View all text of Subchapter II [§ 1371 - § 1393]
§ 1380. Marine mammal research grants
(a) Authorization; research concerning yellowfin tuna; annual report
(b) Terms and conditions
(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
1 See References in Text note below.
(Pub. L. 92–522, title I, § 110, Oct. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 1041; Pub. L. 95–136, § 1, Oct. 18, 1977, 91 Stat. 1167; Pub. L. 95–316, § 2, July 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 380; Pub. L. 97–58, § 5, Oct. 9, 1981, 95 Stat. 986; Pub. L. 100–711, § 4(e), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4768; Pub. L. 103–238, § 20, Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 560; Pub. L. 105–42, § 4(f), Aug. 15, 1997, 111 Stat. 1125.)