Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73not60

§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

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Within 1 year after December 20, 2019, a chief of mission — the top U.S. official at an embassy — to a country in a priority region or to a priority flag state may, if the Secretary of State agrees, set up a State Department–led working group to look into illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The group can include U.S. agencies from the interagency working group, foreign officials, NGOs, businesses, local fishers, and experts on IUU fishing, law enforcement, criminal networks, defense, intelligence, vessel tracking, and development. The chief of mission can also choose a counter-IUU Fishing 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

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60