Description:
As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on September 17, 2014
S. 2484 would implement the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean (Convention). CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would cost less than $500,000 a year over the 2015-2019 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. Because enacting the legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
Under the bill, all parties to the Convention would be required to apply specific conservation and management principles and approaches to promote the conservation and sustainable use of fisheries resources located in the South Pacific Ocean between South America and Australia. Based on information provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Department of State, CBO estimates that carrying out the new Convention would cost less than $500,000 a year over the 2015-2019 period. Those funds would be used to cover costs for annual dues, staff time, travel, and programmatic activities.
CBO has not reviewed S. 2484 for intergovernmental or private-sector mandates. Section 4 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act excludes from the application of that act any legislative provisions that are necessary for the ratification or implementation of international treaty obligations. CBO has determined that the bill falls within that exclusion because it would implement the South Pacific Fisheries Convention.
