101 
and ecosystem-based approaches to coastal and ocean gov-
ernance. 
(b) MATTERS INCLUDED.—The study required by 
subsection (a) shall evaluate— 
(1) current coastal and oceans approaches to 
ecosystem-based management and their effectiveness 
at maintaining healthy marine ecosystems; 
(2) approaches to regional governance currently 
in use in the United States; and 
(3) mechanisms for engaging Federal, State, 
and local governments, special interest groups, and 
the general public in the management process. 
(c) RECOMMENDATIONS.—In carrying out the study 
required by subsection (a), the National Research Council 
may develop recommendations it considers appropriate 
and directly related to the subject matter of the study. 
It is the sense of the Congress that the National Research 
Council should develop recommendations on the best 
methods of creating governance structures, specific to 
each of the Regional Ocean Partnerships created in sec-
tion 402, that include ecosystem-based management strat-
egies and broad participation. 
(d) REPORTS.—The National Research Council shall 
submit to the Administrator, the Committee on Ocean Pol-
icy, and each of the Regional Ocean Partnerships created 
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in section 402 by not later than one year after entering 
into the arrangement required by subsection (a), a final 
report on the study that includes all findings, conclusions, 
and recommendations. Upon receipt of the final report, 
each of the Regional Ocean Partnerships shall consider 
and integrate recommendations of the National Research 
Council to improve regional governance structures. 
(e) PROVISION
OF INFORMATION.—The Adminis-
trator and the Regional Ocean Partnerships shall, in a 
timely manner, make available to the National Research 
Council all information that the National Research Coun-
cil considers necessary to carry out its responsibilities 
under this section. 
(f) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—This section shall not 
be construed to affect section 402, except to advise on effi-
cient structure and operation of the partnerships for the 
most effective ecosystem-based management of resources 
as practicable. 
(g) FUNDING.—Of the amounts made available to the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration pursu-
ant to the authorization of appropriations, an appropriate 
amount shall be available for carrying out the study re-
quired by this section. 
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103 
SEC. 405. OCEAN ECOSYSTEM RESOURCE INFORMATION 
SYSTEMS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 
(1) Ecosystem-based management will require 
development of an ocean information systems com-
prised of a set of information management tools and 
products capable of integrating and disseminating 
information essential for informed decision-making. 
(2) Information generated by ocean monitoring 
systems, including the National Environmental Ob-
servatory Network, will be more useful if fully inte-
grated into resource information systems developed 
for ecosystem-based management applications. Data 
from these offshore monitoring programs, coupled 
with other information on ocean and aquatic eco-
systems, will provide a basis for understanding nat-
ural and anthropogenic environmental variability, in-
cluding climate change and the resulting impacts on 
living marine resources. 
(3) Natural resource information systems have 
been developed and are presently a successful man-
agement tool for onshore uses, including some Pa-
cific Coast watersheds, and they should now be ap-
plied to the ocean environment to facilitate eco-
system-based management of the United States 
oceans waters. 
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(b) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—The Administrator shall, 
within 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, establish a network of regional ocean eco-
system resource information systems to act as an or-
ganized repository of geophysical, atmospheric, 
oceanographic, and marine biological data, including 
genetic research, studies, data, maps, and analyses 
necessary to the understanding of the ocean eco-
system, and from which to draw information for the 
establishment of national policies and priorities re-
lated to the conservation, use, and management of 
United States ocean waters and the marine re-
sources therein. 
(2) 
INCLUDED
INFORMATION.—Information 
maintained in each regional ocean ecosystem re-
source information system may include— 
(A) relevant historic or social science infor-
mation that may aid in the understanding of 
ocean ecosystems or their management; and 
(B) published and unpublished research, 
data, and scientifically peer-reviewed analysis, 
developed by State agencies, academic or sci-
entific institutions, fishermen’s collaborative re-
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search programs, and other reliable and rel-
evant information sources. 
(3) REVIEW OF INCLUDED ANALYSES AND IN-
TERPRETATIONS.—Each draft analysis and interpre-
tation of data to explain ecosystem relationships that 
is included in a regional ocean ecosystem resource 
information system shall be reviewed by qualified ex-
perts before being broadly disseminated through the 
system to the public. 
(4) CONTRACTS AND OTHER AGREEMENTS.— 
(A) AUTHORITY.—The Administrator, sub-
ject to the availability of appropriations, may 
enter into contracts and other agreements with 
other Federal agencies, State agencies, non-gov-
ernmental organizations, universities, and pri-
vate academic institutions for development of 
portions of each regional ocean ecosystem re-
source information system. 
(B) OPEN-SOURCE
SOFTWARE
AND
THE 
END-PRODUCT
LICENSES.—The Administrator 
shall include in such agreements appropriate 
provisions requiring use of general public li-
cense open-source software and licensing of 
end-products to the Administration or to any 
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