The Forage Fish Conservation Act of 2025 aims to significantly improve the management of forage fish by amending the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. It establishes a new finding recognizing the critical ecological role of forage fish as a primary energy pathway in marine ecosystems, emphasizing the necessity for specific management attention due to their importance to higher trophic level predators. A key provision requires the Secretary of Commerce , within 12 months, to issue a formal definition of "forage fish," considering factors like their low trophic level and contribution to other marine life's diets. Regional Fishery Management Councils will gain expanded responsibilities, including prioritizing research on forage fish and developing a list of unmanaged forage fish , with new directed fisheries for these species prohibited until impacts are evaluated and management plans are approved. The Act also stipulates that annual catch limits for forage fish in fishery management plans must be based on the dietary needs of predator species , including marine mammals and birds. The Secretary of Commerce is required to establish regulatory guidelines within 18 months to assist Councils in implementing these new provisions, including conducting workshops with stakeholders. Finally, the bill includes specific directives for river herring and shad , requiring the Secretary to amend existing Atlantic fishery management plans within 180 days to include them as managed stocks and develop comprehensive conservation measures. Increased observer coverage is also mandated for certain mid-water trawl fishing trips in these Atlantic fisheries.