---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 U.S.C. § 1972"
title: "33"
title_heading: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
number: "1972"
heading: "Genius Prize for Save Our Seas Innovations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/1972"
units:
  - "Chapter 33A — Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction"
  - "Subchapter III — Genius Prize for Save Our Seas Innovations"
---

# §1972. Genius Prize for Save Our Seas Innovations

- (a) **In general—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 1 year after December 18, 2020, the [Secretary](/usc/33/1971.md?p=2) shall establish under [section 3719 of title 15](/usc/15/3719.md) a [prize competition](/usc/33/1971.md?p=1)—
    - (A) to encourage technological innovation with the potential to reduce plastic waste, and associated and potential pollution, and thereby prevent [marine debris](/usc/33/1981.md?p=6); and
    - (B) to award 1 or more prizes biennially for projects that advance human understanding and innovation in removing and preventing plastic waste, in one of the categories described in [paragraph (2)](#a-2).
  - (2) **Categories for projects—** The categories for projects are:
    - (A) Advancements in materials used in packaging and other products that, if such products enter the coastal or ocean environment, will fully degrade without harming the environment, wildlife, or human health.
    - (B) Innovations in production and packaging design that reduce the use of raw materials, increase recycled content, encourage reusability and recyclability, and promote a [circular economy](/usc/33/1981.md?p=1).
    - (C) Improvements in [marine debris](/usc/33/1981.md?p=6) detection, monitoring, and cleanup technologies and processes.
    - (D) Improvements or improved strategies to increase solid waste collection, processing, sorting, recycling, or reuse.
    - (E) New designs or strategies to reduce overall packaging needs and promote reuse.
- (b) **Designation—** The [prize competition](/usc/33/1971.md?p=1) established under [subsection (a)](#a) shall be known as the “Genius Prize for Save Our Seas Innovations”.
- (c) **Prioritization—** In selecting awards for the [prize competition](/usc/33/1971.md?p=1), priority shall be given to projects that—
  - (1) have a strategy, submitted with the application or proposal, to move the new technology, process, design, material, or other product supported by the prize to market-scale deployment;
  - (2) support the concept of a [circular economy](/usc/33/1981.md?p=1); and
  - (3) promote development of materials that—
    - (A) can fully degrade in the ocean without harming the environment, wildlife, or human health; and
    - (B) are to be used in fishing gear or other maritime products that have an increased likelihood of entering the coastal or ocean environment as unintentional waste.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–449, § 122, formerly Pub. L. 116–224, title I, § 122, Dec. 18, 2020, 134 Stat. 1081; renumbered Pub. L. 109–449, § 122, by Pub. L. 119–65, § 4(a), Dec. 26, 2025, 139 Stat. 1989.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 4232 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 119–65.