Decree No. 20 of 1978 to regulate fishing in the territorial waters and the inner waters of Svalbard.

This Decree confers upon the authority to the Department of Fisheries, in relation with the territorial and inner waters of Svalbard, to: prohibit fishing in order to protect young fish and fish stock; regulate the use of gear and the minimum size of fish; to fix yearly total allowable catch for a specific fish species etc. The prohibition of fishing may be given for the whole year or part of a year. Offences against provisions issued by the Department of Fisheries shall be punished in accordance with section 4 of the Svalbard Act of 1925.