Order No. 1284 of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food validating the Rules of Commercial Fishing in the Black Sea Basin.

This Order is adopted under the national legal framework on fisheries and aims to ensure the rational use and protection of aquatic biological resources. The Rules establish a comprehensive regulatory system governing commercial fishing activities in the Black Sea basin and associated inland waters. The Rules shall be applicable to freshwater fishes, marine fishes, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants.
The Rules set out general provisions, including the scope of regulation, key definitions (e.g. fishing gear, spawning areas, by-catch, and minimum commercial size), and the classification of fishing methods and gear. They identify all relevant fishing areas, covering the Black Sea, connected estuaries, rivers (such as the Danube, Dniester, and Dnipro), and inland waterbodies within specified regions of Ukraine. Detailed technical requirements are provided for fishing gear, including types (trawls, nets, traps, dredges), their construction, allowable dimensions, marking, and operational use. The Rules also define conditions for fishing operations, including vessel requirements, permissible methods, and mandatory documentation.
A large part of the regulation establishes restrictions and conservation measures. These include permanent and seasonal prohibitions in specific areas, especially near critical habitats such as spawning grounds, river mouths, dams, and protected zones. The Rules impose limits on catch composition, by-catch levels, and minimum sizes of aquatic species, with detailed thresholds for numerous fish and invertebrates. Strict prohibitions apply to the capture of protected species, misuse of fishing gear, environmental pollution, and unsafe vessel operations. Additional provisions regulate monitoring, reporting, and enforcement, including the obligation to release non-target or protected species and the use of vessel tracking systems. The annex further specifies allowed species, fishing gear, areas, and seasons, ensuring a highly structured and controlled regime for commercial fishing in the Black Sea basin.