Order No. 05/2-17/343 of the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry “On the implementation of rule-making powers in the field of fisheries, delegated by the Cabinet of Ministers”.

This Order implements delegated rule making powers in the fisheries sector. It approves five key instruments: (i) the Procedure for organizing fishing, ichthyological monitoring and reproduction of fish stocks; (ii) the List of natural and artificial waterbodies provided for fisheries development and use for aquaculture and fishing; (iii) the Procedure for acclimatization, release, accounting, distribution of fish and stocking of fisheries waterbodies and fishing areas; (iv) the Procedure for the use of the National State Fisheries Fund; and (v) the Rules of fisheries and the list of aquatic biological resources classified as objects of commercial, recreational and sport fishing. The Order also sets publication, registration and notification duties for ministerial departments. The annexed Procedure on fishing, monitoring and reproduction defines key terms and establishes that aquatic biological resources in fisheries waterbodies are the exclusive property of the State, except for aquaculture objects introduced by users. It regulates types of fishing (commercial, scientific and control, reproduction and acclimatization, sport and recreational), allocation of quotas and limits based on scientific biological substantiation, and the role of a Fisheries Biological Expert Council. It sets conditions for granting annual fishing rights on a competitive basis, requirements for fishing vessels and gear, prohibited fishing methods, and grounds for termination of fishing rights. Detailed provisions govern ichthyological monitoring (objectives, data collection, analyses, and use of results for setting total allowable catches and conservation measures) and artificial reproduction of fish stocks, including capture of broodstock, handling of eggs and juveniles, quarantine, transport, stocking procedures, documentation and reporting, and safety rules for fishing operations. The Procedure on acclimatization and stocking regulates introduction, acclimatization and distribution of fish and aquatic invertebrates as part of measures to increase fish productivity and conserve valuable species. It defines extensive terminology, sets out forms, methods and phases of acclimatization, and requires prior scientific biological substantiation, ecological risk assessment, and approval by a Fisheries Biological Expert Council. It prohibits unauthorized introductions, releases without environmental and veterinary clearance, and stocking of new species in sensitive waterbodies such as Lake Issyk Kul. It prescribes methods for accounting eggs and juveniles, several counting techniques, mandatory primary documentation and multi party acts for releases, and long term record keeping. The Procedure on use of the State Fisheries Fund defines the composition of fisheries water bodies, categories of waterbodies, priority directions of aquaculture (pasture, pond, industrial and recreational), criteria for selecting waterbodies and sites, and technical, environmental and veterinary conditions for pasture, cage and pond aquaculture, including limits on cage loading and restrictions in water protection zones. The Fisheries Rules govern recreational and sport fishing (permitted gears, daily catch limits, ticketing, free categories, competition rules), define objects of commercial and recreational fisheries, set closed seasons, minimum sizes, prohibited gears and areas, and regulate commercial fishing rights, obligations of fisheries users, catch accounting, documentation, and liability. Enforcement is entrusted to the competent fisheries authority and environmental and veterinary services, with explicit reference to criminal and administrative liability and compensation of damage based on approved methodologies and tariffs.