---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 1156"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "1156"
heading: "Enforcement provisions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/1156"
units:
  - "Chapter 24 — Conservation and Protection of North Pacific Fur Seals"
  - "Subchapter I — Fur Seal Management"
---

# §1156. Enforcement provisions

- (a) **Search of vessels; certificate of identification; exhibition to master—** Any [person](/usc/16/1151.md?p=i) authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter who has reasonable cause to believe that any vessel outfitted for the harvesting of living marine resources and subject to the jurisdiction of any of the parties to the [Convention](/usc/16/1151.md?p=b) is violating the provisions of article III of the [Convention](/usc/16/1151.md?p=b) may, except within the [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) in which another [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) exercises fisheries jurisdiction, board and search such vessel. Such [person](/usc/16/1151.md?p=i) shall carry a special certificate of identification issued by the [Secretary](/usc/16/1151.md?p=l) or [Secretary](/usc/16/1151.md?p=l) of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating which shall be in English, Japanese, and Russian and which shall be exhibited to the master of the vessel upon request.
- (b) **Seizure; arrest; notice; delivery of vessel or person to authorized officials; custody—** If, after boarding and searching such vessel, such [person](/usc/16/1151.md?p=i) continues to have reasonable cause to believe that such vessel, or any [person](/usc/16/1151.md?p=i) onboard, is violating said article, he may seize such vessel or arrest such [person](/usc/16/1151.md?p=i), or both. The Secretary of State shall, as soon as practicable, notify the party having jurisdiction over the vessel or [person](/usc/16/1151.md?p=i) of such seizure or arrest.

  The [Secretary](/usc/16/1151.md?p=l) or the [Secretary](/usc/16/1151.md?p=l) of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, upon request of the Secretary of State, shall deliver the seized vessel or arrested [person](/usc/16/1151.md?p=i), or both, as promptly as practicable to the authorized officials of said party: Provided, That whenever said party cannot immediately accept such delivery, the [Secretary](/usc/16/1151.md?p=l) or the [Secretary](/usc/16/1151.md?p=l) of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may, upon the request of the Secretary of State, keep the vessel or [person](/usc/16/1151.md?p=i) in custody within the United States.

- (c) **Testimony of enforcement agents—** At the request of said party, the [Secretary](/usc/16/1151.md?p=l) or the [Secretary](/usc/16/1151.md?p=l) of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, shall direct the [person](/usc/16/1151.md?p=i) authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter to attend the trial as a witness in any case arising under said article or give testimony by deposition, and shall produce such records and files or copies thereof as may be necessary to establish the offense.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–702, title I, § 106, Nov. 2, 1966, 80 Stat. 1092; Pub. L. 98–129, § 2, Oct. 14, 1983, 97 Stat. 837.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1983—Pub. L. 98–129 amended section generally, substituting provisions setting out enforcement steps, which were previously contained in section 1155 of this title, for provisions establishing the North Pacific Fur Seal Commission. See section 1157 of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.