MARINE FISH PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

SEC. 401. MARINE FISH PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. (a) Fisheries Information Collection and Analysis.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce, to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out fisheries information and analysis activities under the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a et seq.) and any other law involving those activities, $51,800,000 for fiscal year 1997, and $52,345,000 for each of the fiscal years 1998, 1999, and 2000. Such activities may include, but are not limited to, the collection, analysis, and dissemination of scientific information necessary for the management of living marine resources and associated marine habitat. (b) Fisheries Conservation and Management Operations.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce, to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out activities relating to fisheries conservation and management operations under the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a et seq.) and any other law involving those activities, $29,028,000 for fiscal year 1997, and $29,899,000 for each of the fiscal years 1998, 1999, and 2000. Such activities may include, but are not limited to, development, implementation, and enforcement of conservation and management measures to achieve continued optimum use of living marine resources, hatchery operations, habitat conservation, and protected species management. (c) Fisheries State and Industry Cooperative Programs.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce, to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out State and industry cooperative programs under the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a et seq.) and any other law involving those activities, $27,932,000 for fiscal year 1997, and $28,226,000 for each of the fiscal years 1998, 1999, and 2000. These activities include, but are not limited to, ensuring the quality and safety of seafood products and providing grants to States for improving the management of interstate fisheries. 110 STAT. 3618 (d) Authorization of Appropriations for Chesapeake Bay Office.—Section 2(e) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Fisheries Program Authorization Act (Public Law 98–210; 97 Stat. 1409) is amended— (1) by striking “1992 and 1993” and inserting “1997 and 1998”; (2) by striking “establish” and inserting “operate”; (3) by striking “306” and inserting “307”; and (4) by striking “1991” and inserting “1992”. (e) Relation to Other Laws.—Authorizations under this section shall be in addition to monies authorized under the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.), the Anadromous Fish Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 757 et seq.), and the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act (16 U.S.C. 4107 et seq.). (f) New England Health Plan.—The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to provide up to $2,000,000 from previously appropriated funds to Caritas Christi for the implementation of a health care plan for fishermen in New England if Caritas Christi submits such plan to the Secretary no later than January 1, 1997, and the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, approves such plan.