(a) In general

The Secretary may undertake activities to promote improved monitoring and compliance for high seas fisheries, or fisheries governed by international fishery management agreements, and to implement the requirements of this subchapter.

(b) Specific authorities

Terms Used In 16 USC 1829

  • exclusive economic zone: means the zone established by Proclamation Numbered 5030, dated March 10, 1983. See 16 USC 1802
  • fishery: means &mdash. See 16 USC 1802
  • fishing: means &mdash. See 16 USC 1802
  • high seas: means all waters beyond the territorial sea of the United States and beyond any foreign nation's territorial sea, to the extent that such sea is recognized by the United States. See 16 USC 1802
  • Secretary: means the Secretary of Commerce or his designee. See 16 USC 1802
  • 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. See 16 USC 1802
  • United States: when used in a geographical context, means all the States thereof. See 16 USC 1802
  • vessel: includes every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on water. See 1 USC 3

In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary may—

(1) share information on harvesting and processing capacity and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing on the high seas, in areas covered by international fishery management agreements, and by vessels of other nations within the United States exclusive economic zone, with relevant law enforcement organizations of foreign nations and relevant international organizations;

(2) further develop real time information sharing capabilities, particularly on harvesting and processing capacity and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing;

(3) participate in global and regional efforts to build an international network for monitoring, control, and surveillance of high seas fishing and fishing under regional or global agreements;

(4) support efforts to create an international registry or database of fishing vessels, including by building on or enhancing registries developed by international fishery management organizations;

(5) enhance enforcement capabilities through the application of commercial or governmental remote sensing technology to locate or identify vessels engaged in illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing on the high seas, including encroachments into the exclusive economic zone by fishing vessels of other nations;

(6) provide technical or other assistance to developing countries to improve their monitoring, control, and surveillance capabilities; and

(7) support coordinated international efforts to ensure that all large-scale fishing vessels operating on the high seas are required by their flag State to be fitted with vessel monitoring systems no later than December 31, 2008, or earlier if so decided by the relevant flag State or any relevant international fishery management organization.

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