§1826h Biennial Report on International Compliance

Summary

The Secretary, working with the Secretary of State, must send Congress a report by not later than 2 years after January 12, 2007, and every 2 years after that on June 1. The report must say what is known about ocean plants and animals the United States shares or manages under treaties, including a list of fish stocks other authorities call overfished, depleted, endangered, or threatened. It must list nations named under sections 1826j(a) or 1826k(a), say what they did wrong, and describe any actions taken under those sections. The report must describe how those nations are trying to fix the problems and evaluate their progress, report on international work under section 1826i to stop illegal or unregulated fishing, and list steps the Secretary has taken to push for international rules like U.S. rules to protect marine species when no agreement or effective measures exist. The report must also describe actions taken under section 1826, including progress, effects on marine life (using observer data if available), and plans for more work. It must name any new large-scale driftnet fisheries beyond any nation’s exclusive economic zone, and name nations that use or allow such driftnets in ways that weaken or conflict with international driftnet agreements. It must describe actions taken under section 1822(h). If the Secretary, with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the department that runs the Coast Guard, finds a nation should be on the driftnet list, the Secretary must certify that to the President; that certification counts for section 1978(a) of title 22.