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Title 16 — Conservation

Chapter 76 — Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Convention

§ 5609. Definitions

Statutory text

In this chapter:

(1)

1982 Convention

The term “1982 Convention” means the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982.

(2)

Authorized enforcement officer

The term “authorized enforcement officer” means a person authorized to enforce this chapter, any regulation issued under this chapter, or any measure that is legally binding on the United States under the Convention.

(3)

Commission

The term “Commission” means the body provided for by Articles V, VI, XIII, XIV, and XV of the Convention.

(4)

Commissioner

The term “Commissioner” means a United States Commissioner to the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization appointed under section 5601 of this title.

(5)

Convention

The term “Convention” means the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries, done at Ottawa on , and as amended on .

(6)

Convention Area

The term “Convention Area” means the waters of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean north of 35°00′ N and west of a line extending due north from 35°00′ N and 42°00′ W to 59°00′ N, thence due west to 44°00′ W, and thence due north to the coast of Greenland, and the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Davis Strait and Baffin Bay south of 78°10′ N.

(7)

Council

The term “Council” means the New England Fishery Management Council or the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

(8)

Fishery resources

(A)

In general

The term “fishery resources” means all fish, mollusks, and crustaceans, including any products thereof, within the Convention Area.

(B)

Exclusions

The term “fishery resources” does not include—

(i)

sedentary species over which coastal States may exercise sovereign rights consistent with Article 77 of the 1982 Convention; or

(ii)

insofar as they are managed under other international treaties, anadromous and catadromous stocks and highly migratory species listed in Annex I of the 1982 Convention.

(9)

Fishing activities

(A)

In general

The term “fishing activities” means harvesting or processing fishery resources, or transhipping 1 of fishery resources or products derived from fishery resources, or any other activity in preparation for, in support of, or related to the harvesting of fishery resources.

(B)

Inclusions

The term “fishing activities” includes—

(i)

the actual or attempted searching for or catching or taking of fishery resources;

(ii)

any activity that can reasonably be expected to result in locating, catching, taking, or harvesting of fishery resources for any purpose; and

(iii)

any operation at sea in support of, or in preparation for, any activity described in this paragraph.

(C)

Exclusions

The term “fishing activities” does not include any operation related to emergencies involving the health and safety of crew members or the safety of a vessel.

(10)

Fishing vessel

(A)

In general

The term “fishing vessel” means a vessel that is or has been engaged in fishing activities.

(B)

Inclusions

The term “fishing vessel” includes a fish processing vessel or a vessel engaged in transshipment or any other activity in preparation for or related to fishing activities, or in experimental or exploratory fishing activities.

(11)

Organization

The term “Organization” means the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization provided for by Article V of the Convention.

(12)

Person

The term “person” means any individual (whether or not a citizen or national of the United States), and any corporation, partnership, association, or other entity (whether or not organized or existing under the laws of any State).

(13)

Representative

The term “Representative” means a United States Representative to the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Scientific Council appointed under section 5601 of this title.

(14)

Scientific council

The term “Scientific Council” means the Scientific Council provided for by Articles V, VI, and VII of the Convention.

(15)

Secretary

The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce.

(16)

State

The term “State” means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any other commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.

(17)

Transshipment

The term “transshipment” means the unloading of all or any of the fishery resources on board a fishing vessel to another fishing vessel either at sea or in port.

Footnotes

  1. 1 So in original. Probably should be “transshipping”.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

  1. Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Convention Act of 1995

    Pub. L. 104–43 title II § 210 · 109 Stat. 366

    Enacted · 16 U.S.C. § 5609

    Pub. L. 104–43, title II, § 210, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 381

    Source evidence

    Code source credit
    Pub. L. 104–43, title II, § 210, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 381

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    SEC. 210. DEFINITIONS. In this title the following definitions apply: (1) Authorized enforcement officer.— The term “authorized enforcement officer” means a person authorized to enforce this title, any regulation issued under this title, or any measure that is legally binding on the United States under the Convention. (2) Commissioner.— The term “Commissioner” means a United States Commissioner to the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization appointed under section 202(a). (3) Convention.— The term “Convention” means the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries, done at Ottawa on October 24, 1978. (4) Fisheries commission.— The term “Fisheries Commission” means the Fisheries Commission provided for by Articles II, XI, XII, XIII, and XIV of the Convention. (5) General council.— The term “General Council” means the General Council provided for by Article II, III, IV, and V of the Convention. (6) Magnuson act.— The term “Magnuson Act” means the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). (7) Organization.— The term “Organization” means the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization provided for by Article II of the Convention. (8) Person.— The term “person” means any individual (whether or not a citizen or national of the United States), and any corporation, partnership, association, or other entity (whether or not organized or existing under the laws of any State). (9) Representative.— The term “Representative” means a United States Representative to the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Scientific Council appointed under section 202(c). (10) Scientific council.— The term “Scientific Council” means the Scientific Council provided for by Articles II, VI, VII, VIII, IX, and X of the Convention. (11) Secretary.— The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce.

  2. Pub. L. 105–384 title II § 201(b)(3) · 112 Stat. 3451

    Substituted · 16 U.S.C. § 5609(6)

    Pub. L. 105–384 substituted “Magnuson-Stevens Fishery” for “Magnuson Fishery”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Par. (6). Pub. L. 105–384 substituted “Magnuson-Stevens Fishery” for “Magnuson Fishery”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (3) in section 210(6) (16 U.S.C. 5609(6)), by striking “the Magnuson Fishery” and inserting “the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery”.

  3. Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Convention Amendments Act

    Pub. L. 114–327 title V § 508 · 130 Stat. 1974

    Amended · 16 U.S.C. § 5609

    Pub. L. 114–327 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section defined terms for this chapter

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pub. L. 114–327 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section defined terms for this chapter.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    SEC. 508. DEFINITIONS.   Section 210 (16 U.S.C. 5609) is amended to read as follows: “SEC. 210. DEFINITIONS.   “In this title: “(1) 1982 convention.— The term ‘1982 Convention’ means the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982. “(2) Authorized enforcement officer.— The term ‘authorized enforcement officer’ means a person authorized to enforce this title, any regulation issued under this title, or any measure that is legally binding on the United States under the Convention. “(3) Commission.— The term ‘Commission’ means the body provided for by Articles V, VI, XIII, XIV, and XV of the Convention. “(4) Commissioner.— The term ‘Commissioner’ means a United States Commissioner to the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization appointed under section 202. “(5) Convention.— The term ‘Convention’ means the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries, done at Ottawa on October 24, 1978, and as amended on September 28, 2007. “(6) Convention area.— The term ‘Convention Area’ means the waters of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean north of 35°00′ N and west of a line extending due north from 35°00′ N and 42°00′ W to 59°00′ N, thence due west to 44°00′ W, and thence due north to the coast of Greenland, and the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Davis Strait and Baffin Bay south of 78°10′ N. “(7) Council.— The term ‘Council’ means the New England Fishery Management Council or the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. “(8) Fishery resources.— “(A) In general.— The term ‘fishery resources’ means all fish, mollusks, and crustaceans, including any products thereof, within the Convention Area. “(B) Exclusions.— The term ‘fishery resources’ does not include— “(i) sedentary species over which coastal States may exercise sovereign rights consistent with Article 77 of the 1982 Convention; or “(ii) insofar as they are managed under other international treaties, anadromous and catadromous stocks and highly migratory species listed in Annex I of the 1982 Convention. “(9) Fishing activities.— “(A) In general.— The term ‘fishing activities’ means harvesting or processing fishery resources, or transhipping of fishery resources or products derived from fishery resources, or any other activity in preparation for, in support of, or related to the harvesting of fishery resources. “(B) Inclusions.— The term ‘fishing activities’ includes— “(i) the actual or attempted searching for or catching or taking of fishery resources; “(ii) any activity that can reasonably be expected to result in locating, catching, taking, or harvesting of fishery resources for any purpose; and “(iii) any operation at sea in support of, or in preparation for, any activity described in this paragraph. “(C) Exclusions.— The term ‘fishing activities’ does not include any operation related to emergencies involving the health and safety of crew members or the safety of a vessel. “(10) Fishing vessel.— “(A) In general.— The term ‘fishing vessel’ means a vessel that is or has been engaged in fishing activities. “(B) Inclusions.— The term ‘fishing vessel’ includes a fish processing vessel or a vessel engaged in transshipment or any other activity in preparation for or related to fishing activities, or in experimental or exploratory fishing activities. “(11) Organization.— The term ‘Organization’ means the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization provided for by Article V of the Convention. “(12) Person.— The term ‘person’ means any individual (whether or not a citizen or national of the United States), and any corporation, partnership, association, or other entity (whether or not organized or existing under the laws of any State). “(13) Representative.— The term ‘Representative’ means a United States Representative to the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Scientific Council appointed under section 202. “(14) Scientific council.— The term ‘Scientific Council’ means the Scientific Council provided for by Articles V, VI, and VII of the Convention. “(15) Secretary.— The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Commerce. “(16) State.— The term ‘State’ means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any other commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States. “(17) Transshipment.— The term ‘transshipment’ means the unloading of all or any of the fishery resources on board a fishing vessel to another fishing vessel either at sea or in port.” .

3 of 3 references resolved to an enrolled provision

Editorial Notes

Amendments1998–2016 · 2 rounds

2016

Pub. L. 114–327 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section defined terms for this chapter.

1998

Par. (6). Pub. L. 105–384 substituted “Magnuson-Stevens Fishery” for “Magnuson Fishery”.

Credits

1995–2016 · 3 acts
  1. 1995Pub. L. 104–43, title II, § 210, , 109 Stat. 381
  2. 1998Pub. L. 105–384, title II, § 201(b)(3), , 112 Stat. 3451
  3. 2016Pub. L. 114–327, title V, § 508, , 130 Stat. 1996.
Show as published

(Pub. L. 104–43, title II, § 210, , 109 Stat. 381; Pub. L. 105–384, title II, § 201(b)(3), , 112 Stat. 3451; Pub. L. 114–327, title V, § 508, , 130 Stat. 1996.)

Parsed from the official OLRC USLM XML in data/usc_all/usc16.xml · release point 119-108 · OLRC build 2026-07-16

USLM identifier /us/usc/t16/s5609