---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 1866"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "1866"
heading: "Shark feeding"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/1866"
units:
  - "Chapter 38 — Fishery Conservation and Management"
  - "Subchapter IV — National Fishery Management Program"
---

# §1866. Shark feeding


Except to the extent determined by the [Secretary](/usc/16/1802.md?p=39), or under [State](/usc/16/1802.md?p=40) law, as presenting no public health hazard or safety risk, or when conducted as part of a research program funded in whole or in part by appropriated funds, it is unlawful to introduce, or attempt to introduce, food or any other substance into the water to attract sharks for any purpose other than to harvest sharks within the [Exclusive Economic Zone](/usc/16/1802.md?p=11) seaward of the [State](/usc/16/1802.md?p=40) of Hawaii and of the Commonwealths, territories, and possessions of the [United States](/usc/16/1802.md?p=45) in the Pacific Ocean [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–265, title III, § 317, as added Pub. L. 109–479, title I, § 119, Jan. 12, 2007, 120 Stat. 3607.)