Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-110

§3377 Exceptions

Title 16 › CHAPTER 53 — CONTROL OF ILLEGALLY TAKEN FISH AND WILDLIFE › § 3377

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

Some rules in 3372(a) do not apply in certain fishing and shipping situations. Paragraph (1) does not apply when an activity is managed by a Magnuson‑Stevens fishery management plan. Paragraphs (1), (2)(A), and (3)(A) do not apply to activities under the Tuna Conventions Act (1950) or the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (1975), or to taking highly migratory species on the high seas when those fish were taken in violation of a foreign nation’s laws and the United States does not accept that nation’s control. Paragraph (2) does not apply to interstate shipment or transshipment through Indian country or a State of legally taken fish, wildlife, or plants if they are being sent to a State where possession is legal. Terms: "highly migratory species" and "high seas" are defined in the Magnuson‑Stevens Act; "Indian country" is defined in 18 U.S.C. 1151.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §3377

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Activities regulated by plan under Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
The provisions of paragraph (1) of section 3372(a) of this title shall not apply to any activity regulated by a fishery management plan in effect under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).
(b)Activities regulated by Tuna Convention Acts; harvesting of highly migratory species taken on high seas
The provisions of paragraphs (1), (2)(A), and (3)(A) of section 3372(a) of this title shall not apply to—
(1)any activity regulated by the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950 (16 U.S.C. 951–961) or the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971–971(h) ); or
(2)any activity involving the harvesting of highly migratory species (as defined in paragraph (14) of section 3 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act [16 U.S.C. 1802(14)]) taken on the high seas (as defined in paragraph (13) of such section 3) if such species are taken in violation of the laws of a foreign nation and the United States does not recognize the jurisdiction of the foreign nation over such species.
(c)Interstate shipment or transshipment through Indian country of fish, wildlife, or plants for legal purposes
The provisions of paragraph (2) of section 3372(a) of this title shall not apply to the interstate shipment or transshipment through Indian country as defined in section 1151 of title 18 or a State of any fish or wildlife or plant legally taken if the shipment is en route to a State in which the fish or wildlife or plant may be legally possessed.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 94–265, Apr. 13, 1976, 90 Stat. 331, which is classified principally to chapter 38 (§ 1801 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1801 of this title and Tables. The Tuna Conventions Act of 1950, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), is act Sept. 7, 1950, ch. 907, 64 Stat. 777, which is classified generally to chapter 16 (§ 951 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 951 of this title and Tables. The Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), is Pub. L. 94–70, Aug. 5, 1975, 89 Stat. 385, which is classified generally to chapter 16A (§ 971 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 971 of this title and Tables. section 3 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), was subsequently amended, and pars. (13) and (14) of section 3 no longer define the terms “high seas” and “highly migratory species”. However, such terms are defined elsewhere in that section. Codification “Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act” substituted for “Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976” in subsecs. (a) and (b)(2), on authority of Pub. L. 96–561, title II, § 238(b), Dec. 22, 1980, 94 Stat. 3300, which provided that all references to the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 be redesignated as references to the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act and Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(a) [title II, § 211(b)], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009, 3009–41, which provided that all references to the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act be redesignated as references to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 3377

Title 16, Conservation

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110