Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act
Bill: H.R.6651 | Sponsor: Rep. Young, Don (R-AK)
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act
This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to convene an Alaska Salmon Research Task Force. The task force must review and report on research about the Pacific salmon in Alaska, identify applied research needed to better understand salmon migration and declining salmon returns in some regions of Alaska, and support sustainable management of salmon.

To establish an Alaska Salmon Research Task Force.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Alaska Salmon Research Task Force 
Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

     The purposes of this Act 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. 3. 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 for people of Indigenous 
        heritage who rely on salmon for subsistence and traditional and 
        cultural practices.

SEC. 4. 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;
            (2) identify applied research needed to better understand 
        the increased variability and declining salmon returns in some 
        regions of Alaska; and
            (3) support sustainable management of salmon in Alaska.
    (b) Composition and Appointment.--
            (1) In general.--The Research Task Force shall be composed 
        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 Commerce 
        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 from the 
                        Alaska Region.
                            (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 1 of whom shall represent Alaska Natives who 
                possess personal knowledge 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 management, salmon ecology 
                (marine and freshwater), or comprehensive marine 
                research planning in the North Pacific.
            (3) Appointment by the governor of alaska.--The Governor 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 management and research 
        efforts.
    (c) Duties.--
            (1) Review.--The Research Task Force shall--
                    (A) conduct a review of Pacific salmon science 
                relevant to understanding and managing salmon returns 
                in Alaska, including an examination of--
                            (i) traditional ecological knowledge of 
                        salmon populations 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 
                        population 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 Representatives, 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 submitted 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 establish a work group focused 
                        specifically on salmon returns in the AYK 
                        (Arctic-Yukon-Kuskoskim) regions of Western 
                        Alaska; and
                            (ii) may establish additional regionally or 
                        stock focused work groups within the Research 
                        Task Force, as members determine appropriate.
                    (B) Composition.--Each work group established under 
                this subsection shall--
                            (i) consist of not less than 5 individuals 
                        who--
                                    (I) are knowledgeable about the 
                                stock or region under consideration; 
                                and
                                    (II) need not be members of the 
                                Research Task Force; and
                            (ii) be balanced in terms of stakeholder 
                        representation, including commercial, 
                        recreational, and subsistence fisheries, as 
                        well as experts in statistical, biological, 
                        economic, social, or other scientific 
                        information as relevant to the work group's 
                        focus.
                    (C) Reports.--Not later than 9 months after the 
                date the Research Task Force is convened, each work 
                group established under this subsection shall submit a 
                report with the work group's findings to the Research 
                Task Force.
            (3) Compensation.--Each member of the Research Task Force 
        shall serve without compensation.
            (4) Administrative support.--The Secretary of Commerce 
        shall provide such administrative support as is necessary for 
        the Research Task Force and its work groups to carry out their 
        duties, including support for virtual or in-person 
        participation and travel expenses.
    (e) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Research Task Force.

            Passed the House of Representatives April 26, 2022.

            Attest:

                                             CHERYL L. JOHNSON,

                                                                 Clerk.