§5151. Findings and purposes

(a) Findings

The Congress finds and declares the following:

(1) Atlantic striped bass are of historic commercial and recreational importance and economic benefit to the Atlantic coastal States and to the Nation.

(2) No single government entity has full management authority throughout the range of the Atlantic striped bass.

(3) The population of Atlantic striped bass-

(A) has been subject to large fluctuations due to natural causes, fishing pressure, environmental pollution, loss and alteration of habitat, inadequacy of fisheries conservation and management practices, and other causes; and

(B) risks potential depletion in the future without effective monitoring and conservation and management measures.

(4) It is in the national interest to implement effective procedures and measures to provide for effective interjurisdictional conservation and management of this species.

(b) Purpose

It is therefore declared to be the purpose of the Congress in this chapter to support and encourage the development, implementation, and enforcement of effective interstate action regarding the conservation and management of the Atlantic striped bass.

( Pub. L. 98–613, §2, Oct. 31, 1984, 98 Stat. 3187 ; Pub. L. 105–146, §2, Dec. 16, 1997, 111 Stat. 2672 .)

Amendments

1997-Pub. L. 105–146 amended section catchline and text generally, reenacting subsecs. (a)(1), (4), and (b) without change. Prior to amendment, pars. (2) and (3) of subsec. (a) read as follows:

"(2) As a consequence of increased fishing pressure, environmental pollution, the loss and alteration of habitat, and the inadequacy of fishery conservation and management practices and controls, certain stocks of Atlantic striped bass have been severely reduced in number.

"(3) Because no single government entity has full management authority throughout the range of the Atlantic striped bass, the harvesting and conservation of these fish have been subject to diverse, inconsistent, and intermittent State regulation that has been detrimental to the long-term maintenance of stocks of the species and to the interests of fishermen and the Nation as a whole."

Short Title of 1997 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–146, §1, Dec. 16, 1997, 111 Stat. 2672 , provided that: "This Act [enacting section 5158 of this title, amending this section and sections 5152 to 5157 of this title, repealing section 757g of this title, amending provisions set out as a note under this section and listed in a table of National Wildlife Conservation Areas set out under section 668dd of this title, and repealing provisions set out as notes under section 1851 of this title] may be cited as the 'Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act Amendments of 1997'."

Short Title

Pub. L. 98–613, §1, Oct. 31, 1984, 98 Stat. 3187 , as amended by Pub. L. 105–146, §2, Dec. 16, 1997, 111 Stat. 2672 , provided that: "This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the 'Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act'."