Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-102

§6909 Exclusive Economic Zone Notification

Title 16 › CHAPTER 88 — WESTERN AND CENTRAL PACIFIC FISHERIES CONVENTION › § 6909

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Captains of foreign commercial fishing boats that do not have vessel‑tracking systems that can talk to U.S. authorities must, before or as soon as possible after entering and while moving through the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone off Hawaii and U.S. Pacific territories, tell the U.S. Coast Guard or the National Marine Fisheries Service law‑enforcement office the vessel’s name, flag, location, route, destination, and the reason it is entering. They must also keep all fishing gear stowed and not ready to use, and if an enforcement officer asks, go to a specified spot so the boat can be inspected.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §6909

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Masters of commercial fishing vessels of nations fishing for species under the management authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention that do not carry vessel monitoring systems capable of communicating with United States enforcement authorities shall, prior to, or as soon as reasonably possible after, entering and transiting the Exclusive Economic Zone seaward of Hawaii and of the Commonwealths, territories, and possessions of the United States in the Pacific Ocean area—

(1)notify the United States Coast Guard or the National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement in the appropriate region of the name, flag state, location, route, and destination of the vessel and of the circumstances under which it will enter United States waters;

(2)ensure that all fishing gear on board the vessel is stowed below deck or otherwise removed from the place where it is normally used for fishing and placed where it is not readily available for fishing; and

(3)where requested by an enforcement officer, proceed to a specified location so that a vessel inspection can be conducted.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 6909

Title 16, Conservation

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102