---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 10602"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "10602"
heading: "Recovery of wages and shares of fish under agreement"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/10602"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part G — Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief"
  - "Chapter 106 — Fishing Voyages"
---

# §10602. Recovery of wages and shares of fish under agreement

- (a) When [fish](/usc/46/2101.md?p=11) caught under an agreement under [section 10601 of this title](/usc/46/10601.md) are delivered to the [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2) of the vessel for processing and are sold, the vessel is liable in rem for the wages and shares of the proceeds of the seamen. An action under this section must be brought within six months after the sale of the [fish](/usc/46/2101.md?p=11).
- (b)
  - (1) In an action under this section, the [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2) shall produce an accounting of the sale and division of proceeds under the agreement. If the [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2) fails to produce the accounting, the vessel is liable for the highest value alleged for the shares.
  - (2) The [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2) may offset the value of general supplies provided for the voyage and other supplies provided the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) bringing the action.
- (c) This section does not affect a common law right of a [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) to bring an action to recover the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3)’s share of the [fish](/usc/46/2101.md?p=11) or proceeds.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–424, § 6(a), Sept. 9, 1988, 102 Stat. 1592.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 10602 | 46:533, 534 |