(a) Search of vessels; certificate of identification; exhibition to master

Any person authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter who has reasonable cause to believe that any vessel outfitted for the harvesting of living marine resources and subject to the jurisdiction of any of the parties to the Convention is violating the provisions of article III of the Convention may, except within the areas in which another State exercises fisheries jurisdiction, board and search such vessel. Such person shall carry a special certificate of identification issued by the Secretary or Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating which shall be in English, Japanese, and Russian and which shall be exhibited to the master of the vessel upon request.

(b) Seizure; arrest; notice; delivery of vessel or person to authorized officials; custody

Terms Used In 16 USC 1156

  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • State: means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any other territory or possession of the United States. See 1 USC 7
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • vessel: includes every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on water. See 1 USC 3

If, after boarding and searching such vessel, such person continues to have reasonable cause to believe that such vessel, or any person onboard, is violating said article, he may seize such vessel or arrest such person, or both. The Secretary of State shall, as soon as practicable, notify the party having jurisdiction over the vessel or person of such seizure or arrest.

The Secretary or the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, upon request of the Secretary of State, shall deliver the seized vessel or arrested person, or both, as promptly as practicable to the authorized officials of said party: Provided, That whenever said party cannot immediately accept such delivery, the Secretary or the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may, upon the request of the Secretary of State, keep the vessel or person in custody within the United States.

(c) Testimony of enforcement agents

At the request of said party, the Secretary or the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, shall direct the person authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter to attend the trial as a witness in any case arising under said article or give testimony by deposition, and shall produce such records and files or copies thereof as may be necessary to establish the offense.

  Previous section
Next section  
 Subchapter I Contents