High Seas Driftnet Fisheries Enforcement Act of 1992

High Seas Driftnet Fisheries Enforcement Act of 1992
Other short titles	Driftnet Moratorium Enforcement Act of 1991
Long title	An Act to enhance the effectiveness of the United Nations international driftnet fishery conservation program.
Acronyms (colloquial)	HSDFEA
Nicknames	Central Bering Sea Fisheries Enforcement Act of 1992
Enacted by	the 102nd United States Congress
Effective	November 2, 1992
Citations
Public law	102-582
Statutes at Large	106 Stat. 4900
Codification
Titles amended	16 U.S.C.: Conservation
U.S.C. sections created	16 U.S.C. ch. 38,subch. III §§ 1826a-1826c
U.S.C. sections amended	16 U.S.C. ch. 38,subch. I § 1801 et seq.
Legislative history
	Introduced in the House as H.R. 2152 by Gerry Studds (D–MA) on April 30, 1991; Committee consideration by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries, House Ways and Means ; Passed the House on February 25, 1992 (412-0 Roll call vote 19, via Clerk.House.gov); Passed the Senate on July 31, 1992 (Passed voice vote) with amendment; House agreed to Senate amendment on August 10, 1992 (Agreed voice vote) with further amendment; Senate agreed to House amendment on August 12, 1992 (Agreed voice vote); Signed into law by President George H. W. Bush on November 2, 1992;

Last updated January 02, 2026

High Seas Driftnet Fisheries Enforcement Act of 1992 is United States declaration citing an observance of the United Nations international driftnet fishery conservation program to restrict large scale driftnet fishing in high seas or international waters. The Act of Congress acknowledges the United Nations General Assembly Resolutions imposing a global moratorium on all high seas driftnet fishing by December 31, 1992.^[1]^[2]^[3] In accordance with Title 16 section 1857, the United States federal law 102-582 proclaims the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act prohibits the application of large scale driftnet fishing within an exclusive economic zone of any sovereign state and the United States.

The 1992 legislation was drafted as House Bill H.R. 2152 and Senate Bill S. 884.^[4] The H.R. 2152 bill superseded the S. 884 bill which was passed by the 102nd United States Congressional session and enacted into law by the 41st President of the United States George H.W. Bush on November 2, 1992.^[5]

Titles of the Act

The federal statute was drafted as five titles defining the United States bearing on judicial enforcement and marine conservation of large scale driftnet fishing in the Seven Seas.

Title I - High Seas Large-Scale Driftnet Fishing

Denial of port privileges and sanctions for high seas large-scale driftnet fishing

Duration of denial of port privileges and sanctions

Requirements under Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972

Definitions

Title II - Fisheries Conservation Programs

Import restrictions under Fishermen's Protective Act of 1967

Enforcement

Trade negotiations and the environment

Title III - Fisheries Enforcement in Central Bering Sea

Prohibition applicable to United States vessels and nationals

Port privileges denial for fishing in Central Bering Sea

Duration of port privileges denial

Restriction of fishing in United States exclusive economic zone

Definitions

Termination

Title IV - Miscellaneous Provisions

Intermediary nations involved in export of certain tuna products

Authority to extend reemployment rights

Limitation on terms of voting members of regional fishery management councils

Observer fee for North Pacific fisheries research plan

Title V - Fees

Recreational boat tax repeal

Automated tariff filing and information system

References

↑ "44-225 ~ Large-scale pelagic driftnet fishing and its impact on the living marine resources of the world's oceans and seas". UN General Assembly Resolution ~ A/RES/44/225. United Nations (UN) General Assembly. December 22, 1989.
↑ "45-197 ~ Large-scale pelagic driftnet fishing and its impact on the living marine resources of the world's oceans and seas". UN General Assembly Resolution ~ A/RES/45/197. United Nations (UN) General Assembly. December 21, 1990.
↑ "46-215 ~ Large-scale pelagic driftnet fishing and its impact on the living marine resources of the world's oceans and seas". UN General Assembly Resolution ~ A/RES/46/215. United Nations (UN) General Assembly. December 20, 1991.
↑ "S. 884 ~ Driftnet Moratorium Enforcement Act of 1991". P.L. 102-582 ~ 106 Stat. 4900. Congress.gov. April 23, 1991.
↑ Bush, George H.W. (November 2, 1992). "Statement on Signing the High Seas Driftnet Fisheries Enforcement Act - November 2, 1992". Internet Archive. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service. pp. 2150–2151.

External links

Bush, George H.W. (August 28, 1989). "Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate Reporting on Korean and Taiwanese Driftnet Fishing - August 28, 1989". Internet Archive. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service. p. 1112.
Bush, George H.W. (May 21, 1991). "Message to the Senate Transmitting the Convention for the Prohibition of Fishing With Long Driftnets in the South Pacific - May 21, 1991". Internet Archive. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service. pp. 531–532.
Bush, George H.W. (October 18, 1991). "Message to the Congress Deferring Sanctions Under Driftnet Fishing Agreements With the Republic of Korea and Taiwan - October 18, 1991". Internet Archive. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service. pp. 1306–1308.
"Automated Tariff Filing Information System (ATFI) User Fees" (PDF). U.S. GAO ~ AIMD-95-93R. U.S. Government Accountability Office. March 10, 1995.
"Foreign Large-Scale High Seas Driftnet Fishing Annual Reports". NOAA Fisheries & International Affairs. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 3 January 2024.
"Oceans and the Law of the Sea in the General Assembly of the United Nations". General Assembly Resolutions and Decisions. United Nations (UN).

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[1] "44-225 ~ Large-scale pelagic driftnet fishing and its impact on the living marine resources of the world's oceans and seas". UN General Assembly Resolution ~ A/RES/44/225. United Nations (UN) General Assembly. December 22, 1989.

[2] "45-197 ~ Large-scale pelagic driftnet fishing and its impact on the living marine resources of the world's oceans and seas". UN General Assembly Resolution ~ A/RES/45/197. United Nations (UN) General Assembly. December 21, 1990.

[3] "46-215 ~ Large-scale pelagic driftnet fishing and its impact on the living marine resources of the world's oceans and seas". UN General Assembly Resolution ~ A/RES/46/215. United Nations (UN) General Assembly. December 20, 1991.

[4] "S. 884 ~ Driftnet Moratorium Enforcement Act of 1991". P.L. 102-582 ~ 106 Stat. 4900. Congress.gov. April 23, 1991.

[5] Bush, George H.W. (November 2, 1992). "Statement on Signing the High Seas Driftnet Fisheries Enforcement Act - November 2, 1992". Internet Archive. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service. pp. 2150–2151.

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