Title 22 — Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73
§1977 Reimbursement for seized commercial fishermen
Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 25— - PROTECTION OF VESSELS ON THE HIGH SEAS AND IN TERRITORIAL WATERS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES › § 1977
Summary
If the owner of a U.S. commercial fishing vessel applies, the Secretary of State must make an agreement to cover certain losses if a foreign country seizes and holds the vessel. The agreement must pay: (1) actual costs the owner has because of damage, destruction, loss, confiscation, or dockage and utility bills (except costs already covered by section 1973); (2) the market value of fish caught before the seizure that are taken or spoiled; and (3) up to 50% of the gross income lost because of the seizure. The lost-income amount is figured from the average value per day’s catch during the three most recent calendar years before the seizure, or, if that is not available, from similar U.S. vessels in the same fishery. Payments for the fish and for lost income must be split the way the industry usually divides fish-sale proceeds. The Secretary must set fees for owners who join these agreements. The fees must pay for running the program and help pay claims. Fees go into a special Treasury account that can be used without yearly limits and may be invested; fees are used first, then any money Congress provides. All decisions under the agreement are final. No payment will be made for losses already covered by insurance or other law. Payments can only be made if Congress has approved the money in advance. “Secretary” means the Secretary of State, and “owner” includes a charterer.
Full Legal Text
Title 22, §1977
Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)The Secretary, upon receipt of an application filed with him at any time after the effective date of this section by the owner of any vessel of the United States which is documented or certificated as a commercial fishing vessel, shall enter into an agreement with such owner subject to the provision of this section and such other terms and conditions as the Secretary deems appropriate. Such agreement shall provide that, if said vessel is seized by a foreign country and detained under the conditions of section 1972 of this title, the Secretary shall guarantee—
(1)the owner of such vessel for all actual costs, except those covered by section 1973 of this title, incurred by the owner during the seizure and detention period and as a direct result thereof, as determined by the Secretary, resulting (A) from any damage to, or destruction of, such vessel, or its fishing gear or other equipment, (B) from the loss or confiscation of such vessel, gear, or equipment, or (C) from dockage fees or utilities;
(2)the owner of such vessel and its crew for the market value of fish caught before seizure of such vessel and confiscated or spoiled during the period of detention; and
(3)the owner of such vessel and its crew for not to exceed 50 per centum of the gross income lost as a direct result of such seizure and detention, as determined by the Secretary of State, based on the value of the average catch per day’s fishing during the three most recent calendar years immediately preceding such seizure and detention of the vessel seized, or, if such experience is not available, then of all commercial fishing vessels of the United States engaged in the same fishery as that of the type and size of the seized vessel.
(b)Payments made by the Secretary under paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (a) of this section shall be distributed by the Secretary in accordance with the usual practices and procedures of the particular segment of the United States commercial fishing industry to which the seized vessel belongs relative to the sale of fish caught and the distribution of the proceeds of such sale.
(c)The Secretary shall from time to time establish by regulation fees which shall be paid by the owners of vessels entering into agreements under this section. Such fees shall be adequate (1) to recover the costs of administering this section, and (2) to cover a reasonable portion of any payments made by the Secretary under this section. All fees collected by the Secretary shall be credited to a separate account established in the Treasury of the United States which shall remain available without fiscal year limitation to carry out the provisions of this section. Those fees not currently needed for payments under this section shall be kept on deposit or invested in obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States and all revenues accruing from such deposits or investments shall be credited to such separate account. If a transfer of funds is made to the separate account under section 1975(b)(2) of this title with respect to an unpaid claim and such claim is later paid, the amount so paid shall be covered into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. All payments under this section shall be made first out of such fees so long as they are available and thereafter out of funds which are hereby authorized to be appropriated to such account to carry out the provisions of this section.
(d)All determinations made under this section shall be final. No payment under this section shall be made with respect to any losses covered by any policy of insurance or other provision of law.
(e)Payments may be made under this section only to such extent and in such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriation Acts.
(f)For the purposes of this section—
(1)the term “Secretary” means the Secretary of State.
(2)the term “owner” includes any charterer of a commercial fishing vessel.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2021—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 117–81 inserted heading and amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (e) read as follows: “The provisions of this section shall be effective until
October 1, 2018; except that payments may be made under this section only to such extent and in such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriation Acts.” 2016—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 114–323 substituted “2018” for “2008”. 2004—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 108–219 substituted “2008” for “2003”. 2002—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 107–228 substituted “Secretary of State” for “Secretary of Commerce”. 2000—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 106–450, § 102(b), substituted “Secretary of Commerce” for “Secretary of the Interior”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 106–450, § 102(a), substituted “2003” for “2000”. 1995—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–43, § 403(a), struck out after second sentence “The amount fixed by the Secretary shall be predicated upon at least 33⅓ per centum of the contribution by the Government.” Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104–43, § 403(b), substituted “
October 1, 2000” for “
October 1, 1993”. 1990—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 101–627 substituted “
October 1, 1993” for “
October 1, 1989”. 1988—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 100–350 substituted “
October 1, 1989” for “
October 1, 1988”. 1987—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 100–151 substituted “
October 1, 1988” for “
October 1, 1987”. 1986—Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 99–659 substituted “Secretary of State” for “Secretary of Commerce”. 1984—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 98–364 substituted “
October 1, 1987” for “
October 1, 1984”. 1981—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–68, § 1(1), inserted provision that fees not currently needed for payments under this section be kept on deposit or invested in obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States and that all revenues accruing from such deposits or investments be credited to the separate account established in the Treasury of the United States to carry out the provisions of this section. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 97–68, § 1(2), substituted “
October 1, 1984” for “
October 1, 1981”. 1978—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 95–376 substituted “
October 1, 1981; except that payments may be made under this section only to such extent and in such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriation Acts” for “
October 1, 1978”. 1977—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 95–194 substituted “
October 1, 1978” for “
October 1, 1977”. 1976—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 94–273 substituted “October” for “July”. 1972—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 92–569 inserted provision that amounts paid subsequent to transfer to the separate account be covered into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 92–594, § 1, extended provisions of this section until
July 1, 1977, and struck out provisions relating to issuance of
Regulations
. Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 92–594, § 2, substituted “Secretary of Commerce” for “Secretary of the Interior”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2021 Amendment Pub. L. 117–81, div. E, title LI, § 5111(b), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2350, provided that: “(1)
Effective Date
.—The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 27, 2021] and apply as if the date specified in subsection (e) of section 7 of the Fishermen’s Protective Act of 1967 [22 U.S.C. 1977(e)], as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, were the day after such date of enactment. “(2) Agreements and payments.—The Secretary is authorized to—“(A) enter into agreements pursuant to section 7 of the Fishermen’s Protective Act of 1967 [22 U.S.C. 1977] for any claims to which such section would otherwise apply but for the date specified in subsection (e) of such section, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act; and “(B) make payments in accordance with agreements entered into pursuant to such section if any such payments have not been made as a result of the expiration of the date specified in such section, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act.” [For definition of “Secretary” as used in section 5111(b) of Pub. L. 117–81, set out above, see section 5002 of Pub. L. 117–81, set out as a note under section 263c of this title.]
Effective Date
of 1986 Amendment Pub. L. 99–659, title IV, § 408, Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3740, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective Oct. 1, 1986.
Effective Date
of 1972 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 92–569 applicable with respect to seizure of vessels of the United States occurring on or after Oct. 26, 1972, see section 6 of Pub. L. 92–569, set out as a note under section 1972 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
22 U.S.C. § 1977
Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73