The Agrarian Policy Committee of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) discussed a new draft law on "Fishing" during its session today.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the document establishes the legal framework for organizing, managing, increasing, utilizing, and protecting fishing activities, including the harvesting of fish and other aquatic bioresources, as well as aquaculture in Azerbaijan.
The legislation on fishing is integrated with the Constitution, international treaties to which Azerbaijan is a party, the Water Code, and various laws, including those on "Food Safety," "Animal World," "Breeding Livestock," "Veterinary Medicine," and "Sanitary-Epidemiological Welfare."
The regulation of water, land, property, environmental protection, and the management of minimum quality and safety standards for fish products will be governed by this law in conjunction with other relevant normative legal acts. For the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, fishing activities and the protection of aquatic bioresources will be managed under this law, alongside water legislation and international legal norms.
Furthermore, the draft law specifies that fishing activities in border water bodies will be regulated by this law in coordination with legislation on water and state borders, as well as relevant international agreements. Relations regarding fishing within the Alat Free Economic Zone will be governed by the "Law on the Alat Free Economic Zone."
The draft law introduces accountability measures for individuals who violate its provisions. Upon the entry into force of this new legislation, the previous "Law on Fishing" dated March 27, 1998, will be repealed.
This legislative update reflects Azerbaijan's ongoing efforts to modernize its regulatory framework for environmental protection and sustainable resource management, ensuring that industrial fishing practices align with contemporary ecological standards and food safety requirements.
