16 U.S.C. § 1870 — Required possession of descending devices

(a) Require gear in the Gulf reef fish^* fishery^*. While fishing^* occurs, a person^* on a commercial or recreational vessel may not fish for Gulf reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico Exclusive Economic Zone^* unless the vessel has a rigged, ready-to-use venting tool or descending device on board.

(b) Savings clause. This section does not affect a program or activity of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council^* established by the 2012 Gulf Coast States Act (33 U.S.C. § 1321 note), or a project in an approved Restoration Plan developed by a Natural Resources Damage Assessment Trustee Implementation Group to reduce post-release mortality from barotrauma in Gulf of Mexico recreational reef-fish fisheries. This section does not define “barotrauma” or “Restoration Plan.”

(c) Definitions.

(1) Descending device. A “descending device” is an instrument that—(A) releases fish at a depth sufficient for recovery from barotrauma; (B) is a weighted hook, lip clamp, box, or another device the Secretary^* finds appropriate that holds the fish while it is lowered; and (C) can (i) release the fish automatically, (ii) release it through the operator’s actions, or (iii) let it escape on its own.

(2) Venting tool. “Venting tool” has the meaning given by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. This section does not give that meaning.

(3) Gulf reef fish. “Gulf reef fish” means any fish chosen by that Council that is in the reef Fishery Management Plan for this chapter.