Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 106 Part 4.djvu/689

This page needs to be proofread.

PUBLIC LAW 102-523—OCT. 26, 1992 106 STAT. 3425 Public Law 102-523 102d Congress An Act To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to authorize the Secretary of State to enter into international agreements to establish a global moratoriiun Oct. 26, 1992 to prohibit harvesting of tuna through the use of purse seine nets deployed [H.R. 5419] on or to encircle dolphins or other marine mammals, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, international ' CF ^ Dolphi n SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. Act o7l992°" This Act may be cited as the International Dolphin Conserva- 16 USC 136 note. tionAct ofl992. SEC. 2. GLOBAL MORATORIUM TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN TUNA HARVESTING PRACTICES. (a) IN GENERAL.—The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ^ITLE m—GLOBAL MORATORIUM TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN TUNA HARVEST- ING PRACTICES "SEC. 301. FINDINGS AND POLICY. 16 USC 1411. "(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: "(1) The yellowfin tuna fishery of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean has resulted in the deaths of miliions of dolphins. (2) Significant awareness and increased concern for the hecdth and safety of dolphin populations has encouraged a change in fishing methods worldwide. "(3) United States tuna fishing vessels have led the world in the development of fishing methods to reduce dolphin mortalities in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean and United States tima processing companies have voluntarily promoted the marketing of tuna &at is dolphin safe. "(4) Nations harvesting yellowfin tuna in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean have indicated their willingness to participate in appropriate multilateral agreements to reduce, and eventually eliminate, dolphin mortality in that fishery. "(b) POLICY.—It is the policy of the United States to— "(1) eliminate the marine manunal mortedity resulting from the intentional encirclement of dolphins and other marine mammals in tuna purse scdne fisheries; "(2) secure appropriate multilateral agreements to reduce, and eventually eliminate, the mortaUty referred to in paragraph