Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 120.djvu/3649

 120 STAT. 3618

PUBLIC LAW 109–479—JAN. 12, 2007

SEC. 211. DEEP SEA CORAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.

Title IV (16 U.S.C. 1881 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 16 USC 1884.

‘‘SEC. 408. DEEP SEA CORAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation with appropriate regional fishery management councils and in coordination with other federal agencies and educational institutions, shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, establish a program— ‘‘(1) to identify existing research on, and known locations of, deep sea corals and submit such information to the appropriate Councils; ‘‘(2) to locate and map locations of deep sea corals and submit such information to the Councils; ‘‘(3) to monitor activity in locations where deep sea corals are known or likely to occur, based on best scientific information available, including through underwater or remote sensing technologies and submit such information to the appropriate Councils; ‘‘(4) to conduct research, including cooperative research with fishing industry participants, on deep sea corals and related species, and on survey methods; ‘‘(5) to develop technologies or methods designed to assist fishing industry participants in reducing interactions between fishing gear and deep sea corals; and ‘‘(6) to prioritize program activities in areas where deep sea corals are known to occur, and in areas where scientific modeling or other methods predict deep sea corals are likely to be present. ‘‘(b) REPORTING.—Beginning 1 year after the date of enactment of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006, the Secretary, in consultation with the Councils, shall submit biennial reports to Congress and the public on steps taken by the Secretary to identify, monitor, and protect deep sea coral areas, including summaries of the results of mapping, research, and data collection performed under the program.’’. SEC. 212. IMPACT OF TURTLE EXCLUDER DEVICES ON SHRIMPING. Contracts.

VerDate 14-DEC-2004

12:05 Jul 13, 2007

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere shall execute an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct, jointly, a multi-year, comprehensive in-water study designed— (1) to measure accurately the efforts and effects of shrimp fishery efforts to utilize turtle excluder devices; (2) to analyze the impact of those efforts on sea turtle mortality, including interaction between turtles and shrimp trawlers in the inshore, nearshore, and offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico and similar geographical locations in the waters of the Southeastern United States; and (3) to evaluate innovative technologies to increase shrimp retention in turtle excluder devices while ensuring the protection of endangered and threatened sea turtles. (b) OBSERVERS.—In conducting the study, the Undersecretary shall ensure that observers are placed onboard commercial shrimp fishing vessels where appropriate or necessary.

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