§ 285.3 - Prohibitions.

It is unlawful:

(a) For any person or for any fishing vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to engage in fishing or to land any Atlantic tuna in violation of these rules, except that fish implanted or affixed with archival tags may be possessed, retained and landed under the provisions of § 285.9.

(b) For any person to land, transship, ship, transport, purchase, sell, offer for sale, import, export, or have in custody, possession, or control any fish that the person knows, or should have known, was taken, retained, possessed, or landed contrary to this part, without regard to the citizenship of the person or registry of the fishing vessel that harvested the fish.

(c) For a dealer or any person in charge of any fishing vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to fail to make, keep, or furnish reports required by this part.

(d) For a dealer or any person in charge of any fishing vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to obstruct or to refuse to allow any authorized officer to enter the dealer's premises or to board the fishing vessel to search or inspect its catch, equipment, books, documents, records, or other articles, or to question the persons in the dealer's premises or aboard the fishing vessel under the provisions of this part.

(e) For any person to import from any country any regulated species in any form subject to regulation under a recommendation of the Commission, or any fish in any form not under regulation but under investigation by the Commission, during the period such fish have been denied entry under this part.

(f) For any person or vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to land:

(1) Any tuna, except bluefin, in forms other than round (fins intact), or other than eviscerated with the head, tail, and fins removed, except that one pectoral fin must remain attached; and

(2) Bluefin tuna in forms other than round (fins intact), or other than eviscerated with the head and fins removed, except that one pectoral fin and tail must remain attached.

(g) For any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to land, transship, ship, transport, purchase, sell, offer for sale, import, export, or have in custody, possession, or control any regulated species that was harvested, retained, or possessed in a manner contrary to the regulations of another country.

(h) For any person to refuse to provide information requested by NMFS personnel or anyone collecting information for NMFS, under an agreement or contract, relating to the scientific monitoring or management of tuna.

(i) For any person to assault, impede, oppose, intimidate, or interfere with, by any means, NMFS personnel or anyone collecting information for NMFS, under an agreement or contract, relating to the scientific monitoring or management of tuna.

(j) For any person on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to fish for or catch any Atlantic tuna with gear that is not authorized under § 285.21(b) or § 285.51, or to retain or land Atlantic tunas taken with unauthorized gear.

(k) For any person to possess any Atlantic tuna on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States that has gear on board that is not authorized under § 285.21(b) or § 285.51, unless authorized under § 285.7.

(l) For any person to violate any conditions specified by the Director in any exemption issued under § 285.7.

(m) For any person to assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate, interfere with, obstruct, delay, or prevent, by any means, any authorized officer in the conduct of any search, inspection, seizure or lawful investigation made in connection with enforcement of this part.

(n) For any person to assault, resist, oppose, impede, harass, intimidate, or interfere with a NMFS-approved observer aboard a vessel.

(o) Interfere with or bar by command, impediment, threat, coercion, or refusal of reasonable assistance, an at-sea observer conducting his or her duties aboard a vessel.

(p) Fail to provide an observer with the required food, accommodations, access, and assistance, as specified in § 285.8(c).

(q) Purchase, receive, or transfer for commercial purposes any Atlantic tunas landed by owners or operators of vessels not permitted to do so under this part, or purchase, receive, or transfer for commercial purposes any Atlantic tunas without a valid dealer permit issued under this part.

(r) Sell, offer for sale, or transfer for commercial purposes any Atlantic tunas landed by owners or operators of a vessel not permitted to do so under this part or to any person or vessel without a valid dealer permit issued under this part.

(s) Dispose of fish or parts thereof or other matter in any manner, after any communication or signal from an authorized officer, or after the approach of an authorized officer.