This section incorporates and expands upon provisions of the Driftnet Impact Monitoring, Assessment, and Control Act of 1987 and may be cited as the "Driftnet Act Amendments of 1990".
The Congress finds that-
It is declared to be the policy of the Congress in this section that the United States should-
The Secretary, through the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, shall seek to secure international agreements to implement immediately the findings, policy, and provisions of this section, and in particular an international ban on large-scale driftnet fishing. The Secretary, through the Secretary of State, shall include, in any agreement which addresses the taking of living marine resources of the United States, provisions to ensure that-
This section shall not serve or be construed to expand or diminish the sovereign rights of the United States, as stated by Presidential Proclamation Numbered 5030, dated March 10, 1983, and reflected in this chapter or other existing law.
As used in this section, the term "living marine resources" includes fish, marine mammals, sea turtles, and seabirds and other waterfowl.
During the 5-year period beginning on December 29, 2022, the Secretary shall conduct a transition program to facilitate the phase-out of large-scale driftnet fishing and adoption of alternative fishing practices that minimize the incidental catch of living marine resources, and shall award grants to eligible permit holders who participate in the program.
Any permit holder receiving a grant under paragraph (1) may use such funds only for the purpose of covering-
The Secretary shall certify that, with respect to each participant in the program under this subsection, any permit authorizing participation in a large-scale driftnet fishery has been permanently revoked and that no new permits will be issued to authorize such fishing.
1So in original. See Codification note below.
16 U.S.C. § 1826
EDITORIAL NOTES
REFERENCES IN TEXTThe Driftnet Impact Monitoring, Assessment, and Control Act of 1987, referred to in subsec. (a), is title IV of Pub. L. 100-220 which is set out as a note under section 1822 of this title.Presidential Proclamation Numbered 5030, referred to in subsec. (e), is set out under section 1453 of this title. This chapter, referred to in subsec. (e), was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 94-265, Apr. 13, 1976, 90 Stat. 331, known as the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1801 of this title and Tables.
CODIFICATIONFormer subsecs. (g) and (h) were redesignated (e) and (f), respectively, by Pub. L. 117-328, §205(b)(1)(B). See 2022 Amendment note below.
AMENDMENTS2022-Subsec. (b)(8). Pub. L. 117-328, §103(a), added par. (8). Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 117-328, §103(b), added par. (4).Subsecs. (e) to (h). Pub. L. 117-328, §205(b)(1)(B), redesignated subsecs. (g) and (h) as (e) and (f), respectively, and struck out former subsecs. (e) and (f), which related, respectively, to reports and certification.Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 117-328, §104, added subsec. (i). 1996-Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104-297, §105(f)(1), redesignated pars. (5) and (6) as (3) and (4), respectively, and struck out former pars. (3) and (4) which read as follows: "(3) identifying and evaluating the effectiveness of unilateral measures and multilateral measures, including sanctions, that are available to encourage nations to agree to and comply with this section, and recommendations for legislation to authorize any additional measures that are needed if those are considered ineffective;"(4) identifying, evaluating, and making any recommendations considered necessary to improve the effectiveness of the law, policy, and procedures governing enforcement of the exclusive management authority of the United States over anadromous species against fishing vessels engaged in fishing beyond the exclusive economic zone of any nation;".Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 104-297, §105(f)(2), substituted "subsection (e)(4)" for "subsection (e)(6)". 1990- Pub. L. 101-627 amended section generally, substituting provisions relating to large-scale driftnet fishing for provisions relating to transitional provisions. 1986-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99-659 substituted "exclusive economic zone" for "fishery conservation zone".
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONSFor transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.
ABOLITION OF HOUSE COMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIESCommittee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of House of Representatives abolished and its jurisdiction transferred by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Fourth Congress, Jan. 4, 1995. Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of House of Representatives treated as referring to Committee on Resources of House of Representatives in case of provisions relating to fisheries, wildlife, international fishing agreements, marine affairs (including coastal zone management) except for measures relating to oil and other pollution of navigable waters, or oceanography by section 1(b)(3) of Pub. L. 104-14 set out as a note preceding section 21 of Title 2, The Congress. Committee on Resources of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Natural Resources of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Jan. 5, 2007.
- Secretary
- The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Commerce or his designee.
- State
- The term "State" means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and any other Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.
- anadromous species
- The term "anadromous species" means species of fish which spawn in fresh or estuarine waters of the United States and which migrate to ocean waters.
- conservation and management
- The term "conservation and management" refers to all of the rules, regulations, conditions, methods, and other measures (A) which are required to rebuild, restore, or maintain, and which are useful in rebuilding, restoring, or maintaining, any fishery resource and the marine environment; and (B) which are designed to assure that-(i) a supply of food and other products may be taken, and that recreational benefits may be obtained, on a continuing basis;(ii) irreversible or long-term adverse effects on fishery resources and the marine environment are avoided; and(iii) there will be a multiplicity of options available with respect to future uses of these resources.
- exclusive economic zone
- The term "exclusive economic zone" means the zone established by Proclamation Numbered 5030, dated March 10, 1983. For purposes of applying this chapter, the inner boundary of that zone is a line coterminous with the seaward boundary of each of the coastal States.
- fish
- The term "fish" means finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and all other forms of marine animal and plant life other than marine mammals and birds.
- fishery
- The term "fishery" means-(A) one or more stocks of fish which can be treated as a unit for purposes of conservation and management and which are identified on the basis of geographical, scientific, technical, recreational, and economic characteristics; and(B) any fishing for such stocks.
- fishing
- The term "fishing" means-(A) the catching, taking, or harvesting of fish;(B) the attempted catching, taking, or harvesting of fish;(C) any other activity which can reasonably be expected to result in the catching, taking, or harvesting of fish; or(D) any operations at sea in support of, or in preparation for, any activity described in subparagraphs (A) through (C).Such term does not include any scientific research activity which is conducted by a scientific research vessel.
- large-scale driftnet fishing
- The term "large-scale driftnet fishing" means a method of fishing in which a gillnet composed of a panel or panels of webbing, or a series of such gillnets, with a total length of two and one-half kilometers or more, or with a mesh size of 14 inches or greater, is placed in the water and allowed to drift with the currents and winds for the purpose of entangling fish in the webbing.
- observer
- The term "observer" means any person required or authorized to be carried on a vessel for conservation and management purposes by regulations or permits under this chapter.