Grant program to promote the reuse, recycling, and sustainable use of marine products from seafood industry

(a) Purpose The purpose of this section is to support projects that promote the reuse, recycling, and sustainable use of marine products from the seafood industry. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means— (A) an academic institution; (B) a nonprofit organization; and (C) a for-profit company. (2) Marine product The term marine product means— (A) chitin derived from marine animals, including crustaceans, mollusks, and the scales, shells, or waste of any marine animal; (B) seaweed; (C) marine waste from seafood; and (D) any other product or byproduct of the seafood industry that, in the determination of the Secretary— (i) would ultimately end in a landfill or other waste disposal facility if not reused, recycled, or put to use in a manner consistent with the purpose of this section; and (ii) demonstrates promise for reuse, recycling, or sustainable use. (3) Reuse, recycling, or sustainable use The term reuse, recycling, or sustainable use, with respect to a marine product, includes use of the marine product— (A) as a fertilizer; (B) as a biostimulant; (C) as a component in a plastic alternative; (D) in soil amendment and remediation; (E) in wastewater treatment; and (F) for collagen extraction. (c) Grant program (1) Establishment The Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall provide grants to eligible entities for projects that involve the reuse, recycling, or sustainable use of 1 or more marine products from the seafood industry. (2) Set-aside The Secretary shall set aside 50 percent of the amounts appropriated to carry out the program established under paragraph (1) to make grants to eligible entities that are domiciled, or have an operating location, in a State that, as determined by the Secretary, is among the States with the greatest length of coastline. (d) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.