in the manner described in clause (i), until such time as any such fish or progeny is intentionally released from such captivity or controlled environment to live in the wild. (B) Requirement (i) In general A person that holds a fish or progeny described in subparagraph (A) shall be able to demonstrate to the Secretary that such fish or progeny qualifies as a fish or progeny described in subparagraph (A). (ii) Fulfillment of requirement A person that holds a fish or progeny described in subparagraph (A) may fulfill the demonstration requirement described in clause (i) through compliance with the applicable provisions of the Convention. .