---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 4003"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "4003"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/4003"
units:
  - "Chapter 60 — Fish and Seafood Promotion"
---

# §4003. Definitions


As used in this chapter, the term—

- (1) “consumer education” means actions undertaken to inform consumers on matters related to the consumption of [fish and fish products](/usc/16/1826c.md?p=1);
- (2) “council” means a seafood promotional council established under [section 4009 of this title](/usc/16/4009.md);
- (3) “fish” means finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and all other forms of aquatic animal life used for human consumption; the term does not include marine mammals and seabirds;
- (4) “Fund” means the Fisheries Promotional Fund established in [section 4008 of this title](/usc/16/4008.md);
- (5) “harvester” means any individual who is in the business of catching or growing [fish](#3) for purposes of sale;
- (6) “importer” means any [person](#11) in the business of importing [fish](#3) or [fish](#3) products into the [United States](#17) from another country for commercial purposes or who acts as an agent, broker, or consignee for any [person](#11) or nation that produces, processes or markets [fish](#3) or [fish](#3) products outside of the [United States](#17) for sale or other commercial purpose in the [United States](#17);
- (7) “marketer” means any [person](#11) who is in the business of selling [fish](#3) or [fish](#3) products in the wholesale, retail, or restaurant trade, but whose primary business function is not the processing or packaging of [fish](#3) or [fish](#3) products in preparation for sale;
- (8) “marketing and promotion” means an activity aimed at encouraging the consumption of [fish](#3) or [fish](#3) products or expanding or maintaining commercial markets for [fish](#3) or [fish](#3) products;
- (9) “member” means any [person](#11) serving on the [National Council](#10) or on any [council](#2);
- (10) “National Council” means the National [Fish](#3) and Seafood Promotional [Council](#2) established in [section 4004 of this title](/usc/16/4004.md);
- (11) “person” means any individual, group of individuals, partnership, corporation, association, cooperative, or any private entity organized or existing under the laws of the [United States](#17) or any [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), commonwealth, territory or possession of the [United States](#17);
- (12) “processor” means any [person](#11) who is in the business of preparing or packaging [fish](#3) or [fish](#3) products (including [fish](#3) of the processor’s own harvesting) for sale;
- (13) “receiver” means any [person](#11) who owns [fish](#3) processing vessels and any [person](#11) in the business of acquiring [fish](#3) directly from [harvesters](#5);
- (14) “research” means any type of research designed to advance the image, desirability, usage, marketability, production or quality of [fish and fish products](/usc/16/1826c.md?p=1);
- (15) “sector” means—
  - (A) the [sector](#15) consisting of [harvesters](#5);
  - (B) the [sector](#15) consisting of [importers](#6);
  - (C) the [sector](#15) consisting of [marketers](#7);
  - (D) the [sector](#15) consisting of [processors](#12);
  - (E) the [sector](#15) consisting of [receivers](#13); or
  - (F) the consumer [sector](#15) consisting of [persons](#11) professionally engaged in the dissemination of information pertaining to the nutritional benefits and preparation of [fish and fish products](/usc/16/1826c.md?p=1);
- (16) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary’s designee; and
- (17) “United States” means the several [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and any other territory, possession, or commonwealth of the United States.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–659, title II, § 204, Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3716.)