Public Law 119-83 (04/13/2026)

46 U.S.C. § 10601

Fishing agreements

(a)
Before proceeding on a voyage, the owner, charterer, or managing operator, or a representative thereof, including the master or individual in charge, of a fishing vessel, fish processing vessel, or fish tender vessel shall make a fishing agreement in writing with each seaman employed on board if the vessel is—
(1)
section 14502 of this titlesection 14302 of this titlesection 14104 of this title at least 20 gross tons as measured under , or an alternate tonnage measured under as prescribed by the Secretary under ; and
(2)
on a voyage from a port in the United States.
(b)
The agreement shall—
(1)
state the period of effectiveness of the agreement;
(2)
include the terms of any wage, share, or other compensation arrangement peculiar to the fishery in which the vessel will be engaged during the period of the agreement;
(3)
in the case of a seaman employed on a vessel that is a catcher processor or fish processing vessel that employs more than 25 crewmembers, include a requirement that each crewmember shall be served not less than three meals a day that—
(A)
total not less than 3,100 calories; and
(B)
include adequate water and minerals in accordance with the United States Recommended Daily Allowances; and
(4)
include other agreed terms.

Pub. L. 100–424, § 6(a)102 Stat. 1591 Pub. L. 104–324, title VII, § 739110 Stat. 3942 Pub. L. 107–295, title IV, § 441(a)116 Stat. 2131 Pub. L. 117–263, div. K, title CXV, § 11526136 Stat. 4145 (, , ; , , ; , (b), , ; , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section

Source section (U.S. Code)

10601

46:531

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 117–2632022—Subsec. (b)(3), (4). added par. (3) and redesignated former par. (3) as (4).

Pub. L. 107–295, § 441(a)2002—Subsec. (a). , (b)(1), in introductory provisions, inserted “owner, charterer, or managing operator, or a representative thereof, including the” after “on a voyage, the” and comma after “individual in charge” and substituted “employed” for “enployed”.

Pub. L. 107–295, § 441(b)(2)Subsecs. (b), (c). , (3), redesignated subsec. (c) as (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) which read as follows: “The agreement shall be signed also by the owner of the vessel.”

Pub. L. 104–324section 14502 of this titlesection 14302 of this titlesection 14104 of this title1996—Subsec. (a)(1). inserted “as measured under , or an alternate tonnage measured under as prescribed by the Secretary under ” after “20 gross tons”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Agreements Deemed Compliant

Pub. L. 107–295, title IV, § 441(c)116 Stat. 2131 Pub. L. 108–199, div. H, § 137(a)118 Stat. 442

section 10601(a) of title 46section 10601 of title 46“An agreement that complies with the requirements of , United States Code, as herein amended, is hereby deemed to have been in compliance with subsections (a) and (b) of , United States Code, as in effect prior to .”
, , , as amended by , , , provided that:

Pub. L. 108–199, div. H, § 137(b)118 Stat. 442

section 441(c) of Pub. L. 107–295“The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending , set out above] apply to all proceedings pending on or commenced after the date of enactment of this Act [].”
[, , , provided that: ]