---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 5103"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "5103"
heading: "State-Federal cooperation in Atlantic coastal fishery management"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/5103"
units:
  - "Chapter 71 — Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management"
---

# §5103. State-Federal cooperation in Atlantic coastal fishery management

- (a) **Federal support for State coastal fisheries programs—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/5102.md?p=12) in cooperation with the [Secretary](/usc/16/5102.md?p=12) of the Interior shall develop and implement a program to support the interstate [fishery](/usc/16/5102.md?p=8) management efforts of the [Commission](/usc/16/5102.md?p=3). The program shall include activities to support and enhance [State](/usc/16/5102.md?p=13) cooperation in collection, management, and analysis of [fishery](/usc/16/5102.md?p=8) data; law enforcement; habitat [conservation](/usc/16/5102.md?p=4); [fishery](/usc/16/5102.md?p=8) research, including biological and socioeconomic research; and [fishery](/usc/16/5102.md?p=8) management planning.
- (b) **Federal regulation in exclusive economic zone—**
  - (1) In the absence of an approved and implemented [fishery](/usc/16/5102.md?p=8) [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) under the Magnuson-Stevens [Fishery](/usc/16/5102.md?p=8) [Conservation](/usc/16/5102.md?p=4) and Management Act ([16 U.S.C. 1801](/usc/16/1801.md) et seq.), and after consultation with the appropriate [Councils](/usc/16/5102.md?p=5), the [Secretary](/usc/16/5102.md?p=12) may implement regulations to govern [fishing](/usc/16/5102.md?p=9) in the [exclusive economic zone](/usc/16/5102.md?p=6) that are—
    - (A) compatible with the effective implementation of a [coastal fishery management plan](/usc/16/5102.md?p=1); and
    - (B) consistent with the national standards set forth in section 301 of the Magnuson-Stevens [Fishery](/usc/16/5102.md?p=8) [Conservation](/usc/16/5102.md?p=4) and Management Act ([16 U.S.C. 1851](/usc/16/1851.md)).

    The regulations may include measures recommended by the [Commission](/usc/16/5102.md?p=3) to the [Secretary](/usc/16/5102.md?p=12) that are necessary to support the provisions of the [coastal fishery management plan](/usc/16/5102.md?p=1). Regulations issued by the [Secretary](/usc/16/5102.md?p=12) to implement an approved [fishery](/usc/16/5102.md?p=8) [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) prepared by the appropriate [Councils](/usc/16/5102.md?p=5) or the [Secretary](/usc/16/5102.md?p=12) under the Magnuson-Stevens [Fishery](/usc/16/5102.md?p=8) [Conservation](/usc/16/5102.md?p=4) and Management Act ([16 U.S.C. 1801](/usc/16/1801.md) et seq.) shall supersede any conflicting regulations issued by the [Secretary](/usc/16/5102.md?p=12) under this subsection.

  - (2) The provisions of sections 307, 308, 309, 310, and 311 of the Magnuson-Stevens [Fishery](/usc/16/5102.md?p=8) [Conservation](/usc/16/5102.md?p=4) and Management Act ([16 U.S.C. 1857](/usc/16/1857.md), 1858, 1859, 1860, and 1861) regarding prohibited acts, civil penalties, criminal offenses, civil forfeitures, and enforcement shall apply with respect to regulations issued under this subsection as if such regulations were issued under the Magnuson-Stevens [Fishery](/usc/16/5102.md?p=8) [Conservation](/usc/16/5102.md?p=4) and Management Act ([16 U.S.C. 1801](/usc/16/1801.md) et seq.).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–206, title VIII, § 804, Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2449; Pub. L. 104–297, title IV, § 404(b), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3619; Pub. L. 106–555, title I, § 122(b)(3), Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2766.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, referred to in subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 94–265, Apr. 13, 1976, 90 Stat. 331, which is classified principally to chapter 38 (§ 1801 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1801 of this title and Tables.

### Amendments

2000—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–555 substituted “Magnuson-Stevens Fishery” for “Magnuson Fishery” wherever appearing.

1996—Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 104–297 substituted “compatible with” for “necessary to support”.