Fisheries Development Act of 1979

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Fisheries Development Act of 1979 - Title I: Amendments to the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 - Amends the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 to require any preliminary or final fishery management plan prepared by the Secretary of Commerce or a Regional Fishery Management Council, respectively, to designate any underutilized fishery as a harvester underutilized fishery, a processor underutilized fishery, or both. Defines such an underutilized fishery as a fishery in which the capacity of United States vessels or food processors to harvest or process fish is below the normal range of fluctuation of the optimum yield of such fishery. Directs the Secretary, in consultation with the Council concerned: (1) to prepare and establish by regulation development plans for the underutilized fisheries which the Secretary determines have the most potential for commercial development; and (2) to designate such fisheries as "priority development fisheries." Authorizes the Secretary to make grants and enter into contracts with qualified persons to carry out an activity under such a plan. Prescribes terms, conditions, and limitations of such grants and contracts. Author…