H. R. 2617—812 
(b) REPORT.—Section 113(b)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 
(16 U.S.C. 460ss note) is amended— 
(1) in the paragraph heading, by striking ‘‘ANNUAL REPORT’’ 
and inserting ‘‘REPORT’’; 
(2) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this 
Act, and annually thereafter’’ and inserting ‘‘Not later than 
2 years after the date of enactment of the Fishery Resource 
Disasters Improvement Ac, and biennially thereafter’’; and 
(3) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘the calendar year 
2003’’ and inserting ‘‘the most recent’’. 
SEC. 204. INTERJURISDICTIONAL FISHERIES ACT OF 1986. 
(a) REPEAL.—Section 308 of the Interjurisdictional Fisheries 
Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 4107) is repealed. 
(b) TECHNICAL EDIT.—Section 3(k)(1) of the Small Business 
Act (15 U.S.C. 632(k)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘(as determined 
by the Secretary of Commerce under section 308(b) of the Interjuris-
dictional Fisheries Act of 1986)’’ and inserting ‘‘(as determined 
by the Secretary of Commerce under the Fishery Resource Disasters 
Improvement Act)’’. 
SEC. 205. BUDGET REQUESTS; REPORTS. 
(a) BUDGET REQUEST.—In the budget justification materials 
submitted to Congress in support of the budget of the Department 
of Commerce for each fiscal year (as submitted with the budget 
of the President under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States 
Code), the Secretary of Commerce shall include a separate state-
ment of the amount for each outstanding unfunded fishery resource 
disasters. 
(b) DRIFTNET ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1990 REPORT AND BYCATCH 
REDUCTION AGREEMENTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Con-
servation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) is 
amended— 
(A) in section 202(h), by striking paragraph (3); and 
(B) in section 206— 
(i) by striking subsections (e) and (f); and 
(ii) by redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as 
subsections (e) and (f), respectively. 
(2) BIENNIAL REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL COMPLIANCE.—Sec-
tion 607 of the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protec-
tion Act (16 U.S.C. 1826h) is amended— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ before ‘‘The Sec-
retary’’ and indenting appropriately; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.—In addition to the information 
described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (a), the report 
shall include— 
‘‘(1) a description of the actions taken to carry out the 
provisions of section 206 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Con-
servation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1826), including— 
‘‘(A) an evaluation of the progress of those efforts, 
the impacts on living marine resources, including available 
observer data, and specific plans for further action; 
‘‘(B) a list and description of any new fisheries devel-
oped by nations that conduct, or authorize their nationals
H. R. 2617—813 
to conduct, large-scale driftnet fishing beyond the exclusive 
economic zone of any nation; and 
‘‘(C) a list of the nations that conduct, or authorize 
their nationals to conduct, large-scale driftnet fishing 
beyond the exclusive economic zone of any nation in a 
manner that diminishes the effectiveness of or is incon-
sistent with any international agreement governing large- 
scale driftnet fishing to which the United States is a party 
or otherwise subscribes; and 
‘‘(2) a description of the actions taken to carry out the 
provisions of section 202(h) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1822(h)). 
‘‘(c) CERTIFICATION.—If, at any time, the Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating, identifies any nation that 
warrants inclusion in the list described under subsection (b)(1)(C), 
due to large scale drift net fishing, the Secretary shall certify 
that fact to the President. Such certification shall be deemed to 
be a certification for the purposes of section 8(a) of the Fishermen’s 
Protective Act of 1967 (22 U.S.C. 1978(a)).’’. 
TITLE III—ALASKA SALMON RESEARCH 
TASK FORCE 
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Alaska Salmon Research Task 
Force Act’’. 
SEC. 302. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this title are— 
(1) to ensure that Pacific salmon trends in Alaska regarding 
productivity and abundance are characterized and that research 
needs are identified; 
(2) to prioritize scientific research needs for Pacific salmon 
in Alaska; 
(3) to address the increased variability or decline in Pacific 
salmon returns in Alaska by creating a coordinated salmon 
research strategy; and 
(4) to support collaboration and coordination for Pacific 
salmon conservation efforts in Alaska. 
SEC. 303. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) salmon are an essential part of Alaska’s fisheries, 
including subsistence, commercial, and recreational uses, and 
there is an urgent need to better understand the freshwater 
and marine biology and ecology of salmon, a migratory species 
that crosses many borders, and for a coordinated salmon 
research strategy to address salmon returns that are in decline 
or experiencing increased variability; 
(2) salmon are an essential element for the well-being 
and health of Alaskans; and 
(3) there is a unique relationship between people of Indige-
nous heritage and the salmon they rely on for subsistence 
and traditional and cultural practices.
H. R. 2617—814 
SEC. 304. ALASKA SALMON RESEARCH TASK FORCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation 
with the Governor of Alaska, shall convene an Alaska Salmon 
Research Task Force (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Research 
Task Force’’) to— 
(1) review existing Pacific salmon research in Alaska; 
(2) identify applied research needed to better understand 
the increased variability and declining salmon returns in some 
regions of Alaska; and 
(3) support sustainable salmon runs in Alaska. 
(b) COMPOSITION AND APPOINTMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Research Task Force shall be com-
posed of not fewer than 13 and not more than 19 members, 
who shall be appointed under paragraphs (2) and (3). 
(2) APPOINTMENT BY SECRETARY.—The Secretary of Com-
merce shall appoint members to the Research Task Force as 
follows: 
(A) One representative from each of the following: 
(i) 
The 
National 
Oceanic 
and 
Atmospheric 
Administration who is knowledgeable about salmon 
and salmon research efforts in Alaska. 
(ii) The North Pacific Fishery Management 
Council. 
(iii) The United States section of the Pacific 
Salmon Commission. 
(B) Not less than 2 and not more than 5 representatives 
from each of the following categories, at least 2 of whom 
shall represent Alaska Natives who possess personal knowl-
edge of, and direct experience with, subsistence uses in 
rural Alaska, to be appointed with due regard to differences 
in regional perspectives and experience: 
(i) Residents of Alaska who possess personal 
knowledge of, and direct experience with, subsistence 
uses in rural Alaska. 
(ii) 
Alaska 
fishing 
industry 
representatives 
throughout the salmon supply chain, including from— 
(I) directed commercial fishing; 
(II) recreational fishing; 
(III) charter fishing; 
(IV) seafood processors; 
(V) salmon prohibited species catch (bycatch) 
users; or 
(VI) hatcheries. 
(C) 5 representatives who are academic experts in 
salmon biology, salmon ecology (marine and freshwater), 
salmon habitat restoration and conservation, or comprehen-
sive marine research planning in the North Pacific. 
(3) APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVERNOR OF ALASKA.—The Gov-
ernor of Alaska shall appoint to the Research Task Force one 
representative from the State of Alaska who is knowledgeable 
about the State of Alaska’s salmon research efforts. 
(c) DUTIES.— 
(1) REVIEW.—The Research Task Force shall— 
(A) conduct a review of Pacific salmon science relevant 
to understanding salmon returns in Alaska, including an 
examination of—
H. R. 2617—815 
(i) traditional ecological knowledge of salmon popu-
lations and their ecosystems; 
(ii) 
marine 
carrying 
capacity 
and 
density 
dependent constraints, including an examination of 
interactions with other salmon species, and with forage 
base in marine ecosystems; 
(iii) life-cycle and stage-specific mortality; 
(iv) genetic sampling and categorization of popu-
lation structure within salmon species in Alaska; 
(v) methods for predicting run-timing and stock 
sizes; 
(vi) oceanographic models that provide insight into 
stock distribution, growth, and survival; 
(vii) freshwater, estuarine, and marine processes 
that affect survival of smolts; 
(viii) climate effects on freshwater and marine 
habitats; 
(ix) predator/prey interactions between salmon and 
marine mammals or other predators; and 
(x) salmon productivity trends in other regions, 
both domestic and international, that put Alaska 
salmon populations in a broader geographic context; 
and 
(B) identify scientific research gaps in understanding 
the Pacific salmon life cycle in Alaska. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date the 
Research Task Force is convened, the Research Task Force 
shall submit to the Secretary of Commerce, the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the 
Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, 
the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related 
Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, 
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Represent-
atives, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and 
Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives, and the Alaska State Legislature, 
and make publicly available, a report— 
(A) describing the review conducted under paragraph 
(1); and 
(B) that includes— 
(i) recommendations on filling knowledge gaps that 
warrant further scientific inquiry; and 
(ii) findings from the reports of work groups sub-
mitted under subsection (d)(2)(C). 
(d) ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.— 
(1) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The Research 
Task Force shall select a Chair and Vice Chair by vote from 
among the members of the Research Task Force. 
(2) WORK GROUPS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Research Task Force— 
(i) not later than 30 days after the date of the 
establishment of the Research Task Force, shall estab-
lish a work group focused specifically on the research 
needs associated with salmon returns in the AYK 
(Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim) regions of Western Alaska; 
and