---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 7402"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "7402"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/7402"
units:
  - "Chapter 93 — Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing"
---

# §7402. Definitions


As used in this chapter:

- (1) The term “Agreement” means the Agreement on Port [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated [Fishing](#10), done at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in Rome, Italy, November 22, 2009, and signed by the United States November 22, 2009.
- (2) The term “IUU fishing” means any activity set out in paragraph 3 of the 2001 FAO International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated [Fishing](#10).
- (3) The term “listed IUU vessel” means a [vessel](#8) that is included in a list of [vessels](#8) having engaged in [IUU fishing](#2) or [fishing](#10)-related activities in support of [IUU fishing](#2) that has been adopted by a [regional fisheries management organization](#6) of which the United States is a member, or a list adopted by a [regional fisheries management organization](#6) of which the United States is not a member if the [Secretary](#7) determines the criteria used by that organization to create the IUU list is comparable to criteria adopted by [RFMOs](#6) of which the United States is a member for identifying IUU [vessels](#8) and activities.
- (4) The term “Magnuson-Stevens Act” means the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ([16 U.S.C. 1801](/usc/16/1801.md) et seq.).
- (5) The term “person” has the same meaning as that term has in [section 3](/usc/16/3.md) of the [Magnuson-Stevens Act](#4) ([16 U.S.C. 1802](/usc/16/1802.md)).
- (6) The terms “RFMO” and “regional fisheries management organization” mean a regional fisheries management organization (as that term is defined by the United Nation’s[^1] Food and Agriculture Organization [Agreement](#1) on Port [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated [Fishing](#10)) that is recognized by the United States.
- (7) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce or his or her designee.
- (8) The term “vessel” means any vessel, ship of another type, or boat used for, equipped to be used for, or intended to be used for, [fishing](#10) or [fishing](#10)-related activities, including container vessels that are carrying [fish](#9) that have not been previously landed.
- (9) The term “fish” means finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and all other forms of marine animal and plant life other than marine mammals and birds.
- (10) The term “fishing”—
  - (A) except as provided in [subparagraph (B)](#10-B), means—
    - (i) the catching, [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18), or harvesting of [fish](#9);
    - (ii) the attempted catching, [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18), or harvesting of [fish](#9);
    - (iii) any other activity which can reasonably be expected to result in the catching, [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18), or harvesting of [fish](#9); or
    - (iv) any operations at sea in support of, or in preparation for, any activity described in clauses [(i)](#10-A-i) through [(iii)](#10-A-iii); and
  - (B) does not include any scientific research activity that is conducted by a scientific research [vessel](#8).

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 114–81, title III, § 303, Nov. 5, 2015, 129 Stat. 664.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, referred to in par. (4), 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.