II 

Calendar No. 644 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3429 

To establish an Alaska Salmon Research Task Force. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 16, 2021 

Mr. SULLIVAN (for himself, Ms. MURKOWSKI, and Mr. PETERS) introduced 

the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee 

on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

DECEMBER 14, 2022 

Reported by Ms. CANTWELL, with an amendment 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

A BILL 

To establish an Alaska Salmon Research Task Force. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Alaska Salmon Re5 search Task Force Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 

7 The purposes of this Act are— 


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1 (1) to ensure that Pacific salmon trends in 

2 Alaska regarding productivity and abundance are 

3 characterized and that research needs are identified; 

4 (2) to prioritize scientific research needs for Pa5 cific salmon in Alaska; 

6 (3) to address the increased variability or de7 cline in Pacific salmon returns in Alaska by creating 

8 a coordinated salmon research strategy; and 

9 (4) to support collaboration and coordination 

10 for Pacific salmon conservation efforts in Alaska. 

11 SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

12 It is the sense of Congress that— 

13 (1) salmon are an essential part of Alaska’s 

14 fisheries, including subsistence, commercial, and rec15 reational uses, and there is an urgent need to better 

16 understand the freshwater and marine biology and 

17 ecology of salmon, a migratory species that crosses 

18 many borders, and for a coordinated salmon re19 search strategy to address salmon returns that are 

20 in decline or experiencing increased variability; 

21 (2) salmon are an essential element for the 

22 well-being and health of Alaskans; and 

23 (3) there is a unique relationship between peo24 ple of Indigenous heritage and the salmon they rely 


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1 on for subsistence and traditional and cultural prac2 tices. 

3 SEC. 4. ALASKA SALMON RESEARCH TASK FORCE. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 

5 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, 

6 in consultation with the Governor of Alaska, shall convene 

7 an Alaska Salmon Research Task Force (referred to in 

8 this section as the ‘‘Research Task Force’’) to— 

9 (1) review existing Pacific salmon research; 

10 (2) identify applied research needed to better 

11 understand the increased variability and declining 

12 salmon returns in some regions of Alaska; and 

13 (3) support sustainable management of salmon 

14 in Alaska. 

15 (b) COMPOSITION AND APPOINTMENT.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Research Task Force 

17 shall be composed of not fewer than 13 and not 

18 more than 19 members, who shall be appointed 

19 under paragraphs (2) and (3). 

20 (2) APPOINTMENT BY SECRETARY.—The Sec21 retary of Commerce shall appoint members to the 

22 Research Task Force as follows: 

23 (A) One representative from each of the 

24 following: 


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1 (i) The National Oceanic and Atmos2 pheric Administration who is knowledge3 able about salmon and salmon research ef4 forts in Alaska and is from the Alaska Re5 gion. 

6 (ii) The North Pacific Fishery Man7 agement Council. 

8 (iii) The United States section of the 

9 Pacific Salmon Commission. 

10 (B) Not less than 2 and not more than 5 

11 representatives from each of the following cat12 egories, at least 2 of whom shall represent Alas13 ka Natives who possess personal knowledge of, 

14 and direct experience with, subsistence uses in 

15 rural Alaska, to be appointed with due regard 

16 to differences in regional perspectives and expe17 rience: 

18 (i) Residents of Alaska who possess 

19 personal knowledge of, and direct experi20 ence with, subsistence uses in rural Alaska. 

21 (ii) Alaska fishing industry represent22 atives throughout the salmon supply chain, 

23 including from— 

24 (I) directed commercial fishing; 

25 (II) recreational fishing; 


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1 (III) charter fishing; 

2 (IV) seafood processors; 

3 (V) salmon prohibited species 

4 catch (bycatch) users; or 

5 (VI) hatcheries. 

6 (C) 5 representatives who are academic ex7 perts in salmon biology, salmon management, 

8 salmon ecology (marine and freshwater), or 

9 comprehensive marine research planning in the 

10 North Pacific. 

11 (3) APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVERNOR OF ALAS12 KA.—The Governor of Alaska shall appoint to the 

13 Research Task Force one representative from the 

14 State of Alaska who is knowledgeable about the 

15 State of Alaska’s salmon management and research 

16 efforts. 

17 (c) DUTIES.— 

18 (1) REVIEW.—The Research Task Force 

19 shall— 

20 (A) conduct a review of Pacific salmon 

21 science relevant to understanding and managing 

22 salmon returns in Alaska, including an exam23 ination of— 

24 (i) traditional ecological knowledge of 

25 salmon populations and their ecosystems; 


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1 (ii) marine carrying capacity and den2 sity dependent constraints, including an 

3 examination of interactions with other 

4 salmon species, and with forage base in 

5 marine ecosystems; 

6 (iii) life-cycle and stage-specific mor7 tality; 

8 (iv) genetic sampling and categoriza9 tion of population structure within salmon 

10 species in Alaska; 

11 (v) methods for predicting run-timing 

12 and stock sizes; 

13 (vi) oceanographic models that provide 

14 insight into stock distribution, growth, and 

15 survival; 

16 (vii) freshwater, estuarine, and marine 

17 processes that affect survival of smolts; 

18 (viii) climate effects on freshwater and 

19 marine habitats; 

20 (ix) predator/prey interactions be21 tween salmon and marine mammals or 

22 other predators; and 

23 (x) salmon productivity trends in 

24 other regions, both domestic and inter25 national, that put Alaska salmon popuVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Dec 15, 2022 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S3429.RS S3429

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1 lations in a broader geographic context; 

2 and 

3 (B) identify scientific research gaps in un4 derstanding the Pacific salmon life cycle in 

5 Alaska. 

6 (2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 

7 date the Research Task Force is convened, the Re8 search Task Force shall submit to the Secretary of 

9 Commerce, the Committee on Commerce, Science, 

10 and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on 

11 Environment and Public Works of the Senate, the 

12 Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and 

13 Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropria14 tions of the Senate, the Committee on Natural Re15 sources of the House of Representatives, the Sub16 committee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Re17 lated Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations 

18 of the House of Representatives, and the Alaska 

19 State Legislature, and make publicly available, a re20 port— 

21 (A) describing the review conducted under 

22 paragraph (1); and 

23 (B) that includes— 


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1 (i) recommendations on filling knowl2 edge gaps that warrant further scientific 

3 inquiry; and 

4 (ii) findings from the reports of work 

5 groups submitted under subsection 

6 (d)(2)(C). 

7 (d) ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.— 

8 (1) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.— 

9 The Research Task Force shall select a Chair and 

10 Vice Chair by vote from among the members of the 

11 Research Task Force. 

12 (2) WORK GROUPS.— 

13 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Research Task 

14 Force— 

15 (i) not later than 30 days after the 

16 date of the establishment of the Research 

17 Task Force, shall establish a work group 

18 focused specifically on salmon returns in 

19 the AYK (Arctic-Yukon-Kuskoskim) re20 gions of Western Alaska; and 

21 (ii) may establish additional regionally 

22 or stock focused work groups within the 

23 Research Task Force, as members deter24 mine appropriate. 


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1 (B) COMPOSITION.—Each work group es2 tablished under this subsection shall— 

3 (i) consist of not less than 5 individ4 uals who— 

5 (I) are knowledgeable about the 

6 stock or region under consideration; 

7 and 

8 (II) need not be members of the 

9 Research Task Force; and 

10 (ii) be balanced in terms of stake11 holder representation, including commer12 cial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries, 

13 as well as experts in statistical, biological, 

14 economic, social, or other scientific infor15 mation as relevant to the work group’s 

16 focus. 

17 (C) REPORTS.—Not later than 9 months 

18 after the date the Research Task Force is con19 vened, each work group established under this 

20 subsection shall submit a report with the work 

21 group’s findings to the Research Task Force. 

22 (3) COMPENSATION.—Each member of the Re23 search Task Force shall serve without compensation. 

24 (4) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—The Secretary 

25 of Commerce shall provide such administrative supVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Dec 15, 2022 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S3429.RS S3429

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1 port as is necessary for the Research Task Force 

2 and its work groups to carry out their duties, includ3 ing support for virtual or in-person participation and 

4 travel expenses. 

5 (e) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—The 

6 Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not 

7 apply to the Research Task Force. 

8 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

9 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Alaska Salmon Research 

10 Task Force Act’’. 

11 SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 

12 The purposes of this Act are— 

13 (1) to ensure that Pacific salmon trends in Alas14 ka regarding productivity and abundance are charac15 terized and that research needs are identified; 

16 (2) to prioritize scientific research needs for Pa17 cific salmon in Alaska; 

18 (3) to address the increased variability or decline 

19 in Pacific salmon returns in Alaska by creating a co20 ordinated salmon research strategy; and 

21 (4) to support collaboration and coordination for 

22 Pacific salmon conservation efforts in Alaska. 

23 SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

24 It is the sense of Congress that— 


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1 (1) salmon are an essential part of Alaska’s fish2 eries, including subsistence, commercial, and rec3 reational uses, and there is an urgent need to better 

4 understand the freshwater and marine biology and 

5 ecology of salmon, a migratory species that crosses 

6 many borders, and for a coordinated salmon research 

7 strategy to address salmon returns that are in decline 

8 or experiencing increased variability; 

9 (2) salmon are an essential element for the well10 being and health of Alaskans; and 

11 (3) there is a unique relationship between people 

12 of Indigenous heritage and the salmon they rely on 

13 for subsistence and traditional and cultural practices. 

14 SEC. 4. ALASKA SALMON RESEARCH TASK FORCE. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 

16 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, 

17 in consultation with the Governor of Alaska, shall convene 

18 an Alaska Salmon Research Task Force (referred to in this 

19 section as the ‘‘Research Task Force’’) to— 

20 (1) review existing Pacific salmon research in 

21 Alaska; 

22 (2) identify applied research needed to better un23 derstand the increased variability and declining 

24 salmon returns in some regions of Alaska; and 

25 (3) support sustainable salmon runs in Alaska. 


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1 (b) COMPOSITION AND APPOINTMENT.— 

2 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Research Task Force shall 

3 be composed of not fewer than 13 and not more than 

4 19 members, who shall be appointed under para5 graphs (2) and (3). 

6 (2) APPOINTMENT BY SECRETARY.—The Sec7 retary of Commerce shall appoint members to the Re8 search Task Force as follows: 

9 (A) One representative from each of the fol10 lowing: 

11 (i) The National Oceanic and Atmos12 pheric Administration who is knowledgeable 

13 about salmon and salmon research efforts in 

14 Alaska. 

15 (ii) The North Pacific Fishery Man16 agement Council. 

17 (iii) The United States section of the 

18 Pacific Salmon Commission. 

19 (B) Not less than 2 and not more than 5 

20 representatives from each of the following cat21 egories, at least 2 of whom shall represent Alaska 

22 Natives who possess personal knowledge of, and 

23 direct experience with, subsistence uses in rural 

24 Alaska, to be appointed with due regard to dif25 ferences in regional perspectives and experience: 


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1 (i) Residents of Alaska who possess 

2 personal knowledge of, and direct experience 

3 with, subsistence uses in rural Alaska. 

4 (ii) Alaska fishing industry representa5 tives throughout the salmon supply chain, 

6 including from— 

7 (I) directed commercial fishing; 

8 (II) recreational fishing; 

9 (III) charter fishing; 

10 (IV) seafood processors; 

11 (V) salmon prohibited species 

12 catch (bycatch) users; or 

13 (VI) hatcheries. 

14 (C) 5 representatives who are academic ex15 perts in salmon biology, salmon ecology (marine 

16 and freshwater), salmon habitat restoration and 

17 conservation, or comprehensive marine research 

18 planning in the North Pacific. 

19 (3) APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVERNOR OF ALAS20 KA.—The Governor of Alaska shall appoint to the Re21 search Task Force one representative from the State 

22 of Alaska who is knowledgeable about the State of 

23 Alaska’s salmon research efforts. 

24 (c) DUTIES.— 

25 (1) REVIEW.—The Research Task Force shall— 


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1 (A) conduct a review of Pacific salmon 

2 science relevant to understanding salmon returns 

3 in Alaska, including an examination of— 

4 (i) traditional ecological knowledge of 

5 salmon populations and their ecosystems; 

6 (ii) marine carrying capacity and 

7 density dependent constraints, including an 

8 examination of interactions with other 

9 salmon species, and with forage base in ma10 rine ecosystems; 

11 (iii) life-cycle and stage-specific mor12 tality; 

13 (iv) genetic sampling and categoriza14 tion of population structure within salmon 

15 species in Alaska; 

16 (v) methods for predicting run-timing 

17 and stock sizes; 

18 (vi) oceanographic models that provide 

19 insight into stock distribution, growth, and 

20 survival; 

21 (vii) freshwater, estuarine, and marine 

22 processes that affect survival of smolts; 

23 (viii) climate effects on freshwater and 

24 marine habitats; 


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1 (ix) predator/prey interactions between 

2 salmon and marine mammals or other 

3 predators; and 

4 (x) salmon productivity trends in other 

5 regions, both domestic and international, 

6 that put Alaska salmon populations in a 

7 broader geographic context; and 

8 (B) identify scientific research gaps in un9 derstanding the Pacific salmon life cycle in Alas10 ka. 

11 (2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 

12 date the Research Task Force is convened, the Re13 search Task Force shall submit to the Secretary of 

14 Commerce, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

15 Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Envi16 ronment and Public Works of the Senate, the Sub17 committee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Re18 lated Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of 

19 the Senate, the Committee on Natural Resources of the 

20 House of Representatives, the Subcommittee on Com21 merce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies of the 

22 Committee on Appropriations of the House of Rep23 resentatives, and the Alaska State Legislature, and 

24 make publicly available, a report— 


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1 (A) describing the review conducted under 

2 paragraph (1); and 

3 (B) that includes— 

4 (i) recommendations on filling knowl5 edge gaps that warrant further scientific in6 quiry; and 

7 (ii) findings from the reports of work 

8 groups submitted under subsection 

9 (d)(2)(C). 

10 (d) ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.— 

11 (1) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The 

12 Research Task Force shall select a Chair and Vice 

13 Chair by vote from among the members of the Re14 search Task Force. 

15 (2) WORK GROUPS.— 

16 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Research Task 

17 Force— 

18 (i) not later than 30 days after the 

19 date of the establishment of the Research 

20 Task Force, shall establish a work group fo21 cused specifically on the research needs asso22 ciated with salmon returns in the AYK 

23 (Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim) regions of West24 ern Alaska; and 


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1 (ii) may establish additional region2 ally or stock focused work groups within the 

3 Research Task Force, as members determine 

4 appropriate. 

5 (B) COMPOSITION.—Each work group estab6 lished under this subsection shall— 

7 (i) consist of not less than 5 individ8 uals who— 

9 (I) are knowledgeable about the 

10 stock or region under consideration; 

11 and 

12 (II) need not be members of the 

13 Research Task Force; and 

14 (ii) be balanced in terms of stakeholder 

15 representation, including commercial, rec16 reational, and subsistence fisheries, as well 

17 as experts in statistical, biological, eco18 nomic, social, or other scientific informa19 tion as relevant to the work group’s focus. 

20 (C) REPORTS.—Not later than 9 months 

21 after the date the Research Task Force is con22 vened, each work group established under this 

23 subsection shall submit a report with the work 

24 group’s findings to the Research Task Force. 


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1 (3) COMPENSATION.—Each member of the Re2 search Task Force shall serve without compensation. 

3 (4) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—The Secretary 

4 of Commerce shall provide such administrative sup5 port as is necessary for the Research Task Force and 

6 its work groups to carry out their duties, which may 

7 include support for virtual or in-person participation 

8 and travel expenses. 

9 (e) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—The Fed10 eral Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not 

11 apply to the Research Task Force. 

12 SEC. 5. DEFINITION OF PACIFIC SALMON. 

13 In this Act, the term ‘‘Pacific salmon’’ means salmon 

14 that originates in Alaskan waters. 


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Calendar No. 644 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3429 

A BILL 

To establish an Alaska Salmon Research Task 

Force. 

DECEMBER 14, 2022 

Reported with an amendment 


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