To carry out the educational and training objectives of this subchapter, the Secretary shall support a program of fellowships for qualified individuals at the graduate and post-graduate level. The fellowships shall be related to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and awarded pursuant to guidelines established by the Secretary. The Secretary shall strive to ensure equal access for minority and economically disadvantaged students to the program carried out under this subsection.

The Secretary may award marine policy fellowships to support the placement of individuals at the graduate level of education in fields related to ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources in positions with the executive and legislative branches of the United States Government. A fellowship awarded under this subsection shall be for a period of not more than 1 year.

Amounts available for fellowships under this section, including amounts accepted under section 1123(c)(4)(F) of this title or appropriated under section 1131 of this title to implement this section, shall be used only for award of such fellowships and administrative costs of implementing this section.

(Pub. L. 89–454, title II, § 208, as added Pub. L. 94–461, § 2, Oct. 8, 1976, 90 Stat. 1966; amended Pub. L. 100–66, § 3, July 10, 1987, 101 Stat. 384; Pub. L. 100–220, title III, § 3107, Dec. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 1472; Pub. L. 102–186, § 4(b)(1)(C), (D), Dec. 4, 1991, 105 Stat. 1283; Pub. L. 105–160, § 4(b)(2), Mar. 6, 1998, 112 Stat. 22; Pub. L. 107–299, § 5, Nov. 26, 2002, 116 Stat. 2346; Pub. L. 110–394, § 8, Oct. 13, 2008, 122 Stat. 4207; Pub. L. 113–188, title II, § 201(c), Nov. 26, 2014, 128 Stat. 2018.)