President Ilham Aliyev approves Law on Fisheries in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has approved the Law on Fisheries adopted by the Milli Majlis (Parliament) on July 14.

According to Report, the document establishes the legal framework for fisheries in Azerbaijan, including the organization and management of fishing and aquaculture, the reproduction, use, and protection of fish and other aquatic bioresources.

The legislation on fisheries also derives from the Constitution, international treaties to which the country is a party, the Water Code, and laws such as On Food Safety, On Wildlife, On Breeding Animal Husbandry, On Veterinary Medicine, On Sanitary and Epidemiological Well-being, as well as other normative legal acts.

Relations concerning the organization of fisheries, reproduction, use, and protection of fish and aquatic bioresources – including water, land, property, environmental protection, and the management of minimum quality and safety of fish products – are regulated by relevant legal acts in line with the requirements of this Law.

In the Caspian Sea (lake), within the section belonging to Azerbaijan, fisheries and the reproduction, use, and protection of aquatic bioresources are regulated by this Law, water legislation, international treaties to which the country is a party, and other international legal norms.

In border water bodies, fisheries and related activities are regulated by this Law, water and state border legislation, and international treaties to which Azerbaijan is a party.

In the Alat Free Economic Zone, relations in the field of fisheries are regulated in accordance with the requirements of the Law on the Alat Free Economic Zone.

Persons who violate the requirements of the Law bear responsibility in cases stipulated by legislation.

With the entry into force of this Law, the Law on Fisheries dated March 27, 1998, is repealed.