Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 120.djvu/3652

 PUBLIC LAW 109–479—JAN. 12, 2007

120 STAT. 3621

of council policies regarding the liaison’s role in Council decision-making since 1996; (2) describing how management actions are taken regarding the operational aspects of current joint fishery management plans, and how such joint plans may undergo changes through amendment or framework processes; (3) evaluating the role of the New England Fishery Council and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Council liaisons in the development and approval of management plans for fisheries in which the liaisons or members of the non-controlling Council have a demonstrated interest and significant current and historical landings of species managed by either Council; (4) evaluating the effectiveness of the various approaches developed by the Councils to improve representation for affected members of the non-controlling Council in Council decisionmaking, such as use of liaisons, joint management plans, and other policies, taking into account both the procedural and conservation requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; and (5) analyzing characteristics of North Carolina and Florida that supported their inclusion as voting members of more than one Council and the extent to which those characteristics support Rhode Island’s inclusion on a second Council (the MidAtlantic Council). SEC. 217. STUDY OF SHORTAGE IN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WITH POST- BACCALAUREATE DEGREES IN SUBJECTS RELATED TO FISHERY SCIENCE.

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Education shall collaborate to conduct a study of— (1) whether there is a shortage in the number of individuals with post-baccalaureate degrees in subjects related to fishery science, including fishery oceanography, fishery ecology, and fishery anthropology, who have the ability to conduct high quality scientific research in fishery stock assessment, fishery population dynamics, and related fields, for government, nonprofit, and private sector entities; (2) what Federal programs are available to help facilitate the education of students hoping to pursue these degrees; and (3) what institutions of higher education, the private sector, and the Congress could do to try to increase the number of individuals with such post-baccalaureate degrees. (b) REPORT.—Not later than 8 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries of Commerce and Education shall transmit a report to each committee of Congress with jurisdiction over the programs referred to in subsection (a), detailing the findings and recommendations of the study under this section. SEC. 218. GULF OF ALASKA ROCKFISH DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

Section 802 of Public Law 108–199 (118 Stat. 110) is amended by striking ‘‘2 years’’ and inserting ‘‘5 years’’.

16 USC 1851 note.

TITLE III—OTHER FISHERIES STATUTES SEC. 301. AMENDMENTS TO NORTHERN PACIFIC HALIBUT ACT.

(a) CIVIL PENALTIES.—Section 8(a) of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (16 U.S.C. 773f(a)) is amended—

VerDate 14-DEC-2004

12:05 Jul 13, 2007

Jkt 059194

PO 00003

Frm 00424

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL003.109

APPS06

PsN: PUBL003

�