Great Lakes Fishery Research Authorization Act of 2017

To authorize the Director of the United States Geological Survey to conduct monitoring, assessment, science, and research, in support of the binational fisheries within the Great Lakes Basin, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Great Lakes Fishery Research Authorization Act of 2017 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Director The term Director (2) Great Lakes Basin The term Great Lakes Basin 3. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The Great Lakes support a diverse ecosystem, on which the vibrant and economically valuable Great Lakes fisheries depend. (2) To continue successful fisheries management and coordination, as has occurred since signing of the Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries between the United States and Canada on September 10, 1954, management of the ecosystem and its fisheries require sound, reliable science, and the use of modern scientific technologies. (3) Fisheries research is necessary to support multi-jurisdictional fishery management decisions and actions regarding recreational and sport fishing, commercial fisheries, tribal harvest, allocation decisions, and fish stocking activities. (4) President Richard Nixon submitted, and the Congress approved, Reorganization Plan No. 4 (84 Stat. 2090), conferring science activities and management of marine fisheries to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (5) Reorganization Plan No. 4 expressly excluded fishery research activities within the Great Lakes from the transfer, retaining management and scientific research duties within the already-established jurisdictions under the 1954 Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries, including those of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and the Department of the Interior. 4. Great Lakes monitoring, assessment, science, and research (a) In general The Director may conduct monitoring, assessment, science, and research, in support of the binational fisheries within the Great Lakes Basin. (b) Specific authorities The Director shall, under subsection (a)— (1) execute a comprehensive, multi-lake, freshwater fisheries science program; (2) coordinate with and work cooperatively with regional, State, tribal, and local governments; and (3) consult with other interested entities groups, including academia and relevant Canadian agencies. (c) Included research To properly serve the needs of fisheries managers, monitoring, assessment, science, and research under this section may include— (1) deepwater ecosystem sciences; (2) biological and food-web components; (3) fish movement and behavior investigations; (4) fish population structures; (5) fish habitat investigations; (6) invasive species science; (7) use of existing, new, and experimental biological assessment tools, equipment, vessels, other scientific instrumentation and laboratory capabilities necessary to support fishery management decisions; and (8) studies to assess impacts on Great Lakes Fishery resources. (d) Savings clause Nothing in this Act is intended or shall be construed to impede, supersede, or alter the authority of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, States, and Indian tribes under the Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries between the United States of America and Canada on September 10, 1954, and the Great Lakes Fishery Act of 1956 ( 16 U.S.C. 931 5. Authorization of appropriations For each of fiscal years 2018 through 2027, there is authorized to be appropriated $17,500,000 to carry out this Act.

Summary: Great Lakes Fishery Research Authorization Act of 2017 This bill authorizes the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct critical monitoring, scientific assessments, and research in support of fisheries within the Great Lakes Basin between the United States and Canada. In support of the fisheries within the Great Lakes Basin, the USGS Great Lakes Science Center shall: (1) execute a comprehensive, multi-lake, freshwater fisheries science program; (2) work cooperatively with regional, state, tribal, and local governments; and (3) consult with interested groups, including academia and Canadian agencies. To protect and improve the Great Lakes, the USGS Great Lakes Science Center may provide: deep-water ecosystem research, fish behavior and habitat reports, fish population assessments, invasive species research, use of biological equipment and laboratory capabilities necessary to support fishery management decisions, and studies that assess impacts on Great Lakes Fishery resources.