S. 497

American Fisheries Advisory Committee Act

This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish the American Fisheries Advisory Committee. The committee must provide advice to NOAA on an existing program that awards grants for fisheries research and development projects, such as projects concerning fisheries science or recreational fishing. Specifically, the committee must (1) identify the needs of the fishing community, (2) develop the request for proposals for the grant program, (3) review grant applications, and (4) provide NOAA with grant applications for approval.

NOAA must establish six regions within the committee. In addition, NOAA must select members that represent the regions as well as at-large members that represent certain sectors of the fishing industry.