‘‘(A) a review of the information in the final 
stock assessment published under section 117(b), 
any substantial new information, a review of the 
conservation benefits from current State and re-
gional fishery management regulations;’’. 
(b) STOCK
ASSESSMENTS.—Section 117(a)(4) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (C); 
(2) by inserting ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (D); and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(E) potential conservation benefits pro-
vided by State and regional fishery manage-
ment regulations;’’. 
(c) ZERO MORTALITY RATE GOAL AMENDMENTS.— 
Section 118 (16 U.S.C. 1387) is amended in subsections 
(a)(1) and (b)(1) by striking ‘‘within 7 years after the date 
of enactment of this section’’ each place it appears. 
(d) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
101(a)(5)(E) (16 U.S.C. 1371(a)(5)(E)) is amended by 
inserting ‘‘or recreational’’ after ‘‘commercial’’ each place 
it appears.
SEC. 13. PINNIPED RESEARCH. 
Section 120 (16 U.S.C. 1389) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(k) RESEARCH
ON NONLETHAL REMOVAL
AND 
CONTROL.—(1) The Secretary shall conduct research on 
the nonlethal removal and control of nuisance pinnipeds. 
The research shall include a review of measures that have 
been taken to effect such removal and control, the effec-
tiveness of these measures, and the development of new 
technologies to deter nuisance pinnipeds. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall include, among the individ-
uals that develop the research program under this sub-
section, representatives of the commercial and recreational 
fishing industries. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary is encouraged, where appropriate, 
to use independent marine mammal research institutions 
in developing and in conducting the research program. 
‘‘(4) The Secretary shall, by December 31 of each 
year, submit an annual report on the results of research 
under this subsection to the Committee on Resources of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
‘‘(l) QUALIFIED NONLETHAL CONTROL PROJECTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may, to the 
extent amounts are available to carry out this sub-
section, provide a grant to any eligible applicant to
carry out a qualified nonlethal control project in ac-
cordance with this subsection. 
‘‘(2) APPLICATIONS.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) publish guidelines for and solicit ap-
plications for grants under this subsection not 
later than 6 months after the date of enactment 
of this subsection; and 
‘‘(B) receive, review, evaluate, and approve 
applications for grants under this subsection. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE APPLICANT.—To be an eligible 
applicant for purposes of paragraph (1), an appli-
cant must— 
‘‘(A) be a State, local government, or 
interstate or regional agency; and 
‘‘(B) have adequate personnel, funding, 
and authority to carry out and monitor or 
maintain a nonlethal control of nuisance 
pinnipeds project. 
‘‘(4) QUALIFIED CONTROL PROJECT.—To be a 
qualified control project under this subsection, a 
project must— 
‘‘(A) by humane and nonlethal means, re-
move, deter, and control nuisance pinnipeds in 
areas where they are a recurrent and persistent 
threat to public health and safety; and
‘‘(B) encourage public notice, education, 
and outreach on project activities in the af-
fected community. 
‘‘(5) GRANT
DURATION.—Each grant under 
this subsection shall be to provide funding for the 
Federal share of the cost of a project carried out 
with the grant for up to 2 fiscal years. 
‘‘(6) REPORTING BY GRANTEE.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—A grantee carrying 
out a control project with a grant under this 
subsection shall report to the Secretary at the 
expiration of the grant. 
‘‘(B) REPORT
CONTENTS.—Each report 
under this subsection shall include specific in-
formation on the methods and techniques used 
to control nuisance pinniped species in the 
project area, and on the ensuing results. 
‘‘(7) COST SHARING.— 
‘‘(A) FEDERAL
SHARE.—Except as pro-
vided in paragraphs (2) and (3), the Federal 
share of the cost of a project carried out with 
a grant under this subsection shall not exceed 
75 percent of such cost. 
‘‘(B) APPLICATION OF IN-KIND CONTRIBU-
TIONS.—The Secretary may apply to the non-