Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act
Public Law 98-613 · H.R. 5492 · 98th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Oct 31, 1984 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Rep. Gerry Studds (D-MA-10)
Cosponsors (8): Rep. Mario Biaggi, Rep. Ed Markey,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- 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.
Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act - Requires the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to: (1) decide in 1985 whether each coastal State has adopted all regulatory measures necessary to implement the Interstate Fisheries Management Plan for Striped Bass (Plan) and to notify the Secretaries of Commerce and of the Interior (the Secretaries) of any negative decision; and (2) biannually monitor, beginning in 1985, and report to the Secretary on the enforcement of the Plan by such States. Requires the Secretary of Commerce (the Secretary) upon notification of a negative decision by the Commission: (1) to determine, within 30 days, whether a coastal State is in compliance with the Plan; and (2) if such coastal State is not in compliance, to declare a moratorium on fishing for Atlantic striped bass within the coastal waters of the offending State. Requires the Secretary, in making a determination that a coastal State is not in compliance with the Plan, to consider the comments of the Commission, such coastal State, and the Secretary of the Interior. Lists activities which are prohibited during such moratorium (including the failure to return Atlantic striped bass caught incidental to commercial or recreational harvesting).
Sets forth civil penalties for noncompliance with the provisions of this Act. Declares that any vessel connected with a violation shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States. Grants jurisdiction to the United States district courts over civil forfeitures.
Directs the Secretaries to jointly conduct a comprehensive annual survey of the Atlantic striped bass fisheries.
Requires the Secretaries, within a specified time, to review the existing Plan and to report to the Commission and to certain congressional committee chairmen on the adequacy of the Plan.
Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 for this Act (including specified appropriations to the Secretary for FY 1986 and 1987 to be divided between the States of Maryland and Virginia, under certain conditions, for the propagation of stripped bass in existing hatcheries).
Defines certain terms used in this Act (including "Atlantic striped bass", "coastal waters", "fishing", and "Plan").
Provides beginning and ending effective dates for the above provisions.
Amends the Anadromous Fish Conservation Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for the stripped bass population study through 1986.
Amends Federal law to increase the amount available to the Secretary of the Army for the Falls of Ohio National Wildlife Conservation Area in Kentucky.
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.
- Oct 31, 1984Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-613.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 29, 1984PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 11, 1984Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Oct 5, 1984FloorFloor · Received in the Senate and held at the desk by unanimous consent.
- Oct 4, 1984FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Rule Passed House.
- Sep 26, 1984FloorFloor · Committee on Rules Granted an Open Rule Providing One Hour of Debate; Waiving all Points of Order Against Consideration of the Bill for Failure to Comply with the Provisions of Section 402(a) of the Budget Act.
- Sep 25, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Sep 6, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Jun 28, 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
- Apr 26, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Apr 12, 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.