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Protection and development of marine resources (Federal Law No. 23 of 1999).

Country/Territory
United Arab Emirates
Document type
Legislation
Date
1999
Source
FAO, FAOLEX
Subject
Food & nutrition, Fisheries, Sea, Water, Wild species & ecosystems
Keyword
Basic legislation Registration Processing/handling Fishing vessel Protected fishing area International trade Offences/penalties Subsidy/incentive Fishing authorization Fishery management and conservation Authorization/permit Internal trade Animal reproduction Aquaculture Aquatic animals Crustaceans Fishing gear/fishing method Seasons Marine fishes Marine mammals Fish products Hygiene/sanitary procedures Research Transport/storage Artisanal fishing Royalties/fees Vending Food quality control/food safety Marine area Protection of environment Sustainable use Recycling/reuse Molluscs Turtles Aquatic plants
Geographical area
Middle East, Near East and North Africa, Persian Gulf
Entry into force notes
This Law enters into force 6 months after its publication in the Official Gazette.
Abstract

This Law is composed of 10 Chapters divided into 64 articles. Article 1 deals with terms and definition. Chapter I regulates fishing profession and fishing trade, including licenses issued by the Competent Authority and the general register established at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for enrollment of the fishing trade practitioners. Chapter II provides for the following matters: registration measures; establishment of a committee in all emirates called "the Fishing Regulating Committee"; its competence and task: (i) ascertaining the conformity of the particulars in the application for entering into the Register; (ii) examining the boat owned by the applicant for registering and writing down its own particulars; and the registration of fishermen and fishing vessels. Chapter III deals with fishing vessel licenses (use, validity, renewal). Chapter IV pertains to the protection and development: prohibited fishing grounds, banned fishing gear or equipment either in specific times or specific species, rules in fertilization or reproduction seasons, the establishment of farms of aquatic organisms, prohibited fishing gears, set up of artificial coral reefs, protected animal species such as turtles, whales, sea cows, and other sea mammal, permits to extract oysters and sponges. In order to protect the water environment, article 33, on giving license for establishing aquatic organism breeding farms, provides the following (i) disallowing the use of fresh water for breeding aquatic organism unless the applied rule approves such kind of water firstly for rearing aquatic organism and then for agriculture in order to optimally use freshwater sources through the systems of reusing the same waters on the soil; (ii) disallowing the establishment of aquatic organism firms on beaches, bays, creeks, gulfs, and islands where mangrove trees are present; (iii) in case of use of floating marine cages, the competent authority shall determine number and sizes of such cages; (iv) presenting economical and technical feasibility study of the project with all the requested specifications. Chapter V provides for fish circulation, processing and marketing: equipment of fishing boats, hygienic and trade conditions, health standards to be considered in processing and drying living aquatic wealth prior to the marketing, permits for ships of scientific research, and marine surveys ships. Article 40 prohibits foreign ships to fish living aquatic wealth in fishing waters in the country. Chapter VI refers to grants and loans for fishermen and establishes that the Ministry will give out grants, loans, and services to the fishermen who practice or desire to practice the fishing trade, and the priority will be for those who had fishing as their unique trade, their source of sustenance, and carry on it by themselves (art.42). Chapter VII deals with the exportation of living aquatic resources. categories permitted to export the living aquatic wealth caught in the fishing waters are (i) cooperative societies of the fishermen; (ii) national fishermen who own fishing boats and depend on the fishing trade as their essential source of sustenance; and (iii) persons, companies and authorities who carry on fish farming activities concerning the fish extracted from the fish farms. The Chapter deals also with fish exporter card and certificates of origin. Chapter VIII deals with the introduction and re-exportation of the living aquatic resources. Chapter IX contains offences and penalties. Chapter X contains general and final provisions, including fees, boats owned by the scientific research bodies, fishing and diving for hobbyists.

Full text
English/Arabic
Website
www.ead.ae

References - Legislation

Implemented by

Ministerial Resolution No. 302 of 2001 issuing the Implementing Regulation for Federal Law No. 23 of 1999 on the exploitation, protection and development of living aquatic resources in the United Arab Emirates.

Legislation | United Arab Emirates | 2001

Keyword: Marine fisheries, Fishery management and conservation, Aquatic animals, Credit, Fishing gear/fishing method, Fishing vessel, International trade, Mariculture, Processing/handling, Registration, Seasons, Size, Fishing authorization, Authorization/permit

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Ministerial Resolution No. 198 of 2015 banning Longtail silver-biddy fish (al Badah) hunting and trading in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Legislation | United Arab Emirates | 2015

Keyword: Marine fisheries, Seasons, Fishery management and conservation, Internal trade, Offences/penalties

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Ministerial Resolution No.135 of 2017 on the prevention of fishing and marketing of silver-biddy fish (al Badah) in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Legislation | United Arab Emirates | 2017

Keyword: Marine fisheries, Fishery management and conservation, Protection of species, Seasons, Mesh, Fishing area, Fishing gear/fishing method, Marine fishes

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Ministerial Resolution No.21 of 2018 regarding the Executive Regulations of Federal Law No.23 of 1999 regarding the exploitation, protection and development of living water resources in the United Arab Emirates and its amendment.

Legislation | United Arab Emirates | 2018

Keyword: Aquaculture, Aquatic animals, Authorization/permit, Data collection/reporting, Equipment, Fish products, Fishery management and conservation, Fishing area, Fishing authorization, Fishing gear/fishing method, Fishing vessel, International trade, Marine fisheries, Transport/storage

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Ministerial Resolution No.43 of 2019 regulating shark fishing and trade.

Legislation | United Arab Emirates | 2019

Keyword: Cartilaginous fishes, Fishery management and conservation, Fishing authorization, Fishing gear/fishing method, Fishing vessel, Protection of environment, Protection of species, Seasons, International trade, Research, Marine fisheries, Authorization/permit

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Amended by

Federal Law No.7 of 2016 amending some provisions of Federal Law No.23 of 1999 regarding the exploitation, protection and development of living aquatic resources in the United Arab Emirates.

Legislation | United Arab Emirates | 2016

Keyword: Fishing vessel, Registration, Authorization/permit, Fishing area, Institution, Protection of environment, Fishery management and conservation

Source: FAO, FAOLEX