---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 1414a"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "1414a"
heading: "Research"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/1414a"
units:
  - "Chapter 31 — Marine Mammal Protection"
  - "Subchapter IV — International Dolphin Conservation Program"
---

# §1414a. Research

- (a) **Required research—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) shall, in consultation with the [Marine Mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c), conduct a study of the effect of intentional encirclement (including chase) on dolphins and dolphin [stocks](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) incidentally taken in the course of purse seine fishing for yellowfin tuna in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. The study, which shall commence on October 1, 1997, shall consist of abundance surveys as described in [paragraph (2)](#a-2) and stress studies as described in [paragraph (3)](#a-3), and shall address the question of whether such encirclement is having a significant adverse impact on any [depleted](/usc/16/1362.md?p=1) dolphin [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
  - (2) **Population abundance surveys—** The abundance surveys under this subsection shall survey the abundance of such [depleted](/usc/16/1362.md?p=1) [stocks](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) and shall be conducted during each of the calendar years 1998, 1999, and 2000.
  - (3) **Stress studies—** The stress studies under this subsection shall include—
    - (A) a review of relevant stress-related research and a 3-year series of necropsy samples from dolphins obtained by commercial vessels;
    - (B) a 1-year review of relevant historical demographic and biological data related to dolphins and dolphin [stocks](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) referred to in [paragraph (1)](#a-1); and
    - (C) an experiment involving the repeated chasing and capturing of dolphins by means of intentional encirclement.
  - (4) **Report—** No later than 90 days after publishing the finding under subsection (g)(2) of [section 1385 of this title](/usc/16/1385.md), the [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) shall complete and submit a report containing the results of the research described in this subsection to the [United States](/usc/16/1362.md?p=14) Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the [United States](/usc/16/1362.md?p=14) House of Representatives Committees on Resources and on Commerce, and to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c).
- (b) **Other research—**
  - (1) **In general—** In [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) to conducting the research described in [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) shall, in consultation with the [Marine Mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) and in cooperation with the nations participating in the [International Dolphin Conservation Program](/usc/16/1362.md?p=28) and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c), undertake or support appropriate scientific research to further the goals of the [International Dolphin Conservation Program](/usc/16/1362.md?p=28).
  - (2) **Specific areas of research—** Research carried out under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) may include—
    - (A) [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) to devise cost-effective fishing methods and gear so as to reduce, with the goal of eliminating, the incidental mortality and serious injury of [marine mammals](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) in connection with commercial purse seine fishing in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean;
    - (B) [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) to develop cost-effective methods of fishing for mature yellowfin tuna without setting nets on dolphins or other [marine mammals](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6);
    - (C) [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) to carry out [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) assessments for those [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) species and [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) [stocks](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) taken in the purse seine [fishery](/usc/16/1362.md?p=16) for yellowfin tuna in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, including species or [stocks](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) not within [waters under the jurisdiction of the United States](/usc/16/1362.md?p=15); and
    - (D) [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) to determine the extent to which the incidental [take](/usc/16/1362.md?p=13) of nontarget species, including juvenile tuna, occurs in the course of purse seine fishing for yellowfin tuna in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, the geographic location of the incidental [take](/usc/16/1362.md?p=13), and the impact of that incidental [take](/usc/16/1362.md?p=13) on tuna [stocks](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) and nontarget species.
- (c) **Authorization of appropriations—**
  - (1) There are authorized to be appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) the following amounts, to be used by the [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) to carry out the research described in [subsection (a)](#a):
    - (A) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1998.
    - (B) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1999.
    - (C) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2000.
    - (D) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2001.
  - (2) In [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) to the amount authorized to be appropriated under [paragraph (1)](#c-1), there are authorized to be appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) for carrying out this section $3,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 92–522, title III, § 304, as added Pub. L. 105–42, § 6(c), Aug. 15, 1997, 111 Stat. 1133.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 304 of Pub. L. 92–522 was classified to section 1414 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–42.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

Committee on Commerce of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Energy and Commerce of House of Representatives, and jurisdiction over matters relating to securities and exchanges and insurance generally transferred to Committee on Financial Services of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Seventh Congress, Jan. 3, 2001.