Fish Disease Control Act

Fish Disease Control Act - States that communicable fish diseases constitute a major threat to the fish resources of the United States.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce to issue such regulations as deemed appropriate to prohibit or control the movement in interstate and foreign commerce of diseased fish or articles, and to specify by regulations fish diseases and species of fish which pose a threat to the fish resources of the United States. Authorizes the Secretaries to create avisory panels to assist them in promulgating regulations.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, in order to develop an effective, coordinated fish disease control program for the protection of fishery resources, to enter into cooperative agreements with the appropriate agencies of the States. Makes provisions for such agreements.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce to order the owner of any fish or article specified as diseased to destroy, disinfect, or guarantee such fish or article, and to compensate the owner for any fish destroyed.

Prescribes a fine not exceeding $1000 and/or imprisonment up to one year for persons receiving or delivering for the transport in interstate or foreign commerce any fish or article infected or contaminated by a disease. Authorizes, with or without a warrant, the arrest of any person violating this Act, and the search and seizure of any fish or article taken in connection with a violation of this Act.

Authorizes the appropriation of up to $3,200,000 for fiscal year 1974, and an equal sum for each of the four succeeding fiscal years to carry out the purposes of this Act.