Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 78.djvu/239

 78 STAT. ]

PUBLIC LAW 88-309-MAY 20, 1964

197

Public Law 88-309 AN ACT

May 20, 1964

'J'o promote State coniiiiercial fishery research and development projects, and for other purposes.

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Be if enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may Fi^h"^i"^'^*R^!be cited as the "'Commercial Fisheries Research and Development Act and Development"" o f 1964"'.

Act of 1964.

SEC. 2. As used in this Act, the term— ""Commercial fisheries" means any organization, individual, or group definitions. of organizations or individuals engaged in the harvesting, catching, processing, distribution, or sale of fish, shellfish, or fish products. "Fiscal year" means the period beginning July 1 and ending June 30. •'Obligated" means the written approval by the Secretary of the Interior of a project submitted by the State agency pursuant to this Act. "Project" means the program of research and development of the commercial fishery resources, including the construction of facilities by the States for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this Act. "Raw fish" means aquatic plants and animals. "State" means the several States of the Ignited States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. "State agency'' means any department, agency, commission, or official of a State authorized under its laws to regulate commercial fisheries. SEC. 8. (a) The purpose of this Act is to authorize the Secretary Pun^ose. of the Interior to cooperate with the States through their respective State agencies in carrying out projects designed for the research and development of the commercial fisheries resources of the Nation. Federal funds made available under this Act will be used to supplement, and, to the extent practicable, increase the amounts of State funds that would be made available for commercial fisheries research and development in the absence of these Federal funds. (b)(1) Nothing in this Act prevents any two or more States from acting jointly in carrying out a project. (2) The Congress consents to any compact or agreement between any two or more States for the purpose of carrying out a project. The right to alter, amend, or repeal this subsection or the consent granted under this subsection is expressly reserved. SEC. 4. (a) There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of aJ^h<?rTJLtion°" the Interior for the next fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, and for the four succeeding fiscal years, $5,000,000 in each year for apportionment to the States to carry out the purposes of this Act. (b) In addition to the amounts authorized in subsection (a) of this section there is authorized to be appropriated for the next fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, and for the succeeding fiscal year, $400,000 in each such year, and for the next three succeeding fiscal years, $660,000 in each such year, which shall be made available to the States in such amounts as the Secretary may determine appropriate for the purposes of this Act: Provided, That the Secretary shall give a preference to those States in which he determines there is a commercial fishery failure due to a resource disaster arising from natural or undetermined causes, and any sums made available under this subsection may be used either by the States or directly by the

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