---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 5002"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "5002"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/5002"
units:
  - "Chapter 70 — North Pacific Anadromous Stocks Convention"
---

# §5002. Definitions


As used in this chapter, the term—

- (1) “Anadromous stocks” means stocks of species listed in the Annex to the [Convention](#5) that migrate into the [Convention area](#6).
- (2) “Anadromous fish” means [fish](#11) of the species listed in the Annex to the [Convention](#5) that migrate into the [Convention area](#6).
- (3) “Authorized officer” means a law enforcement official authorized to enforce this chapter under [section 5008(a) of this title](/usc/16/5008.md?p=a).
- (4) “Commission” means the North Pacific [Anadromous Fish](#2) Commission provided for by article VIII of the [Convention](#5).
- (5) “Convention” means the Convention for the Conservation of [Anadromous Stocks](#1) of the North Pacific Ocean, signed in Moscow, February 11, 1992.
- (6) “Convention area” means the waters of the North Pacific Ocean and its adjacent seas, north of 33 degrees North Latitude,[^1] beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
- (7) “Directed fishing” means [fishing](#12) targeted at a particular species or stock of [fish](#11).
- (8) “Ecologically related species” means living marine species which are associated with [anadromous stocks](#1) found in the [Convention area](#6), including, but not restricted to, both predators and prey of [anadromous fish](#2).
- (9) “Enforcement officer” means a law enforcement official authorized by any [Party](#15) to enforce this chapter.
- (10) “Exclusive economic zone” means the zone established by Proclamation Numbered 5030, dated March 10, 1983. For purposes of applying this chapter, the inner boundary of that zone is a line coterminous with the seaward boundary of each of the coastal [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r).
- (11) “Fish” means finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and all other forms of marine animal and plant life other than marine mammals and birds.
- (12) “Fishing” means—
  - (A) the catching, [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18), or harvesting of [fish](#11), or any other activity that can reasonably be expected to result in the catching, [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18), or harvesting of [fish](#11); or
  - (B) any operation at sea in preparation for or in direct support of any activity described in [subparagraph (A)](#12-A).
- (13) “Fishing vessel” means—
  - (A) any vessel engaged in catching [fish](#11) within the [Convention area](#6) or in processing or transporting [fish](#11) loaded in the [Convention area](#6);
  - (B) any vessel outfitted to engage in any activity described in [subparagraph (A)](#13-A);
  - (C) any vessel supporting a vessel described in subparagraph [(A)](#13-A) or [(B)](#13-B).
- (14) “Incidental taking” means catching, [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18), or harvesting a species or stock of [fish](#11) while conducting [directed fishing](#7) for another species or stock of [fish](#11).
- (15) “Party” means Canada, Japan, the Russian Federation, the United States, and any other nation that may accede to the [Convention](#5).
- (16) “Secretary” means the Secretary of State.
- (17) “United States Section” means the United States Commissioners of the [Commission](#4).

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should not be capitalized.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 102–567, title VIII, § 803, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4309; Pub. L. 102–587, title VIII, § 8003, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5098; Pub. L. 104–43, title IV, § 404(b), Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 391; Pub. L. 106–562, title III, § 304(a), Dec. 23, 2000, 114 Stat. 2806.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Proclamation Numbered 5030, dated March 10, 1983, referred to in par. (10), is set out as a note under section 1453 of this title.

### Codification

Title VIII of Pub. L. 102–567 and Pub. L. 102–587 enacted substantially identical sections. Title VIII of Pub. L. 102–587 was repealed by Pub. L. 106–562.

### Amendments

1995—Par. (13)(C). Pub. L. 104–43 amended subpar. (C) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (C) read as follows: “any vessel described in subparagraph (A) or (B).”