§1381 Commercial Fisheries Gear Development

Summary

The Secretary who runs NOAA must start a research and development program right away to create better fishing methods and gear that cut down as much as possible the accidental catching of marine mammals in commercial fishing. Within the full 24 calendar months after October 21, 1972, the Secretary must send a written report to Congress about the results. Congress authorized $1,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1973, and $1,000,000 for the next fiscal year, and those funds stay available until spent. After consulting the Marine Mammal Commission, the Secretary must issue rules as soon as possible to lower incidental takes of marine mammals to the lowest practical level, following normal administrative procedures and giving affected people up to four months to comply. The Secretary and the Secretary of State must begin talks in the Inter‑American Tropical Tuna Commission to reduce dolphin and other marine mammal takes in the tuna fishery and ask that the Commission promote the new methods and gear. During the research period, authorized agents may board U.S.-documented commercial fishing vessels (if space is available) with timely notice to observe or do research, with costs covered by the Secretary, and vessel masters must not interfere.