fisheries information collection and analysis

fisheries information collection and analysis Sec. 2. (a) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Commerce to enable the National Marine Fisheries Service to carry out its Fisheries Information Collection and Analysis duties under law, $47,933,000 for fiscal year 1992 and $59,162,000 for fiscal year 1993. These moneys shall be used to fund those duties relating to fisheries information collection and analysis specified by the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a et seq.), the Act of May 11, 1938 (16 U.S.C. 755), and the Fur Seal Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.), the Act entitled, “An Act to promote the conservation of wildlife, fish, and game, and for other purposes”, approved March 10, 1934 (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.), and any other law involving such duties. These duties include, but are not limited to, collection analysis and dissemination of scientific data necessary to manage: marine fishery resources, marine mammals, endangered species, and their habitats. (b) This authorization shall be in addition to any Fisheries Information Collection Analysis moneys authorized under the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). (c) The duties authorized in subsection (a) of this section shall be considered separate and distinct from duties and functions performed pursuant to moneys authorized in subsection (b) of this section. The total authorization for all such duties and functions shall be the sum of amounts specified in such subsections. (d) Of the sums authorized under subsection (a) of this section, $1,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1992 and 1993 are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of developing dolphin-safe methods of locating and catching yellowfin tuna. Such authorization shall be in addition to moneys authorized under section 7 of the Act entitled “An Act to improve the operation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, and for other purposes”, approved October 9, 1981 (16 U.S.C. 1384). Within six months after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary, in cooperation with the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission and after consultation with interested persons, shall publish a program plan for public comment that shall provide for— (1) cooperative research to improve understanding of the behavioral association of dolphins and yellowfin tuna in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean; (2) development, testing, and implementation of new methods of locating and catching yellowfin tuna without the incidental taking of dolphins; and (3) appropriate measures to ensure program participation and sharing of associated costs by each foreign government that conducts, or authorizes its nationals to conduct, yellowfin tuna fishing in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.