TITLE 16 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER VI - MISCELLANEOUS

16 USC 1891 - Investment in United States seafood processing facilities

The Secretary of Commerce shall work with the Small Business Administration and other Federal agencies to develop financial and other mechanisms to encourage United States investment in seafood processing facilities in the United States for fisheries that lack capacity needed to process fish harvested by United States vessels in compliance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).

16 USC 1891a - Community-based restoration program for fishery and coastal habitats

(a) In general
The Secretary of Commerce shall establish a community-based fishery and coastal habitat restoration program to implement and support the restoration of fishery and coastal habitats.

(b) Authorized activities
In carrying out the program, the Secretary may

(1) provide funding and technical expertise to fishery and coastal communities to assist them in restoring fishery and coastal habitat;

(2) advance the science and monitoring of coastal habitat restoration;

(3) transfer restoration technologies to the private sector, the public, and other governmental agencies;

(4) develop public-private partnerships to accomplish sound coastal restoration projects;

(5) promote significant community support and volunteer participation in fishery and coastal habitat restoration;

(6) promote stewardship of fishery and coastal habitats; and

(7) leverage resources through national, regional, and local public-private partnerships.

16 USC 1891b - Fisheries Conservation and Management Fund

(a) In general
The Secretary shall establish and maintain a fund, to be known as the Fisheries Conservation and Management Fund, which shall consist of amounts retained and deposited into the Fund under subsection (c).

(b) Purposes
Subject to the allocation of funds described in subsection (d), amounts in the Fund shall be available to the Secretary of Commerce, without appropriation or fiscal year limitation, to disburse as described in subsection (e) for

(1) efforts to improve fishery harvest data collection including

(A) expanding the use of electronic catch reporting programs and technology; and

(B) improvement of monitoring and observer coverage through the expanded use of electronic monitoring devices and satellite tracking systems such as VMS on small vessels;

(2) cooperative fishery research and analysis, in collaboration with fishery participants, academic institutions, community residents, and other interested parties;

(3) development of methods or new technologies to improve the quality, health safety, and value of fish landed;

(4) conducting analysis of fish and seafood for health benefits and risks, including levels of contaminants and, where feasible, the source of such contaminants;

(5) marketing of sustainable United States fishery products, including consumer education regarding the health or other benefits of wild fishery products harvested by vessels of the United States;

(6) improving data collection under the Marine Recreational Fishery Statistics Survey in accordance with section 401(g)(3) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1881 (g)(3)); and

(7) providing financial assistance to fishermen to offset the costs of modifying fishing practices and gear to meet the requirements of this Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and other Federal laws in pari materia.

(1) Quota set-asides
Any amount generated through quota set-asides established by a Council under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and designated by the Council for inclusion in the Fishery Conservation and Management Fund, may be deposited in the Fund.

(2) Other funds
In addition to amounts received pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Fishery Conservation and Management Fund may also receive funds from

(A) appropriations for the purposes of this section; and

(B) States or other public sources or private or non-profit organizations for purposes of this section.

(d) Regional allocation
The Secretary shall, every 2 years, apportion monies from the Fund among the eight Council regions according to recommendations of the Councils, based on regional priorities identified through the Council process, except that no region shall receive less than 5 percent of the Fund in each allocation period.

(e) Limitation on the use of the Fund
No amount made available from the Fund may be used to defray the costs of carrying out requirements of this Act or the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) other than those uses identified in this section.

16 USC 1891c - United States catch history

In establishing catch allocations under international fisheries agreements, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating, and the Secretary of State, shall ensure that all catch history associated with a vessel of the United States remains with the United States and is not transferred or credited to any other nation or vessel of such nation, including when a vessel of the United States is sold or transferred to a citizen of another nation or to an entity controlled by citizens of another nation.

16 USC 1891d - Secretarial representative for international fisheries

(a) In general
The Secretary, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, shall designate a Senate-confirmed, senior official within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to perform the duties of the Secretary with respect to international agreements involving fisheries and other living marine resources, including policy development and representation as a U.S. Commissioner, under any such international agreements.

(b) Advice
The designated official shall, in consultation with the Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and the Administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service, advise the Secretary, Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and other senior officials of the Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on development of policy on international fisheries conservation and management matters.

(c) Consultation
The designated official shall consult with the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Resources on matters pertaining to any regional or international negotiation concerning living marine resources, including shellfish.

(d) Delegation
The designated official may delegate and authorize successive re-delegation of such functions, powers, and duties to such officers and employees of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as deemed necessary to discharge the responsibility of the Office.

(e) Effective date
This section shall take effect on January 1, 2009.