(a) In general

Not later than 180 days after July 11, 2006, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on steps that the Coast Guard will take to significantly improve the Coast Guard’s detection and interdiction of illegal incursions into the United States exclusive economic zone by foreign fishing vessels.

(b) Specific issues to be addressed

Terms Used In 16 USC 1828

  • exclusive economic zone: means the zone established by Proclamation Numbered 5030, dated March 10, 1983. See 16 USC 1802
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • fishing: means &mdash. See 16 USC 1802
  • Secretary: means the Secretary of Commerce or his designee. See 16 USC 1802
  • United States: when used in a geographical context, means all the States thereof. See 16 USC 1802

The report shall—

(1) focus on areas in the exclusive economic zone where the Coast Guard has failed to detect or interdict such incursions in the 4-fiscal-year period beginning with fiscal year 2000, including such areas in the Western/Central Pacific and the Bering Sea; and

(2) include an evaluation of the potential use of unmanned aircraft and offshore platforms for detecting or interdicting such incursions.

(c) Biennial updates

The Secretary shall provide biannual reports updating the Coast Guard’s progress in detecting or interdicting such incursions to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.