---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 1825"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "1825"
heading: "Import prohibitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/1825"
units:
  - "Chapter 38 — Fishery Conservation and Management"
  - "Subchapter III — Foreign Fishing and International Fishery Agreements"
---

# §1825. Import prohibitions

- (a) **Determinations by Secretary of State—** If the Secretary of State determines that—
  - (1) he has been unable, within a reasonable period of time, to conclude with any foreign nation an [international fishery agreement](/usc/16/1802.md?p=24) allowing [fishing vessels](/usc/16/1802.md?p=18) of the [United States](/usc/16/1802.md?p=45) equitable access to [fisheries](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13) over which that nation asserts exclusive [fishery](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13) management authority, including [fisheries](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13) for [tuna species](/usc/16/1802.md?p=44), as recognized by the [United States](/usc/16/1802.md?p=45), in accordance with [fishing](/usc/16/1802.md?p=16) activities of such vessels, if any, and under terms not more restrictive than those established under [sections 1821(c)](/usc/16/1821.md?p=c) and (d) and 1824(b)(7) and (10) of this title, because such nation has (A) refused to commence negotiations, or (B) failed to negotiate in good faith;
  - (2) any foreign nation is not allowing [fishing vessels](/usc/16/1802.md?p=18) of the [United States](/usc/16/1802.md?p=45) to engage in [fishing](/usc/16/1802.md?p=16) for [tuna species](/usc/16/1802.md?p=44) in accordance with an applicable [international fishery agreement](/usc/16/1802.md?p=24), whether or not such nation is a party thereto;
  - (3) any foreign nation is not complying with its obligations under any existing [international fishery agreement](/usc/16/1802.md?p=24) concerning [fishing](/usc/16/1802.md?p=16) by [fishing vessels](/usc/16/1802.md?p=18) of the [United States](/usc/16/1802.md?p=45) in any [fishery](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13) over which that nation asserts exclusive [fishery](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13) management authority; or
  - (4) any [fishing vessel](/usc/16/1802.md?p=18) of the [United States](/usc/16/1802.md?p=45), while [fishing](/usc/16/1802.md?p=16) in waters beyond any foreign nation’s territorial sea, to the extent that such sea is recognized by the [United States](/usc/16/1802.md?p=45), is seized by any foreign nation—
    - (A) in [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of an applicable [international fishery agreement](/usc/16/1802.md?p=24);
    - (B) without authorization under an agreement between the [United States](/usc/16/1802.md?p=45) and such nation; or
    - (C) as a consequence of a claim of jurisdiction which is not recognized by the [United States](/usc/16/1802.md?p=45);

  he shall certify such determination to the [Secretary](/usc/16/1802.md?p=39) of the Treasury.

- (b) **Prohibitions—** Upon receipt of any certification from the Secretary of State under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/16/1802.md?p=39) of the Treasury shall immediately [take](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) such action as may be necessary and appropriate to prohibit the importation into the [United States](/usc/16/1802.md?p=45)—
  - (1) of all [fish and fish products](/usc/16/1826c.md?p=1) from the [fishery](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13) involved, if any; and
  - (2) upon recommendation of the Secretary of State, such other [fish](/usc/16/1802.md?p=12) or [fish](/usc/16/1802.md?p=12) products, from any [fishery](/usc/16/1802.md?p=13) of the foreign nation concerned, which the Secretary of State finds to be appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section.
- (c) **Removal of prohibition—** If the Secretary of State finds that the reasons for the imposition of any [import](/usc/16/1802.md?p=22) prohibition under this section no longer prevail, the Secretary of State shall notify the [Secretary](/usc/16/1802.md?p=39) of the Treasury, who shall promptly remove such [import](/usc/16/1802.md?p=22) prohibition.
- (d) **Definitions—** As used in this section—
  - (1) The term “[fish](/usc/16/1802.md?p=12)” includes any [highly migratory species](/usc/16/1802.md?p=21).
  - (2) The term “[fish](/usc/16/1802.md?p=12) products” means any article which is produced from or composed of (in whole or in part) any [fish](/usc/16/1802.md?p=12).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–265, title II, § 205, Apr. 13, 1976, 90 Stat. 345; Pub. L. 101–627, title I, § 105(b)(1), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4440.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1990—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 101–627, § 105(b)(1)(A), inserted “including fisheries for tuna species,” after “authority,” and struck out “traditional” after “in accordance with”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 101–627, § 105(b)(1)(B), substituted “tuna” for “highly migratory”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–627, title I, § 105(b)(2), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4440, provided that: “The amendments made by this subsection [amending this section] shall take effect on January 1, 1992.”