[116th Congress Public Law 289]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 4885]]
YOUNG FISHERMEN'S DEVELOPMENT ACT
[[Page 134 STAT. 4886]]
Public Law 116-289
116th Congress
An Act
To preserve United States fishing heritage through a national program
dedicated to training and assisting the next generation of commercial
fishermen. <<NOTE: Jan. 5, 2021 - [H.R. 1240]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Young
Fishermen's Development Act. 33 USC 1101 note.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Young Fishermen's Development Act''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: 33 USC 1141.>> DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Sea grant institution.--The term ``Sea Grant
Institution'' means a sea grant college or sea grant institute,
as those terms are defined in section 203 of the National Sea
Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1122).
(2) Tribal organization.--The term ``Tribal organization''
has the meaning given the term ``tribal organization'' in
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(3) Young fisherman.--The term ``young fisherman'' means an
individual who--
(A) desires to participate in the commercial
fisheries of the United States, including the Great
Lakes fisheries;
(B) has worked as a captain, crew member, or
deckhand on a commercial fishing vessel for not more
than 10 years of cumulative service; or
(C) is a beginning commercial fisherman.
SEC. 3. <<NOTE: 33 USC 1142.>> ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.
The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the National Sea Grant
Office, shall establish a program to provide training, education,
outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for young fishermen, to
be known as the ``Young Fishermen's Development Grant Program''
(referred to in this section as the ``Program'').
SEC. 4. <<NOTE: 33 USC 1143.>> GRANTS.
(a) In General.--In carrying out the Program, the Secretary shall
make competitive grants to support new and established local and
regional training, education, outreach, and technical assistance
initiatives for young fishermen, including programs, workshops, and
services relating to--
(1) seamanship, navigation, electronics, and safety;
(2) vessel and engine care, maintenance, and repair;
(3) innovative conservation fishing gear engineering and
technology;
[[Page 134 STAT. 4887]]
(4) sustainable fishing practices;
(5) entrepreneurship and good business practices;
(6) direct marketing, supply chain, and traceability;
(7) financial and risk management, including vessel, permit,
and quota purchasing;
(8) State and Federal legal requirements for specific
fisheries, including reporting, monitoring, licenses, and
regulations;
(9) State and Federal fisheries policy and management;
(10) mentoring, apprenticeships, or internships; and
(11) any other activities, opportunities, or programs, as
the Secretary determines appropriate.
(b) Eligibility.--
(1) Applicants.--To be eligible to receive a grant under the
Program, a recipient shall be a collaborative State, Tribal,
local, or regionally based network or partnership of public or
private entities, which may include--
(A) a Sea Grant Institution;
(B) a Federal or State agency or a Tribal
organization;
(C) a community-based nongovernmental organization;
(D) fishermen's cooperatives or associations;
(E) an institution of higher education (including an
institution awarding an associate's degree), or a
foundation maintained by an institution of higher
education; or
(F) any other appropriate entity, as the Secretary
determines appropriate.
(2) Participants.--All young fishermen seeking to
participate in the commercial fisheries of the United States and
the Great Lakes are eligible to participate in the activities
funded through grants provided for in this section, except that
participants in such activities shall be selected by each grant
recipient.
(c) Maximum Term and Amount of Grant.--
(1) In general.--A grant under this section shall--
(A) have a term of no more than 3 fiscal years; and
(B) be in an amount that is not more than $200,000
for each fiscal year.
(2) Consecutive grants.--An eligible recipient may receive
consecutive grants under this section.
(d) Matching Requirement.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, a recipient shall provide a match in the form of cash or
in-kind contributions from the recipient in the amount equal to or
greater than 25 percent of the funds provided by the grant.
(e) Regional Balance.--In making grants under this section, the
Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure geographic
diversity.
(f) <<NOTE: Consultation.>> Cooperation and Evaluation Criteria.--
In carrying out this section and in developing criteria for evaluating
grant applications, the Secretary shall consult, to the maximum extent
practicable, with--
(1) Sea Grant Institutions and extension agents of such
institutions;
(2) community-based nongovernmental fishing organizations;
(3) Federal and State agencies, including Regional Fishery
Management Councils established under the Magnuson-Stevens
[[Page 134 STAT. 4888]]
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1851 et
seq.);
(4) institutions of higher education with fisheries
expertise and programs; and
(5) partners, as the Secretary determines.
(g) Prohibition.--A grant under this section may not be used to
purchase any fishing license, permit, quota, or other harvesting right.
SEC. 5. <<NOTE: 33 USC 1144.>> FUNDING.
(a) Authorizations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this Act $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through
2026.
(b) Derivation.--Funds to carry out the activities under this Act
shall be derived from amounts authorized to be appropriated pursuant to
the preceding subsection that are enacted after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
Approved January 5, 2021.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1240:
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 116-429 (Comm. on Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 166 (2020):
Dec. 10, considered and passed House.
Dec. 20, considered and passed Senate.
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