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Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73not60

§3606 Violations and Penalties

Title 16 › Chapter 56— NORTH ATLANTIC SALMON FISHING › § 3606

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

People and vessels under U.S. jurisdiction must not fish only for salmon in Atlantic Ocean waters more than 12 miles from the baselines used to measure the territorial sea if those waters are north of 36° north latitude. They also must follow the Convention, this chapter, and any rules made under this chapter. Anyone who breaks these rules can be fined under section 308 of the Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1858) as if they had violated section 307 of that Act, and can be criminally charged under section 309 of the Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1859) as if they had violated section 307(1)(D), (E), (F), or (H). Any vessel used, and any fish taken or kept (or their fair market value), can be seized under section 310 of the Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1860) as if they were involved in a section 307 violation.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §3606

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)It is unlawful for any person, or any vessel, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States—
(1)to conduct directed fishing for salmon in waters seaward of twelve miles from the baselines from which the breadths of territorial seas are measured, in waters of the Atlantic Ocean north of 36 degrees north latitude; or
(2)to violate any provision of the Convention or this chapter, or of any regulation promulgated under this chapter.
(b)Any person who commits any act that is unlawful under subsection (a) of this section shall—
(1)be liable to the United States for a civil penalty under section 308 of the Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1858) to the same extent as if such act were an act prohibited under section 307 of the Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1857); and
(2)be guilty of an offense under section 309 of the Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1859) to the same extent as if such act were an act prohibited by section 307(1)(D), (E), (F), or (H) of the Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1857(1)(D), (E), (F), or (H)).
(c)Any vessel used, and any fish (or the fair market value thereof) taken or retained in any manner, in connection with or as the result of the commission of an act which is unlawful under subsection (a) of this section shall be subject to civil forfeiture under section 310 of the Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1860) to the same extent as if such vessel was used in, or such fish was taken or retained in connection with or as the result of, the commission of an act prohibited by section 307 of the Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1857).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1983—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–44 inserted provision that any fish, or the fair market value thereof, taken or retained in connection with or as the result of the commission of an act unlawful under subsection (a) of this section shall be subject to civil forfeitures under section 1860 of this title to the same extent as if such fish was taken or retained in connection with or as the result of the commission of an act prohibited by section 1857 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 3606

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60