High Seas Driftnet Fisheries Enforcement Act (Public Law 97–389). Country/Territory United States of America Document type Legislation Date 1992 (2014) Source FAO, FAOLEX Original source Public Law 102-582, 2 November 1992, pp. 4900-4913. Long titleAn Act to enhance the effectiveness of the United Nations International Driftnet Fishery Conservation Program. Subject Fisheries Keyword Marine fisheries Fishery management and conservation Fishing gear/fishing method Access right Harbour International trade Foreign fishing Cartilaginous fishes High seas Enforcement/compliance Geographical area Americas, Arctic, East Pacific, North America, North Atlantic Abstract This Act refers to the damage caused to high seas fisheries by large-scale driftnet use. Special mention is made of the United Nations General Assembly Resolutions Nos. 44-225, 45-197 and 46-215, calling for a worldwide moratorium on all high seas driftnet fishing by 31 December 1992, in all the world's oceans, including enclosed seas and semi-enclosed seas. The United States, in section 307(1)(M) of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act, has specifically prohibited the practice of large-scale driftnet fishing by United States nationals and vessels both within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States and beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone of any nation. A series of measures is to be taken by the United States government in order to guarantee compliance with these decisions, including the following: the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of State shall publish a list of nations whose nationals or vessels conduct large-scale driftnet fishing beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone of any nation, in order to deny entry of that vessel to any place in the United States and to the navigable waters of the United States. Before the publication of the list, each nation on that list shall be notified that their names are being published, informing them of the effects of publication, mainly in respect of the sanctions and the denial of port privileges. Countries so listed may negotiate with the government of the United States to reach an agreement that will effect the immediate termination of large-scale driftnet fishing by the nationals or vessels of that nation beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone of any nation. If the consultations with the government of the nation concerned are not satisfactory the US may impose penalties, consisting of a ban on the import into the United States of fish and fish products and sport fishing equipment. The import prohibition shall be published by the Secretary of the Treasury. Additional economic sanctions may also be imposed until the nation concerned terminates large-scale driftnet fishing of this kind. The Act also amends certain provisions of section 8 of the Fishermen's Protective Act of 1967. Full text English Website legcounsel.house.gov References - Legislation Amended by Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act of 2015 (PL. No 114-81). Legislation | United States of America | 2015 Keyword: Basic legislation, Fishery management and conservation, Marine fisheries, Monitoring, Inspection, Foreign fishing, Enforcement/compliance, Data collection/reporting, High seas, Offences/penalties Source: FAO, FAOLEX