Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-102

§5505 Unlawful Activities

Title 16 › CHAPTER 75 — HIGH SEAS FISHING COMPLIANCE › § 5505

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

It is illegal for anyone under U.S. law to use a fishing boat on the open ocean in ways that break international conservation rules, to sail such a boat without a valid permit, or to break the terms of a permit. It is also illegal to lie about or fail to send required reports, to refuse or block lawful boardings and inspections, to assault or obstruct law officers, to resist arrest, to help someone avoid arrest, or to trade in marine life taken unlawfully. Any other breach of the chapter’s rules, regulations, or permits is also prohibited.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §5505

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

It is unlawful for any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States—
(1)to use a high seas fishing vessel on the high seas in contravention of international conservation and management measures described in section 5504(e) of this title;
(2)to use a high seas fishing vessel on the high seas, unless the vessel has on board a valid permit issued under section 5503 of this title;
(3)to use a high seas fishing vessel in violation of the conditions or restrictions of a permit issued under section 5503 of this title;
(4)to falsify any information required to be reported, communicated, or recorded pursuant to this chapter or any regulation issued under this chapter, or to fail to submit in a timely fashion any required information, or to fail to report to the Secretary immediately any change in circumstances that has the effect of rendering any such information false, incomplete, or misleading;
(5)to refuse to permit an authorized officer to board a high seas fishing vessel subject to such person’s control for purposes of conducting any search or inspection in connection with the enforcement of this chapter or any regulation issued under this chapter;
(6)to forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate, or interfere with an authorized officer in the conduct of any search or inspection described in paragraph (5);
(7)to resist a lawful arrest or detention for any act prohibited by this section;
(8)to interfere with, delay, or prevent, by any means, the apprehension, arrest, or detection of another person, knowing that such person has committed any act prohibited by this section;
(9)to ship, transport, offer for sale, sell, purchase, import, export, or have custody, control, or possession of, any living marine resource taken or retained in violation of this chapter or any regulation or permit issued under this chapter; or
(10)to violate any provision of this chapter or any regulation or permit issued under this chapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective 120 days after Nov. 3, 1995, see section 111 of Pub. L. 104–43, set out as a note under section 5501 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 5505

Title 16, Conservation

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102