The Congress declares that the fish, shellfish, and wildlife resources of the Nation make a material contribution to our national economy and food supply, as well as a material contribution to the health, recreation, and well-being of our citizens; that such resources are a living, renewable form of national wealth that is capable of being maintained and greatly increased with proper management, but equally capable of destruction if neglected or unwisely exploited; that such resources afford outdoor recreation throughout the Nation and provide employment, directly or indirectly, to a substantial number of citizens; that the fishing industries strengthen the defense of the United States through the provision of a trained seafaring citizenry and action-ready fleets of seaworthy vessels; that the training and sport afforded by fish and wildlife resources strengthen the national defense by contributing to the general health and physical fitness of millions of citizens; and that properly developed, such fish and wildlife resources are capable of steadily increasing these valuable contributions to the life of the Nation.

The Congress further declares that the fishing industry, in its several branches, can prosper and thus fulfill its proper function in national life only if certain fundamental needs are satisfied by means that are consistent with the public interest and in accord with constitutional functions of governments. Among these needs are:

(1) Freedom of enterprise—freedom to develop new areas, methods, products, and markets in accordance with sound economic principles, as well as freedom from unnecessary administrative or legal restrictions that unreasonably conflict with or ignore economic needs;

(2) Protection of opportunity—maintenance of an economic atmosphere in which domestic production and processing can prosper; protection from subsidized competing products; protection of opportunity to fish on the high seas in accordance with international law;

(3) Assistance—assistance consistent with that provided by the Government for industry generally, such as is involved in promoting good industrial relations, fair trade standards, harmonious labor relations, better health standards and sanitation; and including, but not limited to—

(a) services to provide current information on production and trade, market promotion and development, and an extension service,

(b) research services for economic and technologic development and resource conservation, and

(c) resource management to assure the maximum sustainable production for the fisheries.

The Congress further declares that the provisions of this Act are necessary in order to accomplish the objective of proper resource development, and that this Act shall be administered with due regard to the inherent right of every citizen and resident of the United States to engage in fishing for his own pleasure, enjoyment, and betterment, and with the intent of maintaining and increasing the public opportunities for recreational use of our fish and wildlife resources, and stimulating the development of a strong, prosperous, and thriving fishery and fish processing industry.

All moneys in the Fisheries Loan Fund established under Section 1

The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency is authorized and directed to undertake comprehensive continuing studies on the effects of insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and pesticides, upon the fish and wildlife resources of the United States, for the purpose of determining the amounts, percentages, and formulations of such chemicals that are lethal to or injurious to fish and wildlife and the amounts, percentages, mixtures, or formulations that can be used safely, and thereby prevent losses of fish and wildlife from such spraying, dusting, or other treatment.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed (1) to interfere in any manner with the rights of any State under the Submerged Lands Act [43 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.] or otherwise provided by law, or to supersede any regulatory authority over fisheries exercised by the States either individually or under interstate compacts; or (2) to interfere in any manner with the authority exercised by any International Commission established under any treaty or convention to which the United States is a party.

There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

Notwithstanding subsection 1

For the purpose of facilitating administration of, and protecting the interest of the Government in, the fishery loan fund established by section 742c of this title and any related type of activities relating to fisheries for which the Department of the Interior is now or may hereafter be responsible, the Secretary of the Interior, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, may hereafter administer, complete, recondition, reconstruct, renovate, repair, maintain, operate, charter, assign, or sell upon such terms and conditions as he may deem most advantageous to the United States, any vessel, plant, or other property acquired by him on behalf of the United States and arising out of any fishery loan or any related type of activity by the Secretary of the Interior. The Secretary may use any of the applicable funds in each particular instance for the aforesaid purposes.

In fiscal year 2023 and hereafter of the amount available for law enforcement, up to $750,000, to remain available until expended, may at the discretion of the Secretary be used for payment for information, rewards, or evidence concerning violations of laws administered by the Service, and miscellaneous and emergency expenses of enforcement activity, authorized or approved by the Secretary and to be accounted for solely on the Secretary’s certificate.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, may relinquish to a State, or to a Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, the exclusive legislative jurisdiction of the United States over all or part of any United States Fish and Wildlife Service lands or interests therein, including but not limited to National Wildlife Refuge System and National Fish Hatchery System lands, in that State, Commonwealth, territory, or possession. Relinquishment of exclusive legislative jurisdiction under this subsection may be accomplished (1) by filing with the Governor (or, if none, the chief executive officer) of the State, Commonwealth, territory, or possession concerned, a notice of relinquishment to take effect upon acceptance thereof, or (2) as the laws of the State, Commonwealth, territory, or possession may otherwise provide.

The Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate, shall prosecute investigations and inquiries on the subject, with the view of ascertaining whether any and what diminution in the number of the food fishes of the coast and the lakes of the United States has taken place; and, if so, to what causes the same is due; and also whether any and what protective, prohibitory, or precautionary measures should be adopted in the premises; and shall report upon the same to Congress. He is authorized and directed to conduct investigations and experiments for the purpose of ameliorating the damage wrought to the fisheries by dogfish and other predacious fishes and aquatic animals. Said investigations and experiments shall be such as to develop the best and cheapest means of taking such fishes and aquatic animals, of utilizing them for economic purposes, especially for food, and to encourage the establishment of fisheries and markets for them.

The heads of the several executive departments shall cause to be rendered all necessary and practicable aid to the Secretary in the prosecution of his investigations and inquiries.

The Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate, may take or cause to be taken at all times, in the waters of the seacoast of the United States, where the tide ebbs and flows, and also in the waters of the lakes, such fish or specimens thereof as may in his judgment, from time to time, be needful or proper for the conduct of his duties, any law, custom, or usage of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.

The Secretary of the Navy is authorized to place the vessels of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service on the same footing with the Navy Department as those of the National Ocean Survey.

On and after October 21, 1998, pursuant to section 9701 of title 31 and notwithstanding section 3302 of title 31, the Secretary shall charge reasonable fees for the full costs of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in operating and maintaining the M/V Tiglax and other vessels, to be credited to this account and to be available until expended.

Appropriations for propagation of food fishes shall not be expended for hatching or planting fish or eggs in any State in which, in the judgment of the Secretary of the Interior, there are not adequate laws for the protection of the fishes, nor in any State in which the United States Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service and his duly authorized agents are not accorded full and free right to conduct fish-cultural operations, and all fishing and other operations necessary therefor, in such manner and at such times as is considered necessary and proper by the said director or his agents.

There shall be established on the Mississippi River, at a point to be selected by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate, a station for the rescue of fishes and the propagation of mussels in connection with fish-rescue operations throughout the Mississippi Valley.

In connection with the establishment of such fish-rescue station there is authorized the following personnel, namely: One district supervisor, to have general charge of fish-rescue and fish-cultural operations in the Mississippi Valley; a superintendent, two field foremen, four fish-culturists at large, one engineer at large, one clerk, two coxswains at large, and two apprentice fish-culturists.

On and after July 2, 1942, cooperative work conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall be subject to the provisions of the Act of July 24, 1919 [7 U.S.C. 2220, 2279i].

For the purpose of developing adequate, coordinated, cooperative research and training programs for fish and wildlife resources, the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate, is authorized to continue to enter into cooperative agreements with colleges and universities, with game and fish departments of the several States, and with nonprofit organizations relating to cooperative research units: Provided, That Federal participation in the conduct of such cooperative unit programs shall be limited to the assignment of Department of the Interior or Department of Commerce scientific personnel by the Secretary to serve at the respective units, to the provision of assistance (including reasonable financial compensation) for the work of researchers on fish and wildlife ecology and resource management projects funded under this subsection 1

There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of section 753a of this title.

On and after July 2, 1942, commutation of rations (not to exceed $1 per man per day) may be paid to officers and crews of vessels of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior, and money accruing from commutation of rations on board vessels may be paid on proper vouchers to the persons having charge of the mess of such vessels; and section 5911 of title 5, shall not be construed to require deductions from the salaries of officers and crews of vessels of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for quarters and rations furnished on vessels of said Service.

The Secretary of the Interior may purchase, to the extent of not to exceed $5,000, from the appropriations for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, clothing and small stores for the crews of vessels, to be sold to the employees of said service and the appropriations reimbursed.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in fiscal year 1999 and thereafter, sums provided by private entities for activities pursuant to reimbursable agreements shall be credited to the “Resource Management” account and shall remain available until expended.

Before, on, and after November 29, 1999, in carrying out work under reimbursable agreements with any State, local, or tribal government, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service may, without regard to section 1341 of title 31 and notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, record obligations against accounts receivable from such entities, and shall credit amounts received from such entities to this appropriation, such credit to occur within 90 days of the date of the original request by the Service for payment.

In fiscal year 2001 and thereafter and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall establish and implement a fee schedule to permit a return to the Service for forensic laboratory services provided to non-Department of the Interior entities. Fees shall be collected as determined appropriate by the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service and shall be credited to this appropriation and be available for expenditure without further appropriation until expended.

In fiscal year 2012 and hereafter, of the amount provided for environmental contaminants, up to $1,000,000 may remain available until expended for contaminant sample analyses.