President Ilham Aliyev has approved the new “Law on Fisheries,” which was adopted by the Milli Majlis on July 14.
Sea-news.az reports citing President.az, that the document establishes the legal framework for the organization, management, enhancement, utilization, and protection of fisheries, including the harvesting of fish and other aquatic bioresources and aquaculture in Azerbaijan.
- Regulatory Foundation: The fisheries legislation is based on the Constitution, international treaties to which the country is a party, the Water Code, and laws concerning food safety, wildlife, pedigree animal breeding, veterinary medicine, sanitary and epidemiological well-being, and other normative legal acts.
- Related Relations: Water, land, property, environmental protection, and the management of minimum quality and safety standards for fish products are regulated by relevant normative legal acts, taking into account the requirements of this Law.
- Caspian Sea Sector: The organization, enhancement, utilization, and protection of fisheries and aquatic bioresources in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea are regulated by this Law, water legislation, international treaties, and other norms of international law.
- Border Water Bodies: Activities in border water bodies are regulated by this Law in conjunction with water and state border legislation, as well as applicable international agreements.
- Alat Free Economic Zone: Fisheries relations within the Alat Free Economic Zone are governed according to the requirements of the “Law on the Alat Free Economic Zone.”
Individuals who violate the requirements of the law will bear liability in cases stipulated by legislation. Upon the entry into force of this new law, the previous “Law on Fisheries” dated March 27, 1998, is officially repealed.
