---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 5508"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "5508"
heading: "Criminal offenses"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/5508"
units:
  - "Chapter 75 — High Seas Fishing Compliance"
---

# §5508. Criminal offenses

- (a) **Offenses—** A [person](/usc/16/5502.md?p=7) is guilty of an offense if the [person](/usc/16/5502.md?p=7) commits any act prohibited by paragraph (6), (7), (8), or (9) of [section 5505 of this title](/usc/16/5505.md).
- (b) **Punishment—** Any offense described in [subsection (a)](#a) is a class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine under [title 18](/usc/18.md), or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both; except that if in the [commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) of any offense the [person](/usc/16/5502.md?p=7) uses a dangerous weapon, engages in conduct that causes bodily injury to any authorized officer, or places any such officer in fear of imminent bodily injury, the offense is a felony punishable by a fine under [title 18](/usc/18.md), or imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 104–43, title I, § 109, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 375.)

## 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.