Ministerial Decree No. 1480 of 1996 validating Regulation on fisheries and catch of aquatic animals.

Regulation on fisheries and catch of aquatic animals is applicable in the sphere of ensuring efficient protection, stock enhancement and rational management of fish stocks and other aquatic animals in the water bodies. The present Act covers all water bodies (territorial sea, EEZ of internal seas, rivers, lakes, ponds, water reservoirs and adjoining water) that are important for fisheries except for special purpose water bodies (effluent water storage ponds, fish farming water bodies, spawning water bodies, fish farming ponds and lakes), and water bodies of protected territories. Decisions on authorization of industrial fisheries and catch of aquatic animals and allocation of water bodies or parts of them shall be made through tenders with priorities given to specialized fisheries organizations. Total allowable catch of fishes and aquatic animals and quotas for each single water body shall be set on the basis of substantiation by scientific research organizations. Authorized fisheries organizations must keep fishing register within each fishing area, fishing vessel and show it at request, mark all fishing vessels in accordance with the established modalities, must not transfer fisheries water basins allocated to them to other organizations and must observe fisheries regulations.