Building infrastructure to support cleaner fishing gear and innovative technology

(a) In general The Administrator shall enter into a public-private partnership to build a flume tank for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the fishing industry, and other researchers to test technology and improved fishing gear aimed at reducing bycatch and contact with Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska marine benthic habitats. (b) Flume tank assistance fund The Administrator shall establish a Flume Tank Assistance Fund to provide grants or other financial assistance to support entities that wish to test their innovative technology, including approaches that support prototype development and associated devices, instruments, sensors, or fishing gear designs aimed at reducing bycatch in fisheries and contact with Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska marine benthic habitat from mobile or fixed fishing gear, including workforce and training programs on such technology or gear.