---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 1829"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "1829"
heading: "International monitoring and compliance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/1829"
units:
  - "Chapter 38 — Fishery Conservation and Management"
  - "Subchapter III — Foreign Fishing and International Fishery Agreements"
---

# §1829. International monitoring and compliance

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/1802.md?p=39) may undertake activities to promote improved monitoring and compliance for [high seas](/usc/16/1802.md?p=20) [fisheries](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13), or [fisheries](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13) governed by international [fishery](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13) management agreements, and to implement the requirements of this subchapter.
- (b) **Specific authorities—** In carrying out [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/16/1802.md?p=39) may—
  - (1) share information on harvesting and processing capacity and illegal, unreported and unregulated [fishing](/usc/16/1802.md?p=16) on the [high seas](/usc/16/1802.md?p=20), in [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) covered by international [fishery](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13) management agreements, and by vessels of other nations within the [United States](/usc/16/1802.md?p=45) [exclusive economic zone](/usc/16/1802.md?p=11), with relevant law enforcement organizations of foreign nations and relevant international organizations;
  - (2) further develop real time information sharing capabilities, particularly on harvesting and processing capacity and illegal, unreported and unregulated [fishing](/usc/16/1802.md?p=16);
  - (3) participate in global and regional efforts to build an international network for monitoring, control, and surveillance of [high seas](/usc/16/1802.md?p=20) [fishing](/usc/16/1802.md?p=16) and [fishing](/usc/16/1802.md?p=16) under regional or global agreements;
  - (4) support efforts to create an international registry or database of [fishing vessels](/usc/16/1802.md?p=18), including by building on or enhancing registries developed by international [fishery](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13) management organizations;
  - (5) enhance enforcement capabilities through the application of commercial or governmental remote sensing technology to locate or identify vessels engaged in illegal, unreported, or unregulated [fishing](/usc/16/1802.md?p=16) on the [high seas](/usc/16/1802.md?p=20), including encroachments into the [exclusive economic zone](/usc/16/1802.md?p=11) by [fishing vessels](/usc/16/1802.md?p=18) of other nations;
  - (6) provide technical or other assistance to developing countries to improve their monitoring, control, and surveillance capabilities; and
  - (7) support coordinated international efforts to ensure that all large-scale [fishing vessels](/usc/16/1802.md?p=18) operating on the [high seas](/usc/16/1802.md?p=20) are required by their flag [State](/usc/16/1802.md?p=40) to be fitted with vessel monitoring systems no later than December 31, 2008, or earlier if so decided by the relevant flag [State](/usc/16/1802.md?p=40) or any relevant international [fishery](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13) management organization.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–265, title II, § 207, as added Pub. L. 109–479, title IV, § 401, Jan. 12, 2007, 120 Stat. 3625.)