View all text of Subchapter V [§ 1881 - § 1885a]
§ 1881d. Incidental harvest research
(a) Collection of information
(b) Identification of stock
(c) Collection and assessment of specific stock information
For stocks of fish identified pursuant to subsection (b), 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
(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 be consistent 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.
(Pub. L. 94–265, title IV, § 405, as added Pub. L. 104–297, title II, § 206, Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3611.)