US Code: Title 16, Section 1881c
Sec. 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
Within one year after October 11, 1996, 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) of this section;
(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 under section 1881 of this title 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) of this section, 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.
US Code : Title 16, Section 1881d
Sec. 1881d. Incidental harvest research
(a) Collection of information
Within nine months after October 11, 1996, the Secretary shall, after consultation with the Gulf Council and South Atlantic Council, conclude the collection of information in the program to assess the impact on fishery resources of incidental harvest by the shrimp trawl fishery within the
authority of such Councils. Within the same time period, the Secretary shall make available to the public aggregated summaries of information collected prior to June 30, 1994 under such program.
(b) Identification of stock
The program concluded pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall provide for the identification of stocks of fish which are subject to significant incidental harvest in the course of normal shrimp trawl fishing activity.
(c) Collection and assessment of specific stock information
For stocks of fish identified pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, with priority given to stocks which (based upon the best available scientific information) are considered to be overfished, the Secretary shall conduct -
(1) a program to collect and evaluate information on the nature and extent (including the spatial and temporal distribution) of incidental mortality of such stocks as a direct result of shrimp trawl fishing activities;
(2) an assessment of the status and condition of such stocks,
including collection of information which would allow the
estimation of life history parameters with sufficient accuracy
and precision to support sound scientific evaluation of the
effects of various management alternatives on the status of such
stocks; and
(3) a program of information collection and evaluation for such
stocks on the magnitude and distribution of fishing mortality and
fishing effort by sources of fishing mortality other than shrimp
trawl fishing activity.
(d) Bycatch reduction program
Not later than 12 months after October 11, 1996, the Secretary shall, in cooperation with affected interests, and based upon the best scientific information available, complete a program to -
(1) develop technological devices and other changes in fishing
operations necessary and appropriate to minimize the incidental
mortality of bycatch in the course of shrimp trawl activity to
the extent practicable, taking into account the level of bycatch
mortality in the fishery on November 28, 1990;
(2) evaluate the ecological impacts and the benefits and costs
of such devices and changes in fishing operations; and
(3) assess whether it is practicable to utilize bycatch which
is not avoidable.
(e) Report to Congress
The Secretary shall, within one year of completing the programs required by this section, submit a detailed report on the results of such programs to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives.
(f) Implementation criteria
To the extent practicable, any conservation and management measure implemented under this chapter to reduce the incidental mortality of bycatch in the course of shrimp trawl fishing shall beconsistent with -
(1) measures applicable to fishing throughout the range in
United States waters of the bycatch species concerned; and
(2) the need to avoid any serious adverse environmental impacts
on such bycatch species or the ecology of the affected area.
US code: Title 16, Section 760e
Sec. 760e. Study of migratory game fish; waters; research; purpose
The Secretary of Commerce is directed to undertake a comprehensive continuing study of the migratory marine fish of interest to recreational fishermen of the United States, including species inhabiting the offshore waters of the United States and species which migrate through or spend a part of their lives in the inshore waters of the United States. The study shall include, but not be limited to, research on migrations, identity of stocks, growth rates, mortality rates, variations in survival, environmental influences, both natural and artificial, including pollution, and effects of fishing on the species, for the purpose of developing wise conservation policies and constructive management activities.
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Author | Janet.Peery |
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File Created | 2021-04-12 |