---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 4001"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "4001"
heading: "Congressional findings"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/4001"
units:
  - "Chapter 60 — Fish and Seafood Promotion"
---

# §4001. Congressional findings


The Congress finds that—

- (1) the commercial fishing industry of the [United States](/usc/16/4003.md?p=17) significantly contributes to the national economy, and could make a greater contribution if [fish](/usc/16/4003.md?p=3) resources within the [United States](/usc/16/4003.md?p=17) Exclusive Economic Zone were more fully utilized;
- (2) the commercial fisheries of the [United States](/usc/16/4003.md?p=17) provide significant employment in coastal [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) and in processing and distribution centers;
- (3) [fish](/usc/16/4003.md?p=3) contribute an important nutritional component to the American diet;
- (4) increased consumption of seafood in the [United States](/usc/16/4003.md?p=17) could significantly lower the risk of many cardiovascular diseases;
- (5) Federally supported development programs for commercial fisheries are unable to meet present and future marketing needs;
- (6) many [fish](/usc/16/4003.md?p=3) species are underutilized by the [United States](/usc/16/4003.md?p=17) fishing industry because of underdeveloped markets; and
- (7) the [United States](/usc/16/4003.md?p=17) fishing industry has the potential to expand greatly its contribution to interstate and foreign commerce, favorably affecting the balance of trade.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–659, title II, § 202, Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3715.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Short Title

Pub. L. 99–659, title II, § 201, Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3715, provided that: “This title [enacting this chapter and amending section 713c–3 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade] may be cited as the ‘Fish and Seafood Promotion Act of 1986’.”

### Report to Congress on Fish and Seafood Promotion

Pub. L. 99–659, title II, § 219, Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3731, provided that: “The Secretary shall, not later than March 1, 1989, submit to the Congress a report on the effectiveness of the implementation of this title [enacting this chapter and amending section 713c–3 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade] in achieving the purposes of this title.”