---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 8015"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "8015"
heading: "Improvement of transparency and traceability programs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/8015"
units:
  - "Chapter 99 — Maritime Security and Fisheries Enforcement"
  - "Subchapter I — Programs to Combat Iuu Fishing and Increase Maritime Security"
---

# §8015. Improvement of transparency and traceability programs


The Secretary of State, the [Administrator](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=a) of the United States Agency for International Development, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating when it is not operating as a service in the Department of the Navy, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Commerce, and the heads of other Federal agencies, if merited, shall work, as appropriate, with [priority flag states](/usc/16/8001.md?p=8) and key countries in [priority regions](/usc/16/8001.md?p=9)—

- (1) to increase knowledge within such countries about the United States transparency and traceability standards for imports of [seafood](/usc/16/8001.md?p=11) and [seafood](/usc/16/8001.md?p=11) products;
- (2) to improve the capacity of [seafood](/usc/16/8001.md?p=11) industries within such countries through information sharing and training to meet the requirements of transparency and traceability standards for [seafood](/usc/16/8001.md?p=11) and [seafood](/usc/16/8001.md?p=11) product imports, including catch documentation and trade tracking programs adopted by relevant [regional fisheries management organizations](/usc/16/8001.md?p=10); and
- (3) to improve the capacities of government, industry, and civil society groups to develop and implement comprehensive traceability systems that—
  - (A) deter [IUU fishing](/usc/16/8001.md?p=6);
  - (B) strengthen fisheries management; and
  - (C) enhance maritime domain awareness.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 116–92, div. C, title XXXV, § 3545, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2004.)