---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 957"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "957"
heading: "Violations; fines and forfeitures; application of related laws"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/957"
units:
  - "Chapter 16 — Tuna Conventions"
---

# §957. Violations; fines and forfeitures; application of related laws

- (a) **Fishing violations—** It shall be unlawful for any master or other [person](/usc/16/951.md?p=4) in charge of a fishing vessel of the [United States](/usc/16/951.md?p=5) to engage in fishing in [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of any regulation adopted pursuant to [section 955 of this title](/usc/16/955.md) or for any [person](/usc/16/951.md?p=4) knowingly to ship, transport, purchase, sell, offer for sale, import, export, or have in custody, possession, or control any fish taken or retained in [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of such regulations.
- (b) **Failures to keep required records; failures to stop upon being hailed; refusals to permit inspections—** It shall be unlawful for the master or any [person](/usc/16/951.md?p=4) in charge of any fishing vessel of the [United States](/usc/16/951.md?p=5) or any [person](/usc/16/951.md?p=4) on board such vessel to fail to make, keep, or furnish any catch returns, statistical records, or other reports as are required by regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter to be made, kept, or furnished; or to fail to stop upon being hailed by a duly authorized official of the [United States](/usc/16/951.md?p=5); or to refuse to permit the duly authorized officials of the [United States](/usc/16/951.md?p=5) or authorized officials of the [commissions](/usc/16/951.md?p=2) to board such vessel or inspect its catch, equipment, books, documents, records, or other articles or question the [persons](/usc/16/951.md?p=4) on board in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, or the [convention](/usc/16/951.md?p=3), as the case may be.
- (c) **Import violations—** It shall be unlawful for any [person](/usc/16/951.md?p=4) to import, in [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of any regulation adopted pursuant to [section 955 of this title](/usc/16/955.md), from any country, any fish in any form of those species subject to regulation pursuant to a recommendation of the [commission](/usc/16/951.md?p=2), or any tuna in any form not under regulation but under investigation by the [commission](/usc/16/951.md?p=2), during the period such fish have been denied entry in accordance with the provisions of [section 955 of this title](/usc/16/955.md). In the case of any fish as described in this subsection offered for entry into the [United States](/usc/16/951.md?p=5), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Commerce shall require proof satisfactory to him that such fish is not ineligible for such entry under the terms of [section 955 of this title](/usc/16/955.md).
- (d) **Fines for subsection (a) violations—** Any [person](/usc/16/951.md?p=4) violating any provisions of [subsection (a)](#a) of this section shall be fined not more than $25,000, and for a subsequent [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of any provisions of said [subsection (a)](#a) shall be fined not more than $50,000.
- (e) **Fines for subsection (b) violations—** Any [person](/usc/16/951.md?p=4) violating any provision of [subsection (b)](#b) of this section shall be fined not more than $1,000, and for a subsequent [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of any provision of [subsection (b)](#b) shall be fined not more than $5,000.
- (f) **Fines for subsection (c) violations—** Any [person](/usc/16/951.md?p=4) violating any provision of [subsection (c)](#c) of this section shall be fined not more than $100,000.
- (g) **Forfeitures—** All fish taken or retained in [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of [subsection (a)](#a) of this section, or the monetary value thereof, may be forfeited.
- (h) **Application of related laws—** All provisions of law relating to the seizure, judicial forfeiture, and condemnation of a cargo for [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of the customs laws, the disposition of such cargo or the proceeds from the sale thereof, and the remission or mitigation of such forfeitures shall apply to seizures and forfeitures incurred, or alleged to have been incurred, under the provisions of this chapter, insofar as such provisions of law are applicable and not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter.
- (i) **Additional prohibitions and enforcement—** For prohibitions relating to this chapter and enforcement of this chapter, see [section 1826g of this title](/usc/16/1826g.md).

## Source credit

(Sept. 7, 1950, ch. 907, § 8, 64 Stat. 779; Pub. L. 87–814, § 4, Oct. 15, 1962, 76 Stat. 924; 1970 Reorg. Plan No. 4, eff. Oct. 3, 1970, 35 F.R. 15627, 84 Stat. 2090; Pub. L. 114–81, title II, § 207, Nov. 5, 2015, 129 Stat. 663.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2015—Subsecs. (a), (c). Pub. L. 114–81, § 207(1), substituted “section 955 of this title” for “section 955(c) of this title” wherever appearing.

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 114–81, § 207(2), added subsec. (i).

1962—Pub. L. 87–814 substituted provisions respecting violations, fines, and forfeitures, and application of related laws for provisions respecting enforcement of chapter.

### Executive Documents

### Transfer of Functions

Transfer of functions to Secretary of Commerce from Secretary of the Interior by Reorg. Plan No. 4 of 1970, see note set out under section 955 of this title.