---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 2442"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "2442"
heading: "Relationship to existing treaties and statutes"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/2442"
units:
  - "Chapter 44A — Antarctic Marine Living Resources Convention"
---

# §2442. Relationship to existing treaties and statutes

- (a) **In general—** Nothing in this chapter[^1] shall be construed as contravening or superseding (1) the provisions of any international treaty, [convention](/usc/16/2432.md?p=4), or agreement, if such treaty, [convention](/usc/16/2432.md?p=4) or agreement is in force with respect to the United States on Nov. 8, 1984, or (2) the provisions of any statute which implements any such treaty, [convention](/usc/16/2432.md?p=4), or agreement. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as contravening or superseding the provisions of any statute enacted before Nov. 8, 1984, which may otherwise apply to [Antarctic marine living resources](/usc/16/2432.md?p=2).
- (b) **Application of more restrictive provisions—** Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the application of provisions of the [Convention](/usc/16/2432.md?p=4), conservation measures adopted by the [Commission](/usc/16/2432.md?p=3) pursuant to article IX of the [Convention](/usc/16/2432.md?p=4), or regulations promulgated under this chapter, which are more restrictive than the provisions of, measures adopted under, or regulations promulgated under, the treaties or statutes described in [subsection (a)](#a).

## Footnotes

[^1]: See Codification note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–623, title III, § 313, Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3406.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

This chapter, the first time it appears in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act” and was translated as reading “this title”, as the probable intent of Congress.