---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 6909"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "6909"
heading: "Exclusive Economic Zone notification"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/6909"
units:
  - "Chapter 88 — Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention"
---

# §6909. Exclusive Economic Zone notification


Masters of commercial [fishing vessels](/usc/16/6901.md?p=7) of nations [fishing](/usc/16/6901.md?p=6) for species under the management authority of the Western and Central Pacific [Fisheries](/usc/16/1383a.md?p=o-1) Convention that do not carry vessel monitoring [systems](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=14) capable of communicating with United States enforcement authorities shall, prior to, or as soon as reasonably possible after, entering and transiting the [Exclusive Economic Zone](/usc/16/6901.md?p=5) seaward of Hawaii and of the Commonwealths, territories, and possessions of the United States in the Pacific Ocean [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A)—

- (1) notify the United States Coast Guard or the National Marine [Fisheries](/usc/16/1383a.md?p=o-1) Service Office of Law Enforcement in the appropriate [region](/usc/16/1447a.md?p=6) of the name, flag [state](/usc/16/6901.md?p=10), location, route, and destination of the vessel and of the circumstances under which it will enter United States waters;
- (2) ensure that all [fishing](/usc/16/6901.md?p=6) gear on [board](/usc/16/1447a.md?p=1) the vessel is stowed below deck or otherwise removed from the place where it is normally used for [fishing](/usc/16/6901.md?p=6) and placed where it is not readily available for [fishing](/usc/16/6901.md?p=6); and
- (3) where requested by an enforcement officer, proceed to a specified location so that a vessel inspection can be conducted.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–479, title V, § 510, Jan. 12, 2007, 120 Stat. 3643.)