Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73

§2802 Definitions

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 48— - NATIONAL AQUACULTURE POLICY, PLANNING, AND DEVELOPMENT › § 2802

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines key words used in the chapter. It explains what the main terms mean so people know how the rules apply. "Aquaculture" means raising or breeding water animals or plants in controlled places, including ocean ranching, except private ocean ranching of Pacific salmon for profit where that is banned by state law. "Aquaculture facility" means any place or gear used for aquaculture, like labs, hatcheries, ponds, pens, or incubators. "Aquatic species" means fish, shellfish, other water invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, or aquatic plants. "Coordinating group" means the interagency aquaculture group created elsewhere in the chapter. "Person" covers U.S. citizens or nationals, tribes, colleges, and businesses or organizations set up under state law. "Plan" means the National Aquaculture Development Plan called for in the chapter. "Secretaries" means the Agriculture, Commerce, and Interior Secretaries. "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture. "State" lists the several States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and other U.S. territories or possessions.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §2802

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires—
(1)The term “aquaculture” means the propagation and rearing of aquatic species in controlled or selected environments, including, but not limited to, ocean ranching (except private ocean ranching of Pacific salmon for profit in those States where such ranching is prohibited by law).
(2)The term “aquaculture facility” means any land, structure, or other appurtenance that is used for aquaculture and is located in any State. Such term includes, but is not limited to, any laboratory, hatchery, rearing pond, raceway, pen, incubator, or other equipment used in aquaculture.
(3)The term “aquatic species” means any species of finfish, mollusk, crustacean, or other aquatic invertebrate, amphibian, reptile, or aquatic plant.
(4)The term “coordinating group” means the interagency aquaculture coordinating group established by section 2805 of this title.
(5)The term “person” means any individual who is a citizen or national of the United States or of any State, any Indian tribe, any institution of higher education, and any corporation, partnership, association or other entity (including, but not limited to, any community development corporation, producer cooperative, or fishermen’s cooperative) organized or existing under the laws of any State.
(6)The term “Plan” means the National Aquaculture Development Plan required to be established under section 2803 of this title.
(7)The term “Secretaries” means the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of the Interior.
(8)The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.
(9)The term “State” means any of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands of the United States, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1985—Pars. (8), (9). Pub. L. 99–198 added par. (8) and redesignated former par. (8) as (9).

Executive Documents

Termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding section 1681 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 2802

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73