fishing
Defined in 7 places of the United States Code.
“Fishing” means—
(A) the catching, taking, or harvesting of fish, or any other activity that can reasonably be expected to result in the catching, taking, or harvesting of fish; or
(B) any operation at sea in preparation for or in direct support of any activity described in subparagraph (A).
Source
- 1994–present16 U.S.C. § 5002Conservation · Definitions · as used in this chapter
The term “fishing” means—
(A) searching for, catching, taking, or harvesting fish;
(B) attempting to search for, catch, take, or harvest fish;
(C) engaging in any other activity which can reasonably be expected to result in the locating, catching, taking, or harvesting of fish;
(D) placing, searching for, or recovering fish aggregating devices or associated electronic equipment such as radio beacons;
(E) any operations at sea directly in support of, or in preparation for, any activity described in this paragraph; or
(F) aircraft use, relating to the activities described in this paragraph except for flights in emergencies involving the health or safety of crew members or the safety of a vessel.
Source
- 1994–202616 U.S.C. § 973Conservation · Definitions · as used in this chapter
The term “fishing” means—
(A) searching for, catching, taking, or harvesting fish;
(B) attempting to search for, catch, take, or harvest fish;
(C) engaging in any other activity which can reasonably be expected to result in the locating, catching, taking, or harvesting of fish for any purpose;
(D) placing, searching for, or recovering fish aggregating devices or associated electronic equipment such as radio beacons;
(E) any operations at sea directly in support of, or in preparation for, any activity described in subparagraphs (A) through (D), including transshipment; and
(F) use of any other vessel, vehicle, aircraft, or hovercraft, for any activity described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) except for emergencies involving the health and safety of the crew or the safety of a vessel.
Source
- 2006–present16 U.S.C. § 6901Conservation · Definitions · in this chapter
The term “fishing” means—
(A) searching for, catching, taking, or harvesting fish;
(B) attempting to search for, catch, take, or harvest fish;
(C) engaging in any other activity which can reasonably be expected to result in the locating, catching, taking, or harvesting of fish for any purpose;
(D) placing, searching for, or recovering fish aggregating devices or associated electronic equipment such as radio beacons;
(E) any operations at sea directly in support of, or in preparation for, any activity described in this paragraph; or
(F) use of any other vessel, vehicle, aircraft, or hovercraft for any activity described in this paragraph except for emergencies involving the health or safety of the crew or the safety of a vessel.
Source
- 2026–present16 U.S.C. § 973Conservation · Definitions · as used in this chapter
The term “fishing” means—
(A) the catching, taking, or harvesting of Atlantic striped bass, except when incidental to harvesting that occurs in the course of commercial or recreational fish catching activities directed at a species other than Atlantic striped bass;
(B) the attempted catching, taking, or harvesting of Atlantic striped bass; and
(C) any operation at sea in support of, or in preparation for, any activity described in subparagraph (A) or (B).
Source
- 2013–present16 U.S.C. § 5152Conservation · Definitions · as used in this chapter
The term "fishing" means—
(A) the catching, taking, or harvesting of Atlantic striped bass, except when incidental to harvesting that occurs in the course of commercial or recreational fish catching activities directed at a species other than Atlantic striped bass;
(B) the attempted catching, taking, or harvesting of Atlantic striped bass; and
(C) any operation at sea in support of, or in preparation for, any activity described in subparagraph (A) or (B).
The term does not include any scientific research authorized by the Federal Government or by any State government.
Source
- 2001–201416 U.S.C. § 5152Conservation · Definitions · as used in this chapter
The term “fishing” means—
(A) the catching, taking, or harvesting of fish;
(B) the attempted catching, taking, or harvesting of fish;
(C) any other activity that can be reasonably expected to result in the catching, taking, or harvesting of fish; or
(D) any operations at sea in support of, or in preparation for, any activity described in subparagraphs (A) through (C).
Source
- 2026–present16 U.S.C. § 5102Conservation · Definitions · in this chapter
The term “fishing” means—
(A) the catching, taking, or harvesting of fish;
(B) the attempted catching, taking, or harvesting of fish;
(C) any other activity that can be reasonably expected to result in the catching, taking, or harvesting of fish; or
(D) any operations at sea in support of, or in preparation for, any activity described in subparagraphs (A) through (C).
Such term does not include any scientific research activity or the catching, taking, or harvesting of fish in an aquaculture operation.
Source
- 1994–202616 U.S.C. § 5102Conservation · Definitions · in this chapter
The term “fishing” means—
(A) the catching, taking, or harvesting of fish;
(B) the attempted catching, taking, or harvesting of fish;
(C) any other activity which can reasonably be expected to result in the catching, taking, or harvesting of fish; or
(D) any operations at sea in support of, or in preparation for, any activity described in subparagraphs (A) through (C).
Source
- 2014–present16 U.S.C. § 1802Conservation · Definitions · as used in this chapter
The term "fishing" means—
(A) the catching, taking, or harvesting of fish;
(B) the attempted catching, taking, or harvesting of fish;
(C) any other activity which can reasonably be expected to result in the catching, taking, or harvesting of fish; or
(D) any operations at sea in support of, or in preparation for, any activity described in subparagraphs (A) through (C).
Such term does not include any scientific research activity which is conducted by a scientific research vessel.
Source
- 1994–202316 U.S.C. § 1802Conservation · Definitions · as used in this chapter
The term “fishing” means the catching, taking, or fishing for or the attempted catching, taking, or fishing for any species of fish covered by the Convention, or any activities in support thereof.
Source
- 1994–present16 U.S.C. § 971Conservation · Definitions · in this section