16 U.S.C. § 7403

Current through P.L. 118-107 (published on www.congress.gov on 11/21/2024)

Section 7403 - Duties and authorities of the Secretary

(a) Regulations

The Secretary may, as needed, promulgate such regulations-

(1) in accordance with section 553 of title 5;

(2) consistent with provisions of this chapter;¹ and

(3) with respect to enforcement measures, in consultation with the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating;

as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, to the extent that such regulations are not already promulgated.

(b) Ports of entry

The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, may designate and publicize the ports to which vessels may seek entry. No port may be designated under this section that has not also been designated as a port of entry for customs reporting purposes pursuant to section 1433 of title 19¹ or that is not specified under an existing international fisheries agreement.

(c) Notification

The Secretary shall provide notification of the denial of port entry or the use of port services for a vessel under section 7404 of this title, the withdrawal of the denial of port services for a foreign vessel, the taking of enforcement action pursuant to section 7405 of this title with respect to a foreign vessel, or the results of any inspection of a foreign vessel conducted pursuant to this chapter to the flag nation of the vessel and, as appropriate, to the nation of which the vessel's master is a national, relevant coastal nations, RFMOs, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and other relevant international organizations.

(d) Confirmation that fish were taken in accordance with conservation and management measures

The Secretary may request confirmation from the flag state of a foreign vessel that the fish on board a foreign vessel in a port subject to the jurisdiction of the United States were taken in accordance with applicable RFMO conservation and management measures.

¹See References in Text note below.

16 U.S.C. § 7403

Pub. L. 114-81, title III, §304, Nov. 5, 2015, 129 Stat. 665.

EDITORIAL NOTES

REFERENCES IN TEXTThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), was in the original "the title" and was translated as meaning "this title" to reflect the probable intent of Congress.Section 1433 of title 19, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original a reference to "section 1433 of title 19, United States Code" but probably should have been a reference to section 433 of the Tariff Act of 1930, act June 17, 1930, ch. 497, which is classified to section 1433 of Title 19, Customs Duties.

Agreement: The term "Agreement" means the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, done at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in Rome, Italy, November 22, 2009, and signed by the United States November 22, 2009.
Secretary: The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Commerce or his or her designee.
fish: The term "fish" means finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and all other forms of marine animal and plant life other than marine mammals and birds.
vessel: The term "vessel" means any vessel, ship of another type, or boat used for, equipped to be used for, or intended to be used for, fishing or fishing-related activities, including container vessels that are carrying fish that have not been previously landed.
RFMO: The terms "RFMO" and "regional fisheries management organization" mean a regional fisheries management organization (as that term is defined by the United Nation's1 Food and Agriculture Organization Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing) that is recognized by the United States.