1. U.S. Code
  2. title 16
  3. chapter 75
  4. § 5501

Collapse to view only § 5501. Purpose

§ 5501. Purpose
It is the purpose of this chapter—
(1) to implement the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas, adopted by the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on November 24, 1993; and
(2) to establish a system of permitting, reporting, and regulation for vessels of the United States fishing on the high seas.
(Pub. L. 104–43, title I, § 102, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 367.)

CITE AS: 16 USC 5501

§ 5502. DefinitionsAs used in this chapter—
(1) The term “Agreement” means the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas, adopted by the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on November 24, 1993.
(2) The term “FAO” means the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
(3) The term “high seas” means the waters beyond the territorial sea or exclusive economic zone (or the equivalent) of any nation, to the extent that such territorial sea or exclusive economic zone (or the equivalent) is recognized by the United States.
(4) The term “high seas fishing vessel” means any vessel of the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States used or intended for use—
(A) on the high seas;
(B) for the purpose of the commercial exploitation of living marine resources; and
(C) as a harvesting vessel, as a mother ship, or as any other support vessel directly engaged in a fishing operation.
(5) The term “international conservation and management measures” means measures to conserve or manage one or more species of living marine resources that are adopted and applied in accordance with the relevant rules of international law, as reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and that are recognized by the United States. Such measures may be adopted by global, regional, or sub-regional fisheries organizations, subject to the rights and obligations of their members, or by treaties or other international agreements.
(6) The term “length” means—
(A) for any high seas fishing vessel built after July 18, 1982, 96 percent of the total length on a waterline at 85 percent of the least molded depth measured from the top of the keel, or the length from the foreside of the stem to the axis of the rudder stock on that waterline, if that is greater, except that in ships designed with a rake of keel the waterline on which this length is measured shall be parallel to the designed waterline; and
(B) for any high seas fishing vessel built before July 18, 1982, registered length as entered on the vessel’s documentation.
(7) The term “person” means any individual (whether or not a citizen or national of the United States), any corporation, partnership, association, or other entity (whether or not organized or existing under the laws of any State), and any Federal, State, local, or foreign government or any entity of any such government.
(8) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce.
(9) The term “vessel of the United States” means—
(A) a vessel documented under chapter 121 of title 46 or numbered in accordance with chapter 123 of title 46;
(B) a vessel owned in whole or part by—
(i) the United States or a territory, commonwealth, or possession of the United States;
(ii) a State or political subdivision thereof;
(iii) a citizen or national of the United States; or
(iv) a corporation created under the laws of the United States or any State, the District of Columbia, or any territory, commonwealth, or possession of the United States; unless the vessel has been granted the nationality of a foreign nation in accordance with article 92 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and a claim of nationality or registry for the vessel is made by the master or individual in charge at the time of the enforcement action by an officer or employee of the United States authorized to enforce applicable provisions of the United States law; and
(C) a vessel that was once documented under the laws of the United States and, in violation of the laws of the United States, was either sold to a person not a citizen of the United States or placed under foreign registry or a foreign flag, whether or not the vessel has been granted the nationality of a foreign nation.
(10) The terms “vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States” and “vessel without nationality” have the same meaning as in subsections (c) and (d) of section 70502 of title 46.
(Pub. L. 104–43, title I, § 103, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 367; Pub. L. 106–562, title III, § 305, Dec. 23, 2000, 114 Stat. 2807.)

CITE AS: 16 USC 5502

§ 5503. Permitting
(a) In general
(b) Eligibility
(1) Any vessel of the United States is eligible to receive a permit under this section, unless the vessel was previously authorized to be used for fishing on the high seas by a foreign nation, and
(A) the foreign nation suspended such authorization because the vessel undermined the effectiveness of international conservation and management measures, and the suspension has not expired; or
(B) the foreign nation, within the last three years preceding application for a permit under this section, withdrew such authorization because the vessel undermined the effectiveness of international conservation and management measures.
(2) The restriction in paragraph (1) does not apply if ownership of the vessel has changed since the vessel undermined the effectiveness of international conservation and management measures, and the new owner has provided sufficient evidence to the Secretary demonstrating that the previous owner or operator has no further legal, beneficial or financial interest in, or control of, the vessel.
(3) The restriction in paragraph (1) does not apply if the Secretary makes a determination that issuing a permit would not subvert the purposes of the Agreement.
(4) The Secretary may not issue a permit to a vessel unless the Secretary is satisfied that the United States will be able to exercise effectively its responsibilities under the Agreement with respect to that vessel.
(c) Application
(1) The owner or operator of a high seas fishing vessel may apply for a permit under this section by completing an application form prescribed by the Secretary.
(2) The application form shall contain—
(A) the vessel’s name, previous names (if known), official numbers, and port of record;
(B) the vessel’s previous flags (if any);
(C) the vessel’s International Radio Call Sign (if any);
(D) the names and addresses of the vessel’s owners and operators;
(E) where and when the vessel was built;
(F) the type of vessel;
(G) the vessel’s length; and
(H) any other information the Secretary requires for the purposes of implementing the Agreement.
(d) ConditionsThe Secretary shall establish such conditions and restrictions on each permit issued under this section as are necessary and appropriate to carry out the obligations of the United States under the Agreement, including but not limited to the following:
(1) The vessel shall be marked in accordance with the FAO Standard Specifications for the Marking and Identification of Fishing Vessels, or with regulations issued under section 1855 of this title; and
(2) The permit holder shall report such information as the Secretary by regulation requires, including area of fishing operations and catch statistics. The Secretary shall promulgate regulations concerning conditions under which information submitted under this paragraph may be released.
(e) Fees
(1) The Secretary shall by regulation establish the level of fees to be charged for permits issued under this section. The amount of any fee charged for a permit issued under this section shall not exceed the administrative costs incurred in issuing such permits. The permitting fee may be in addition to any fee required under any regional permitting regime applicable to high seas fishing vessels.
(2) The fees authorized by paragraph (1) shall be collected and credited to the Operations, Research and Facilities account of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Fees collected under this subsection shall be available for the necessary expenses of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in implementing this chapter, and shall remain available until expended.
(f) ValidityA permit issued under this section for a vessel is void if—
(1) any other permit or authorization required for the vessel to fish is expired, revoked, or suspended; or
(2) the vessel is no longer documented under the laws of the United States or eligible for such documentation.
(Pub. L. 104–43, title I, § 104, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 369; Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(a) [title II, § 211(b)], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009, 3009–41; Pub. L. 114–81, title I, § 108, Nov. 5, 2015, 129 Stat. 658.)

CITE AS: 16 USC 5503

§ 5504. Responsibilities of Secretary
(a) Record
(b) Information to FAO
The Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, shall—
(1) make available to FAO information contained in the record maintained under subsection (a);
(2) promptly notify FAO of changes in such information;
(3) promptly notify FAO of additions to or deletions from the record, and the reason for any deletion;
(4) convey to FAO information relating to any permit granted under section 5503(b)(3) of this title, including the vessel’s identity, owner or operator, and factors relevant to the Secretary’s determination to issue the permit;
(5) report promptly to FAO all relevant information regarding any activities of high seas fishing vessels that undermine the effectiveness of international conservation and management measures, including the identity of the vessels and any sanctions imposed; and
(6) provide the FAO a summary of evidence regarding any activities of foreign vessels that undermine the effectiveness of international conservation and management measures.
(c) Information to flag nations
If the Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, has reasonable grounds to believe that a foreign vessel has engaged in activities undermining the effectiveness of international conservation and management measures, the Secretary shall—
(1) provide to the flag nation information, including appropriate evidentiary material, relating to those activities; and
(2) when such foreign vessel is voluntarily in a United States port, promptly notify the flag nation and, if requested by the flag nation, make arrangements to undertake such lawful investigatory measures as may be considered necessary to establish whether the vessel has been used contrary to the provisions of the Agreement.
(d) Regulations
(e) Notice of international conservation and management measures
(Pub. L. 104–43, title I, § 105, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 370; Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(a) [title II, § 211(b)], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009, 3009–41.)

CITE AS: 16 USC 5504

§ 5505. Unlawful activities
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.
(Pub. L. 104–43, title I, § 106, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 371.)

CITE AS: 16 USC 5505

§ 5506. Enforcement provisions
(a) Duties of Secretaries
(b) District court jurisdiction
(c) Powers of enforcement officers
(1) Any officer who is authorized under subsection (a) to enforce the provisions of this chapter may—
(A) with or without a warrant or other process—
(i) arrest any person, if the officer has reasonable cause to believe that such person has committed an act prohibited by paragraph (6), (7), (8), or (9) of section 5505 of this title;
(ii) board, and search or inspect, any high seas fishing vessel;
(iii) seize any high seas fishing vessel (together with its fishing gear, furniture, appurtenances, stores, and cargo) used or employed in, or with respect to which it reasonably appears that such vessel was used or employed in, the violation of any provision of this chapter or any regulation or permit issued under this chapter;
(iv) seize any living marine resource (wherever found) taken or retained, in any manner, in connection with or as a result of the commission of any act prohibited by section 5505 of this title;
(v) seize any other evidence related to any violation of any provision of this chapter or any regulation or permit issued under this chapter;
(B) execute any warrant or other process issued by any court of competent jurisdiction; and
(C) exercise any other lawful authority.
(2) Subject to the direction of the Secretary, a person charged with law enforcement responsibilities by the Secretary who is performing a duty related to enforcement of a law regarding fisheries or other marine resources may make an arrest without a warrant for an offense against the United States committed in his presence, or for a felony cognizable under the laws of the United States, if he has reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing a felony.
(d) Issuance of citations
(e) Liability for costs
(Pub. L. 104–43, title I, § 107, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 372.)

CITE AS: 16 USC 5506

§ 5507. Civil penalties and permit sanctions
(a) Civil penalties
(1) Any person who is found by the Secretary, after notice and opportunity for a hearing in accordance with section 554 of title 5, to have committed an act prohibited by section 5505 of this title shall be liable to the United States for a civil penalty. The amount of the civil penalty shall not exceed $100,000 for each violation. Each day of a continuing violation shall constitute a separate offense. The amount of such civil penalty shall be assessed by the Secretary by written notice. In determining the amount of such penalty, the Secretary shall take into account the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the prohibited acts committed and, with respect to the violation, the degree of culpability, any history of prior offenses, and such other matters as justice may require.
(2) The Secretary may compromise, modify, or remit, with or without conditions, any civil penalty that is subject to imposition or that has been imposed under this section.
(b) Permit sanctions
(1) In any case in which—
(A) a vessel of the United States has been used in the commission of an act prohibited under section 5505 of this title;
(B) the owner or operator of a vessel or any other person who has been issued or has applied for a permit under section 5503 of this title has acted in violation of section 5505 of this title; or
(C) any amount in settlement of a civil forfeiture imposed on a high seas fishing vessel or other property, or any civil penalty or criminal fine imposed on a high seas fishing vessel or on an owner or operator of such a vessel or on any other person who has been issued or has applied for a permit under any fishery resource statute enforced by the Secretary, has not been paid and is overdue, the Secretary may—
(i) revoke any permit issued to or applied for by such vessel or person under this chapter, with or without prejudice to the issuance of subsequent permits;
(ii) suspend such permit for a period of time considered by the Secretary to be appropriate;
(iii) deny such permit; or
(iv) impose additional conditions and restrictions on such permit.
(2) In imposing a sanction under this subsection, the Secretary shall take into account—
(A) the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the prohibited acts for which the sanction is imposed; and
(B) with respect to the violator, the degree of culpability, any history of prior offenses, and such other matters as justice may require.
(3) Transfer of ownership of a high seas fishing vessel, by sale or otherwise, shall not extinguish any permit sanction that is in effect or is pending at the time of transfer of ownership. Before executing the transfer of ownership of a vessel, by sale or otherwise, the owner shall disclose in writing to the prospective transferee the existence of any permit sanction that will be in effect or pending with respect to the vessel at the time of the transfer. The Secretary may waive or compromise a sanction in the case of a transfer pursuant to court order.
(4) In the case of any permit that is suspended under this subsection for nonpayment of a civil penalty or criminal fine, the Secretary shall reinstate the permit upon payment of the penalty or fine and interest thereon at the prevailing rate.
(5) No sanctions shall be imposed under this subsection unless there has been prior opportunity for a hearing on the facts underlying the violation for which the sanction is imposed, either in conjunction with a civil penalty proceeding under this section or otherwise.
(c) Hearing
(d) Judicial review
(e) Collection
(1) If any person fails to pay an assessment of a civil penalty after it has become a final and unappealable order, or after the appropriate court has entered final judgment in favor of the Secretary, the matter shall be referred 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.
(2) A high seas fishing vessel (including its fishing gear, furniture, appurtenances, stores, and cargo) used in the commission of an act prohibited by section 5505 of this title shall be liable in rem for any civil penalty assessed for such violation under subsection (a) and may be proceeded against in any district court of the United States having jurisdiction thereof. Such penalty shall constitute a maritime lien on such vessel that may be recovered in an action in rem in the district court of the United States having jurisdiction over the vessel.
(Pub. L. 104–43, title I, § 108, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 373.)

CITE AS: 16 USC 5507

§ 5508. Criminal offenses
(a) Offenses
(b) Punishment
(Pub. L. 104–43, title I, § 109, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 375.)

CITE AS: 16 USC 5508

§ 5509. Forfeitures
(a) In general
(b) Jurisdiction of district courts
(c) JudgmentIf a judgment is entered for the United States in a civil forfeiture proceeding under this section, the Attorney General may seize any property or other interest declared forfeited to the United States, which has not previously been seized pursuant to this chapter or for which security has not previously been obtained. The provisions of the customs laws relating to—
(1) the seizure, forfeiture, and condemnation of property for violation of the customs law;
(2) the disposition of such property or the proceeds from the sale thereof; and
(3) the remission or mitigation of any such forfeiture;
shall apply to seizures and forfeitures incurred, or alleged to have been incurred, under the provisions of this chapter, unless such provisions are inconsistent with the purposes, policy, and provisions of this chapter.
(d) Procedure
(1) Any officer authorized to serve any process in rem that is issued by a court under section 5506(b) of this title shall—
(A) stay the execution of such process; or
(B) discharge any living marine resources seized pursuant to such process;
upon receipt of a satisfactory bond or other security from any person claiming such property. Such bond or other security shall be conditioned upon such person delivering such property to the appropriate court upon order thereof, without any impairment of its value, or paying the monetary value of such property pursuant to an order of such court. Judgment shall be recoverable on such bond or other security against both the principal and any sureties in the event that any condition thereof is breached, as determined by such court.
(2) Any living marine resources seized pursuant to this chapter may be sold, subject to the approval of the appropriate court, for not less than the fair market value thereof. The proceeds of any such sale shall be deposited with such court pending the disposition of the matter involved.
(e) Rebuttable presumption
(Pub. L. 104–43, title I, § 110, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 375.)

CITE AS: 16 USC 5509