Fisheries Law (Chapter 135).

This Law, in its consolidated version consisting of 14 articles and two annexes, provides for fisheries management and conservation of fish resources and related matters. The Law defines at the outset relevant terms: fishing licence; recreational fishing licence; fishing capacity; fishing vessel; special fishing permit; Director of Merchant Shipping; income; commercial small boat; recreational fishing; shipowner; fish (any aquatic organism, including molluscs and crustaceans, but excluding sponges, corals, mammals and protected species); transshipment; vessel; territorial waters.
The provisions of the Law concern, among other things: licensing of fishing vessels (no vessel may be used for fishing unless licensed) specification of authorisations and officers in charge of exercise inspections and controls; conditions to issue fishing licences (also for inland and sport fishing), Director’s consent, different types of fishing licenses; prohibited fishing gear and practices, including the use and possession of poisonous substances; prohibition of passage in designated marine areas for fishing vessel; management of related areas by the Minister through the elaboration of a Management Plan. This Plan sets out aims and objectives related to conservation of the marine areas and includes measures required to achieve the management aims and the following objectives of the marine area: measures for protection and restoration of marine species and habitats and the biodiversity in general; prohibitions or special regulations in relation to certain activities within the marine area; operating rules within the marine area; fixing fees for entering the marine area. Other matters covered by this Law include: definition of areas and seasons within which fishing is prohibited or restricted; limiting the size of fish that may be caught, landed or sold; determining the size of the nets or the size of the loop of the nets; regulate the conservation, protection and management of any fish stock; provide for the creation of a system to monitor and control the fishing activities of vessels; register of fishing vessels. The most recent amendments concern: replacement and updating of provisions related to fishing permits and licences, fishing gears and methods; transfer of fishing licenses related to fishing vessels; replacement of article 5A of the basic Law, prohibiting certain fishing vessels from transiting in designated marine areas and providing for management of related areas; implementing article 6 of the Protocol to the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, and of that Protocol on the Sovereign Base Areas of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Cyprus; suspension of provisions due to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. Fishing without a licence is considered a penal offence (section 3).