Ocean Acidification Research Partnerships Act

Summary: Ocean Acidification Research Partnerships Act This bill amends the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 to require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide grants for collaborative research projects on ocean acidification developed and conducted through partnerships between the seafood industry and the academic community. NOAA must prioritize projects which: (1) address ecosystems and communities vulnerable to the impacts of ocean acidification, (2) demonstrate support from local stakeholders, or (3) utilize seafood industry assets as research and monitoring platforms.  NOAA may make a grant to a partnership in which a marine-dependent industry is substituted for the seafood industry.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Ocean Acidification Research 
Partnerships Act''.

SEC. 2. OCEAN ACIDIFICATION COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH GRANTS.

    The Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 
(33 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 12406 
the following:

``SEC. 12406A. OCEAN ACIDIFICATION COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH GRANTS.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Academic community.--The term `academic community' 
        includes faculty and other representatives of institutions of 
        higher education and other schools, researchers, scientists, 
        and natural resource managers.
            ``(2) Seafood industry.--The term `seafood industry' 
        includes shellfish growers, shellfish harvesters, commercial 
        fishermen, recreational fishermen, other members of the seafood 
        harvesting or supply chain, and organizations representing any 
        of such groups.
    ``(b) Grants.--The Secretary shall provide grants for collaborative 
research projects on ocean acidification developed and conducted 
through partnerships between the seafood industry and the academic 
community.
    ``(c) Criteria for Approval.--The Secretary may not provide a grant 
for a project under this section unless the project is--
            ``(1) consistent with the themes identified under the 
        strategic research plan developed by the Subcommittee under 
        section 12405; and
            ``(2) designed to--
                    ``(A) develop and support partnerships, 
                communications, and shared understanding between the 
                seafood industry and the academic community;
                    ``(B) include the seafood industry in research on 
                ocean acidification;
                    ``(C) deliver research, monitoring, or adaptation 
                results which will benefit both the seafood industry 
                and the academic community;
                    ``(D) incorporate into the research agenda the 
                expertise of both the seafood industry, including their 
                unique understanding of the natural environment, and 
                the academic community;
                    ``(E) promote better understanding of seafood 
                industry research questions and priorities within the 
                academic community;
                    ``(F) promote wider understanding of ocean 
                acidification among the academic community, the seafood 
                industry, and other stakeholders as appropriate; and
                    ``(G) include appropriately balanced support from 
                both the seafood industry and the academic community.
    ``(d) Priority.--The Secretary shall prioritize funding under this 
section to projects which--
            ``(1) address ecosystems and communities vulnerable to the 
        impacts of ocean acidification;
            ``(2) demonstrate support from local stakeholders, such as 
        representatives of States or other governmental jurisdictions, 
        community organizations, tribes, or educational institutions, 
        as appropriate, located within the region in which the project 
        will be undertaken; or
            ``(3) utilize seafood industry assets as research and 
        monitoring platforms.
    ``(e) Implementation Guidelines.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary, in collaboration with 
the Subcommittee, shall issue implementation guidelines under this 
section, including criteria and priorities for grants. Those guidelines 
shall be developed in consultation, as appropriate, with--
            ``(1) State, regional, and local decisionmakers with ocean 
        acidification experience;
            ``(2) the seafood industry and other marine-dependent 
        industries;
            ``(3) formal and informal educators, including both those 
        within academia and those who are not;
            ``(4) tribes;
            ``(5) nongovernmental organizations involved in ocean 
        acidification research, prevention, or adaptation; and
            ``(6) any other appropriate community stakeholders.
    ``(f) Contents of Proposals.--Each proposal for a grant under this 
section shall include--
            ``(1) a description of the qualifications of the 
        individuals or entities who will conduct the project;
            ``(2) a plan for ensuring full participation and engagement 
        of both industry and academic community participants, including 
        a description of how each partner will contribute expertise to 
        the project in terms of design, execution, and interpretation 
        of results;
            ``(3) a plan for the dissemination of the results of the 
        research project, which may include--
                    ``(A) educational programs;
                    ``(B) presentations to members of the seafood 
                industry, the academic community, and community 
                stakeholders;
                    ``(C) scientific publication; and
                    ``(D) delivery to appropriate representatives of 
                States or other government jurisdictions who would use 
                the information;
            ``(4) a description of how the project is consistent with 
        the program elements described in section 12405(c); and
            ``(5) any other information the Secretary considers 
        necessary for evaluating the eligibility of the project for 
        funding under this section.
    ``(g) Alternative Participants.--The Secretary may make a grant 
under this section to a partnership in which a marine-dependent 
industry is substituted for the seafood industry if the proposed 
project serves the purposes of this section. In such a case, the 
participation and interests of that marine-dependent industry shall be 
substituted for those of the seafood industry in applying the 
requirements of this section.
    ``(h) Project Reporting.--Each grantee under this section shall 
provide periodic reports as required by the Secretary. Each such report 
shall include all information required by the Secretary for evaluating 
the progress and success of the project.
    ``(i) Matching Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
        total amount of Federal funding for a collaborative research 
        project supported under this section may not exceed 85 percent 
        of the total cost of such project. For purposes of this 
        paragraph, the non-Federal share of project costs may be 
        provided by in-kind contributions and other noncash support.
            ``(2) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive all or part of the 
        matching requirement under paragraph (1) if the Secretary 
        determines that no reasonable means are available through which 
        applicants can meet the matching requirement and the probable 
        benefit of such project outweighs the public interest in such 
        matching requirement.
    ``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary for carrying out this section $5,000,000 
for each of the fiscal years 2016 through 2020.''.