---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 539c"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "539c"
heading: "Cooperative fisheries planning; report to Congress"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/539c"
units:
  - "Chapter 2 — National Forests"
  - "Subchapter I — Establishment and Administration"
---

# §539c. Cooperative fisheries planning; report to Congress

- (a) The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Agriculture is directed to implement a cooperative planning process for the enhancement of fisheries resources through fish hatchery and aquaculture facilities and activities in the Tongass National Forest. Participation in this process shall include but not be limited to the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Alaska and appropriate nonprofit aquaculture corporations. The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may contract with private, nonprofit associations for services in such planning.
- (b) Each subsequent revision of National Forest [management plans](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 [[16 U.S.C. 1600](/usc/16/1600.md) et seq.] and the National Forest Management Act of 1976 shall contain a report on the status of the planning process undertaken under this paragraph, including, but not limited to, a description of current hatchery and aquaculture [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4), an analysis of the success of these [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4), and a prioritized list of [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) anticipated for the duration of the [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k). The report shall be submitted by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) to the Congress with recommendations for any legislative action which the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may deem necessary to implement the proposed hatchery and aquaculture [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–487, title V, § 507, Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2412.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 93–378, Aug. 17, 1974, 88 Stat. 476, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 1600 et seq.) of chapter 36 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1600 of this title and Tables.

The National Forest Management Act of 1976, referred to in subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 94–588, Oct. 22, 1976, 90 Stat. 2949, which enacted sections 472a, 521b, 1600, and 1611 to 1614 of this title, amended sections 500, 515, 516, 518, 576b, and 1601 to 1610 of this title, repealed sections 476, 513, and 514 of this title, and enacted provisions set out as notes under sections 476, 513, 528, 594–2, and 1600 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1976 Amendment note set out under section 1600 of this title and Tables.