Decree No. 21/2022 approving the Regulation for Inland Water Fisheries (REPAI).

This Decree approves the basic Regulation on Inland Fisheries (REPAI). The Regulation, consisting of 93 articles divided into nine Chapters and IX Annexes, specifies the requirements to be satisfied in order to perform inland fishing activities. REPAI aims to regulate Law No. 22/2013 of 1 November on the legal regime for fishing activities in continental or inland waters. The Regulation applies to: a) all national or foreign people, who carry out fishing in the inland waters of Mozambique, regardless of the fishing gear and means employees; b) fishing activities and related fishing operations carried out in inland waters; c) foreign fishing vessels sailing in the inland waters; d) fishing in inland waters carried out by Mozambican or foreign fishing vessels; and e) fishing by Mozambican fishing vessels, in the inland waters of third States, without prejudice to the legislation in force in those countries. REPAI extends to complementary fishing activities, namely ship-building and repair, fish processing, fish marketing, port services, manufacture of fishing gear and other accessories intended for fishing activities and related fishing operations.
Inland Fisheries must be carried out in compliance with the following principles: a) conservation and proper use of aquatic biological resources and their ecosystems; b) precaution; c) participatory management of fisheries resources; d) international, regional and cross-border cooperation; e) polluter pays; f) priority to nationals; and g) reciprocity in fisheries agreements and treaties with third States. Article 5.2. establishes that inland fishing is reserved for artisanal, semi-industrial, scientific research, training, experimental or demonstrative fishing, as well as recreational and sport fishing. Article 8.3. specifies that for artisanal fishing registration and licensing are mandatory into the single system of registration. The Decree is divided as follows: General provisions (Chap. I); Management of Fishing Activity (Chap. II); Planning of Fishing Activity (Chap. III); Fishing gear (Chap. IV); Fishing Vessels (Chap. V); Monitoring of Fishing Activity (Chap. VI); Conservation and Protection of Fisheries Resources (Chap. VII); Safety for Navigation and Inspection of Fishing Activity (Chap. VIII); Fees and Taxes (Chap. IX).