Presidential Decree No. 1639 implementing Act No. 963 of 14 July 1965, regulating sea fishing.

The Regulation is divided into 5 Titles and 156 articles. Title I is divided into 3 chapters concerning the definitions of fishery products, fishing gear, nets, hook gear, other devices and apparatus for fishing, vessels for commercial fishing, types of commercial fishing and fishing installations. It establishes the powers and functioning of the central and local advisory commissions for sea fishing and deals further with research activities. Art. 9, in regard to the types of professional fisheries lists: coastal fishery (divided into local fishing and close-range fishing), Mediterranean or deep-sea fishery, fisheries beyond the Straits or oceanic inshore fisheries. The Art. then specifies that local fisheries is carried out in sea waters up to a distance of six miles from the coast, with or without fourth category fishing vessels, or from land, Deep sea fishery is carried out in the waters of the sea Mediterranean, with fishing vessels of not less than the second category, and Ocean fishery is carried out beyond the Straits, with first-class vessels.
Title II concerns the commercial fisheries; it sets procedures to be followed and the conditions for the registration in the register of fishermen, the requirements for obtaining qualifications or skills, and provisions in matter of issue, possession and withdrawal of the Certificate of Registration. Chapter 2 makes provisions for the registration of fishing enterprises.
Title III is devoted to fishing rules. It states the minimum size for fish, crustaceans, bivalve molluscs, measurement procedures (chap. 1). Further provisions concern restrictions on the use of fishing gear and special regulations in respect of nets. Articles 123-144 deal with special fisheries, i.e. coral, fry, underwater, mollusc fishing, as well as recreational fisheries
Title IV. concerns the waste disposal matters and prohibits disposal of waste from any industrial operation or public facilities in sea waters, unless authorized by the Chief of the Marine District and sets out the procedures for the issuance of such authorization (arts. 145-153). Title V makes provisions regarding legal proceedings and enforcement.