A bill to amend the Fishery Conservation Zone Transition Act in order to give effect during 1977 to the Reciprocal Fisheries Agreement between the United States and Canada.
PL 95-73 (H.R.5638), enacted 07/26/1977

PUBLIC LAW 95-73—JULY 26, 1977 
91 STAT. 283 
Public Law 95-73 
95th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the Fishery Conservation Zone Transition Act in order to give effect 
during 1977 to the Reciprocal Fisheries Agreement between the United States 
and Canada. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Reiyresentatives 
of the 
United States of America 
in Congress asseTnbled, That the Fishery 
Conservation Zone Transition Act (Public Law 95-6; 91 Stat. 14-16) 
is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new section: 
"SEC. 5. RECIPROCAL FISHERIES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED 
STATES AND CANADA. 
July 26, 1977 
[H.R. 5638] 
Fishery 
Conservation 
Zone Transition 
Act, amendment. 
16 u s e 1823 
note. 
Agreement; 
effective date. 
16 u s e 1821. 
16 u s e 1857. 
"'(a) CONGRESSIONAL APPKOVAL.—The Congress hereby approves 
the Reciprocal Fisheries Agreement between the Government of the 
United States and the Government of Canada (hereinafter in this sec-
tion referred to as the 'Agreement'), as contained in the message to 
Congress from the President of the United States dated February 28, 
1977. The Agreement shall be in force and effect with respect to the 
United States during the period beginning March 1, 1977, and end-
ing at the close of December 31,1977. 
"(b) APPLICATION.—During the period when the Agreement is in 
force and effect with respect to the United States— 
" (1) vessels and nationals of Canada may fish within the fishery 
conservation zone, or for anadromous species and Continental 
Shelf fishery resources beyond such zone, but only pursuant to, 
and in accordance with, the ]3rovisions of the Agreement; and 
"(2) title I I of the Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act of 1976 (relating to foreign fishing and international fishery 
agreements) and section 307 of such Act of 1976 (relating to 
prohibited acts) shall not apply with respect to fishing within 
the fishery conservation zone, or for anadromous species and Con-
tinental Shelf fishery resoui'ces beyond such zone, by vessels and 
nationals of Canada which is pursuant to, and in accordance with, 
the provisions of the Agreement. 
''(c) FISHING STATISTICS.— (1) Any person who— 
"(A) owns or operates any fishing vessel which— 
" (i) is a vessel of the United States, and 
"(ii) engages in fishing to which the Agreement applies; or 
"(B) directly or indirectly receives, or may receive, fish to 
which the Agreement applies in the course of a commercial 
activity in quantities determined by the Secretary to be sufficient 
to assist in the carrying out of this paragraph, 
shall submit to the Secretary such statistics (including, but not limited 
to, catch data) regarding such fishing or such receipt of fish as are 
necessary to fulfill the obligations of the United States under article 
X I I I of the Agreement. The Secretary, after consultation with the Regulations. 
Secretary of State, shall issue such regulations as are necessary and 
appropriate to carry out the purposes of this paragraph. Section 
303(d) of the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 16 USC 1853 
(relating to the confidentiality of statistics) shall apply with respect 
to all statistics submitted under this paragraph. 
91 STAT. 284 
PUBLIC LAW 95-73—JULY 26, 1977 
"(2) Any violation of paragraph (1), or of any regulation issued 
pursuant to paragraph (1), by any person shall be deemed to be an act 
prohibited by section 307 of the Fishery Conservation and Manage-
16 use 1857. 
ment Act of 1976. Any person who commits any such violation shall be 
Penalty. 
liable to the United States for a civil penalty as provided for in section 
16 use 1858. 
308 of such Act of 1976. Sections 309 (relating to criminal offenses) 
1^ Her ^^^^ 
^^^ ^^^ (relating to civil forfeiture) of such Act of 1976 shall not apply 
16 use 1860. 
with respect to any such violation. 
"(d) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the terms 'anadromous 
species', 'Continental Shelf fishery resources', 'fishery conservation 
..,, 
zone', 'fishing', 'fishing vessel', 'Secretary', and 'vessel of the United 
States' shall have the same respective meanings as are given to such 
terms in section 3 of the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 
16 use 1802. 
1976.". 
Approved July 26, 1977. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-193 (eomm. on Merchant Marine and Fisheries), 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-317 (eomm. on Foreign Relations). 
eONGRESSIONAL REeORD, Vol. 123 (1977): 
Apr. 25, considered and passed House. 
July 12, considered and passed Senate.