Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-110
§1437 Enforcement
Title 16 › CHAPTER 32 — MARINE SANCTUARIES › § 1437
Summary
The Secretary must enforce these rules. Officers the Secretary authorizes can board, search, inspect, and seize vessels, gear, cargo, sanctuary resources, and evidence. They can execute warrants, use lawful authority, and arrest people when there is reasonable cause for certain prohibited acts. A person who commits the act in section 1436(3) can be fined under title 18, jailed for up to 6 months, or both. If a dangerous weapon is used, someone is hurt, or an enforcer is put in fear, the fine is under title 18 and prison can be up to 10 years, or both. The Secretary can also assess civil penalties up to $100,000 for each violation, with each day counting as a separate violation, but no penalty can be imposed until the person gets notice and a chance for a hearing. A vessel used in a violation can be held for the penalty. A person can ask a U.S. district court to review the penalty by filing within 30 days. If a final penalty is not paid, the Secretary must refer it to the Attorney General to collect, and the Secretary may also settle or reduce penalties. Vessels, items, and sanctuary resources used in a violation can be forfeited to the United States in a civil case. Forfeiture money is separate from civil penalties and cannot be set off. The Secretary may use customs law powers for seizure and handling. Perishable seized resources may be disposed of by court order or by rules the Secretary makes. There is a rebuttable presumption that sanctuary resources found on a vessel used in a violation were taken illegally. Money from penalties, forfeitures, and costs is kept by the Secretary as provided in section 9607(f)(1) of title 42. These funds first pay for storage and care of seized items, then are used to manage and improve the sanctuary where the violation happened, pay rewards to informants, and then help other sanctuaries. People fined or claiming seized property must pay reasonable storage and care costs. For hearings, the Secretary may issue subpoenas and administer oaths. The Secretary may use state and other federal agency resources. This does not limit the Coast Guard’s authority. If there is an imminent risk of loss or injury to a sanctuary resource, or actual harm that may lead to liability, the Attorney General must seek court orders to stop or fix the harm when the Secretary asks. The rules apply in the U.S. territorial sea described in Presidential Proclamation 5928 of December 27, 1988, and in the U.S. exclusive economic zone. Legal papers in any U.S. action may be served wherever the defendant is found, lives, does business, or has an agent.
Full Legal Text
Title 16, §1437
Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In general
The Secretary shall conduct such enforcement activities as are necessary and reasonable to carry out this chapter.
(b)Powers of authorized officers
Any person who is authorized to enforce this chapter may—
(1)board, search, inspect, and seize any vessel suspected of being used to violate this chapter or any regulation or permit issued under this chapter and any equipment, stores, and cargo of such vessel;
(2)seize wherever found any sanctuary resource taken or retained in violation of this chapter or any regulation or permit issued under this chapter;
(3)seize any evidence of a violation of this chapter or of any regulation or permit issued under this chapter;
(4)execute any warrant or other process issued by any court of competent jurisdiction;
(5)exercise any other lawful authority; and
(6)arrest any person, if there is reasonable cause to believe that such person has committed an act prohibited by section 1436(3) of this title.
(c)Criminal offenses
(1)Offenses
A person is guilty of an offense under this subsection if the person commits any act prohibited by section 1436(3) of this title.
(2)Punishment
Any person that is guilty of an offense under this subsection— (A)
(B)in the case of a person who in the commission of such an offense uses a dangerous weapon, engages in conduct that causes bodily injury to any person authorized to enforce this chapter or any person authorized to implement the provisions of this chapter, or places any such person in fear of imminent bodily injury, shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both.
(d)Civil penalties
(1)Civil penalty
Any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States who violates this chapter or any regulation or permit issued under this chapter shall be liable to the United States for a civil penalty of not more than $100,000 for each such violation, to be assessed by the Secretary. Each day of a continuing violation shall constitute a separate violation.
(2)Notice
No penalty shall be assessed under this subsection until after the person charged has been given notice and an opportunity for a hearing.
(3)In rem jurisdiction
A vessel used in violating this chapter or any regulation or permit issued under this chapter shall be liable in rem for any civil penalty assessed for such violation. Such penalty shall constitute a maritime lien on the vessel and may be recovered in an action in rem in the district court of the United States having jurisdiction over the vessel.
(4)Review of civil penalty
Any person against whom a civil penalty is assessed under this subsection may obtain review in the United States district court for the appropriate district by filing a complaint in such court not later than 30 days after the date of such order.
(5)Collection of penalties
If any person fails to pay an assessment of a civil penalty under this section after it has become a final and unappealable order, or after the appropriate court has entered final judgment in favor of the Secretary, the Secretary shall refer the matter to the Attorney General, who shall recover the amount assessed in any appropriate district court of the United States. In such action, the validity and appropriateness of the final order imposing the civil penalty shall not be subject to review.
(6)Compromise or other action by Secretary
The Secretary may compromise, modify, or remit, with or without conditions, any civil penalty which is or may be imposed under this section.
(e)Forfeiture
(1)In general
Any vessel (including the vessel’s equipment, stores, and cargo) and other item used, and any sanctuary resource taken or retained, in any manner, in connection with or as a result of any violation of this chapter or of any regulation or permit issued under this chapter shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States pursuant to a civil proceeding under this subsection. The proceeds from forfeiture actions under this subsection shall constitute a separate recovery in addition to any amounts recovered as civil penalties under this section or as civil damages under section 1443 of this title. None of those proceeds shall be subject to set-off.
(2)Application of the customs laws
The Secretary may exercise the authority of any United States official granted by any relevant customs law relating to the seizure, forfeiture, condemnation, disposition, remission, and mitigation of property in enforcing this chapter.
(3)Disposal of sanctuary resources
Any sanctuary resource seized pursuant to this chapter may be disposed of pursuant to an order of the appropriate court, or, if perishable, in a manner prescribed by regulations promulgated by the Secretary. Any proceeds from the sale of such sanctuary resource shall for all purposes represent the sanctuary resource so disposed of in any subsequent legal proceedings.
(4)Presumption
For the purposes of this section there is a rebuttable presumption that all sanctuary resources found on board a vessel that is used or seized in connection with a violation of this chapter or of any regulation or permit issued under this chapter were taken or retained in violation of this chapter or of a regulation or permit issued under this chapter.
(f)Payment of storage, care, and other costs
(1)Expenditures
(A)Notwithstanding any other law, amounts received by the United States as civil penalties, forfeitures of property, and costs imposed under paragraph (2) shall be retained by the Secretary in the manner provided for in section 9607(f)(1) of title 42.
(B)Amounts received under this section for forfeitures and costs imposed under paragraph (2) shall be used to pay the reasonable and necessary costs incurred by the Secretary to provide temporary storage, care, maintenance, and disposal of any sanctuary resource or other property seized in connection with a violation of this chapter or any regulation or permit issued under this chapter.
(C)Amounts received under this section as civil penalties and any amounts remaining after the operation of subparagraph (B) shall be used, in order of priority, to—
(i)manage and improve the national marine sanctuary with respect to which the violation occurred that resulted in the penalty or forfeiture;
(ii)pay a reward to any person who furnishes information leading to an assessment of a civil penalty, or to a forfeiture of property, for a violation of this chapter or any regulation or permit issued under this chapter; and
(iii)manage and improve any other national marine sanctuary.
(2)Liability for costs
Any person assessed a civil penalty for a violation of this chapter or of any regulation or permit issued under this chapter, and any claimant in a forfeiture action brought for such a violation, shall be liable for the reasonable costs incurred by the Secretary in storage, care, and maintenance of any sanctuary resource or other property seized in connection with the violation.
(g)Subpoenas
In the case of any hearing under this section which is determined on the record in accordance with the procedures provided for under section 554 of title 5, the Secretary may issue subpoenas for the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of relevant papers, books, electronic files, and documents, and may administer oaths.
(h)Use of resources of State and other Federal agencies
The Secretary shall, whenever appropriate, use by agreement the personnel, services, and facilities of State and other Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities, on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, to carry out the Secretary’s responsibilities under this section.
(i)Coast Guard authority not limited
Nothing in this section shall be considered to limit the authority of the Coast Guard to enforce this or any other Federal law under section 89 of title 14.
(j)Injunctive relief
If the Secretary determines that there is an imminent risk of destruction or loss of or injury to a sanctuary resource, or that there has been actual destruction or loss of, or injury to, a sanctuary resource which may give rise to liability under section 1443 of this title, the Attorney General, upon request of the Secretary, shall seek to obtain such relief as may be necessary to abate such risk or actual destruction, loss, or injury, or to restore or replace the sanctuary resource, or both. The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction in such a case to order such relief as the public interest and the equities of the case may require.
(k)Area of application and enforceability
The area of application and enforceability of this chapter includes the territorial sea of the United States, as described in Presidential Proclamation 5928 of December 27, 1988, which is subject to the sovereignty of the United States, and the United States exclusive economic zone, consistent with international law.
(l)Nationwide service of process
In any action by the United States under this chapter, process may be served in any district where the defendant is found, resides, transacts business, or has appointed an agent for the service of process.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 89 of title 14, referred to in subsec. (i), was redesignated section 522 of title 14 by Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 105(b), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4200, and references to section 89 of title 14 deemed to refer to such redesignated section, see section 123(b)(1) of Pub. L. 115–282, set out as a References to Sections of Title 14 as Redesignated by Pub. L. 115–282 note preceding section 101 of Title 14, Coast Guard. Presidential Proclamation 5928 of December 27, 1988, referred to in subsec. (k), is set out as a note under section 1331 of Title 43, Public Lands.
Amendments
2000—Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 106–513, § 8(a), added par. (6). Subsecs. (c) to (f). Pub. L. 106–513, § 8(b), added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsecs. (c) to (e) as (d) to (f), respectively. Former subsec. (f) redesignated (g). Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 106–513, § 8(b), (c), redesignated subsec. (f) as (g) and inserted “electronic files,” after “books,”. Former subsec. (g) redesignated (h). Subsecs. (h) to (k). Pub. L. 106–513, § 8(b), redesignated subsecs. (g) to (j) as (h) to (k), respectively. Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 106–513, § 8(c), added subsec. (l). 1996—Subsec. (e)(1)(A). Pub. L. 104–283 made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 9607(f)(1) of title 42. 1992—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 102–587, § 2107(a)(1), substituted “$100,000” for “$50,000”. Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 102–587, § 2107(a)(2), struck out “and may be proceeded against in any district court of the United States having jurisdiction” after “assessed for such violation” and inserted at end “Such penalty shall constitute a maritime lien on the vessel and may be recovered in an action in rem in the district court of the United States having jurisdiction over the vessel.” Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 102–587, § 2107(b), inserted at end “The proceeds from forfeiture actions under this subsection shall constitute a separate recovery in addition to any amounts recovered as civil penalties under this section or as civil damages under section 1443 of this title. None of those proceeds shall be subject to set-off.” Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 102–587, § 2107(c), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “In general.—Notwithstanding any other law, the Secretary may use amounts received under this section in the form of civil penalties, forfeitures of property, and costs imposed under paragraph (2) to pay— “(A) the reasonable and necessary costs incurred by the Secretary in providing temporary storage, care, and maintenance of any sanctuary resource or other property seized under this section pending disposition of any civil proceeding relating to any alleged violation with respect to which such property or sanctuary resource was seized; and “(B) a reward to any person who furnishes information leading to an assessment of a civil penalty, or to a forfeiture of property, for a violation of this chapter or of any regulation or permit issued under this chapter.” Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 102–587, § 2107(e), added subsec. (j). 1988—Pub. L. 100–627 amended section generally, substituting provisions consisting of subsecs. (a) to (i) relating to
Enforcement
activities in general, powers of authorized officers, civil penalties, forfeiture, payment of storage, care, and other costs, subpoenas, use of resources of State and other Federal agencies, Coast Guard authority, and injunctive relief for former provisions consisting of subsecs. (a) to (c) relating to
Enforcement
activities in general, civil penalties, and jurisdiction.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see section 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6. Study of Joint
Enforcement
of Marine Sanctuary
Regulations
Pub. L. 102–241, § 51, Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2227, directed Secretary of Transportation and Secretary of Commerce, not later than one year after Dec. 19, 1991, to submit to Congress a joint report describing methods by which Coast Guard
Enforcement
efforts under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq., 1447 et seq., 33 U.S.C. 1401 et seq., 2801 et seq.) could be enhanced and coordinated with those of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 1437
Title 16, Conservation
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110