---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 1881c"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "1881c"
heading: "Fisheries research"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/1881c"
units:
  - "Chapter 38 — Fishery Conservation and Management"
  - "Subchapter V — Fishery Monitoring and Research"
---

# §1881c. Fisheries research

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/1802.md?p=39) shall initiate and maintain, in cooperation with the [Councils](/usc/16/1802.md?p=8), a comprehensive program of [fishery](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13) research to carry out and further the purposes, policy, and provisions of this chapter. Such program shall be designed to [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) knowledge and information, including statistics, on [fishery](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13) [conservation and management](/usc/16/1802.md?p=5) and on the economics and social characteristics of the [fisheries](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13).
- (b) **Strategic plan—** Within one year after October 11, 1996, and at least every 3 years thereafter, the [Secretary](/usc/16/1802.md?p=39) shall develop and publish in the Federal Register a strategic plan for [fisheries](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13) research for the 5 years immediately following such publication. The plan shall—
  - (1) identify and describe a comprehensive program with a limited number of priority objectives for research in each of the [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) specified in [subsection (c)](#c);
  - (2) indicate goals and timetables for the program described in [paragraph (1)](#b-1);
  - (3) provide a role for commercial fishermen in such research, including involvement in field testing;
  - (4) provide for collection and dissemination, in a timely manner, of complete and accurate information concerning [fishing](/usc/16/1802.md?p=16) activities, catch, effort, stock assessments, and other research conducted under this section; and
  - (5) be developed in cooperation with the [Councils](/usc/16/1802.md?p=8) and affected [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r), and provide for coordination with the [Councils](/usc/16/1802.md?p=8), affected [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r), and other research entities.
- (c) **Areas of research—** [Areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) of research are as follows:
  - (1) Research to support [fishery](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13) [conservation and management](/usc/16/1802.md?p=5), including but not limited to, biological research concerning the abundance and life history parameters of stocks of [fish](/usc/16/1802.md?p=12), the interdependence of [fisheries](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13) or stocks of [fish](/usc/16/1802.md?p=12), the identification of [essential fish habitat](/usc/16/1802.md?p=10), the impact of pollution on [fish](/usc/16/1802.md?p=12) populations, the impact of wetland and estuarine degradation, and other factors affecting the abundance and availability of [fish](/usc/16/1802.md?p=12).
  - (2) Conservation engineering research, including the study of [fish](/usc/16/1802.md?p=12) behavior and the development and testing of new gear technology and [fishing](/usc/16/1802.md?p=16) techniques to minimize [bycatch](/usc/16/1802.md?p=2) and any adverse effects on [essential fish habitat](/usc/16/1802.md?p=10) and promote efficient harvest of target species.
  - (3) Research on the [fisheries](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13), including the social, cultural, and economic relationships among [fishing vessel](/usc/16/1802.md?p=18) [owners](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4), crew, [United States fish processors](/usc/16/1802.md?p=46), associated shoreside labor, seafood markets and [fishing communities](/usc/16/1802.md?p=17).
  - (4) Information management research, including the development of a [fishery](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13) information base and an information management system that will permit the full use of information in the support of effective [fishery](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13) [conservation and management](/usc/16/1802.md?p=5).
- (d) **Public notice—** In developing the plan required under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/16/1802.md?p=39) shall consult with relevant Federal, [State](/usc/16/1802.md?p=40), and international agencies, scientific and technical experts, and other interested [persons](/usc/16/1802.md?p=36), public and private, and shall publish a proposed plan in the Federal Register for the purpose of receiving public comment on the plan. The [Secretary](/usc/16/1802.md?p=39) shall ensure that affected commercial fishermen are actively involved in the development of the portion of the plan pertaining to conservation engineering research. Upon final publication in the Federal Register, the plan shall be submitted by the [Secretary](/usc/16/1802.md?p=39) to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives.
- (e) **Improving data collection and analysis—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 1 year after December 31, 2018, the [Secretary](/usc/16/1802.md?p=39) shall develop, in consultation with the science and statistical committees of the [Councils](/usc/16/1802.md?p=8) established under [section 1852(g) of this title](/usc/16/1852.md?p=g) and the [Marine Fisheries Commissions](/usc/16/1802.md?p=28), and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report on facilitating greater incorporation of data, analysis, stock assessments, and surveys from [State](/usc/16/1802.md?p=40) agencies and nongovernmental sources described in [paragraph (2)](#e-2), to the extent such information is consistent with [section 1851(a)(2) of this title](/usc/16/1851.md?p=a-2), into [fisheries](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13) management decisions.
  - (2) **Content—** In developing the report under [paragraph (1)](#e-1), the [Secretary](/usc/16/1802.md?p=39) shall—
    - (A) identify types of data and analysis, especially concerning [recreational fishing](/usc/16/1802.md?p=37), that can be used for purposes of this chapter as the basis for establishing [conservation and management](/usc/16/1802.md?p=5) measures as required by [section 1853(a)(1) of this title](/usc/16/1853.md?p=a-1), including setting standards for the collection and use of that data and analysis in stock assessments and surveys and for other purposes;
    - (B) provide specific recommendations for collecting data and performing analyses identified as necessary to reduce uncertainty in and improve the accuracy of future stock assessments, including whether such data and analysis could be provided by nongovernmental sources; and
    - (C) consider the extent to which the acceptance and use of data and analyses identified in the report in [fishery](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13) management decisions is practicable and compatible with the requirements of [section 1851(a)(2) of this title](/usc/16/1851.md?p=a-2).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–265, title IV, § 404, as added Pub. L. 104–297, title II, § 205, Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3609; amended Pub. L. 109–479, title II, § 203(b), Jan. 12, 2007, 120 Stat. 3614; Pub. L. 115–405, § 201(a), Dec. 31, 2018, 132 Stat. 5358.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (e)(2)(A), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 94–265, Apr. 13, 1976, 90 Stat. 331, known as the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1801 of this title and Tables.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 404 of Pub. L. 94–265, amended section 1362 of this title and enacted provisions formerly set out as a note under section 1362 of this title, prior to being amended generally by Pub. L. 104–297.

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115–405 added subsec. (e).

2007—Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 109–479 struck out “under section 1881 of this title” after “system”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

Committee on Resources of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Natural Resources of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Jan. 5, 2007.

### Study of Contribution of Bycatch to Charitable Organizations

Pub. L. 104–297, title II, § 208, Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3614, as amended by Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(a) [title II, § 211(b)], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009, 3009–41, provided that the Secretary of Commerce was to conduct a study, to be submitted to Congress by 1 year after Oct. 11, 1996, of the contribution of bycatch to charitable organizations by commercial fishermen, including determinations of the amount contributed each year, the economic benefits to commercial fishermen from those contributions, and the impact on fisheries of the availability of those benefits.