§916j Allocation of Responsibility for Administration and Enforcement

Summary

The Secretary of Commerce must run and carry out the rules and duties under this law, the treaty, and the Commission’s rules, unless another part of the law, the treaty, or the Commission’s rules says someone else should. The Secretary can make needed rules to do this. With the Secretary of State’s agreement, the Secretary of Commerce can work with officials from other countries that joined the treaty. Enforcement of rules for whaling ships under U.S. jurisdiction is mainly the job of the Secretary of the Treasury, working with the Secretary of Commerce. The Secretary of Commerce can also allow coastal State officers and employees to enforce the treaty, Commission rules, this law, or Commerce’s rules. When allowed, those state officers act as federal law-enforcement officers for these matters.