In the new draft law “On Fisheries,” approved in its first reading at the meeting of the Parliament’s (Milli Majlis) Committee on Agrarian Policy, the powers of the relevant body that will exercise control over fishing entities and water areas in Azerbaijan are being expanded.
According to sea-news.az under the document, 18 different state control measures will be implemented in the sector by the body designated by the relevant executive authority.
Main Directions of State Control
According to the new regulatory mechanism to be established, the following have been included in the state control measures:
- Detention and inspection of vessels: Detaining vessels engaged in illegal fishing, directing them to designated locations, and conducting unobstructed inspections of vessels, vehicles, fishing permits, and gear;
- Quota and origin control: Verifying the compliance of caught fish with quotas, and cross-checking accompanying documents regarding the origin, species, quantity, and weight of fish products sold in markets with the actual situation;
- Aquaculture and pond control: Verifying the compliance of artificial fish breeding farms (aquaculture) with the Biotechnological Project Document, and supervising the draining and filling of ponds, as well as the removal of land resources;
- Prohibitions and consents in water bodies: Granting official consent for cutting off water flows in rivers and canals, releasing water from reservoirs, constructing dams in spawning grounds, and commissioning water management facilities;
- International trade (CITES): Providing special permits (certificates) for the international trade (import, export, re-export) of endangered species of wild fauna and flora;
- Mandatory instructions: Issuing official instructions, the execution of which is mandatory, to fishing entities for the elimination of legal violations.
Protection Officers Granted the Right to Use Service Weapons and Physical Force
The safety and operational capabilities of employees exercising state control are specifically highlighted in the draft law. Accordingly, employees of the relevant body will be provided with special uniforms, insignia, special equipment, service weapons, and ammunition. Designated officials from the body’s established list will be authorized to use physical force, special equipment, and service weapons against individuals engaged in illegal fishing in cases prescribed by legislation.
Furthermore, the relevant control body is granted the right to purchase, lease, or acquire for free use specialized vessels, passenger cars, and other technical vehicles to conduct raids in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea and internal water basins.
Rights of Entrepreneurs and the Digital Cadastre System
The interests of entrepreneurial entities are also taken into detailed consideration in the document. All inspections to be carried out in the fishing sector will be executed in accordance with the requirements of the Law “On Regulation of Inspections Conducted in the Field of Entrepreneurship and Protection of Interests of Entrepreneurs.”
At the same time, all personal and commercial data regarding fishing entities, vessels, gear, and infrastructure will be collected in the body’s unified information system. To ensure the completeness of data on fishing water bodies and fishery areas, this system will be integrated with the state land cadastre and state real estate registry systems.
