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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 1380. Marine mammal research grants
(a) Authorization; research concerning yellowfin tuna; annual
report
The Secretary is authorized to make grants, or to provide
financial assistance in such other form as he deems appropriate, to
any Federal or State agency, public or private institution, or
other person for the purpose of assisting such agency, institution,
or person to undertake research in subjects which are relevant to
the protection and conservation of marine mammals. In carrying out
this subsection, the Secretary shall undertake a program of, and
shall provide financial assistance for, research into new methods
of locating and catching yellowfin tuna without the incidental
taking of marine mammals. The Secretary shall include a description
of the annual results of research carried out under this section in
the report required under section 1373(f) of this title.
(b) Terms and conditions
Any grant or other financial assistance provided by the Secretary
pursuant to this section shall be subject to such terms and
conditions as the Secretary deems necessary to protect the
interests of the United States and shall be made after review by
the Marine Mammal Commission.
(c) Gulf of Maine ecosystem protection
(1) No later than 1 year after April 30, 1994, the Secretary of
Commerce shall convene a regional workshop for the Gulf of Maine to
assess human-caused factors affecting the health and stability of
that marine ecosystem, of which marine mammals are a part. The
workshop shall be conducted in consultation with the Marine Mammal
Commission, the adjacent coastal States, individuals with expertise
in marine mammal biology and ecology, representatives from
environmental organizations, the fishing industry, and other
appropriate persons. The goal of the workshop shall be to identify
such factors, and to recommend a program of research and management
to restore or maintain that marine ecosystem and its key components
that -
(A) protects and encourages marine mammals to develop to the
greatest extent feasible commensurate with sound policies of
resource management;
(B) has as the primary management objective the maintenance of
the health and stability of the marine ecosystems;
(C) ensures the fullest possible range of management options
for future generations; and
(D) permits nonwasteful, environmentally sound development of
renewable and nonrenewable resources.
(2) On or before December 31, 1995, the Secretary of Commerce
shall submit to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science
and Transportation of the Senate a report containing the results of
the workshop under this subsection, proposed regulatory or research
actions, and recommended legislative action.
(d) Bering Sea ecosystem protection
(1) The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary
of the Interior, the Marine Mammal Commission, the State of Alaska,
and Alaska Native organizations, shall, not later than 180 days
after April 30, 1994, undertake a scientific research program to
monitor the health and stability of the Bering Sea marine ecosystem
and to resolve uncertainties concerning the causes of population
declines of marine mammals, sea birds, and other living resources
of that marine ecosystem. The program shall address the research
recommendations developed by previous workshops on Bering Sea
living marine resources, and shall include research on subsistence
uses of such resources and ways to provide for the continued
opportunity for such uses.
(2) To the maximum extent practicable, the research program
undertaken pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be conducted in Alaska.
The Secretary of Commerce shall utilize, where appropriate,
traditional local knowledge and may contract with a qualified
Alaska Native organization to conduct such research.
(3) The Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the Interior, and
the Commission shall address the status and findings of the
research program in their annual reports to Congress required by
sections 1373(f) and 1404 of this title.(!1)
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