Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-102
§8012 Engagement of Diplomatic Missions of the United States
Title 16 › CHAPTER 99 — MARITIME SECURITY AND FISHERIES ENFORCEMENT › SUBCHAPTER I — PROGRAMS TO COMBAT IUU FISHING AND INCREASE MARITIME SECURITY › § 8012
Summary
Within 1 year after December 20, 2019, a chief of mission (the senior U.S. diplomat) to a priority country or flag state may, if the Secretary of State agrees, form a State Department–led working group to study IUU (illegal, unreported, unregulated) fishing. The group can include officials, NGOs, industry, local fishers, and experts. The chief may also appoint a counter‑IUU Coordinator from current mission staff.
Full Legal Text
Title 16, §8012
Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Not later than 1 year after December 20, 2019, each chief of mission (as defined in section 3902 of title 22) to a relevant country in a priority region or to a priority flag state may, if the Secretary of State determines such action is appropriate—
(1)convene a working group, led by Department of State officials, to examine IUU fishing, which may include stakeholders such as—
(A)United States officials from relevant agencies participating in the interagency Working Group identified in section 8031 of this title, foreign officials, nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, and representatives of local fishermen in the region; and
(B)experts on IUU fishing, law enforcement, criminal justice, transnational organized illegal activity, defense, intelligence, vessel movement monitoring, and international development operating in or with knowledge of the region; and
(2)designate a counter-IUU Fishing Coordinator from among existing personnel at the mission if the chief of mission determines such action is appropriate.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 8012
Title 16, Conservation
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102