#aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cdbi ,,an ,,act ,to establish an ,alaska ,salmon ,research ,task ,force4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,alaska ,salmon ,research ,task ,force ,act4 #b4 ,purposes ,the purposes of this ,act are-- 7#a7 to ensure that ,pacific salmon trends in ,alaska regarding productivity and abundance are characterized and that research needs are identified2 7#b7 to prioritize scientific research needs for ,pacific salmon in ,alaska2 7#c7 to address the increased variability or decline in ,pacific salmon returns in ,alaska by creating a coordinated salmon research strategy2 and 7#d7 to support collaboration and coordination for ,pacific salmon conservation efforts in ,alaska4 #c4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 salmon are an essential part of ,alaska's fisheries1 including subsistence1 commercial1 and recreational uses1 and there is an urgent need to better understand the freshwater and marine biology and ecology of salmon1 a migratory species that crosses many borders1 and for a coordinated salmon research strategy to address salmon returns that are in decline or experiencing increased variability2 7#b7 salmon are an essential element for the well-being and health of ,alaskans2 and 7#c7 there is a unique relationship between people of ,indigenous heritage and the salmon they rely on for subsistence and traditional and cultural practices4 #d4 ,alaska ,salmon ,research ,task ,force 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,commerce1 in consultation with the ,governor of ,alaska1 shall convene an ,alaska ,salmon ,research ,task ,force 7referred to in this section as the ,research ,task ,force7 to-- 7#a7 review existing ,pacific salmon research in ,alaska2 7#b7 identify applied research needed to better understand the increased variability and declining salmon returns in some regions of ,alaska2 and 7#c7 support sustainable salmon runs in ,alaska4 7b7 ,composition and appointment 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,research ,task ,force shall be composed of not fewer than #ac and not more than #ai members1 who shall be appointed under paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c74 7#b7 ,appointment by secretary ,the ,secretary of ,commerce shall appoint members to the ,research ,task ,force as follows3 7,a7 ,one representative from each of the following3 7i7 ,the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration who is knowledgeable about salmon and salmon research efforts in ,alaska4 7ii7 ,the ,north ,pacific ,fishery ,management ,council4 7iii7 ,the ,united ,states section of the ,pacific ,salmon ,commission4 7,b7 ,not less than #b and not more than #e representatives from each of the following categories1 at least #b of whom shall represent ,alaska ,natives who possess personal knowledge of1 and direct experience with1 subsistence uses in rural ,alaska1 to be appointed with due regard to differences in regional perspectives and experience3 7i7 ,residents of ,alaska who possess personal knowledge of1 and direct experience with1 subsistence uses in rural ,alaska4 7ii7 ,alaska fishing industry representatives throughout the salmon supply chain1 including from-- 7,i7 directed commercial fishing2 7,,ii7 recreational fishing2 7,,iii7 charter fishing2 7,,iv7 seafood processors2 7,v7 salmon prohibited species catch 7bycatch7 users2 or 7,,vi7 hatcheries4 7,c7 #e representatives who are academic experts in salmon biology1 salmon ecology 7marine and freshwater71 salmon habitat restoration and conservation1 or comprehensive marine research planning in the ,north ,pacific4 7#c7 ,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 research efforts4 7c7 ,duties 7#a7 ,review ,the ,research ,task ,force shall-- 7,a7 conduct a review of ,pacific salmon science relevant to understanding salmon returns in ,alaska1 including an examination of-- 7i7 traditional ecological knowledge of salmon populations and their ecosystems2 7ii7 marine carrying capacity and density dependent constraints1 including an examination of interactions with other salmon species1 and with forage base in marine ecosystems2 7iii7 life-cycle and stage-specific mortality2 7iv7 genetic sampling and categorization of population structure within salmon species in ,alaska2 7v7 methods for predicting run-timing and stock sizes2 7vi7 oceanographic models that provide insight into stock distribution1 growth1 and survival2 7vii7 freshwater1 estuarine1 and marine processes that affect survival of smolts2 7viii7 climate effects on freshwater and marine habitats2 7ix7 predator_/prey interactions between salmon and marine mammals or other predators2 and 7x7 salmon productivity trends in other regions1 both domestic and international1 that put ,alaska salmon populations in a broader geographic context2 and 7,b7 identify scientific research gaps in understanding the ,pacific salmon life cycle in ,alaska4 7#b7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date the ,research ,task ,force is convened1 the ,research ,task ,force shall submit to the ,secretary of ,commerce1 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate1 the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works of the ,senate1 the ,subcommittee on ,commerce1 ,justice1 ,science1 and ,related ,agencies of the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate1 the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives1 the ,subcommittee on ,commerce1 ,justice1 ,science1 and ,related ,agencies of the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives1 and the ,alaska ,state ,legislature1 and make publicly available1 a report-- 7,a7 describing the review conducted under paragraph 7#a72 and 7,b7 that includes-- 7i7 recommendations on filling knowledge gaps that warrant further scientific inquiry2 and 7ii7 findings from the reports of work groups submitted under subsection 7d77#b77;,c74 7d7 ,administrative matters 7#a7 ,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 ,force4 7#b7 ,work groups 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,research ,task ,force-- 7i7 not later than #cj days after the date of the establishment of the ,research ,task ,force1 shall establish a work group focused specifically on the research needs associated with salmon returns in the ,,ayk 7,arctic-,yukon-,kuskokwim7 regions of ,western ,alaska2 and 7ii7 may establish additional regionally or stock focused work groups within the ,research ,task ,force1 as members determine appropriate4 7,b7 ,composition ,each work group established under this subsection shall-- 7i7 consist of not less than #e individuals who-- 7,i7 are knowledgeable about the stock or region under consideration2 and 7,,ii7 need not be members of the ,research ,task ,force2 and 7ii7 be balanced in terms of stakeholder representation1 including commercial1 recreational1 and subsistence fisheries1 as well as experts in statistical1 biological1 economic1 social1 or other scientific information as relevant to the work group's focus4 7,c7 ,reports ,not later than #i months after the date the ,research ,task ,force is convened1 each work group established under this subsection shall submit a report with the work group's findings to the ,research ,task ,force4 7#c7 ,compensation ,each member of the ,research ,task ,force shall serve without compensation4 7#d7 ,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 duties1 which may include support for virtual or in-person participation and travel expenses4 7e7 ,federal advisory committee act ,the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 shall not apply to the ,research ,task ,force4 #e4 ,definition of ,pacific salmon ,in this ,act1 the term ,pacific salmon means salmon that originates in ,alaskan waters4 ,passed the ,senate ,december #ad1 #bjbb4,secretary