16 U.S.C. § 7007

Current through P.L. 118-106 (published on www.congress.gov on 10/04/2024)

Section 7007 - Rulemaking

(a) Application with Magnuson-Stevens Act

The Secretary shall establish the United States catch level for Pacific whiting according to the standards and procedures of the Agreement and this chapter rather than under the standards and procedures of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), except to the extent necessary to address the rebuilding needs of other species. Except for establishing the catch level, all other aspects of Pacific whiting management shall be-

(1) subject to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; and

(2) consistent with this chapter.

(b) Joint management committee recommendations

For any year in which both parties to the Agreement approve recommendations made by the joint management committee with respect to the catch level, the Secretary shall implement the approved recommendations. Any regulation promulgated by the Secretary to implement any such recommendation shall apply, as necessary, to all persons and all vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States wherever located.

(c) Years with no approved catch recommendations

If the parties to the Agreement do not approve the joint management committee's recommendation with respect to the catch level for any year, the Secretary shall establish the total allowable catch for Pacific whiting for the United States catch. In establishing the total allowable catch under this subsection, the Secretary shall-

(1) take into account any recommendations from the Pacific Fishery Management Council, the joint management committee, the joint technical committee, the scientific review group, and the advisory panel;

(2) base the total allowable catch on the best scientific information available;

(3) use the default harvest rate set out in paragraph 1 of Article III of the Agreement unless the Secretary determines that the scientific evidence demonstrates that a different rate is necessary to sustain the offshore whiting resource; and

(4) establish the United State's¹ share of the total allowable catch based on paragraph 2 of Article III of the Agreement and make any adjustments necessary under section 5 of Article II of the Agreement.

¹So in original.

16 U.S.C. § 7007

Pub. L. 109-479, title VI, §608, Jan. 12, 2007, 120 Stat. 3647.

EDITORIAL NOTES

REFERENCES IN TEXTThe Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 94-265, Apr. 13, 1976, 90 Stat. 331, which is classified principally to chapter 38 (§1801 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1801 of this title and Tables.

Agreement: The term "Agreement" means the Agreement between the Government of the United States and the Government of Canada on Pacific Hake/Whiting, signed at Seattle, Washington, on November 21, 2003.
Secretary: The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Commerce.
advisory panel: The term "advisory panel" means the Advisory Panel on Pacific Hake/Whiting established by the Agreement.
catch: The term "catch" means all fishery removals from the offshore whiting resource, including landings, discards, and bycatch in other fisheries.
joint management committee: The term "joint management committee" means the joint management committee established by the Agreement.
joint technical committee: The term "joint technical committee" means the joint technical committee established by the Agreement.
scientific review group: The term "scientific review group" means the scientific review group established by the Agreement.