The text of the bill below is as of Sep 4, 1980 (Passed Congress).
You are reading a bill enacted 15,726 days ago. In the intervening time subsequent legislation may have amended or repealed the provisions below.
PUBLIC LAW 96-339—SEPT. 4, 1980 94 STAT. 1069
Public Law 96-339
96th Congress
An Act
To authorize appropriations for fiscal years 1981, 1982, and 1983 for the Atlantic Sept. 4, 1980
Tunas Convention Act of 1975, and for other purposes. [S. 2549]
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, Atlantic Tunas
Convention Act
SECTION 1. AMENDMENTS TO ATLANTIC TUNAS CONVENTION ACT OF of 1975,
1975. appropriation
authorization.
The Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) is
amended as follows:
(1) Section 4 is amended— Advisory
committee.
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subpara- 16 u s e 971b.
graphs (A) and (B), respectively;
(B) by striking out "paragraph (1)" in subparagraph (B) (as
so redesignated) and inserting in lieu thereof "subparagraph
(A)"; and
(C) by amending the first and second sentences to read as
follows:
"There is established an advisory committee which shall be com- Membership.
posed of—
"(1) not less than five nor more than twenty individuals
appointed by the United States Commissioners who shall select
such individuals from the various groups concerned with the
fisheries covered by the Convention; and
"(2) the chairmen (or their designees) of the New England, Mid-
Atlantic, South Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf Fishery Manage-
ment Councils established under section 302(a) of the Fishery
Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1852(a)).
Each member of the advisory committee appointed under paragraph Term of office.
(1) shall serve for a term of two years and shall be eligible for
reappointment.".
(2) Section 10 is amended by striking out "and 1980" and 16 u s e 971h.
inserting in lieu thereof "1980,1981,1982, and 1983".
SEC. 2. OBSERVER PROGRAM REGARDING CERTAIN FOREIGN FISHING. 16 u s e 1827.
(a) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section—
(1) The term "Act of 1976" means the Fishery Conservation
and Management Act of 1976 (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.—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 tlshery conservation zone established under section
101 of the Act of 1976, and 16 u s e 1811.
94 STAT. 1070 PUBLIC LAW 96-339—SEPT. 4, 1980
(B) the Convention area as defined in Article I of the
International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic
20 UST 2887. 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
ofbillfish.
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
billflsh a fee in an amount sufficient to cover all of the costs of
providing an observer aboard that vessel under the program estab-
lished 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 depos-
ited in the Fund established by subsection (e).
Foreign Fishing (e) FUND.—There is established in the Treasury of the United
Observer Fund, States the Foreign Fishing Observer Fund. The Fund shall be
establishment.
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.
16 use 1858. (2) Section 308 of the Act of 1976 (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
16 u s e 1857. of 1976.
(g) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall issue such regulations as
are necessary or appropriate to carry out this section.
16 u s e 971i. SEC. 3. REPORTS REGARDING BLUEFIN TUNA.
Submittal to The Secretary of Commerce shall prepare, for each biennial period
Congress. commencing with the period covering calendar years 1981 and 1982,
and submit to the Congress a report setting forth, with respect to such
biennial period—
(1) the level of taking of bluefin tuna by United States fisher-
men in the Convention area as defined in Article I of the
International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic
20 UST 2887. Tunas;
PUBLIC LAW 96-339—SEPT. 4, 1980 94 STAT. 1071
(2) the status of bluefin tuna stocks within such Convention
area and the trends in their population level; and
(3) related information resulting from the implementation of
the observer program under section 2 of this Act.
The report required under this section shall be submitted to the
Congress within sixty days after the close of the biennial period
covered by the report. There are authorized to be appropriated such Appropriation
sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. authorization.
Approved September 4, 1980.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
HOUSE REPORT No. 96-1017 accompanying H.R. 6310 (Comm. on Merchant Marine
and Fisheries).
SENATE REPORT No. 96-708 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and Transportation).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 126 (1980):
May 20, considered and passed Senate.
June 3, H.R. 6310 considered and passed House; passage vacated and S. 2549,
amended, passed in lieu.
July 28, Senate concurred in House amendments with amendments.
Aug. 22, House concurred in Senate amendments.
79-194 O—81—pt. 1 71 : QL3
