1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Finding Innovative Lionfish Elimination Technologies Act of 2017 . 2. Competitive grants to institutions of higher education and nonprofit research organizations to combat lionfish in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico (a) In general The Secretary of Commerce, through the Cooperative Science and Education Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration conducted under Public Law 86–685 (74 Stat. 733), the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act ( 16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.), and the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 (section 101(b) of division A of Public Law 105–277 ; 112 Stat. 2681–50), shall award competitive grants to institutions of higher education and nonprofit research organizations to combat the species of lionfish Pterois miles and Pterois volitans, in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. (b) Eligibility To be eligible for a grant under this section, an institution of higher education or nonprofit research organization must— (1) have established research infrastructure and proven capabilities of understanding the behavior of such species and the ecosystems of the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico; and (2) demonstrate a clear appreciation and understanding of the biological, chemical, and physical aspects of such ecosystem. (c) Encouragement of collaboration In selecting projects for grants under this section, the Secretary of Commerce may encourage collaborative work with stakeholder groups having practical experience with gear, harvest techniques, and knowledge of local ecosystems. (d) Use Amounts awarded as grants under this section shall be used— (1) for lionfish research and the impact of such species on the ecosystems of the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico