112 STAT. 2681-619 PUBLIC LAW 105-277—OCT. 21, 1998 Federal Register, publication. 46 USC 12102 note. 46 USC 12102 note. "(4) with respect to a vessel with a fishery endorsement that is 100 feet or greater in registered length, has as the mortgagee— "(A) a person eligible to own a vessel with a fishery endorsement under section 12102(c) of this title; "' "(B) a state or federally chartered financial institution that satisfies the controlling interest criteria of section 2(b) of the Shipping Act, 1916 (46 U.S.C. 802(b)); or "(C) a person that complies with the provisions of section 12102(c)(4) of this title.". SEC. 203. ENFORCEMENT OF STANDARD. (a) EFFECTIVE DATE.— The amendments made by section 202 shall take effect on October 1, 2001. (b) REGULATIONS. —Final regulations to implement this subtitle shall be published in the Federal Register by April 1, 2000. Letter rulings and other interim interpretations about the effect of this subtitle and amendments made by this subtitle on specific vessels may not be issued prior to the publication of such final regulations. The regulations to implement this subtitle shall prohibit impermissible transfers of ownership or control, specify any transactions which require prior approval of an implementing agency, identify transactions which do not require prior agency approval, and to the extent practicable, minimize disruptions to the commercial fishing industry, to the traditional financing arrangements of such industry, and to the opportunity to form fishery cooperatives. (c) VESSELS MEASURING 100 FEET AND GREATER.—(1) The Administrator of the Maritime Administration shall administer section 12102(c) of title 46, United States Code, as amended by this subtitle, with respect to vessels 100 feet or greater in registered length. The owner of each such vessel shall file a statement of citizenship setting forth all relevant facts regarding vessel ownership and control with the Administrator of the Maritime Administration on an annual basis to demonstrate compliance with such section. Regulations to implement this subsection shall conform to the extent practicable with the regulations establishing the form of citizenship affidavit set forth in part 355 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on September 25, 1997, except that the form of the statement under this paragraph shall be written in a manner to allow the owner of each such vessel to satisfy any annual renewal requirements for a certificate of documentation for such vessel and to comply with this subsection and section 12102(c) of title 46, United States Code, as amended by this Act, and shall not be required to be notarized. (2) After October 1, 2001, transfers of ownership and control of vessels subject to section 12102(c) of title 46, United States Code, as amended by this Act, which are 100 feet or greater in registered length, shall be rigorously scrutinized for violations of such section, with particular attention given to leases, charters, mortgages, financing, and similar arrangements, to the control of persons not eligible to own a vessel with a fishery endorsement under section 12102(c) of title 46, United States Code, as amended by this Act, over the management, sales, financing, or other operations of an entity, and to contracts involving the purchase over extended periods of time of all, or substantially all, of the living marine resources harvested by a fishing vessel.
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