201. Survey
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and on an ongoing basis thereafter, the Secretary of Commerce shall conduct a continuous plankton recorder survey.
Required elements— For the purpose of conducting the survey required under subsection (a), the Northeast Fisheries Science Center shall—
to the extent possible, utilize the resources of and partner with, on a volunteer basis, research institutions, nonprofit organizations, commercial vessels, and other Federal agencies;
in as short a time as possible, ensure relevant survey samples and results are analyzed, stored, archived, and made publicly available;
prioritize the collection of plankton samples and data that inform the conservation of North Atlantic right whales; and
to the extent practicable, coordinate with the Government of Canada to develop a transboundary understanding of plankton abundance and distribution.
Authorization of appropriations— To carry out this section there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce $300,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2029.