National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Fisheries Program Authorization Act
PL 98-210 (S.1099), enacted 12/06/1983

PUBLIC LAW 98-210—DEC. 6, 1983 
97 STAT. 1409 
Public Law 98-210 
98th Congress 
An Act 
To consolidate and authorize certain marine fishery programs and functions of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under the Department of 
Commerce. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may 
be cited as the "National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
Marine Fisheries Program Authorization Act". 
FISHERIES INFORMATION COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS 
SEC. 2. (a) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Depart-
ment of Commerce to enable the National Marine Fisheries Service 
to carry out its Fisheries Information Collection and Analysis duties 
under law, $26,500,000 for fiscal year 1984. These moneys shall be 
used to fund those duties relating to fisheries information collection 
and analysis specified by the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 
742a et seq.), the Act of May 11, 1938 (16 U.S.C. 755), and the Fur 
Seal Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.), the Act entitled, "An Act to 
promote the conservation of wildlife, fish, and game, and for other 
purposes", approved March 10, 1934 (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.), and any 
other law involving such duties. These duties include, but are not 
limited to, collection analysis and dissemination of scientific data 
necessary to manage: marine fishery resources, marine mammals, 
endangered species, and their habitats. 
(b) This authorization shall be in addition to any Fisheries Infor-
mation Collection Analysis moneys authorized under the Magnuson 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1801 
et seq.), the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 
et seq.), and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.). 
Dec. 6, 1983 
[S. 1099] 
National 
Oceanic and 
Atmospheric 
Administration 
Marine Fisheries 
Program 
Authorization 
Act. 
FISHERIES CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS 
SEC. 3. (a) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Depart-
ment of Commerce to enable the National Marine Fisheries Service 
to carry out its fisheries conservation and management operations 
duties under law, $35,000,000 for fiscal year 1984. These moneys 
shall be used to fund those duties relating to fisheries conservation 
and management operations specified by the Fish and Wildlife Act 
of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a et seq.), the Act of May 11, 1938 (16 U.S.C. 
755), the Fur Seal Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.), and the Act 
entitled, "An Act to promote the conservation of wildlife, fish, and 
game, and for other purposes", approved March 10, 1934 (16 U.S.C. 
661 et seq.), and any other law involving such duties. These duties 
include, but are not limited to, development, implementation, and 
enforcement of conservation and management measures to achieve 
continued optimum use of living marine resources; including hatch-
11-194 O - 85 — 46 J QL 3 
97 STAT. 1410 
PUBLIC LAW 98-210—DEC. 6, 1983 
ery operations, fishery management plan activities, habitat conser-
vation, and protected species management. 
(b) This authorization shall be in addition to any fisheries conser-
vation and management moneys authorized under the Fishery Con-
servation and Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the Salmon 
and Steelhead Conservation Act of 1980 (16 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.), and 
the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.). 
FISHERIES STATE AND INDUSTRY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS 
SEC. 4. (a) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Depart-
ment of Commerce to enable the National Marine Fisheries Service 
to carry out its fisheries State and industry assistance program 
duties under law, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1984. These moneys 
shall be used to fund those duties specified by the Fish and Wildlife 
Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a et seq.) and any other law affecting State 
and industry fisheries assistance. These duties include, but are not 
limited to, financial assistance for fishing boats and fish processing 
plants, market development for fishery products, product quality 
and grants to States for improving management of interstate fisher-
ies and stimulating fishery development. 
(b) This authorization shall be in addition to any fisheries State 
and industry assistance program moneys authorized under the Com-
mercial Fisheries Research and Development Act of 1964 (16 U.S.C. 
779 et seq.), the Act entitled "An Act to authorize the Secretary of 
the Interior to initiate with several States a cooperative program for 
the conservation, development, and enhancement of the Nation's 
anadromous fish, and for other purposes", approved October 30, 
1965 (16 U.S.C. 757a et seq.), the Central, Western, and South Pacific 
Fishery Development Act (16 U.S.C. 758e), and the Magnuson Fish-
ery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1801 et 
seq.). 
PAY INCREASE AUTHORIZATIONS 
SEC. 5. There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department 
of Commerce to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration to carry out its duties indicated under this Act, such 
additional sums as may be necessary for increases in salary, pay, 
and other employee benefits authorized by law. 
FREIGHT FORWARDER AMENDMENTS 
SEC. 6. Subsection (c) of section 1608 of the Act of August 13,1981 
46 use 801, 801 
(95 Stat. 752) is repealed. 
note. 
COASTWISE VESSELS 
Documentation. 
SEC. 7. (a) That, notwithstanding the failure of the vessel named 
Ante, p. 586. 
below to meet the requirements contained in 46 U.S.C. 12105, 46 
Ante, pp. 586, 
U.S.C. 12106, and 46 U.S.C. 12107, and section 27 of the Merchant 
^
^
"
^ 
Marine Act, 1920, as amended (46 App. U.S.C. 883), on the date of 
this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating shall cause the vessel Protector Alpha, Official Number 
PUBLIC LAW 98-210—DEC. 6, 1983 
97 STAT. 1411 
394610, to be documented as a vessel of the United States with the 
privilege of engaging in the coastwise trade, if (1) such vessel 
complies with all other requirements of law and (2) all repairs and 
modifications totalling at least $3,000,000 are performed on such 
vessel in a shipyard in the United States. 
Approved December 6, 1983. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1099: 
SENATE REPORT No. 98-80 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and Transportation). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 129 (1983): 
June 15, considered and passed Senate. 
Nov. 16, considered and passed House, amended. 
Nov. 18, Senate concurred in House amendment.