---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 8016"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "8016"
heading: "Technology programs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/8016"
units:
  - "Chapter 99 — Maritime Security and Fisheries Enforcement"
  - "Subchapter I — Programs to Combat Iuu Fishing and Increase Maritime Security"
---

# §8016. Technology 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 Defense, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Commerce, and the heads of other Federal agencies, if merited, shall pursue programs, as appropriate, to expand the role of technology for combating [IUU fishing](/usc/16/8001.md?p=6), including by—

- (1) promoting the use of technology to combat [IUU fishing](/usc/16/8001.md?p=6);
- (2) assessing the technology needs, including vessel tracking technologies and data sharing, in [priority regions](/usc/16/8001.md?p=9) and [priority flag states](/usc/16/8001.md?p=8);
- (3) engaging with [priority flag states](/usc/16/8001.md?p=8) to encourage the mandated use of vessel tracking technologies, including vessel monitoring systems, [AIS](/usc/16/8001.md?p=1), or other vessel movement monitoring technologies on fishing vessels and [transshipment](/usc/16/8001.md?p=13) vessels at all times, as appropriate, while at sea as a means to identify [IUU fishing](/usc/16/8001.md?p=6) activities and the shipment of illegally caught fish products; and
- (4) building partnerships with the private sector, including universities, nonprofit research organizations, the [seafood](/usc/16/8001.md?p=11) industry, and the technology, transportation and logistics sectors, to leverage new and existing technologies and data analytics to address [IUU fishing](/usc/16/8001.md?p=6).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 116–92, div. C, title XXXV, § 3546, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2004.)