New England Groundfish Restoration Act of 1992

Summary

New England Groundfish Restoration Act of 1991 - Title I: New England Groundfish Restoration Program - Amends the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Act) to mandate an amendment to the Northeast Multispecies Fisheries Management Plan that establishes conservation and management so as to double the spawning biomass of New England groundfish (including cod, flounder, pollock, and hake) by five years after enactment of this Act. Encourages preparers to include controls and limits on commercial and recreational fishing. Provides for civil penalties for violation of the Plan amendment. Requires the New England Fishery Management Council to vote on the establishment of a five-year moratorium on new (but not on renewal or replacement) permits for fishing for New England groundfish. Establishes: (1) a program for the use of amounts in the Sport Fish Restoration Account to purchase fishing vessels, authorized to participate in fisheries covered by the Plan, to reduce the number of fishing vessels and the fishing effort in those fisheries; and (2) an advisory panel. Repeals provisions of this Act relating to the vessel purchase program on the date of the termination of the moratorium. Provides for enforcement by the States with reimbursement by the Secretary of Commerce. Authorizes the Sea Sampler Program for stationing individuals on vessels engaged in New England groundfish fishing to collect information for the conservation and management of fisheries managed under the Plan. Prohibits: (1) requiring a vessel to have such an individual on board; and (2) using information for enforcement of the Magnuson Act. Authorizes and encourages negotiations with the Government of Canada for an international fishery agreement for the conservation and management of fisheries of mutual concern in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, with emphasis on transboundary groundfish. Mandates establishment of a consultative committee to assist in the development and implementation of such an agreement. Establishes a program of joint ventures to: (1) promote development and harvest of underutilized species; (2) reduce New England groundfish fishing; and (3) provide financial assistance to make such joint ventures for underutilized species economically viable. Requires, as a condition for participation, temporary surrender of permits for groundfish fishing. Directs the Secretary to use amounts available under specified provisions of Federal law ( commonly referred to as the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act) to fund grants for development of fisheries for underutilized species in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. Amends the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act to require giving priority, in making grants to promote the free flow of domestically produced fishery products, to promoting the development of fisheries for underutilized species. Amends the Magnuson Act to require restoration of New England groundfish to be included in the strategic fisheries research plan mandated by existing provisions. Title II: Loan Guarantees, Diesel Fuel Taxes on Certain Commercial Fishing Boats, and Capital Construction Fund Provisions - Amends the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 with regard to Federal ship mortgage insurance provisions, to: (1) prohibit guarantees inconsistent with the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan; and (2) encourage guarantees which promote the development of fisheries for underutilized species in New England. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to suspend, during the moratorium provided for in title I of this Act, the exemption from taxes on diesel fuel for vessels holding permits for fish conserved and managed under the Plan. Applies to such vessels provisions imposing a tax on certain diesel fuel. Deposits receipts resulting from these provisions in the Sport Fish Restoration Account in the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund. Allows expenditures from the Account, to the extent covered by such deposits, for: (1) the Sea Sampler, Vessel Purchase, and joint ventures programs established by this Act; and (2) storage, care, and other costs associated with the enforcement of the Magnuson Act under existing provisions. Amends provisions of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 and the Internal Revenue Code relating to capital construction funds to specify those matters for which withdrawals are and are not allowed for a vessel: (1) holding a permit to harvest any species conserved and managed under the Plan; and (2) prohibited under amendments made by this Act from fishing. Title III: Fisheries Employment Assistance - Amends the Job Training Partnership Act to authorize grants to: (1) provide training, adjustment assistance, and employment services to individuals who are unemployed as a result of compliance with the Magnuson Act; and (2) make needs-related payments to certain individuals to complete training or education. Authorizes appropriations.

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3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN

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• Reported to House amended, Part I

  summary · EN · 22 September 1992

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 16 July 1991

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