1. U.S. Code
  2. title 16
  3. chapter 76
  4. § 5608

Collapse to view only § 5608. Administrative matters

§ 5601. Representation of United States under Convention
(a) Commissioners
(1) Appointments, generallyThe Secretary shall appoint not more than 3 individuals to serve as the representatives of the United States on the Commission, who shall each—
(A) be known as a “United States Commissioner to the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization”; and
(B) serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
(2) Requirements for appointments
(A) The Secretary shall ensure that of the individuals serving as Commissioners—
(i) at least 1 is appointed from among representatives of the commercial fishing industry;
(ii) 1 (but no more than 1) is an official of the Government; and
(iii) 1, other than the individual appointed under clause (ii), is a voting member of the New England Fishery Management Council.
(B) The Secretary may not appoint as a Commissioner an individual unless the individual is knowledgeable and experienced concerning the fishery resources to which the Convention applies.
(3) Terms
(A) The term of an individual appointed as a Commissioner—
(i) shall be specified by the Secretary at the time of appointment; and
(ii) may not exceed 4 years.
(B) An individual who is not a Government official may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms as a Commissioner.
(b) Alternate Commissioners
(1) Appointment
(2) Functions
(c) Representatives
(1) Appointment
(2) Eligibility for appointment
(A) The Secretary may not appoint an individual as a Representative unless the individual is knowledgeable and experienced concerning the scientific issues dealt with by the Scientific Council.
(B) The Secretary shall appoint as a Representative at least 1 individual who is an official of the Government.
(3) TermAn individual appointed as a Representative—
(A) shall serve for a term of not to exceed 4 years, as specified by the Secretary at the time of appointment;
(B) may be reappointed; and
(C) shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
(d) Alternate Representatives
(1) Appointment
(2) Functions
(e) Experts and advisers
(f) Coordination and consultation
(1) In generalIn carrying out their functions under the Convention, Commissioners, Alternate Commissioners, Representatives, and Alternate Representatives shall—
(A) coordinate with the appropriate Regional Fishery Management Councils established by section 1852 of this title; and
(B) consult with the committee established under section 5607 of this title.
(2) Relationship to other law
(Pub. L. 104–43, title II, § 202, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 377; Pub. L. 114–327, title V, § 502, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1995; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(124), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4319.)

CITE AS: 16 USC 5601

§ 5602. Requests for scientific advice
(a) Restriction
A Representative may not make a request or specification described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b), respectively, unless the Representative has first—
(1) consulted with the appropriate Regional Fishery Management Councils; and
(2) received the consent of the Commissioners for that action.
(b) Requests and terms of reference described
The requests and specifications referred to in subsection (a) are, respectively—
(1) any request, under Article VII(10)(b) of the Convention, that the Scientific Council consider and report on a question pertaining to the scientific basis for the management and conservation of fishery resources in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States within the Convention Area; and
(2) any specification, under Article VII(11) of the Convention, of the terms of reference for the consideration of a question referred to the Scientific Council pursuant to Article VII(10)(b) of the Convention.
(Pub. L. 104–43, title II, § 203, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 378; Pub. L. 114–327, title V, § 503, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1995.)

CITE AS: 16 USC 5602

§ 5603. Authorities of Secretary of State with respect to Convention
The Secretary of State may, on behalf of the Government of the United States—
(1) receive and transmit reports, requests, recommendations, proposals, and other communications of and to the Organization and its subsidiary organs;
(2) object, or withdraw an objection, to the proposal of the Commission consistent with the procedures detailed in Articles XIV and XV of the Convention;
(3) give or withdraw notice of intent not to be bound by a measure of the Commission consistent with the procedures detailed in Articles XIV and XV of the Convention;
(4) object or withdraw an objection to an amendment to the Convention; and
(5) act upon, or refer to any other appropriate authority, any other communication referred to in paragraph (1).
(Pub. L. 104–43, title II, § 204, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 379; Pub. L. 114–327, title V, § 504, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1996.)

CITE AS: 16 USC 5603

§ 5604. Interagency cooperation
(a) Authorities of the Secretary
In carrying out the provisions of the Convention and this chapter, the Secretary may arrange for cooperation with—
(1) any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States;
(2) a State;
(3) a Council; or
(4) a private institution or an organization.
(b) Other agencies
The head of any Federal agency may—
(1) cooperate in the conduct of scientific and other programs, and furnish facilities and personnel, for the purposes of assisting the Organization in carrying out its duties under the Convention; and
(2) accept reimbursement from the Organization for providing such services, facilities, and personnel.
(Pub. L. 104–43, title II, § 205, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 379; Pub. L. 114–327, title V, § 505, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1996.)

CITE AS: 16 USC 5604

§ 5605. Rulemaking

The Secretary shall promulgate regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes and objectives of the Convention and this chapter. Any such regulation may be made applicable, as necessary, to all persons and all vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, wherever located.

(Pub. L. 104–43, title II, § 206, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 379.)

CITE AS: 16 USC 5605

§ 5606. Prohibited acts and enforcement
(a) Prohibition
It is unlawful for any person or vessel that is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States—
(1) to violate any regulation issued under this chapter or any measure that is legally binding on the United States under the Convention;
(2) to refuse to permit any authorized enforcement officer to board a fishing vessel that is subject to the person’s control for purposes of conducting any search, investigation, or inspection in connection with the enforcement of this chapter, any regulation issued under this chapter, or any measure that is legally binding on the United States under the Convention;
(3) forcibly to assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate, or interfere with any authorized enforcement officer in the conduct of any search, investigation, or inspection described in paragraph (2);
(4) to resist a lawful arrest for any act prohibited by this section;
(5) to ship, transport, offer for sale, sell, purchase, import, export, or have custody, control, or possession of, any fishery resources taken or retained in violation of this section; or
(6) to interfere with, delay, or prevent, by any means, the apprehension or arrest of another person, knowing that the other person has committed an act prohibited by this section.
(b) Additional prohibitions and enforcement
(Pub. L. 104–43, title II, § 207, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 379; Pub. L. 105–384, title II, § 201(b)(1), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3451; Pub. L. 114–81, title I, § 111, Nov. 5, 2015, 129 Stat. 659; Pub. L. 114–327, title V, § 506, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1996.)

CITE AS: 16 USC 5606

§ 5607. Consultative committee
(a) Establishment
(b) Membership
(1) The membership of the Committee shall include representatives from the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils, the States represented on those Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, the fishing industry, the seafood processing industry, and others knowledgeable and experienced in the conservation and management of fisheries in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean.
(2)Terms and Reappointment.—Each member of the consultative committee shall serve for a term of 2 years and shall be eligible for reappointment.
(c) Duties of committee
Members of the consultative committee may attend—
(1) all public meetings of the Commission;
(2) any other meetings to which they are invited by the Commission; and
(3) all nonexecutive meetings of the United States Commissioners.
(d) Relationship to other law
(Pub. L. 104–43, title II, § 208, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 380; Pub. L. 114–327, title V, § 507, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1996; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(125), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4319.)

CITE AS: 16 USC 5607

§ 5608. Administrative matters
(a) Prohibition on compensation
A person shall not receive any compensation from the Government by reason of any service of the person as—
(1) a Commissioner, Alternate Commissioner, Representative, or Alternative Representative;
(2) an expert or adviser authorized under section 5601(e) of this title; or
(3) a member of the consultative committee established by section 5607 of this title.
(b) Travel and expenses
(c) Status as Federal employees
(Pub. L. 104–43, title II, § 209, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 381; Pub. L. 105–384, title II, § 201(b)(2), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3451.)

CITE AS: 16 USC 5608

§ 5609. Definitions
In this chapter:
(1) 1982 Convention
(2) Authorized enforcement officer
(3) Commission
(4) Commissioner
(5) Convention
(6) Convention Area
(7) Council
(8) Fishery resources
(A) In general
(B) Exclusions
The term “fishery resources” does not include—
(i) sedentary species over which coastal States may exercise sovereign rights consistent with Article 77 of the 1982 Convention; or
(ii) insofar as they are managed under other international treaties, anadromous and catadromous stocks and highly migratory species listed in Annex I of the 1982 Convention.
(9) Fishing activities
(A) In general
(B) Inclusions
The term “fishing activities” includes—
(i) the actual or attempted searching for or catching or taking of fishery resources;
(ii) any activity that can reasonably be expected to result in locating, catching, taking, or harvesting of fishery resources for any purpose; and
(iii) any operation at sea in support of, or in preparation for, any activity described in this paragraph.
(C) Exclusions
(10) Fishing vessel
(A) In general
(B) Inclusions
(11) Organization
(12) Person
(13) Representative
(14) Scientific council
(15) Secretary
(16) State
(17) Transshipment
(Pub. L. 104–43, title II, § 210, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 381; Pub. L. 105–384, title II, § 201(b)(3), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3451; Pub. L. 114–327, title V, § 508, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1996.)

CITE AS: 16 USC 5609

§ 5610. Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this chapter, including to pay the United States contribution to the Organization as provided in Article IX of the Convention, $500,000 for each fiscal year through fiscal year 2021.

(Pub. L. 104–43, title II, § 211, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 382; Pub. L. 105–384, title II, § 201(a), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3451; Pub. L. 107–372, title III, § 305, Dec. 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 3096; Pub. L. 109–479, title III, § 302(i), Jan. 12, 2007, 120 Stat. 3625; Pub. L. 114–327, title V, § 509, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1998.)

CITE AS: 16 USC 5610

§ 5611. Repealed. Pub. L. 113–188, title II, § 201(f), Nov. 26, 2014, 128 Stat. 2018

CITE AS: 16 USC 5611

§ 5612. Repealed. Pub. L. 114–327, title V, § 510, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1998

CITE AS: 16 USC 5612