---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 5505"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "5505"
heading: "Unlawful activities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/5505"
units:
  - "Chapter 75 — High Seas Fishing Compliance"
---

# §5505. Unlawful activities


It is unlawful for any [person](/usc/16/5502.md?p=7) subject to the jurisdiction of the United States—

- (1) to use a [high seas fishing vessel](/usc/16/5502.md?p=4) on the [high seas](/usc/16/5502.md?p=3) in contravention of [international conservation and management measures](/usc/16/5502.md?p=5) described in [section 5504(e) of this title](/usc/16/5504.md?p=e);
- (2) to use a [high seas fishing vessel](/usc/16/5502.md?p=4) on the [high seas](/usc/16/5502.md?p=3), unless the vessel has on board a valid permit issued under [section 5503 of this title](/usc/16/5503.md);
- (3) to use a [high seas fishing vessel](/usc/16/5502.md?p=4) in [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of the conditions or restrictions of a permit issued under [section 5503 of this title](/usc/16/5503.md);
- (4) to falsify any information required to be reported, communicated, or recorded pursuant to this chapter or any regulation issued under this chapter, or to fail to submit in a timely fashion any required information, or to fail to report to the [Secretary](/usc/16/5502.md?p=8) immediately any change in circumstances that has the effect of rendering any such information false, incomplete, or misleading;
- (5) to refuse to permit an authorized officer to board a [high seas fishing vessel](/usc/16/5502.md?p=4) subject to such [person](/usc/16/5502.md?p=7)’s control for purposes of conducting any search or inspection in connection with the enforcement of this chapter or any regulation issued under this chapter;
- (6) to forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate, or interfere with an authorized officer in the conduct of any search or inspection described in [paragraph (5)](#5);
- (7) to resist a lawful arrest or detention for any act prohibited by this section;
- (8) to interfere with, delay, or prevent, by any means, the apprehension, arrest, or detection of another [person](/usc/16/5502.md?p=7), knowing that such [person](/usc/16/5502.md?p=7) has committed any act prohibited by this section;
- (9) to ship, transport, offer for sale, sell, purchase, import, export, or have custody, control, or possession of, any living marine resource taken or retained in [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of this chapter or any regulation or permit issued under this chapter; or
- (10) to violate any provision of this chapter or any regulation or permit issued under this chapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 104–43, title I, § 106, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 371.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 120 days after Nov. 3, 1995, see section 111 of Pub. L. 104–43, set out as a note under section 5501 of this title.