[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC1863]
TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
CHAPTER 38--FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT
SUBCHAPTER IV--NATIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Sec. 1863. Northwest Atlantic Ocean Fisheries Reinvestment
Program
(a) Program
(1) Not later than October 1, 1993, the Secretary shall establish a
Northwest Atlantic Ocean Fisheries Reinvestment Program for the purposes
of--
(A) promoting development of commercial fisheries and markets
for underutilized species of the northwest Atlantic Ocean;
(B) developing alternative fishing opportunities for
participants in the New England groundfish fishery;
(C) providing technical support and assistance to United States
fishermen and fish processors to improve the value-added processing
of underutilized species and to make participation in fisheries for
underutilized species of the northwest Atlantic Ocean economically
viable;
(D) creating new economic opportunities through the improved
processing and expanded use of fish waste; and
(E) helping to restore overfished New England groundfish stocks
through aquaculture or hatchery programs.
(2) Consultation.--In establishing and implementing the Northwest
Fisheries Reinvestment Program, the Secretary shall consult with
representatives of the commercial fishing industry, the seafood
processing industry, and the academic community (including the National
Sea Grant Program).
(3) Activities Under Program.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Secretary shall award contracts, grants and other
financial assistance to United States citizens to carry out the purposes
of subsection \1\ (1), under the terms and conditions provided in
section 713c-3(c) of title 15, except that, in making awards under this
section for projects involving participation in fisheries for
underutilized species, the Secretary shall give the highest priority to
a person who owns or operates a fishing vessel permitted under this
chapter to participate in the New England groundfish fishery who agrees
to surrender that permit to the Secretary during the duration of the
contract, grant or other assistance.
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\1\ So in original. Probably should be ``paragraph''.
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(4) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1993 through 1999 to
carry out the purposes of this section. For fiscal year 1993 no more
than $1,000,000, and for fiscal year 1994 no more than $2,000,000, of
such funds may be provided from monies made available under section
713c-3(b) of title 15.
(b) Assistance of other agencies
The Secretary shall actively seek the assistance of other Federal
agencies in the development of fisheries for underutilized species of
the northwest Atlantic Ocean, including, to the extent permitted by
other applicable laws, assistance from the Secretary of Agriculture in
including such underutilized species as agricultural commodities in the
programs of the Foreign Agricultural Service for which amounts are
authorized under the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of
1990 (Public Law 101-624; 104 Stat. 3359).
(c) Management plans for underutilized species
The New England Fishery Management Council, in consultation with
other appropriate Councils, shall develop fishery management plans as
soon as possible for any underutilized species of the northwest Atlantic
Ocean that is not covered under such a plan, in order to prevent
overfishing of that species.
(d) ``Underutilized species'' defined
For purposes of this section, the term ``underutilized species of
the northwest Atlantic Ocean'' means any fish species of the northwest
Atlantic Ocean that is identified, by the Director of the Northeast
Fisheries Center of the National Marine Fisheries Service, as an
underutilized species.
(Pub. L. 94-265, title III, Sec. 314, as added Pub. L. 102-567, title
IX, Sec. 902(a), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4317; amended Pub. L. 104-297,
title I, Sec. 117(b), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3604.)
