Legal Definitions - landing law

A "landing law" is a legal regulation that prohibits the possession, transportation, or sale of fish or game that has been acquired through illegal means. These laws are a critical tool in wildlife conservation, making it unlawful to handle or profit from animals caught or hunted in violation of established rules, such as those related to hunting seasons, fishing quotas, permitted methods, or protected species. The term emphasizes the point at which illegally obtained wildlife might be brought into a regulated area or market.

• Example 1: Exceeding Fishing Quotas

  Imagine a commercial fishing vessel that, during a single outing, catches significantly more tuna than its government-issued quota allows for that specific period. Even if the excess fish were caught far out at sea, a landing law would make it illegal for the vessel to bring those extra tuna to port, possess them once docked, or attempt to sell them to a seafood distributor. This law targets the possession and sale of the fish that were legally caught but illegally retained beyond the permitted limit.

• Example 2: Hunting Out of Season

  Consider a hunter who shoots a wild turkey several weeks before the official start of the hunting season for that species. A landing law would prohibit this individual from transporting the turkey carcass back to their home, processing it for personal consumption, or attempting to sell the meat to a local restaurant. The law ensures that even if the act of hunting occurred in a remote area, the subsequent handling and use of the illegally taken game are also punishable offenses, reinforcing the seasonal restrictions.

• Example 3: Trafficking Protected Wildlife

  Suppose an individual attempts to sell exotic bird feathers online, unaware that the feathers belong to a species protected under national wildlife laws, and that the bird was illegally poached. A landing law would make it illegal for this individual to possess these feathers, transport them across state lines, or offer them for sale, regardless of whether they were personally involved in the poaching. This demonstrates how the law prevents the creation of a market for, and the distribution of, wildlife obtained in violation of conservation laws, particularly those protecting endangered or vulnerable species.