The Milli Majlis (National Assembly) of Azerbaijan has adopted amendments to the laws "On State Duty" and "On Licenses and Permits" in the third reading during today's plenary session.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the new legislation establishes a state fee of 70 manats for the issuance of registration certificates for aquaculture farms in Azerbaijan.
The legislative update stems from the law "On Fisheries," which mandates that aquaculture activities in fishery water bodies must be conducted based on a "registration certificate for aquaculture farms." The introduction of this state fee is designed to partially compensate for the administrative costs associated with evaluating farm compliance, conducting expert assessments, and managing administrative procedures. Beyond cost recovery, the measure aims to ensure legal consistency and stimulate the formalization of aquaculture activities within the country.
Furthermore, the amendments to the law "On Licenses and Permits" include the addition of aquaculture farm registration certificates to the "List of permits for entrepreneurial activity." This change is intended to systematically strengthen state control over the management of aquatic bioresources. By integrating these activities into a unified regulatory framework, the government seeks to eliminate discrepancies between the legal regimes governing the exploitation of natural resources and artificial breeding.
Previously, while the use of natural bioresources in the fishing sector was strictly regulated through a permit mechanism, aquaculture activities were limited to a simple registration procedure. However, aquaculture is a complex activity involving water resource utilization, ecosystem intervention, and biological balance management. The proposed changes shift state oversight from a reactive to a preventive stage, allowing for the early identification of potential risks. This approach aligns with international best practices, particularly the principles established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
