16 U.S.C. § 1881c | Fisheries research

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall initiate and maintain, in cooperation with the Councils, a comprehensive program of fishery research to carry out and further the purposes, policy, and provisions of this chapter. Such program shall be designed to acquire knowledge and information, including statistics, on fishery conservation and management and on the economics and social characteristics of the fisheries.

(b)

Strategic plan

October 11, 1996Within one year after , and at least every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary shall develop and publish in the Federal Register a strategic plan for fisheries research for the 5 years immediately following such publication. The plan shall—

(1)

identify and describe a comprehensive program with a limited number of priority objectives for research in each of the areas specified in subsection (c);

(2)

indicate goals and timetables for the program described in paragraph (1);

(3)

provide a role for commercial fishermen in such research, including involvement in field testing;

(4)

provide for collection and dissemination, in a timely manner, of complete and accurate information concerning fishing activities, catch, effort, stock assessments, and other research conducted under this section; and

(5)

be developed in cooperation with the Councils and affected States, and provide for coordination with the Councils, affected States, and other research entities.

(c)

Areas of research

Areas of research are as follows:

(1)

Research to support fishery conservation and management, including but not limited to, biological research concerning the abundance and life history parameters of stocks of fish, the interdependence of fisheries or stocks of fish, the identification of essential fish habitat, the impact of pollution on fish populations, the impact of wetland and estuarine degradation, and other factors affecting the abundance and availability of fish.

(2)

Conservation engineering research, including the study of fish behavior and the development and testing of new gear technology and fishing techniques to minimize bycatch and any adverse effects on essential fish habitat and promote efficient harvest of target species.

(3)

Research on the fisheries, including the social, cultural, and economic relationships among fishing vessel owners, crew, United States fish processors, associated shoreside labor, seafood markets and fishing communities.

(4)

Information management research, including the development of a fishery information base and an information management system that will permit the full use of information in the support of effective fishery conservation and management.

(d)

Public notice

In developing the plan required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with relevant Federal, State, and international agencies, scientific and technical experts, and other interested persons, public and private, and shall publish a proposed plan in the Federal Register for the purpose of receiving public comment on the plan. The Secretary shall ensure that affected commercial fishermen are actively involved in the development of the portion of the plan pertaining to conservation engineering research. Upon final publication in the Federal Register, the plan shall be submitted by the Secretary to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives.

(e)

Improving data collection and analysis

(1)

In general

December 31, 2018section 1852(g) of this title section 1851(a)(2) of this titleNot later than 1 year after , the Secretary shall develop, in consultation with the science and statistical committees of the Councils established under and the Marine Fisheries Commissions, and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report on facilitating greater incorporation of data, analysis, stock assessments, and surveys from State agencies and nongovernmental sources described in paragraph (2), to the extent such information is consistent with , into fisheries management decisions.

(2)

Content

In developing the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—

(A)

section 1853(a)(1) of this title identify types of data and analysis, especially concerning recreational fishing, that can be used for purposes of this chapter as the basis for establishing conservation and management measures as required by , including setting standards for the collection and use of that data and analysis in stock assessments and surveys and for other purposes;

(B)

provide specific recommendations for collecting data and performing analyses identified as necessary to reduce uncertainty in and improve the accuracy of future stock assessments, including whether such data and analysis could be provided by nongovernmental sources; and

(C)

section 1851(a)(2) of this title consider the extent to which the acceptance and use of data and analyses identified in the report in fishery management decisions is practicable and compatible with the requirements of .

Pub. L. 94–265, title IV, § 404 Pub. L. 104–297, title II, § 205Oct. 11, 1996110 Stat. 3609 Pub. L. 109–479, title II, § 203(b)Jan. 12, 2007120 Stat. 3614 Pub. L. 115–405, § 201(a)Dec. 31, 2018132 Stat. 5358(, as added , , ; amended , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 94–265Apr. 13, 197690 Stat. 331 section 1801 of this titleThis chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (e)(2)(A), was in the original “this Act”, meaning , , , known as the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Prior Provisions

section 404 of Pub. L. 94–265 section 1362 of this title section 1362 of this title Pub. L. 104–297A prior , amended and enacted provisions formerly set out as a note under , prior to being amended generally by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–4052018—Subsec. (e). added subsec. (e).

Pub. L. 109–479 section 1881 of this title2007—Subsec. (c)(4). struck out “under ” after “system”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Jan. 5, 2007Committee on Resources of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Natural Resources of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, .

Study of Contribution of Bycatch to Charitable Organizations

Pub. L. 104–297, title II, § 208Oct. 11, 1996110 Stat. 3614 Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(a) [title II, § 211(b)]Sept. 30, 1996110 Stat. 3009Oct. 11, 1996, , , as amended by , , , 3009–41, provided that the Secretary of Commerce was to conduct a study, to be submitted to Congress by 1 year after , of the contribution of bycatch to charitable organizations by commercial fishermen, including determinations of the amount contributed each year, the economic benefits to commercial fishermen from those contributions, and the impact on fisheries of the availability of those benefits.