16 USC 1827 – Observer program regarding certain foreign fishing

(a) Definitions

As used in this section—

(1) The term “Act of 1976” means the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).

(2) The term “billfish” means any species of marlin, spearfish, sailfish or swordfish.

(3) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce.

(b) Observer program

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Terms Used In 16 USC 1827

Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
fish: means finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and all other forms of marine animal and plant life other than marine mammals and birds. See 16 USC 1802
fishery: means &mdash. See 16 USC 1802
fishing: means &mdash. See 16 USC 1802
fishing vessel: means any vessel, boat, ship, or other craft which is used for, equipped to be used for, or of a type which is normally used for&mdash. See 16 USC 1802
foreign fishing: means fishing by a vessel other than a vessel of the United States. See 16 USC 1802
individual: shall include every infant member of the species homo sapiens who is born alive at any stage of development. See 1 USC 8
observer: means any person required or authorized to be carried on a vessel for conservation and management purposes by regulations or permits under this chapter. See 16 USC 1802
person: means any individual (whether or not a citizen or national of the United States), any corporation, partnership, association, or other entity (whether or not organized or existing under the laws of any State), and any Federal, State, local, or foreign government or any entity of any such government. See 16 USC 1802
Secretary: means the Secretary of Commerce or his designee. See 16 USC 1802
United States: when used in a geographical context, means all the States thereof. See 16 USC 1802
vessel: includes every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on water. See 1 USC 3

The Secretary shall establish a program under which a United States observer will be stationed aboard each foreign fishing vessel while that vessel—

(1) is in waters that are within—

(A) the fishery conservation zone established under section 101 of the Act of 1976 [16 U.S.C. 1811],¹ and

(B) the Convention area as defined in Article I of the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas; and

(2) is taking or attempting to take any species of fish if such taking or attempting to take may result in the incidental taking of billfish.

The Secretary may acquire observers for such program through contract with qualified private persons.

(c) Functions of observers

United States observers, while aboard foreign fishing vessels as required under subsection (b), shall carry out such scientific and other functions as the Secretary deems necessary or appropriate to carry out this section.

(d) Fees

There is imposed for each year after 1980 on the owner or operator of each foreign fishing vessel that, in the judgment of the Secretary, will engage in fishing in waters described in subsection (b)(1) during that year which may result in the incidental taking of billfish a fee in an amount sufficient to cover all of the costs of providing an observer aboard that vessel under the program established under subsection (a). The fees imposed under this subsection for any year shall be paid to the Secretary before that year begins. All fees collected by the Secretary under this subsection shall be deposited in the Fund established by subsection (e).

(e) Fund

There is established in the Treasury of the United States the Foreign Fishing Observer Fund. The Fund shall be available to the Secretary as a revolving fund for the purpose of carrying out this section. The Fund shall consist of the fees deposited into it as required under subsection (d). All payments made by the Secretary to carry out this section shall be paid from the Fund, only to the extent and in the amounts provided for in advance in appropriation Acts. Sums in the Fund which are not currently needed for the purposes of this section shall be kept on deposit or invested in obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States.

(f) Prohibited acts

(1) It is unlawful for any person who is the owner or operator of a foreign fishing vessel to which this section applies—

(A) to violate any regulation issued under subsection (g);

(B) to refuse to pay the fee imposed under subsection (d) after being requested to do so by the Secretary; or

(C) to refuse to permit an individual who is authorized to act as an observer under this section with respect to that vessel to board the vessel for purposes of carrying out observer functions.

(2) Section 308 of the Act of 1976 [16 U.S.C. 1858] (relating to civil penalties) applies to any act that is unlawful under paragraph (1), and for purposes of such application the commission of any such act shall be treated as an act the commission of which is unlawful under section 307 of the Act of 1976 [16 U.S.C. 1857].