Royal Decree No.53/81 promulgating the Law of maritime fishing and the protection of aquatic living resources.

This Law consisting of 31 articles divided in VI Parts applies at fishing waters, inland water, the seabed and its subsoil. The Law establishes a Council of Management of Marine Resources with the following tasks: formulating and monitoring the implementation of policies and mechanism pertaining to the protection, development and rational exploitation of marine resources; suggesting programs related with fishing matters; coordinating with governmental and non-governmental organizations on living aquatic resources in order to ensure the sustainability of living aquatic resources and their proper utilization; specifying the type of equipment permitted/prohibited in navigation and fishing; specifying substance harmful to the growth, reproduction and migration of living aquatic resources and banning its use; specifying protected areas and means of preserving them; specifying the locations where fishing is prohibited seasonally, the duration of seasons and the types of fish that can be caught; specifying the minimum size of fish and other living aquatic resources; specifying the quantity of living aquatic resources permitted to fish in certain seasons along with their types; passing regulations on the storage and trading of fish in order to preserve their quality; determining safety procedures for living aquatic resources along with substances strictly prohibited from being dumped at sea; specifying the general rules on the erection of factories and laboratories on locations adjacent to the sea and precautions to be taken by fishing vessels regarding the protection of living aquatic resources.
The Ministry responsible for living aquatic resources is empowered to regulate issuance of permits, imposition of fees and fees exemption, establishment of specifications and standards of fishing vessels. Permits for foreign fishing vessels are issued by the competent authority.
The Law as well prohibits: fishing during the season of fertility (determined by the Ministry); dumping harmful substances into fishing water; placement or construct barriers or obstacles which limit the free passage of living aquatic resources; uproot and exploitation of all types of aquatic grass and plants; use of nets and other fishing methods in shallow waters; use of methods and means which are harmful to the living aquatic resources or their eggs or young generation.
The Law also establishes principles of hygiene must be observed in the manufacture and marketing of aquatic living resources and import and export rules. Finally article 25 states that the concerned authority should encourage the professional fishermen, supervise their financial assistance by means of loans and equipment and organize to provide them with basic services.
The VI Parts are entitled as follows: Definitions (I); Fisheries organization (II); Protection and Development (III); Circulation, marketing and manufacture (IV); Offences and Penalties (V); and General Provisions (VI).