Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73not60

§1829 International Monitoring and Compliance

Title 16 › Chapter 38— FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT › Subchapter III— FOREIGN FISHING AND INTERNATIONAL FISHERY AGREEMENTS › § 1829

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary may act to make monitoring and enforcement better for fishing on the high seas, for fisheries covered by international agreements, and to carry out the related rules. Actions may include sharing information about fishing boats and illegal fishing with other countries and international groups; improving real-time data sharing; joining global and regional monitoring networks; supporting an international registry of fishing vessels; using commercial or government remote sensing to find illegal activity or foreign boats inside the U.S. exclusive economic zone; helping developing countries build enforcement capacity; and pushing for all large high-seas fishing vessels to have vessel monitoring systems no later than December 31, 2008 (or sooner if a flag State or relevant international fishery organization requires it).

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §1829

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary may undertake activities to promote improved monitoring and compliance for high seas fisheries, or fisheries governed by international fishery management agreements, and to implement the requirements of this subchapter.

(b)In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary may—

(1)share information on harvesting and processing capacity and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing on the high seas, in areas covered by international fishery management agreements, and by vessels of other nations within the United States exclusive economic zone, with relevant law enforcement organizations of foreign nations and relevant international organizations;

(2)further develop real time information sharing capabilities, particularly on harvesting and processing capacity and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing;

(3)participate in global and regional efforts to build an international network for monitoring, control, and surveillance of high seas fishing and fishing under regional or global agreements;

(4)support efforts to create an international registry or database of fishing vessels, including by building on or enhancing registries developed by international fishery management organizations;

(5)enhance enforcement capabilities through the application of commercial or governmental remote sensing technology to locate or identify vessels engaged in illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing on the high seas, including encroachments into the exclusive economic zone by fishing vessels of other nations;

(6)provide technical or other assistance to developing countries to improve their monitoring, control, and surveillance capabilities; and

(7)support coordinated international efforts to ensure that all large-scale fishing vessels operating on the high seas are required by their flag State to be fitted with vessel monitoring systems no later than December 31, 2008, or earlier if so decided by the relevant flag State or any relevant international fishery management organization.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 1829

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60