SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The North Atlantic right whale is critically 
endangered, with estimates suggesting fewer than 
350 remain, including fewer than 100 breeding fe-
males. 
(2) Harvesters in the North Atlantic have taken 
previous actions to protect whales, including by im-
plementing weak links, replacing thousands of miles 
of floating ground line with whale-safe sinking line, 
and increasing the minimum number of traps per 
trawl to remove thousands of miles of vertical buoy 
lines. 
(3) Seventeen North Atlantic right whale mor-
talities were observed in 2017, including many deter-
mined to have been caused by vessel strikes and en-
tanglements, leading to a declaration of a right 
whale Unusual Mortality Event. 
(4) The Department of Commerce has issued 
regulations revising the Atlantic Large Whale Take 
Reduction Plan under section 229.32 of title 50, 
Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the day 
before the date of enactment of this Act) that re-
quire lobster and Jonah crab harvesters to make 
gear modifications. 
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(5) Implementing the federally required gear 
modifications, including markings, is estimated to 
cost the industry tens of millions of dollars per year. 
(6) The fishing industry is a vital driver of re-
gional economies, supporting our coastal commu-
nities and stewarding natural resources. 
SEC. 3. GRANT ASSISTANCE FOR LOBSTER AND JONAH 
CRAB HARVESTER GEAR MODIFICATION. 
(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are 
to— 
(1) protect the highly endangered North Atlan-
tic right whale population; 
(2) facilitate lobster and Jonah crab harvesters’ 
transition to modified and new gear types in accord-
ance with the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction 
Plan; 
(3) assist lobster and Jonah crab harvesters 
with the financial burden of this transition; and 
(4) assist compliance with any subsequent 
modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Re-
duction Plan in any future impacted fisheries. 
(b) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce 
(referred to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’), in 
coordination with the Atlantic States Marine Fish-
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eries Commission, shall provide grants to States 
from allotments under paragraph (2) to enable the 
States to assist lobster and Jonah crab harvesters 
with the costs of gear modifications, including mark-
ings, in accordance with the Atlantic Large Whale 
Take Reduction Plan. 
(2) ALLOTMENTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), funds made available for any 
fiscal year to carry out this section shall be al-
lotted to each State in proportion to the num-
ber of active federally permitted lobster trap 
harvesters in each State. For purposes of this 
subparagraph, a federally permitted lobster trap 
harvester is considered in a State if the Prin-
cipal Port in the Federal permit application of 
the lobster trap harvester is in such State. 
(B) MINIMUM.—From the total amount 
available for any fiscal year to carry out this 
section, each State with not less than 20 active 
federally permitted lobster trap harvesters shall 
be allotted not less than 4 percent of such the 
total amount. 
(3) APPLICATION.—A State that desires to re-
ceive a grant under this section shall submit an ap-
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plication to the Secretary at such time, in such man-
ner, and accompanied by such information as the 
Secretary may require. 
(4) ALLOWABLE USES.—A State that receives a 
grant under this section shall use the grant funds— 
(A) to assist State-permitted and federally 
permitted lobster and Jonah crab harvesters 
with management measures needed to comply 
with the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction 
Plan, including the costs of federally required 
gear modification, configuration, and marking 
within the Northeast lobster and Jonah crab 
fisheries, including requirements to modify gear 
marking, change gear configurations to increase 
traps fished on trawls, or modify buoy lines to 
accommodate new weak rope and weak inser-
tions; 
(B) to implement electronic tracking re-
quirements within the American lobster and 
Jonah crab fishery; 
(C) to conduct research to inform future 
management actions, including in preparation 
for potential subsequent modifications to the 
Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan; 
and 
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