---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 3633"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "3633"
heading: "Authority and responsibility"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/3633"
units:
  - "Chapter 56A — Pacific Salmon Fishing"
---

# §3633. Authority and responsibility

- (a) **Secretary of State—** The Secretary of State is authorized to—
  - (1) receive and transmit, on behalf of the United States, reports, requests, recommendations, proposals, and other communications of and to the [Commission](/usc/16/3631.md?p=a) and [Panels](/usc/16/3631.md?p=d);
  - (2) in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/16/3631.md?p=g) and the [Secretary](/usc/16/3631.md?p=g) of the Interior, approve, disapprove, object to, or withdraw objections to fishery regimes, including [enhancement](/usc/16/3631.md?p=b) programs and Fraser River [Panel](/usc/16/3631.md?p=d) regulations proposed in accordance with the [Treaty](/usc/16/3631.md?p=h), on the condition that the United States shall be obligated to carry out such regimes or regulations only to the extent that funds are made available for such purposes in appropriation Acts; and
  - (3) act upon, or refer to other appropriate authority, any communication referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection other than a proposed fishery regime or Fraser River [Panel](/usc/16/3631.md?p=d) regulation.
- (b) **States and treaty Indian tribes—** Recommendations of the [Commission](/usc/16/3631.md?p=a) on fishery regimes or Fraser River [Panel](/usc/16/3631.md?p=d) regulations approved by the Secretary of State pursuant to [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2) shall be forwarded immediately to the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) of Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho and to the [treaty Indian tribes](/usc/16/3631.md?p=i), as appropriate. In the exercise of their general fishery management authority, the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) and [treaty Indian tribes](/usc/16/3631.md?p=i) may adopt corresponding laws, regulations, or orders within their respective jurisdictions.
- (c) **Secretary of Commerce—** In cooperation with the appropriate Regional Fishery Management Councils, [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) and [treaty Indian tribes](/usc/16/3631.md?p=i), the [Secretary](/usc/16/3631.md?p=g) shall prepare, as appropriate, all statements, reports, and information required by the [Treaty](/usc/16/3631.md?p=h) and submit such documents to the Secretary of State, who shall transmit them to the [Commission](/usc/16/3631.md?p=a).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–5, § 4, Mar. 15, 1985, 99 Stat. 10.)