Title 22Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73

§1972 Action by Secretary of State upon seizure of vessel by foreign country; preconditions

Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 25— - PROTECTION OF VESSELS ON THE HIGH SEAS AND IN TERRITORIAL WATERS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES › § 1972

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of State can act when a U.S. ship is seized by a foreign country under certain unfair or unlawful claims. That includes when the country claims legal control that the United States does not accept, or when the country’s claim is accepted by the United States but is enforced in ways that break international law. It also covers cases where the United States accepts a foreign country’s claim to exclusive fishery control and a U.S. vessel is seized under rules that are not about conservation, ignore traditional U.S. fishing, are tougher than U.S. rules for foreign boats, or deny fair access. The Secretary can act to protect the ship and crew, to secure their release, and to determine any fines, licenses, or fees that may be repaid under section 1973(a).

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §1972

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

If—
(1)any vessel of the United States is seized by a foreign country on the basis of claims to jurisdiction that are not recognized by the United States, or on the basis of claims to jurisdiction recognized by the United States but exercised in a manner inconsistent with international law as recognized by the United States; 11 So in original. Probably should be followed by “or”.
(2)any general claim of any foreign country to exclusive fishery management authority is recognized by the United States, and any vessel of the United States is seized by such foreign country on the basis of conditions and restrictions under such claim, if such conditions and restrictions—
(A)are unrelated to fishery conservation and management,
(B)fail to consider and take into account traditional fishing practices of vessels of the United States,
(C)are greater or more onerous than the conditions and restrictions which the United States applies to foreign fishing vessels subject to the exclusive fishery management authority of the United States (as established in title I of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act [16 U.S.C. 1811 et seq.]), or
(D)fail to allow fishing vessels of the United States equitable access to fish subject to such country’s exclusive fishery management authority;
(i)for the protection of such vessel and for the health and welfare of its crew;
(ii)to secure the release of such vessel and its crew; and
(iii)to determine the amount of any fine, license, fee, registration fee, or other direct charge reimbursable under section 1973(a) of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, referred to in par. (2)(C), is Pub. L. 94–265, Apr. 13, 1976, 90 Stat. 331. Title I of the Act is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 1811 et seq.) of chapter 38 of Title 16, Conservation. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1801 of Title 16 and Tables.

Amendments

1996—Par. (2)(C). Pub. L. 104–208 substituted “Magnuson-Stevens Fishery” for “Magnuson Fishery”. 1984—Pub. L. 98–364, in par. (1), substituted “any vessel of the United States is seized by a foreign country on the basis of claims to jurisdiction that are not recognized by the United States, or on the basis of claims to jurisdiction recognized by the United States but exercised in a manner inconsistent with international law as recognized by the United States;” for “any vessel of the United States is seized by a foreign country on the basis of claims in territorial waters or the high seas which are not recognized by the United States; or”, and in provisions following par. (2)(D), substituted “the Secretary of State, unless there is clear and convincing credible evidence that the seizure did not meet the requirements under paragraph (1) or (2), as the case may be, shall immediately take such steps as are necessary” for “and there is no dispute as to the material facts with respect to the location or activity of such vessel at the time of such seizure, the Secretary of State shall immediately take such steps as are necessary”. 1980—Par. (2)(C). Pub. L. 96–561 substituted “Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act” for “Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976”. 1976—Pub. L. 94–265 redesignated existing subsecs. (a) and (b) as pars. (1) and (2), respectively, and, in par. (1) struck out reference to rights in territorial waters, and in par. (2) substituted provisions relating to any general claim of any foreign country, conditions, and restrictions of seizure, lack of dispute as to material facts, and steps authorized for Secretary of State upon seizure, for provisions relating to lack of dispute as to material facts and actions authorized for Secretary of State upon seizure. 1972—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 92–569 required the Secretary of State to take appropriate action to immediately ascertain the fees, fines, and other direct charges paid by a United States vessel owner to the seizing foreign country for the release of the vessel and its crew.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1996 Amendment Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(a) [title II, § 211(b)], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009, 3009–41, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective 15 days after Oct. 11, 1996.

Effective Date

of 1984 Amendment Pub. L. 98–364, title III, § 303(c), July 17, 1984, 98 Stat. 445, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by subsections (a) and (b) [amending this section and section 1974 of this title] apply with respect to seizures made after April 1, 1983, by foreign countries of vessels of the United States.”

Effective Date

of 1980 Amendment Pub. L. 96–561, title II, § 238(b), Dec. 22, 1980, 94 Stat. 3300, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective 15 days after Dec. 22, 1980.

Effective Date

of 1976 Amendment Pub. L. 94–265, title IV, § 403(b), Apr. 13, 1976, 90 Stat. 360, provided in part that the amendment made by section 403(a)(1) of Pub. L. 94–265 to this section was to take effect Mar. 1, 1977, prior to the general amendment of title IV of Pub. L. 94–265 by Pub. L. 104–297.

Effective Date

of 1972 Amendment Pub. L. 92–569, § 6, Oct. 26, 1972, 86 Stat. 1183, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this Act [enacting section 1979 of this title and amending this section and section 1973, 1975, and 1977 of this title] shall apply with respect to seizures of vessels of the United States occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 26, 1972]; except that reimbursements under section 3 of the Fishermen’s Protective Act of 1967 [section 1973 of this title] (as in effect before such date of enactment [Oct. 26, 1972]) may be made from the fund established by the amendment made by section 5 of this Act [enacting section 1979 of this title] with respect to any seizure of a vessel occurring before such date of enactment [Oct. 26, 1972] and after December 31, 1970, if no reimbursement was made before such date of enactment [Oct. 26, 1972].”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 1972

Title 22Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73