A bipartisan bill to extend federal support for training and mentoring early-career commercial fishermen cleared a key hurdle in Congress this week.

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee advanced the Young Fishermen’s Development Extension Act, which would renew a five-year grant program that funds workforce development and safety training for new entrants into the fishing industry. The measure reauthorizes the Young Fishermen’s Development Act, first passed in 2020 and signed into law by then-President Donald Trump.

The program helps fishermen develop skills in marine safety, business management, and fisheries science—areas seen as critical to keeping the nation’s working waterfronts viable. Advocates say the program has helped bridge generational gaps in an industr

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