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Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-110

§1980b Sanctions for Imposition of Conditions on U.s. Fishing Vessel Found Inconsistent with International Law

Title 22 › CHAPTER 25 — PROTECTION OF VESSELS ON THE HIGH SEAS AND IN TERRITORIAL WATERS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES › § 1980b

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of State must tell the President when a foreign government puts conditions on the operation or transit of U.S. fishing vessels that the United States believes break international law or an international agreement. After that, the President must direct federal agencies to apply similar conditions to fishing vessels registered in that foreign country. "Fishing vessel" uses the meaning in 46 U.S.C. 2101(12). Congress says the U.S. response should be roughly equal to the foreign measures.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §1980b

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Certification
If the Secretary of State finds that the government of any nation imposes conditions on the operation or transit of United States fishing vessels which the United States regards as being inconsistent with international law or an international agreement, the Secretary of State shall certify that fact to the President.
(b)Sanctions
Upon receipt of a certification under subsection (a), the President shall direct the heads of Federal agencies to impose similar conditions on the operation or transit of fishing vessels registered under the laws of the nation which has imposed conditions on United States fishing vessels.
(c)“Fishing vessel” defined
For the purposes of this section, the term “fishing vessel” has the meaning given that term in section 2101(12) of title 46.
(d)Sanctions commensurate with conditions certified
It is the sense of the Congress that any action taken by any Federal agency under subsection (b) should be commensurate with any conditions certified by the Secretary of State under subsection (a).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–232 substituted “section 2101(12)” for “section 2101(11a)”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 1980b

Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110