---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 8034"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "8034"
heading: "Gulf of Mexico IUU Fishing Subworking Group"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/8034"
units:
  - "Chapter 99 — Maritime Security and Fisheries Enforcement"
  - "Subchapter II — Establishment of Interagency Working Group on Iuu Fishing"
---

# §8034. Gulf of Mexico IUU Fishing Subworking Group

- (a) **In general—** Not later than 90 days after December 20, 2019, the [Administrator](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=a) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in coordination with the Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Secretary of State, shall establish a subworking group to address [IUU fishing](/usc/16/8001.md?p=6) in the [exclusive economic zone](/usc/16/8001.md?p=3-A) of the United States in the Gulf of Mexico.
- (b) **Functions—** The subworking group established under [subsection (a)](#a) shall identify—
  - (1) Federal actions taken and policies established during the 5-year period immediately preceding December 20, 2019, with respect to [IUU fishing](/usc/16/8001.md?p=6) in the [exclusive economic zone](/usc/16/8001.md?p=3-A) of the United States in the Gulf of Mexico, including such actions and policies related to—
    - (A) the surveillance, interdiction, and prosecution of any foreign nationals engaged in such fishing; and
    - (B) the application of the provisions of the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act ([16 U.S.C. 1826d](/usc/16/1826d.md) et seq.) to any relevant nation, including the status of any past or ongoing consultations and certification procedures;
  - (2) actions and policies, in [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) to the actions and policies described in [paragraph (1)](#b-1), each of the Federal agencies described in [subsection (a)](#a) can [take](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18), using existing resources, to combat [IUU fishing](/usc/16/8001.md?p=6) in the [exclusive economic zone](/usc/16/8001.md?p=3-A) of the United States in the Gulf of Mexico; and
  - (3) any additional authorities that could assist each such agency in more effectively addressing such [IUU fishing](/usc/16/8001.md?p=6).
- (c) **Report—** Not later than 1 year after the [IUU Fishing](/usc/16/8001.md?p=6) Subworking Group is established under [subsection (a)](#a), the group shall submit a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives that contains—
  - (1) the findings identified pursuant to [subsection (b)](#b); and
  - (2) a timeline for each of the Federal agencies described in [subsection (a)](#a) to implement each action or policy identified pursuant to [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 116–92, div. C, title XXXV, § 3554, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2008.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(1)(B), is Pub. L. 104–43, title VI, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 391, which enacted sections 1826d to 1826g of this title and provisions set out as a note under section 1826d of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1995 Amendment note set out under section 1801 of this title and Tables.