H.R. 3189

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3189 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3189

To implement the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and 
Petrels, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 5, 2025

Mr. Huffman (for himself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in 
addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To implement the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and 
Petrels, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Albatross and 
Petrel Conservation Act of 2025''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--CONSERVATION MEASURES

Sec. 101. Reestablishment of species.
Sec. 102. Management of nonnative species.
Sec. 103. Habitat conservation and restoration.
Sec. 104. Management of human activities.
Sec. 105. Education and public awareness.
TITLE II--PROHIBITED ACTS, PERMITS, AND EXEMPTIONS

Sec. 201. Prohibited acts.
Sec. 202. Authorization of take.
Sec. 203. Exemption.
TITLE III--PENALTIES AND ENFORCEMENT

Sec. 301. Enforcement.
TITLE IV--AGREEMENT AUTHORITY

Sec. 401. Agreement authority.
Sec. 402. Reporting.
Sec. 403. General coordination.
TITLE V--INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE

Sec. 501. Cooperation among nations.
TITLE VI--BYCATCH AND EQUIVALENT CONSERVATION

Sec. 601. Protected living marine resources.
TITLE VII--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 701. Regulatory authority.
Sec. 702. Administration.
Sec. 703. Effective date.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Advisory committee.--The term ``Advisory Committee'' 
means the Advisory Committee established by Article IX of the 
Agreement.
(2) Agreement.--Each of the terms ``Agreement on the 
Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels'' and ``Agreement'' 
means the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and 
Petrels, done at Cape Town, South Africa, on February 2, 2001.
(3) Antarctica.--The term ``Antarctica'' means the area 
south of 60 degrees south latitude.
(4) Breeding site.--The term ``breeding site'' means--
(A) a location in the wild at which any covered 
albatross or petrel eggs, tended by the parent birds, 
have successfully hatched at any time in the previous 5 
years; or
(B) a location where reestablishment of breeding 
covered albatrosses and petrels is underway.
(5) Conservation measure.--The term ``conservation 
measure'' means any action taken for the purpose of achieving 
or maintaining the favorable conservation status of covered 
albatrosses and petrels.
(6) Covered albatrosses and petrels.--The terms ``covered 
albatrosses and petrels'' and ``covered albatross or petrel'' 
mean any species, subspecies, population, or individual within 
the taxonomic order Procellariiformes that is listed under 
Annex I of the Agreement, whether dead or alive, including any 
part, egg, derivative nest, or product of such a species, 
subspecies, population, or individual.
(7) Disturb; disturbance.--Each of the terms ``disturb'' 
and ``disturbance'' means any act that interferes with the 
natural behavioral patterns of covered albatrosses and petrels, 
including migration, brooding, nesting, breeding, feeding, or 
sheltering, to a point at which such behavioral patterns are 
abandoned or significantly altered.
(8) Favorable conservation status.--The term ``favorable 
conservation status'' has the meaning given the term in Article 
I of the Agreement.
(9) Habitat.--The term ``habitat'' means any area within 
the range, that contains suitable living conditions for covered 
albatrosses and petrels, including appropriate nesting and 
foraging areas.
(10) Magnuson-stevens act.--The term ``Magnuson-Stevens 
Act'' means the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).
(11) Party.--The term ``Party'' means any country 
(including the United States) or regional economic integration 
organization that has ratified or acceded to the Agreement.
(12) Person.--The term ``person'' means--
(A) any individual (whether or not a citizen or 
national of the United States);
(B) any corporation, partnership, association, or 
other entity (whether or not existing under the laws of 
any State); and
(C) any Federal, State, local, or foreign 
government or any entity of such a government.
(13) Range.--The term ``range'' means--
(A) all land or water that any covered albatrosses 
and petrels inhabit, stay in temporarily, cross, or 
over-fly, at any time during migration, breeding, 
feeding, or aggregating; and
(B) any other areas that the Secretary or the 
Secretary of Commerce determines have been used for any 
of those purposes.
(14) Range state.--The term ``range state'' means any 
country--
(A) that exercises jurisdiction over any part of a 
range; or
(B) the flagged vessels of which are engaged 
outside of the jurisdictional limits of the country in 
take, or in an activity that has the potential to take.
(15) Regional fishery management council.--The term 
``Regional Fishery Management Council'' means any Regional 
Fishery Management Council established by section 302(a)(1) of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1852(a)(1)).
(16) Secretariat.--The term ``Secretariat'' means the 
Secretariat established by the Parties to the Agreement 
pursuant to paragraph 11 of Article VIII.
(17) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
of the Interior.
(18) Take.--The term ``take'' means to harmfully interfere 
with, harass, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, 
destroy, possess, or collect.
(19) United states.--The term ``United States'' means--
(A) each of the several States;
(B) the District of Columbia;
(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
(D) the United States Virgin Islands;
(E) American Samoa;
(F) Guam;
(G) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands; and
(H) any other commonwealth, territory, or 
possession of the United States.
(20) Waters subject to the jurisdiction of the united 
states.--The term ``waters subject to the jurisdiction of the 
United States'' means--
(A) the waters of the United States territorial sea 
under Presidential Proclamation 5928, dated December 
27, 1988 (43 U.S.C. 1331 note);
(B) the exclusive economic zone (as defined in 
section 107 of title 46, United States Code); and
(C) the areas referred to as ``eastern special 
areas'' in Article 3(1) of the Agreement between the 
United States of America and the Union of Soviet 
Socialist Republics on the Maritime Boundary, signed at 
Washington, June 1, 1990 (T. Doc. 101-22), including 
those areas east of the maritime boundary, as defined 
in that Agreement, that lie within 200 nautical miles 
of the baselines from which the breadth of the 
territorial sea of Russia is measured but beyond 200 
nautical miles of the baselines from which the breadth 
of the territorial sea of the United States is 
measured.

TITLE I--CONSERVATION MEASURES

SEC. 101. REESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIES.

The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, as 
appropriate, may carry out activities, based on the best available 
scientific information, to reestablish covered albatrosses and petrels 
within the range.

SEC. 102. MANAGEMENT OF NONNATIVE SPECIES.

(a) In General.--The Secretary or the Secretary of Commerce, as 
appropriate, in consultation with each other and with the heads of 
other relevant Federal agencies, and consistent with this Act and any 
other applicable law, may carry out activities to prevent the 
introduction of, eradicate, or control invasive and nonnative species 
that have or may have an adverse effect on covered albatrosses and 
petrels.
(b) Included Activities.--The activities under subsection (a) may 
include--
(1) implementation of management plans for such invasive or 
nonnative species;
(2) research on and development of practical and effective 
techniques to eradicate or control invasive or nonnative 
species;
(3) development of regional assessments on established and 
newly discovered populations of invasive or nonnative species;
(4) development of decision-support tools to prevent the 
introduction or establishment of invasive or nonnative species;
(5) development of rapid response approaches and 
techniques;
(6) documentation of--
(A) any invasive or nonnative species that coexist 
with humans; and
(B) delineation of areas in which eradication or 
control of those species would be most effective and 
cost efficient;
(7) eradication or control of established populations or 
individuals of invasive or nonnative species; and
(8) outreach and education related to--
(A) the impacts of invasive or nonnative species on 
covered albatrosses and petrels; and
(B) the techniques to eradicate or control those 
species.

SEC. 103. HABITAT CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION.

(a) Authority of Secretary.--
(1) Use of other authorities.--The Secretary may use 
authority available under any other laws for the protection of 
wildlife to conserve, protect, and restore breeding sites of 
covered albatrosses and petrels, including authority under--
(A) the Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 
715 et seq.);
(B) the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 
U.S.C. 661 et seq.);
(C) the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 
742a, et seq.); and
(D) any other cooperative or land-acquisition 
authority vested in the Secretary.
(2) Management plans and conservation measures.--The 
Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, may 
develop and implement management plans and undertake measures 
for the conservation and protection of covered albatross and 
petrel habitat.
(b) Authority of Secretary of Commerce.--The Secretary of Commerce, 
in consultation with the Secretary, may--
(1) develop and implement management plans and undertake 
conservation measures in marine habitats to ensure the 
sustainability of living marine resources that provide food for 
such covered albatrosses and petrels; and
(2) use authority under law to conserve and protect marine 
habitat important to the conservation of covered albatrosses 
and petrels, including such authority under--
(A) the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 
1431 et seq.); and
(B) the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

SEC. 104. MANAGEMENT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES.

(a) Pollutants and Marine Debris.--
(1) Research.--The Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce 
may undertake scientific research to assess the effects of 
pollutants and marine debris on covered albatrosses and 
petrels.
(2) Marine debris.--The Secretary and the Secretary of 
Commerce may each develop and implement conservation measures 
to minimize the effects of, or threats posed by, marine debris 
on covered albatrosses and petrels.
(b) Prevention, Minimization, or Mitigation of Take and 
Disturbance.--The Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce--
(1) in consultation with each other and consistent with the 
Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.) and any other 
authority, may develop and implement measures, including by 
issuing regulations, to prevent, minimize, or mitigate--
(A) the take of covered albatrosses and petrels--
(i) on lands or in waters subject to the 
jurisdiction of the United States; and
(ii) by vessels and nationals of the United 
States located outside the jurisdiction of the 
United States; and
(B) the disturbance of covered albatrosses and 
petrels--
(i) on lands or in waters subject to the 
jurisdiction of the United States; and
(ii) by vessels and nationals of the United 
States located outside the jurisdiction of the 
United States; and
(2) shall--
(A) notify the Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating of any actions taken under 
this subsection, to ensure a coordinated effort to 
prevent, minimize, or mitigate the taking of covered 
albatrosses and petrels; and
(B) if determined necessary, request that the 
applicable Secretary take additional action to prevent 
or minimize take of covered albatrosses and petrels.
(c) Measures To Address Bycatch in Fisheries.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation 
with the Regional Fishery Management Council with jurisdiction 
over the relevant fishery under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, may 
develop and undertake measures to minimize the bycatch of 
covered albatrosses and petrels in the fishery.
(2) Monitoring.--The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation 
with such Regional Fishery Management Council, may engage in--
(A) regional assessments of covered albatrosses and 
petrels interactions with fishing gear to determine the 
extent and nature of such interactions;
(B) collection of covered albatrosses and petrels 
bycatch data, including through onboard-observer 
programs--
(i) to determine the nature and extent of 
covered albatrosses and petrels interactions 
with United States fisheries; and
(ii) to evaluate the effectiveness of any 
prescribed mitigation measures; and
(C) research on bycatch-mitigation measures to 
develop the most practical and effective deterrent 
measures that reduce such bycatch.
(3) Disclosure of information.--
(A) In general.--In carrying out this subsection, 
the Secretary of Commerce may disclose, as necessary 
and appropriate, information collected under this Act 
to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United 
Nations, regional fishery-management organizations, or 
arrangements made pursuant to an international fishery-
management agreement, if such organizations or 
arrangements have policies and procedures to safeguard 
such information from unintended or unauthorized 
disclosure.
(B) International fishery agreement defined.--In 
this paragraph the term ``international fishery 
agreement'' has the meaning given the term in section 3 
of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1802).

SEC. 105. EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS.

The Secretary, and the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with 
relevant Regional Fishery Management Councils and others, may--
(1) make information on the conservation status of covered 
albatrosses and petrels, the threats facing covered albatrosses 
and petrels, and any actions taken under the Agreement 
available to--
(A) the scientific, fishing, and seabird 
conservation communities;
(B) the public;
(C) relevant local authorities;
(D) other decisionmakers;
(E) other Parties; and
(F) other countries;
(2) cooperate with other Parties, the Secretariat, and 
other persons to develop training programs and general 
information products and exchange resource materials regarding 
such conservation; and
(3) provide training programs to ensure that personnel 
responsible for the implementation of this Act have adequate 
knowledge to implement it effectively.

TITLE II--PROHIBITED ACTS, PERMITS, AND EXEMPTIONS

SEC. 201. PROHIBITED ACTS.

(a) In General.--Except as authorized by a permit, authorization, 
or exemption under section 202 or 203, it is unlawful--
(1) to take any covered albatross or petrel;
(2) to commit any act with respect to covered albatrosses 
or petrels that would be prohibited by section 2 of the 
Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703(a)) if covered 
albatrosses or petrels were treated as migratory birds for 
purposes of that section; or
(3) to attempt to engage in any act described in paragraph 
(1) or (2) of this subsection.
(b) Applicability.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
prohibitions under this Act apply--
(A) on lands and in waters subject to the 
jurisdiction of the United States; and
(B) to vessels and nationals of the United States 
on lands or in waters beyond the jurisdiction of the 
United States.
(2) Limitation.--This section shall not apply with respect 
to any covered albatross or petrel lawfully taken before the 
effective date of this Act.
(c) Other Prohibited Conduct.--It is unlawful--
(1) to violate this Act or any regulation or permit issued 
under this Act;
(2) to refuse permission to board, search, or inspect any 
vessel that is subject to the control of that person to an 
officer authorized under section 301(b) to conduct any search, 
investigation, or inspection to enforce this Act or any 
regulation or permit issued under this Act;
(3) to forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede, 
intimidate, or interfere with any officer authorized under 
section 301(b) in the conduct of any search, investigation, or 
inspection under this Act;
(4) to resist a lawful arrest or detention for any act 
prohibited by this Act or any regulation or permit issued under 
this Act; or
(5) to interfere with, delay, or prevent, by any means, the 
apprehension, arrest, or detention of another person, knowing 
that the other person has committed an act prohibited by this 
Act or any regulation or permit issued under this Act.

SEC. 202. AUTHORIZATION OF TAKE.

(a) Permits and Regulatory Authorization.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate, may, subject to the 
limitations of the terms of the Agreement and other applicable 
law, authorize by permit or regulation the deliberate taking of 
any covered albatrosses and petrels--
(A) to enhance the propagation, reestablishment, or 
survival of those covered albatrosses and petrels;
(B) on a selective basis and to a limited extent, 
for scientific, educational, or similar purposes;
(C) to accommodate the traditional needs and 
practices of indigenous people;
(D) for the purposes of assistance or salvage 
pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 
703 et seq.); or
(E) in other exceptional circumstances as 
determined by the Secretary.
(2) Other take.--The Secretary may authorize by permit or 
regulation the take of covered albatrosses or petrels not 
otherwise provided for in this Act that is incidental to 
otherwise lawful activities.
(3) Limitations.--A permit or regulatory authorization 
under this subsection--
(A) shall be limited in area and duration of 
application; and
(B) shall not--
(i) result in the elimination of the 
favorable conservation status for any covered 
albatrosses and petrels; or
(ii) authorize any activity otherwise 
prohibited by any other statute or regulation.
(4) Access to breeding sites.--Any permit or other 
regulatory authorization under this subsection that authorizes 
access to breeding sites of covered albatrosses and petrels, 
including for purposes of scientific research, shall contain 
terms and conditions to minimize unnecessary disturbance to 
covered albatrosses and petrels, and to minimize the impact on 
their habitats.
(b) Exceptions.--The taking of covered albatrosses and petrels is 
not prohibited by this Act if--
(1) the taking is necessary to avoid imminent suffering, 
serious injury, additional injury, or death to any covered 
albatrosses and petrels hooked or entangled in fishing gear or 
debris;
(2) reasonable care is taken to ensure the safe and 
expeditious release of the covered albatrosses and petrels; and
(3) the taking is reported to the Secretary of Commerce in 
a timely manner.

SEC. 203. EXEMPTION.

(a) Military Activities.--
(1) In general.--It shall not be a violation of this Act 
for personnel of the Department of Defense to take covered 
albatrosses and petrels incidental to military activities.
(2) Vessels and aircraft.--This Act shall not apply to 
vessels and aircraft entitled to sovereign immunity under 
international law.
(3) Guidance to avoid or minimize take.--The Secretary, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary 
of Defense, may issue guidance to minimize, to the extent 
practicable, the take of covered albatrosses and petrels that 
is incidental to military activities.
(b) Coast Guard Activities.--
(1) Law enforcement.--Nothing in this section shall be 
considered to limit the authority of the Coast Guard to enforce 
this or any other Federal law under section 89 of title 14, 
United States Code.
(2) Emergency response.--It shall not be a violation of 
this Act for the Coast Guard to take any covered albatrosses 
and petrels incidental to any emergency response or search and 
rescue activity.
(c) Other Activities.--Take of any covered albatrosses and petrels 
is not unlawful if the take was caused by any officer who is authorized 
by the Secretary, the Secretary of Commerce, or the head of any Federal 
or State agency that has entered into an agreement with the Secretary 
or the Secretary of Commerce under section 403, to enforce this Act 
while performing official duties.
(d) Bycatch of Covered Albatrosses and Petrels in Fisheries.--It 
shall not be a violation of this Act for any person to take covered 
albatrosses and petrels as bycatch incidental to otherwise lawful 
fishing activities, if carried out in accordance with applicable 
measures to minimize the bycatch of covered albatrosses and petrels 
undertaken pursuant to section 104(c).

TITLE III--PENALTIES AND ENFORCEMENT

SEC. 301. ENFORCEMENT.

(a) Responsibility.--
(1) In general.--This Act, and any regulations or permits 
issued under this Act, shall be enforced by the Secretary, the 
Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of the department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating.
(2) Administration.--Subject to the limitations of section 
1385 of title 18, United States Code, the Secretary, the 
Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of the department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating may, by agreement, on a 
reimbursable basis or otherwise, use the personnel, services, 
equipment (including aircraft and vessels), and facilities of 
the Coast Guard, and of any State agency in the performance of 
duties under this Act.
(b) Powers of Authorized Officers.--
(1) Authorities under magnuson-stevens act.--The Secretary 
of Commerce, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating, and the head of any Federal or State agency 
that has entered into an agreement with either such Secretary 
under this section may, if the agreement so provides, authorize 
officers who are under the administrative jurisdiction of such 
Secretary or agency to enforce the provisions of this Act or 
any regulation promulgated under this Act. Any officer so 
authorized may enforce this Act in the same manner, by the same 
means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as 
though section 311 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1861) 
were incorporated into and made a part of this Act.
(2) Authorities under migratory bird treaty act.--The 
Secretary of the Interior and the head of any Federal or State 
agency that has entered into an agreement with the Secretary 
under this section may, if the agreement so provides, authorize 
officers who are under the administrative jurisdiction of such 
Secretary or agency to enforce the provisions of this Act or 
any regulation promulgated under this Act. Any officer so 
authorized may enforce this Act in the same manner, by the same 
means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as 
though section 5 of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 
706) were incorporated into and made a part of this Act.
(c) Penalties.--
(1) Persons and vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the 
secretary of commerce.--Any person or vessel that is subject to 
the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Commerce and that violates 
this Act or any permit or regulation issued under this Act 
shall be subject to the penalties, and entitled to the 
privileges and immunities, provided in the Magnuson-Stevens Act 
in the same manner and by the same means as though sections 308 
through 311 of that Act (16 U.S.C. 1858 through 1861) were 
incorporated into and made a part of this Act.
(2) Persons and vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the 
secretary of the interior.--Any person or vessel that is 
subject to the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior 
and that violates this Act or permit or regulation issued under 
this Act shall be subject to the penalties, and entitled to the 
privileges and immunities, provided in the Migratory Bird 
Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.) in the same manner and by 
the same means as though section 6 of that Act (16 U.S.C. 707) 
were incorporated into and made a part of this Act.

TITLE IV--AGREEMENT AUTHORITY

SEC. 401. AGREEMENT AUTHORITY.

(a) In General.--The Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce shall 
each designate an office or program of the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service and of the National Marine Fisheries Service, 
respectively, that shall jointly--
(1) function as the United States Authority in accordance 
with Article VII of the Agreement, to undertake, monitor, and 
control all activities carried out in the implementation and 
enforcement of the Agreement within the respective 
jurisdictions of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service 
and the National Marine Fisheries Service; and
(2) designate a United States Representative in accordance 
with Article IX of the Agreement and designate a contact point 
for the United States in accordance with Article VII of the 
Agreement.
(b) Role of United States Authority.--The Authority designated 
under subsection (a) shall, for the purposes of the Agreement--
(1) monitor all activities that may have an impact on the 
conservation status of those covered albatrosses and petrels 
for which the United States is a range state; and
(2) designate a Contact Point as required by Article VII of 
the Agreement for communication with the Secretariat.

SEC. 402. REPORTING.

(a) Report to Congress.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of State, and any other Federal 
agency, as appropriate, shall not later than 1 year after the effective 
date of this Act, and every 4 years thereafter, submit a report to the 
Congress that includes--
(1) the list of all covered albatrosses and petrels that 
are subject to this Act;
(2) the status of all covered albatrosses and petrels that 
occur in the United States and within the waters subject to the 
jurisdiction of the United States; and
(3) actions taken and those conservation measures believed 
necessary to achieve and maintain a favorable conservation 
status for covered albatrosses and petrels.
(b) Report to the Advisory Committee.--The Secretary and the 
Secretary of Commerce may jointly provide to the Advisory Committee, 
through the Secretariat, a report on the implementation of the 
Agreement by the United States.

SEC. 403. GENERAL COORDINATION.

In carrying out this Act, the Secretary and the Secretary of 
Commerce--
(1) shall work together and may request that other Federal 
agencies take actions, to achieve or maintain a favorable 
conservation status for covered albatrosses and petrels; and
(2) shall consult with the heads of other Federal agencies 
when taking actions on lands or waters owned by the United 
States and under the jurisdiction of those Federal agencies.

TITLE V--INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE

SEC. 501. COOPERATION AMONG NATIONS.

(a) In General.--The Secretary, the Secretary of Commerce, and the 
Secretary of State may cooperate with other countries to achieve and 
maintain a favorable conservation status of covered albatrosses and 
petrels, including by--
(1) the development of systems for collecting and analyzing 
data and exchanging information;
(2) the exchange of information regarding adoption and 
enforcement of legislative and other management approaches to 
conservation of covered albatrosses and petrels;
(3) the implementation of education and awareness programs 
for users of areas in which covered albatrosses and petrels may 
be encountered;
(4) the design and implementation of comprehensive programs 
for public information in relation to the conservation of 
covered albatrosses and petrels;
(5) the development and implementation of training programs 
on conservation techniques and measures to mitigate threats 
affecting covered albatrosses and petrels;
(6) the exchange of expertise, techniques, and knowledge; 
and
(7) entering into cooperative arrangements, including, as 
appropriate, international agreements.
(b) Assistance.--The Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce, in 
cooperation with the Secretary of State, may provide training, 
technical, and financial support to the Secretariat, other 
international and intergovernmental organizations, and other countries, 
to assist in implementing the objectives of the Agreement.

TITLE VI--BYCATCH AND EQUIVALENT CONSERVATION

SEC. 601. PROTECTED LIVING MARINE RESOURCES.

Section 610(e) of the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium 
Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1826k(e)) is amended by striking paragraph 
(1) and inserting the following:
``(1) except as provided in paragraph (2), means nontarget 
fish, sea turtles, seabirds, or marine mammals that are 
protected under United States law or international agreement, 
including--
``(A) the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.);
``(B) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.);
``(C) the Shark Finning Prohibition Act (16 U.S.C. 
1822 note; Public Law 106-557), including amendments 
made by that Act;
``(D) the Convention on International Trade in 
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, done at 
Washington March 3, 1973 (27 UST 1087, TIAS 8249); and
``(E) the Albatross and Petrel Conservation Act of 
2025; but''.

TITLE VII--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SEC. 701. REGULATORY AUTHORITY.

(a) Regulations.--
(1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
section--
(A) the Secretary of Commerce may develop and issue 
regulations as necessary to implement the Agreement and 
this Act with respect to sections 103(b), 104(c), 
203(d), and 601 of this Act;
(B) the Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce may 
jointly develop and issue regulations as necessary to 
implement the Agreement and this Act with respect to 
sections 102, 105, 401, and 403; and
(C) the Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce may 
each issue regulations as necessary to implement the 
Agreement and this Act with respect to sections 
104(a)(2), 104(b), and 201.
(b) Consultation.--In issuing regulations under this Act, the 
Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce shall consult each other.
(c) Antarctica.--In issuing regulations under this Act, the 
Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce shall consult with the Director 
of the National Science Foundation (or the designee of such Director) 
on implementation related to Antarctica.

SEC. 702. ADMINISTRATION.

(a) In General.--Except as specified in section 601, nothing in 
this Act repeals, supersedes, overrides, or modifies any provision of 
Federal law.
(b) Effect on Lands and Waters.--
(1) Concurrence required.--Nothing in this Act authorizes 
the Secretary or the Secretary of Commerce to carry out any 
activities under this Act on land or in waters under the area-
based management jurisdiction of the other, unless the 
Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce agree.
(2) Consultation.--In those areas in which neither the 
Secretary nor the Secretary of Commerce has explicit area-based 
management jurisdiction, the Secretary and the Secretary of 
Commerce shall carry out this Act in consultation with each 
other.

SEC. 703. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Act takes effect on the date that is 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act.
<all>