Decree No. 28/2012 establishing the General Regulation on Fisheries and Halieutic Resources.

This Decree approves the General Regulation on Fisheries. This Regulation, consisting of 40 articles and 5 Annexes, establishes the requirements to be satisfied in order to perform fishing activity within the waters under Sao Tomean jurisdiction according to Law on Fisheries No. 9/2001 of 31 December 2001. In particular it regulates the following sectors: subsistence fishing, commercial fishing, artisanal fishing, semi-industrial, industrial and sport fishing and also for research and scientific purposes. It also provides for fishing taxes, administrative proceedings to obtain fishing licence, specifies the type of licence, the prohibition, the legal regime and sanctions for illegal fishing activities. It defines fishing gear and methods, competent authority to perform inspections and to issue fishing permits, local partners' committees, protective fishing measures to protect aquatic species, artisanal and industrial fishing vessels' requirements to obtain a fishing permit, registration and activities related to fisheries. Annexes list: forms for applying for fishing licence, vessels’ identification markings, authorized fish species, size and allowed quantity caught.