Fisheries Development and Utilization Proclamation (No. 315/2003).

The objectives of this Proclamation are to conserve fish biodiversity and its environment, to avoid over-exploitation of fish resources, to increase the supply of fish of good quality and to expand the development of aquaculture.
The 21 articles of this Proclamation are divided into 4 Parts: General (1); Fisheries Resource Utilization (2); Enforcement of this Proclamation (3); Miscellaneous provisions (4).
Commercial fishing requires a legal fishing permit. Specific permits are also required for fishing in national parks or reserved fishing areas, protected fishing areas, and recreational fishing by non-nationals. The permits cannot be transferred. Fishing in an area that is subject to a concession granted under article 7 shall require a permit from the concession holder. Other provisions of article 5 concerns permits for the international trade in exotic fish, transfer of live fish, prohibition of illegal fishing methods and permits for fisheries research. Article 6 concerns regulation of aquaculture and the prevention of fish diseases. Article 8 concerns protection of the environment, whereas article 9 deals with transboundary and transregional fisheries resources. Handling, processing storage, transportation and trade of fish and fish product shall meet fish quality and trade standards and be in conformity with Regulations issued under this Proclamation (art. 10).