Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-102

§459f–4 Hunting and Fishing Provisions

Title 16 › CHAPTER 1 — NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › SUBCHAPTER LXIII — NATIONAL SEASHORE RECREATIONAL AREAS › § 459f–4

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must allow hunting and fishing on seashore lands and waters they manage, following State laws when they apply. The Secretary can set places or times where hunting or fishing is not allowed for safety, management, or public use. States keep their power over shellfishing, and federal rules about migratory waterfowl are not changed. Except in emergencies, the Secretary must talk with the State agency that handles hunting and fishing before new rules take effect. These rules do not apply to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §459f–4

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary shall permit hunting and fishing on land and waters under his control within the seashore in accordance with the appropriate State laws, to the extent applicable, except that the Secretary may designate zones where, and establish periods when, no hunting or fishing shall be permitted for reasons of public safety, administration, fish or wildlife management or public use and enjoyment: Provided, That nothing in sections 459f to 459f–11 of this title, shall limit or interfere with the authority of the States to permit or to regulate shellfishing in any waters included in the national seashore: Provided further, That nothing in said sections shall add to or limit the authority of the Federal Government in its administration of Federal laws regulating migratory waterfowl. Except in emergencies, any regulations of the Secretary pursuant to this section shall be put into effect only after consultation with the appropriate State agency responsible for hunting and fishing activities. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 459f–4

Title 16, Conservation

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102