Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

22 U.S.C. § 1971

“Vessel of the United States” defined

1

1 See References in Text note below.
For the purposes of this chapter the term “vessel of the United States” shall mean any private vessel documented or certificated under the laws of the United States. Notwithstanding any other law, the documentation or certification of any such vessel shall not be considered to be affected, for the purposes of this chapter, in any manner or to any extent if at any time during any voyage for the purpose of fishing beyond the fishery conservation zone (as defined in section 1802(8)  of title 16), the vessel is commanded by other than a citizen of the United States.

Aug. 27, 1954, ch. 1018, § 168 Stat. 883Pub. L. 95–541, § 14(a)92 Stat. 2057Pub. L. 96–561, title II, § 238(b)94 Stat. 3300Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(a) [title II, § 211(b)]110 Stat. 3009(, ; , , ; , , ; , , , 3009–41.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 1802(8) of title 16section 1802(6) of Title 16Pub. L. 99–659, title I, § 101(a)100 Stat. 3706, referred to in text, which defined “fishery conservation zone”, was repealed and , Conservation, defining the term “exclusive economic zone”, was added by , , . Section 1802 was subsequently amended and the term “exclusive economic zone” is defined elsewhere in that section.

Amendments

Pub. L. 104–208section 1802(8) of title 161996— made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to .

Pub. L. 96–561section 1802(8) of title 161980— made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to .

Pub. L. 95–5411978— provided that the documentation or certification of a vessel of the United States not be affected if at any time during the voyage for the purpose of fishing beyond the fishery conservation zone, the vessel is commanded by other than a citizen of the United States.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(a) [title II, § 211(b)]110 Stat. 3009, , , 3009–41, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective 15 days after .

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–561, title II, § 238(b)94 Stat. 3300, , , provided that the amendment made by that section is effective 15 days after .

Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–541, § 14(b)92 Stat. 2057section 14(a) of Pub. L. 95–541Pub. L. 104–227, title I, § 107110 Stat. 3042, , , provided that the amendment made by , amending this section, was to take effect , prior to the general amendment by , , .

Short Title of 2000 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–450, title I, § 101114 Stat. 1941

section 1977 of this title“This title [amending ] may be cited as the ‘Fishermen’s Protective Act Amendments of 2000’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title

Pub. L. 90–482, § 482 Stat. 730

68 Stat. 88322 U.S.C. 1971–197“The Act of (; 6), as amended by this Act [this chapter], may be cited as the ‘Fishermen’s Protective Act of 1967’.”
, , , provided that: