106 STAT. 4900 PUBLIC LAW 102-582—NOV. 2, 1992 Public Law 102-582 102d Congress An Act Nov. 2, 1992 [H.R. 2152] High Seas Driftnet Fisheries Enforcement Act. 16 USC 1801 note. 16 USC 1826a note. To enhance the effectiveness of the United Nations international driftnet fishery conservation program. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the 'High Seas Driftnet Fisheries Enforcement Act". SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND POLICY. (a) FlNDlNGS.^ —Congress makes the following findings: (1) Large-sc£de driftnet fishing on the high seas is highly destructive to the living marine resources and ocean ecosystems of the world's oceans, including anadromous fish and other living marine resources of the United States. (2) The cumulative effects of large-scale driftnet fishing pose a significant threat to the marine ecosystem, and slowreproducing species like marine mammals, sharks, and seabirds may require many years to recover. (3) Members of the international community have reviewed the best available scientific date on the impacte of large-scale pelagic driftnet fishing, and have failed to conclude that this practice has no significant adverse impacts which threaten the conservation and sustainable management of living marine resources. (4) The United Nations, via General Assembly Resolutions numbered 44-225, 45-197, and most recently 46-215 (adopted on December 20, 1991), has called for a worldwide moratoriiun on all high seas driftnet fishing by December 31, 1992, in all the world's oceans, including enclosed seas and semienclosed seas. (5) The United Nations has commended the unilateral, regional, and international efforte undertaken by members of the international community and international organizations to implement and support the objectives of the General Assembly resolutions. (6) Operative paragraph (4) of United Nations General Assemblv Resolution numbered 46-215 specifically encourages all members of the international community to take measures individually and collectively to prevent large-scale pelagic driftnet fishing operations on the high seas of the world's oceans and seas" (7) The United States, in section 307(1)(M) of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1857(1)(M)), has specifically prohibited the practice of largescale 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.
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