33 USC § 2101 - Congressional statement of findings and purpose

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t33/s2101"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "33 USC § 2101 - Congressional statement of findings and purpose"
title_number: 33
title_name: "NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS"
section_number: "2101"
section_name: "Congressional statement of findings and purpose"
chapter_number: 35
chapter_name: "ARTIFICIAL REEFS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 98–623, title II, § 202, Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3394.)"
---


# § 2101. Congressional statement of findings and purpose

**(a)** The Congress finds that—

**(1)** although fishery products provide an important source of protein and industrial products for United States consumption, United States fishery production annually falls far short of satisfying United States demand;

**(2)** overfishing and the degradation of vital fishery resource habitats have caused a reduction in the abundance and diversity of United States fishery resources;

**(3)** escalated energy costs have had a negative effect on the economics of United States commercial and recreational fisheries;

**(4)** commercial and recreational fisheries are a prominent factor in United States coastal economies and the direct and indirect returns to the United States economy from commercial and recreational fishing expenditures are threefold; and

**(5)** properly designed, constructed, and located artificial reefs in waters covered under this chapter can enhance the habitat and diversity of fishery resources; enhance United States recreational and commercial fishing opportunities; increase the production of fishery products in the United States; increase the energy efficiency of recreational and commercial fisheries; and contribute to the United States and coastal economies.

**(b)** The purpose of this chapter is to promote and facilitate responsible and effective efforts to establish artificial reefs in waters covered under this chapter.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 98–623, title II, § 202, Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3394.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this title”, meaning title II of , which in addition to enacting this chapter also enacted , Conservation, and amended sections 1220, 1220a, 1220b, and 1220c of Title 16.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Short Title

> “This title [enacting this chapter and
> 
> , Conservation, and amending sections 1220 to 1220c of Title 16] may be cited as the ‘National Fishing Enhancement Act of 1984’.”

, , , provided that: