---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 10602"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "10602"
heading: "Recovery of wages and shares of fish under agreement"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/10602"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part G — Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief"
  - "Chapter 106 — Fishing Voyages"
---

# §10602. Recovery of wages and shares of fish under agreement

- (a) When [fish](/usc/46/2101.md?p=11) caught under an agreement under [section 10601 of this title](/usc/46/10601.md) are delivered to the [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2) of the [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) for processing and are sold, the [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) is liable in rem for the wages and shares of the proceeds of the seamen. An action under this section must be brought within six months after the sale of the [fish](/usc/46/2101.md?p=11).
- (b)
  - (1) In an action under this section, the [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2) shall produce an accounting of the sale and division of proceeds under the agreement. If the [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2) fails to produce the accounting, the [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) is liable for the highest value alleged for the shares.
  - (2) The [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2) may offset the value of general supplies provided for the voyage and other supplies provided the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) bringing the action.
- (c) This section does not affect a common law right of a [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) to bring an action to recover the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3)’s share of the [fish](/usc/46/2101.md?p=11) or proceeds.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–424, § 6(a), Sept. 9, 1988, 102 Stat. 1592.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 10602 | 46:533, 534 |