Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 86.djvu/1083

 86 STAT. ]

1041

PUBLIC LAW 92-522-OCT. 21, 1972 M A R I N E M A M M A L RESEARCH GRANTS

SEC. 110. (a) The Secretary is authorized to make grants, or to provide financial assistance in such other form as he deems appropriate, to any Federal or State agency, public or private institution, or other person for the purpose of assisting such agency, institution, or person to undertake research in subjects which are relevant to the protection and conservation of marine mammals. (b) Any grant or other financial assistance provided by the Secretary pursuant to this section shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary deems necessary to protect the interests of the United States and shall be made after review by the Marine Mammal Commission. (c) There are authorized to be appropriated for the fiscal year in which this section takes effect and for the next four fiscal years thereafter such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section, but the sums appropriated for any such year shall not exceed $2,500,000, one-third of such sum to be available to the Secretary of the Interior and two-thirds of such sum to be made available to the Secretary of the department in which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is operating.

Appropriation. Limitation.

COMMERCIAL F I S H E R I E S GEAR DEVELOPMENT

SEC. 111. (a) The Secretary of the department in which the National Oceanic and Atomspheric Administration is operating (hereafter referred to in this section as the "Secretary") is hereby authorized and directed to immediately undertake a program of research and development for the purpose of devising improved fishing methods and gear so as to reduce to the maximum extent practicable the incidental taking of marine mammals in connection with commercial fishing. At the end of the full twenty-four calendar month period following the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall deliver his report in writing to the Congress with respect to the results of such research and development. For the purposes of this section, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated the sum of $1,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1973, and the same amount for the next fiscal year. Funds appropriated for this section shall remain available until expended. (b) The Secretary, after consultation with the Marine Mammal Commission, is authorized and directed to issue, as soon as practicable, such regulations, covering the twenty-four-month period referred to in section 101(a)(2) of this title, as he deems necessary or advisable, to reduce to the lowest practicable level the taking of marine mammals incidental to commercial fishing operations. Such regulations shall be adopted pursuant to section 553 of title 5, United States Code. I n issuing such regulations, the Secretary shall take into account the results of any scientific research under subsection (a) of this section and, in each case, shall provide a reasonable time not exceeding four months for the persons affected to implement such regulations. (c) Additionally, the Secretary and Secretary of State are directed to commence negotiations within the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission in order to effect essential compliance with the regulatory provisions of this Act so as to reduce to the maximum extent feasible the incidental taking of marine mammals by vessels involved in the tuna fishery. The Secretary and Secretary of State are further directed to request the Director of Investigations of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission to make recommendations to all member nations

R e s e a r c h and development.

Report to Congress. Appropriation,

Regulations.

80 Stat. 3 8 3.

Inter-American T r o p i c a l Tuna Commission, compliance.

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