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Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73not60

§712 Treaty and Convention Implementing Regulations; Seasonal Taking of Migratory Birds for Essential Needs of Indigenous Alaskans to Preserve and Maintain Stocks of the Birds; Protection and Conservation of the Birds

Title 16 › Chapter 7— PROTECTION OF MIGRATORY GAME AND INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS › Subchapter II— MIGRATORY BIRD TREATY › § 712

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior can make rules, under the United States’ bird treaties with Canada, Japan, Mexico, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, that let Alaska Native people hunt migratory birds and collect eggs for food and other essential needs as the Secretary decides. Those takes must happen only in seasons set to keep bird populations healthy. The Secretary can also make rules to carry out the U.S. conventions with Great Britain (August 16, 1916), the United Mexican States (February 7, 1936), Japan (March 4, 1972), and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (November 19, 1976).

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §712

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(1)In accordance with the various migratory bird treaties and conventions with Canada, Japan, Mexico, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to issue such regulations as may be necessary to assure that the taking of migratory birds and the collection of their eggs, by the indigenous inhabitants of the State of Alaska, shall be permitted for their own nutritional and other essential needs, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior, during seasons established so as to provide for the preservation and maintenance of stocks of migratory birds.
(2)The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to issue such regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of the convention between the United States and Great Britain for the protection of migratory birds concluded August 16, 1916, the convention between the United States and the United Mexican States for the protection of migratory birds and game mammals concluded February 7, 1936, the convention between the United States and the Government of Japan for the protection of migratory birds in danger of extinction, and their environment concluded March 4, 1972, and the convention between the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the conservation of migratory birds and their environment concluded November 19, 1976.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Par. (1) of section 3(h) of Pub. L. 95–616 amended section 706 of this title. Pars. (2) and (3) of such section 3(h) were redesignated (1) and (2) for codification purposes. Section was enacted as part of the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978, and not as part of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act which comprises this subchapter.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 712

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60