Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 110 Part 5.djvu/538

 110 STAT. 3612 PUBLIC LAW 104-297—OCT. 11, 1996 on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives. "(f) IMPLEMENTATION CRITERIA.—To the extent practicable, any conservation and management measure implemented under this Act 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.". SEC. 207. MISCELLANEOUS RESEARCH. (a) FISHERIES SYSTEMS RESEARCH.— Section 406 (16 U.S.C. 1882) is amended to read as follows: ''SEC. 406. FISHERIES SYSTEMS RESEARCH. "(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PANEL. — Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Sustainable Fisheries Act, the Secretary shall establish an advisory panel under this Act to develop recommendations to expand the application of ecosystem principles in fishery conservation and memagement activities. "(b) PANEL MEMBERSHIP.— Txie advisory panel shall consist of not more than 20 individuals and include— "(1) individuals with expertise in the structures, functions, and physical and biological characteristics of ecosystems; and "(2) representatives from the Councils, States, fishing industry, conservation organizations, or others with expertise in the msinagement of marine resources. "(c) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Prior to selecting advisory panel members, the Secretary shall, with respect to panel members described in subsection (b)(1), solicit recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences. . "(d) REPORT.— Within 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a completed report of the panel established under this section, which shall include— "(1) an analysis of the extent to which ecosystem principles are being applied in fishery conservation and management activities, including research activities; "(2) proposed actions by the Secretary and by the Congress that should be undertaken to expand the application of ecosystem principles in fishery conservation and management; and "(3) such other information as may be appropriate. "(e) PROCEDURAL MATTER.— The advisory panel established under this section shall be deemed an advisory panel under section 302(g). ". (b) GULF OF MEXICO RED SNAPPER RESEARCH. —Title IV of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1882) is amended by adding the following new section: 16 USC 1883. "SEC. 407. GULF OF MEXICO RED SNAPPER RESEARCH. "(a) INDEPENDENT PEER REVIEW. —(1) Within 30 days of the date of enactment of the Sustainable Fisheries Act, the Secretary shall initiate an independent peer review to evaluate— "(A) the accuracy and adequacy of fishery statistics used by the Secretary for the red snapper fishery in the Gulf of

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