Governmental Decree No. 437 validating the Regulation on the procedure for management of waterbodies for fisheries.

This Regulation is developed in order to regulate relations in the field of protection and use of waterbodies for fisheries. All rivers, lakes, reservoir ponds and their secondary waters, which are used or can be used for commercial fisheries and catch of other aquatic animals and plants, or are significant for reproduction of stocks of valuable and commercial fish species are considered fishery waterbodies. Protection of fish stocks, regulation of fisheries, allocation of fishing areas, issuing of fishing permits, and control over reproduction of fish stocks shall be performed by authorized state bodies for control and regulation of the use of natural resources. Authorized state bodies for control and regulation of the use of natural resources regulation and use of natural resources are the Ministry of Environmental Protection and its local bodies. The degree of suitability, composition and properties of surface waters, used for fisheries, is determined by their compliance with the requirements and standards set forth in this Regulation. Water quality standards for reservoirs, which exclude the possibility of the violation of the normal conditions of fisheries management in surface waterbodies, are established with reference to its separate types. The first type of water use includes reservoirs used for reproduction and preservation of valuable species of fish. The second type are the reservoirs used for all other categories of fishery management. The type of fishery management of the reservoir is determined by the authorized public authorities in coordination with other bodies concerned and with the consideration of the development of fisheries and fishing in perspective. None of indicators related to the composition and properties of water in fish-protecting reservoirs must not exceed the established standards. Sports and artisanal fishing for personal consumption shall be allowed to all citizens free of charge in all waterbodies, except for nature reserves, fish hatcheries, pond and other artificial fishfarming waterbodies, with the observance of the established rules of fishing. Authorized state bodies can allot waterbodies or parts thereof for the aforesaid purposes.