Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 110 Part 5.djvu/527

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PUBLIC LAW 104-297—OCT. 11, 1996 110 STAT. 3601 "(i) will prevent the replacement of fishing capacity removed by the program through a moratorium on new entrants, restrictions on vessel upgrades, and other effort control measures, taking into account the full potential fishing capacity of the fleet; and "(ii) establishes a specified or target total allowable catch or other measures that trigger closure of the fishery or adjustments to reduce catch; and "(C) is cost-effective and capable of repaying any debt obligation incurred under section 1111 of title XI of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, "(2) The objective of the program shall be to obtain the maximum sustained reduction in fishing capacity at the least cost and in a minimum period of time. To achieve that objective, the Secretary is authorized to pay— "(A) the owner of a fishing vessel, if such vessel is (i) scrapped, or (ii) through the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, subjected to title restrictions that permanently prohibit and effectively prevent its use in fishing, and if the permit authorizing the participation of the vessel in the fishery is surrendered for permanent revocation and the owner relinquishes any claim associated with the vessel and permit that could qualify such owner for any present or future limited access system permit in the fishery for which the program is established; or "(B) the holder of a permit authorizing participation in the fishery, if such permit is surrendered for permanent revocation, and such holder relinquishes any claim associated with the permit and vessel used to harvest fishery resources under the permit that could qualify such holder for any present or future limited access system permit in the fishery for which the program was established. "(3) Participation in the program shall be voluntary, but the Secretary shall ensure compliance by all who do participate. "(4) The Secretary shall consult, as appropriate, with Councils, Federal agencies. State and regional authorities, affected fishing communities, participants in the fishery, conservation organizations, and other interested parties throughout the development and implementation of any program under this section. "(c) PROGRAM FUNDING.— (1) The program may be funded by any combination of amounts— "(A) available under clause (iv) of section 2(b)(1)(A) of the Act of August 11, 1939 (15 U.S.C. 713c-3(b)(l)(A); the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act); "(B) appropriated for the purposes of this section; "(C) provided by an industry fee system established under subsection (d) and in accordance with section 1111 of title XI of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936; or "(D) provided from any State or other public sources or private or non-profit organizations. "(2) All funds for the program, including any fees established under subsection (d), shall be paid into the fishing capacity reduction fund established under section 1111 of title XI of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936. "(d) INDUSTRY FEE SYSTEM.— (1)(A) If an industry fee system is necessary to fund the program, the Secretary, at the request of the appropriate Council, may conduct a referendum on such