---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 973e"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "973e"
heading: "Criminal offenses"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/973e"
units:
  - "Chapter 16C — South Pacific Tuna Fishing"
---

# §973e. Criminal offenses

- (a) **Prohibited acts—** A [person](/usc/16/973.md?p=12) is guilty of a criminal offense if he or she commits any act prohibited by paragraph (6), (8), (9), or (10) of [section 973c(a) of this title](/usc/16/973c.md?p=a).
- (b) **Sentence and fine—** Any offense described in [subsection (a)](#a) of this section is punishable by a fine of not more than $50,000, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both; except that if in the [commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) of any such offense the [person](/usc/16/973.md?p=12) uses a dangerous weapon, engages in conduct that causes bodily injury to any [Authorized Officer](/usc/16/973.md?p=2), [Authorized Party Officer](/usc/16/973.md?p=3), or observer under the [Treaty](/usc/16/973.md?p=16) in the conduct of their duties, or places any such [Authorized Officer](/usc/16/973.md?p=2), [Authorized Party Officer](/usc/16/973.md?p=3), or observer in fear of imminent bodily injury, the offense is punishable by a fine of not more than $100,000 or imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both.
- (c) **Jurisdiction—** The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction over any offense described in this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–330, § 7, June 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 594; Pub. L. 119–60, div. H, title LXXXIV, § 8415, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1915.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 119–60 substituted “paragraph (6), (8), (9), or (10) of section 973c(a)” for “section 973c(a)(8), (10), (11), or (12)”.