An act to authorize appropriations to carry out the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, for fiscal years 1985 through 1988, and for other purposes.
Public Law 98-364 · H.R. 4997 · 98th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Jul 17, 1984 · Animals
Sponsor: Rep. John Breaux (D-LA-7)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. Edwin Forsythe
Passage votes
- HouseUnanimous consent
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Title I: Amends the Marine Protection Act of 1972 to require the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to obtain documentation from foreign nations wishing to import yellowfin tuna into the United States that such foreign tuna fishing operations are conducted: (1) under a regulatory program for governing the incidental taking of marine mammals which is comparable to the U.S. program; and (2) with an average rate of incidental taking which is also comparable to the U.S. program.
Extends the marine mammal permit held by the American Tunaboat Association. Subjects such extension to specified conditions.
Requires the Secretary to carry out a program of research on marine mammal populations to monitor the effect yellowfin tuna fishing is having on them. Directs the Secretary to take appropriate action upon a determination that such populations are being adversely affected due to incidental taking during such yellowfin tuna fishing. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress annually on the results of such research program. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 through 1988 for such program.
Requires the President to make selections for membership on the Marine Mammal Commission from a list submitted by the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality and unanimously agreed upon by the heads of specified agencies. Requires the Commission to be staffed at a level no fewer than 11 employees.
Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 through 1988 to the Departments of Commerce and Interior for activities under title I of the Act and to the Marine Mammal Commission for activities under title II of the Act.
Amends the Fishery Conservation Zone Transition Act to extend international fishery agreements with the Soviet Union, Poland, and the European Economic Community.
Title II: Provides for the establishment of a National Coastal Resources Research and Development Institute (Institute) to be administered by the Oregon State Marine Science Center. Provides for a Director and a Board of Governors for the Institute and for an Advisory Council for such Board. Authorizes appropriations for the Institute.
Delays the finality of specified flood evaluation determinations made by the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency with respect to a specified parish in Louisiana.
Title III: Amends the Fisherman's Protective Act of 1967 to extend the authorization for the voluntary insurance program designed to compensate U.S. fishing vessel owners and crews who suffer financial losses due to seizure of their vessels by foreign governments on the basis of jurisdictional claims not recognized by the United States.
Consolidates in the Secretary of State the determination and certification of payments due a vessel owner to cover any fine or direct charge paid in order to secure release of a vessel or crew.
Authorizes the Secretary of State to take certain actions on behalf of the owners and crews of U.S. vessels seized by foreign governments if the seizure was based on claims to jurisdiction recognized by the United States but exercised in a way inconsistent with U.S. recognized international law.
Title IV: Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Act - Amends Federal law relating to shipping in order to: (1) add the definitions of "fish", "fishing vessel", "fish processing vessel", and "fish tender vessel"; and (2) revise the definition of "passenger" to include, with certain exceptions, individuals on such vessels. Adds, with certain exceptions, fish processing and fish tender vessels to the list of vessels subject to inspection. Requires the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating (the Secretary) to consult with the private sector before prescribing rules for fish processing or fish tender vessels.
Adds a new chapter to such Federal law directing the Secretary to prescribe certain safety regulations for uninspected fish processing vessels. Authorizes compliance equivalency for such vessels, and sets forth civil penalties for noncompliance. Allows oral examinations for licenses to serve on a fish, fish processing, or fish tender vessel which is not required to be inspected.
Creates an "able seaman - fishing industry" category of able seamen. Sets forth qualifications and requirements for such category.
Requires a specified number of watches on certain fish processing vessels.
Allows certain fish, fish processing, or fish tender vessels to transport cargo to or from a place in Alaska not receiving weekly transportation service from a U.S. port.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 17 actions.
- Jul 17, 1984Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-364.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Jul 6, 1984PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Jun 27, 1984Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
- FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Jun 21, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jun 7, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jun 5, 1984FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- May 15, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- May 10, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- May 9, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Mar 15, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Mar 7, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Mar 1, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.