Assistance by Federal agencies to improve law enforcement within priority regions and priority flag states

Source Credit

(a) In general
The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the Commandant of the Coast Guard when the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Department of the Navy, as well as any other relevant department or agency, shall provide assistance, as appropriate, in accordance with this section.
(b) Law enforcement training and coordination activities
The officials referred to in subsection (a) shall evaluate opportunities to provide assistance, as appropriate, to countries in priority regions and priority flag states to improve the effectiveness of IUU fishing enforcement, with clear and measurable targets and indicators of success, including—
(1) by assessing and using existing resources, enforcement tools, and legal authorities to coordinate efforts to combat IUU fishing with efforts to combat other illegal trade, including weapons, drugs, and human trafficking;
(2) by expanding existing IUU fishing enforcement training;
(3) by providing targeted, country- and region-specific training on combating IUU fishing, including in those countries that have not adopted the Port State Measures Agreement;
(4) by supporting increased effectiveness and transparency of the fisheries enforcement sectors of the governments of such countries; and
(5) by supporting increased outreach to stakeholders in the affected communities as key partners in combating and prosecuting IUU fishing.
(c) Implementation of Port State Measures
The officials referred to in subsection (a) shall evaluate opportunities to provide assistance, as appropriate, to countries in priority regions and priority flag states to help those states implement programs related to port security and capacity for the purposes of preventing IUU fishing products from entering the global seafood market, including by supporting other countries in working toward the adoption and implementation of the Port State Measures Agreement.
(d) Capacity building for investigations and prosecutions
The officials referred to in subsection (a), in collaboration with the governments of countries in priority regions and of priority flag states, shall evaluate opportunities to assist those countries in designing and implementing programs in such countries, to increase the capacity of IUU fishing enforcement and customs and border security officers to improve their ability—
(1) to conduct effective investigations, including using law enforcement techniques such as undercover investigations and the development of informer networks and actionable intelligence;
(2) to conduct vessel boardings and inspections at sea and associated enforcement actions;
(3) to exercise existing shiprider agreements and to enter into and implement new shiprider agreements, for all priority regions identified by the Working Group, including in those countries that have not adopted the Port State Measures Agreement;
(4) to conduct vessel inspections at port and associated enforcement actions;
(5) to assess technology needs and promote the use of technology to improve monitoring, enforcement, and prosecution of IUU fishing;
(6) to conduct DNA-based and forensic identification of seafood used in trade;
(7) to conduct training on techniques, such as collecting electronic evidence and using computer forensics, for law enforcement personnel involved in complex investigations related to international matters, financial issues, and government corruption that include IUU fishing;
(8) to assess financial flows and the use of financial institutions to launder profits related to IUU fishing;
(9) to conduct training on the legal mechanisms that can be used to prosecute those identified in the investigations as alleged perpetrators of IUU fishing and other associated crimes such as trafficking and forced labor; and
(10) to conduct training to raise awareness of the use of whistleblower information and ways to incentivize whistleblowers to come forward with original information related to IUU fishing.
(e) Capacity building for information sharing
The officials referred to in subsection (a) shall evaluate opportunities to provide assistance, as appropriate, to key countries in priority regions and priority flag states in the form of training, equipment, and systems development to build capacity for information sharing related to maritime enforcement and port security.
(f) Coordination with other relevant agencies
The Secretary of State shall coordinate, as appropriate, with the Secretary of Commerce, the Commandant of the Coast Guard when the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Department of the Navy, and with other relevant Federal agencies in accordance with this section.

History

(Pub. L. 116–92, div. C, title XXXV, §3543, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2002; Pub. L. 117–263, div. K, title CXIII, §11339(b), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 4105.)

Editorial Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments
2022—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 117–263, §11339(b)(1), struck out "as appropriate," after "such countries," in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 117–263, §11339(b)(2), substituted "for all priority regions identified by the Working Group" for "as appropriate".