---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 C.F.R. § 300.222"
title: "50"
number: "300.222"
heading: "Prohibitions."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/50/300.222"
---

# §300.222. Prohibitions.


In addition to the prohibitions in [§ 300.4](/cfr/50/300.4.md), it is unlawful for any person to:

- (a) Fail to obtain and have on board a fishing vessel a valid WCPFC Area Endorsement as required in [§ 300.212](/cfr/50/300.212.md).
- (b) Fail to report a change in the information required in an application for a WCPFC Area Endorsement as required in [§ 300.212(g)](/cfr/50/300.212.md?p=g).
- (c) Fail to provide information on vessels and fishing authorizations or fail to report changes in such information as required in [§ 300.213](/cfr/50/300.213.md).
- (d) Fish for, retain on board, or land fish, including HMS, in areas under the jurisdiction of a nation other than the United States without authorization by such nation to do so, as provided in § [300.214(a)(1)](/cfr/50/300.214.md?p=a-1) and [(b)(1)](/cfr/50/300.214.md?p=b-1).
- (e) Operate a fishing vessel in violation of, or fail to ensure the vessel crew complies with, the applicable national laws of a member of the Commission other than the United States, including any laws related to carrying vessel observers or the operation of VMS units, as provided in § [300.214(a)(2)](/cfr/50/300.214.md?p=a-2) and [(b)(2)](/cfr/50/300.214.md?p=b-2).
- (f) Fail to carry, allow on board, or assist a WCPFC observer as required in [§ 300.215](/cfr/50/300.215.md).
- (g) Assault, obstruct, resist, delay, refuse boarding to, intimidate, harass, or interfere with a WCPFC observer, or attempt to do any of the same, or fail to provide a WCPFC observer with food, accommodation or medical facilities, as required in [§ 300.215](/cfr/50/300.215.md).
- (h) Offload, receive, or load fish from a purse seine vessel at sea in the Convention Area, in contravention of [§ 300.216](/cfr/50/300.216.md).
- (i) Fail to mark a fishing vessel or a boat, skiff, or other watercraft on board the fishing vessel as required in [§ 300.217](/cfr/50/300.217.md), or remove, obscure, or obstruct such markings, or attempt to do so.
- (j) Fail to maintain and report catch and effort information or transshipment information as required in [§ 300.218](/cfr/50/300.218.md).
- (k) Fail to install, activate, or operate a VMS unit as required in [§ 300.219(c)](/cfr/50/300.219.md?p=c).
- (l) In the event of VMS unit failure or interruption, fail to repair or replace a VMS unit, fail to notify the SAC and follow the instructions provided, or otherwise fail to act as provided in [§ 300.219(c)(4)](/cfr/50/300.219.md?p=c-4).
- (m) Disable, destroy, damage or operate improperly a VMS unit installed under [§ 300.219](/cfr/50/300.219.md), or attempt to do any of the same, or fail to ensure that its operation is not impeded or interfered with, as provided in [§ 300.219(e)](/cfr/50/300.219.md?p=e).
- (n) Fail to make a VMS unit installed under [§ 300.219](/cfr/50/300.219.md) or the position data obtained from it available for inspection, as provided in § [300.219(f)](/cfr/50/300.219.md?p=f) and [(g)](/cfr/50/300.219.md?p=g).
- (o) Fail to carry on board and monitor communication devices as required in [§ 300.219(h)](/cfr/50/300.219.md?p=h).
- (p) Fail to carry on board and make available the required vessel documentation and authorizations as required in [§ 300.221(a)(1)](/cfr/50/300.221.md?p=a-1).
- (q) Fail to continuously monitor the specified radio frequencies as required in [§ 300.221(a)(2)](/cfr/50/300.221.md?p=a-2).
- (r) Fail to carry on board, and keep accessible, an up-to-date copy of the International Code of Signals as required in [§ 300.221(a)(3)](/cfr/50/300.221.md?p=a-3).
- (s) Fail to provide access to, or fail to allow and assist, a WCPFC transshipment monitor as required in [§ 300.221(a)(4)](/cfr/50/300.221.md?p=a-4).
- (t) Fail to comply with the instructions of, or fail to accept and facilitate prompt and safe boarding by, a WCPFC inspector, or fail to cooperate and assist a WCPFC inspector in the inspection of a fishing vessel, as provided in [§ 300.221(b)](/cfr/50/300.221.md?p=b).
- (u) Fail to stow fishing gear or fishing equipment as required in [§ 300.221(c)](/cfr/50/300.221.md?p=c).
- (v) Use a fishing vessel equipped with purse seine gear to fish in an area closed to purse seine fishing under [§ 300.223(a)](/cfr/50/300.223.md?p=a).
- (w) Set a purse seine around, near or in association with a FAD or a vessel, deploy, activate, or service a FAD, or use lights in contravention of [§ 300.223(b)](/cfr/50/300.223.md?p=b).
- (x) Discard fish at sea in the Convention Area in contravention of [§ 300.223(d)](/cfr/50/300.223.md?p=d).
- (y) Fail to comply with the sea turtle mitigation gear and handling requirements of [§ 300.223(f)](/cfr/50/300.223.md?p=f).
- (z) Use a fishing vessel to retain on board, transship, or land bigeye tuna captured by longline gear in the Convention Area or to fish in contravention of § [300.224(f)(1)](/cfr/50/300.224.md?p=f-1) or [(f)(2)](/cfr/50/300.224.md?p=f-2).
- (aa) Use a fishing vessel to fish in the Pacific Ocean using longline gear both inside and outside the Convention Area on the same fishing trip in contravention of [§ 300.224(f)(3)](/cfr/50/300.224.md?p=f-3).
- (bb) Fail to stow longline gear as required in [§ 300.224(f)(4)](/cfr/50/300.224.md?p=f-4).
- (cc) Fail to carry on board a WCPFC observer during a transshipment at sea, as required in [§ 300.215(d)](/cfr/50/300.215.md?p=d).
- (dd) Offload, receive, or load fish caught in the Convention Area from a purse seine vessel at sea in contravention of [§ 300.216](/cfr/50/300.216.md).
- (ee) Fail to ensure that a WCPFC observer is on board at least one of the vessels involved in the transshipment for the duration of the transshipment in contravention of [§ 300.216(b)(2)(i)](/cfr/50/300.216.md?p=b-2-i), except as specified at [§ 300.216(b)(4)](/cfr/50/300.216.md?p=b-4).
- (ff) Receive transshipments from more than one fishing vessel at a time in contravention of [§ 300.216(b)(2)(ii)](/cfr/50/300.216.md?p=b-2-ii), except as specified at [§ 300.216(b)(4)](/cfr/50/300.216.md?p=b-4).
- (gg) Transship to or from another vessel, in contravention of [§ 300.216(b)(3)(i)](/cfr/50/300.216.md?p=b-3-i), except as specified at [§ 300.216(b)(4)](/cfr/50/300.216.md?p=b-4).
- (hh) Provide bunkering, receive bunkering, or exchange supplies or provisions with another vessel, in contravention of [§ 300.216(b)(3)(ii)](/cfr/50/300.216.md?p=b-3-ii).
- (ii) Engage in net sharing except as specified under [§ 300.216(c)](/cfr/50/300.216.md?p=c).
- (jj) Fail to submit, or ensure submission of, a transshipment report as required in [§ 300.218(b)](/cfr/50/300.218.md?p=b), except as specified under [§ 300.218(c)](/cfr/50/300.218.md?p=c).
- (kk) Fail to submit, or ensure submission of, a transshipment notice as required in [§ 300.218(d)](/cfr/50/300.218.md?p=d).
- (ll) Transship more than 24 nautical miles from the location indicated in the transshipment notice, in contravention of [§ 300.218(d)(3)](/cfr/50/300.218.md?p=d-3).
- (mm) Fail to submit, or ensure submission of, a discard report as required in [§ 300.218(e)](/cfr/50/300.218.md?p=e).
- (nn) Fail to submit, or ensure submission of, a net sharing report as required in [§ 300.218(f)](/cfr/50/300.218.md?p=f).
- (oo) Transship in the Eastern High Seas Special Management Area in contravention of [§ 300.225](/cfr/50/300.225.md).
- (pp) Fail to submit, or ensure submission of, a daily purse seine fishing effort report as required in [§ 300.218(g)](/cfr/50/300.218.md?p=g).
- (qq) Fail to submit, or ensure submission of, a whale shark encirclement report as required in [§ 300.218(h)](/cfr/50/300.218.md?p=h).
- (rr) Set or attempt to set a purse seine on or around a whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in contravention of [§ 300.223(g)](/cfr/50/300.223.md?p=g).
- (ss) Fail to release a whale shark encircled in a purse seine net of a fishing vessel as required in [§ 300.223(h)](/cfr/50/300.223.md?p=h).
- (tt) Use a fishing vessel to retain on board, transship, store, or land any part or whole carcass of an oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) or silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) in contravention of [§ 300.226(a)](/cfr/50/300.226.md?p=a).
- (uu) Fail to release an oceanic whitetip shark or silky shark as required in [§ 300.226(b)](/cfr/50/300.226.md?p=b).
- (vv) Fail to obtain an IMO number for a fishing vessel as required in [§ 300.217(c)](/cfr/50/300.217.md?p=c).
- (ww) Fail to carry an observer as required in [§ 300.223(e)](/cfr/50/300.223.md?p=e).
- (xx) Fail to comply with any of the limits, restrictions, prohibitions, or requirements specified under [§ 300.227](/cfr/50/300.227.md).
- (yy) Fail to comply with the requirements of any temporary specification issued under [§ 300.228](/cfr/50/300.228.md).
- (zz) Fail to comply with the observer safety requirements in [§ 300.215(f)](/cfr/50/300.215.md?p=f).
- (aaa) Fail to provide pre-trip notification per requirements in [§ 300.215(b)](/cfr/50/300.215.md?p=b).
- (bbb) Fail to comply with the FAD design requirements in [§ 300.223(b)(4)](/cfr/50/300.223.md?p=b-4).
- (ccc) Fail to comply with the requirements of any exemption under [§ 300.226(e)](/cfr/50/300.226.md?p=e).
- (ddd) Fail to comply with any of the restrictions, prohibitions or requirements specified in [§ 300.229](/cfr/50/300.229.md).
- (eee) Fail to comply with the handling and release requirements in [§ 300.230](/cfr/50/300.230.md).

## Notes

### Amendments

[74 FR 38554, Aug. 4, 2009, as amended at 74 FR 64010, Dec. 7, 2009; 75 FR 3355, Jan. 21, 2010; 77 FR 51714, Aug. 27, 2012; 77 FR 71512, Dec. 3, 2012; 79 FR 71331, Dec. 2, 2014; 80 FR 8815, Feb. 19, 2015; 80 FR 59048, Oct. 1, 2015; 81 FR 41250, June 24, 2016; 83 FR 33869, July 18, 2018; 86 FR 31181, June 11, 2021; 86 FR 35659, July 7, 2021; 88 FR 30678, May 12, 2023]

### Source

Source: 74 FR 38554, Aug. 4, 2009, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.

### Authority

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 5501 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 2431 et seq., 31 U.S.C. 9701 et seq.

### Source

Source: 61 FR 35550, July 5, 1996, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[74 FR 38554, Aug. 4, 2009, as amended at 74 FR 64010, Dec. 7, 2009; 75 FR 3355, Jan. 21, 2010; 77 FR 51714, Aug. 27, 2012; 77 FR 71512, Dec. 3, 2012; 79 FR 71331, Dec. 2, 2014; 80 FR 8815, Feb. 19, 2015; 80 FR 59048, Oct. 1, 2015; 81 FR 41250, June 24, 2016; 83 FR 33869, July 18, 2018; 86 FR 31181, June 11, 2021; 86 FR 35659, July 7, 2021; 88 FR 30678, May 12, 2023]