Fisheries Act (No. 18 of 1997).

This Fisheries Act makes provisions for the management, development, protection and conservation of the fisheries and living marine resources of Nauru. The Act consists of 7 Parts, i.e. Preliminary (I); Fisheries Management (II); Monitoring and enforcement (III); Offences (IV); Dealing with offences (V); Miscellaneous (VI) and Repeal, savings and transitional (VII).
Section 2 includes a list of the definitions of the major terms used within the Act. Subject to this Act and any policy directions by the Minister the utilization, development, conservation and protection of all fish is the responsibility of the Authority (sect. 4). The Minister may prohibit fishing or fishing activity by notice in the Gazette (sect. 11). The Chief Executive of the Authority may register boats and grant certificates of registration, permits and licences to engage in fishing activities (sect. 12). There are detailed provisions relating to breaches of fishing prohibitions (sect. 22). Driftnet fishing or its assistance in prohibited in fisheries waters (sect. 25).