16 USC § 5508 - Criminal offenses

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t16/s5508"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "16 USC § 5508 - Criminal offenses"
title_number: 16
title_name: "CONSERVATION"
section_number: "5508"
section_name: "Criminal offenses"
chapter_number: 75
chapter_name: "HIGH SEAS FISHING COMPLIANCE"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 104–43, title I, § 109, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 375.)"
---


# § 5508. Criminal offenses

**(a)** **Offenses** section 5505 of this title

A person is guilty of an offense if the person commits any act prohibited by paragraph (6), (7), (8), or (9) of .

**(b)** **Punishment** Any offense described in subsection (a) is a class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine under title 18, or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both; except that if in the commission of any offense the person 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, or imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both.

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

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 120 days after , see , set out as a note under .