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

33 U.S.C. § 1951

Purpose

The purpose of this chapter is to address the adverse impacts of marine debris on the United States economy, the marine environment (including waters in the jurisdiction of the United States, the high seas, and waters in the jurisdiction of other countries), and navigation safety through the identification, determination of sources, assessment, prevention, reduction, and removal of marine debris.

Pub. L. 109–449, § 2120 Stat. 3333Pub. L. 112–213, title VI, § 603126 Stat. 1576Pub. L. 116–224, title I, § 101(1)134 Stat. 1074(, , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 116–2242020— substituted “marine environment (including waters in the jurisdiction of the United States, the high seas, and waters in the jurisdiction of other countries),” for “marine environment,”.

Pub. L. 112–2132012— amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The purposes of this chapter are—

“(1) to help identify, determine sources of, assess, reduce, and prevent marine debris and its adverse impacts on the marine environment and navigation safety;

“(2) to reactivate the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee; and

“(3) to develop a Federal marine debris information clearinghouse.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title of 2025 Amendment

Pub. L. 119–65, § 1139 Stat. 1986

“This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2012 Amendment

Pub. L. 112–213, title VI, § 601126 Stat. 1576

section 1914 of this titlesection 1954 of this title“This title [amending this section and sections 1952 to 1956 of this title, transferring to , repealing sections 1915 and 1954 of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under this section] may be cited as the ‘Marine Debris Act Amendments of 2012’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title

Pub. L. 109–449, § 1120 Stat. 3333Pub. L. 112–213, title VI, § 602(a)126 Stat. 1576

“This Act [enacting and amending this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Marine Debris Act’.”
, , , as amended by , , , provided that: