Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 1.djvu/590

 108 STAT. 564 PUBLIC LAW 103-238—APR. 30, 1994 "(1) The Secretary shall engage in a scientific investigation to determine whether California sea lions and Pacific harbor seals— "(A) are having a significant negative impact on the recovery of salmonid fishery stocks which have been listed as endangered species or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), or which the Secretary finds are approaching such endangered species or threatened species status; or "(B) are having broader impacts on the coastal ecosystems of Washington, Oregon, and California. The Secretary shall conclude this investigation and prepare a report on its results no later than October 1, 1995. "(2) Upon completion of the scientific investigation required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall enter into discussions with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, on behalf of the States of Washington, Oregon, and California, for the purpose of addressing any issues or problems identified as a result of the scientific investigation, and to develop recommendations to address such issues or problems. Any recommendations resulting from such discussions shall be submitted, along with the report, to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. "(3) The Secretary shall make the report and the recommendations submitted under paragraph (2) available to the public for review and comment for a period of 90 days. "(4) There are authorized to be appropriated to. the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection. "(5) The amounts appropriated under section 308(c) of the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 4107(c)) and allocated to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission may be used by the Commission to participate in discussions with the Secretary under paragraph (2). "(g) REGiohfwiDE PINNIPED-FISHERY INTERACTION STUDY.— "(1) The Secretary may conduct a study, of not less than three high predation areas in anadromous fish migration corridors within the Northwest Region of the National Marine Fisheries Service, on the interaction between fish and pinnipeds. In conducting the study, the Secretary shall consult with other State and Federal agencies with expertise in pinniped-fishery interaction. The study shall evaluate— "(A) fish behavior in the presence of predators generally; "(B) holding times and passage rates of anadromous fish stocks in areas where such fish are vulnerable to predation; "(C) whether additional facilities exist, or could be reasonably developed, that could improve escapement for anadromous fish; and "(D) other issues the Secretary considers relevant. "(2) Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary may, not later than 18 months after the commencement of the study under this subsection, transmit a report on the results of the study to the Committee on Commerce, Science,

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