the Gulf of Maine region, comprised of the marine and coastal waters off the State of Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts (north of Cape Cod);

the greater New York bight region, comprised of the marine and coastal waters off the States of Massachusetts (south of Cape Cod), Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, from Cape Cod to Cape May;

the mid-Atlantic region, comprised of the marine and coastal waters off the States of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, from Cape May to Cape Fear;

the South Atlantic region, comprised of the marine and coastal waters off the States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, from Cape Fear to the Florida Keys, including the marine and coastal waters off Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands;

the Gulf of Mexico region, comprised of the marine and coastal waters off the States of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, along the Gulf coast from the Florida Keys to the Mexican border;

the California region, comprised of the marine and coastal waters off the State of California, from Point Reyes to the Mexican border;

the North Pacific region, comprised of the marine and coastal waters off the States of California, Oregon, and Washington, from Point Reyes to the Canadian border;

the Alaska region, comprised of the marine and coastal waters off the State of Alaska; and

insular Pacific region, comprised of the marine and coastal waters off the State of Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

develop and submit to the Administrators of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency a marine research plan, including periodic amendments thereto, that meets the requirements of section 1447c of this title;

provide a forum for coordinating research among research institutions and agencies;

provide for review and comment on research plans by affected users and interests, such as the commercial and recreational fishing industries, other marine industries, State and local government entities, and environmental organizations;

ensure that the highest quality of research projects will be conducted to carry out the comprehensive plan; and

prepare, for submission to Congress, a periodic report on the marine environmental research issues and activities within the region in accordance with section 1447e of this title.

cooperate with Federal agencies, with States and with local government entities, interstate and regional agencies, other public agencies and authorities, nonprofit institutions, laboratories, and organizations, or other appropriate persons, in the preparation and support of marine research in the region;

enter into contracts, cooperative agreements or grants to State and local governmental entities, other public agencies or institutions, and non-profit institutions and organizations for purposes of carrying out the provisions of this chapter;

collect and make available through publications and other appropriate means, the results of, and other information pertaining to, the research conducted in the region;

call conferences on regional marine research and assessment issues, giving opportunity for interested persons to be heard and present papers at such conferences;

develop and stimulate, in consultation with the Department of State, joint marine research projects with foreign nations;

utilize facilities and personnel of existing Federal agencies, including scientific laboratories and research facilities;

accept, and for all general purposes of this Act, utilize funds from other sources, including but not limited to State and local funds, university funds, and donations; and

acquire secret processes, inventions, patent applications, patents, licenses, and property rights, by purchase, license, lease, or donation.