---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 951"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "951"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/951"
units:
  - "Chapter 16 — Tuna Conventions"
---

# §951. Definitions


In this chapter:

- (1) **Antigua Convention—** The term “Antigua Convention” means the [Convention](#3) for the Strengthening of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna [Commission](#2) Established by the 1949 [Convention](#3) Between the [United States](#5) of America and the Republic of Costa Rica, signed at Washington, November 14, 2003.
- (2) **Commission—** The term “Commission” means the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission provided for by the [Convention](#3).
- (3) **Convention—** The term “Convention” means—
  - (A) the [Convention](#3) for the Establishment of an Inter-American Tropical Tuna [Commission](#2), signed at Washington, May 31, 1949, by the [United States](#5) of America and the Republic of Costa Rica;
  - (B) the [Antigua Convention](#1), upon its entry into force for the [United States](#5), and any amendments thereto that are in force for the [United States](#5); or
  - (C) both such [Conventions](#3), as the context requires.
- (4) **Person—** The term “person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, or association subject to the jurisdiction of the [United States](#5).
- (5) **United States—** The term “United States” includes all [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) under the sovereignty of the United States.
- (6) **United States Commissioners—** The term “United States commissioners”[^1] means the individuals appointed in accordance with [section 952(a) of this title](/usc/16/952.md?p=a).

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be capitalized.

## Source credit

(Sept. 7, 1950, ch. 907, § 2, 64 Stat. 777; Pub. L. 87–814, § 1, Oct. 15, 1962, 76 Stat. 923; Pub. L. 114–81, title II, § 203, Nov. 5, 2015, 129 Stat. 660.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2015—Pub. L. 114–81 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section defined terms for this chapter.

1962—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 87–814 substituted definition of “United States” for definition of “enforcement agency”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Act Sept. 7, 1950, ch. 907, § 14, 64 Stat. 780, provided: “This Act [this chapter] shall take effect with respect to each of the conventions upon the entry into force of that convention, unless such entry into force shall be prior to the date of approval of this Act [Sept. 7, 1950] in which case this Act [this chapter] shall take effect immediately.” The Costa Rican convention was ratified on March 3, 1950, and the Mexican convention on July 11, 1950. Therefore, the act took effect upon its approval on Sept. 7, 1950.

### Short Title of 2015 Amendment

Pub. L. 114–81, title II, § 201, Nov. 5, 2015, 129 Stat. 660, provided that: “This title [amending sections 951 to 953, 955, 957, 959, and 962 of this title and repealing chapter 16B of this title and provisions set out as a note under section 972 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Antigua Convention Implementing Act of 2015’.”

### Short Title

Act Sept. 7, 1950, ch. 907, § 1, 64 Stat. 777, provided: “That this Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Tuna Conventions Act of 1950’.”

### Separability

Act Sept. 7, 1950, ch. 907, § 13, 64 Stat. 780, provided: “If any provision of this Act [this chapter] or the application of such provision to any circumstances or persons shall be held invalid, the validity of the remainder of the Act and the applicability of such provision to other circumstances or persons shall not be affected thereby.”

### Landing of Catch of Fish by Foreign Vessels

Pub. L. 87–814, § 6, Oct. 15, 1962, 76 Stat. 926, provided that: “Nothing in this Act [amending this section and sections 955 to 957, 959 of this title] shall be construed to amend or repeal the provisions of section 4311 of the Revised Statutes, as amended ([former] 46 U.S.C. [App.] 251) [see 46 U.S.C. 55114].”