---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 398e"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "398e"
heading: "Bathing and fishing rights protected"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/398e"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter XLIV — Virgin Islands National Park"
---

# §398e. Bathing and fishing rights protected

- (a) **Regulations—** Nothing in sections [398c](/usc/16/398c.md) to [398f](/usc/16/398f.md) of this title shall be construed as authorizing any limitation on customary uses of or access to the [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) specified in [section 398c of this title](/usc/16/398c.md) for bathing and fishing (including setting out of fishpots and landing boats), subject to such regulations as the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior may find reasonable and necessary for protection of natural conditions and prevention of damage to marine life and formations.
- (b) **Admission fee prohibited—** Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no fee or charge shall be imposed for entrance or admission into the Virgin Islands National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 87–750, § 3, Oct. 5, 1962, 76 Stat. 747; Pub. L. 95–348, § 7(b)(4), Aug. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 495.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1978—Pub. L. 95–348 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).