Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73not60

§5103 State-federal Cooperation in Atlantic Coastal Fishery Management

Title 16 › Chapter 71— ATLANTIC COASTAL FISHERIES COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT › § 5103

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary, working with the Secretary of the Interior, must create and run a program to help states work together to manage Atlantic coastal fisheries. The program must help states collect and use fish data, enforce rules, protect habitat, carry out fish and social research, and plan fishery management. If there is no approved plan under the Magnuson‑Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and after talking with the regional councils, the Secretary may make rules for fishing in the exclusive economic zone. Those rules must fit with coastal plans and the national standards in section 301 of the Magnuson‑Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1851). Sections 307, 308, 309, 310, and 311 of that Act (16 U.S.C. 1857, 1858, 1859, 1860, and 1861) about banned acts, penalties, crimes, forfeitures, and enforcement apply to these rules as if they were made under the Magnuson‑Stevens Act.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §5103

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(a)The Secretary in cooperation with the Secretary of the Interior shall develop and implement a program to support the interstate fishery management efforts of the Commission. The program shall include activities to support and enhance State cooperation in collection, management, and analysis of fishery data; law enforcement; habitat conservation; fishery research, including biological and socioeconomic research; and fishery management planning.
(b)(1)In the absence of an approved and implemented fishery management plan under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and after consultation with the appropriate Councils, the Secretary may implement regulations to govern fishing in the exclusive economic zone that are—
(A)compatible with the effective implementation of a coastal fishery management plan; and
(B)consistent with the national standards set forth in section 301 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1851).
(2)The provisions of section 307, 308, 309, 310, and 311 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1857, 1858, 1859, 1860, and 1861) regarding prohibited acts, civil penalties, criminal offenses, civil forfeitures, and enforcement shall apply with respect to regulations issued under this subsection as if such regulations were issued under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, referred to in subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 94–265, Apr. 13, 1976, 90 Stat. 331, which is classified principally to chapter 38 (§ 1801 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1801 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

2000—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–555 substituted “Magnuson-Stevens Fishery” for “Magnuson Fishery” wherever appearing. 1996—Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 104–297 substituted “compatible with” for “necessary to support”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 5103

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60