Decree No. (124) of 1983

Issuing a Law Concerning Fishing and Aquatic Life

And Regulating Fish Farms (41)

In the Name of the People

President of the Republic

The People's Assembly has enacted the following law, which we hereby promulgate:

(Article 1)

The provisions of the accompanying law concerning fishing and aquatic life and regulating fish farms shall be implemented.

(Article 2)

Law No. 144 of 1960 concerning fishing is hereby repealed. Existing decrees and regulations shall remain in force insofar as they do not conflict with the provisions of this law until the executive regulations and implementing decrees are issued.

(Article 3)

The General Authority for the Development of Fish Resources shall be the administrative body responsible for implementing the provisions of this law. This Authority shall be affiliated with the Minister of Agriculture.

(Article 4)

This law shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall enter into force on the day following its publication, with the exception of Article 6, whose provisions shall enter into force one year after the date of its entry into force.

This law is sealed with the State Seal and shall be implemented as one of its laws. Issued by the Presidency of the Republic on 9 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1403 (18 August 1983).

Fishing and Aquatic Life Law

And the Regulation of Fish Farms

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Chapter One

Regulation of Fishing

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Section One

General Provisions

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Article 1 - The following terms shall have the meanings assigned to them below for the purposes of this law and its implementing regulations:

Marine Waters: The territorial waters of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Inland Waters: The course of the Nile River, canals, irrigation ditches, public drains, ponds, and marshes owned by the State.

Lakes: Bodies of water covered with salt or fresh water connected to seawater or inland waters, and any artificial lakes.

At the Waterway: The points where the sea and lakes connect to inland waterways.

Vessel: Any floating vessel used for fishing, whether powered by a motor, sail, or other means. Vessel Captain: The person responsible for managing and operating the vessel.

Fisherman: Anyone who practices fishing, whether on foot or from a vessel.

Vessel Crew: All individuals working on the vessel.

Aquatic Weeds: Seaweed floating or attached to rocks or washed ashore.

Aquatic Plants: Reeds, papyrus, and water grasses.

Water Pollution: Changes in the natural, chemical, and biological properties of water resulting from the dumping or leakage of foreign substances such as oils and their derivatives, organic and inorganic chemical waste, pesticides, or sewage into Egyptian waters, which leads to damage to aquatic resources or public health.

Gap Size: The number of mesh sizes in a net per fifty centimeters of length.

Fishing Permit: The card issued by the licensing authority to the vessel owner, the fisherman, or other crew members.

License: A written permit, on the specific form issued by the competent administrative authority, authorizing a vessel to fish in a particular area, or authorizing land-based fishing or the hunting of waterfowl, as determined by a decision of the Minister of Agriculture. Regarding fish farms, this refers to the written license for establishing the fish farm, issued by the Ministry of Agriculture on the specific form defined by the executive regulations.

A strait is any natural or artificial opening connecting the sea and a lake.

Article 2: Every fishing vessel must be numbered on both sides by the General Authority for Fish Resources Development before commencing fishing. The number and mark must indicate the vessel's class and the area in which it is authorized to fish. The number and mark must also be displayed on both sides of the vessel's sail, according to the procedures and forms specified by a decision of the Minister of Agriculture. These numbers must be kept clear and may not be erased, concealed, defaced, or altered. The vessel owner must request the General Authority for Fish Resources Development to renew them whenever they become erased.

Article 3: The vessel owner may not alter the vessel's features or dimensions without the approval of the General Authority for Fish Resources Development. Article 4 – The following must be observed when operating a vessel:

(a) Lighting at night in accordance with navigation laws and specifications determined by a decision of the Minister of Agriculture.

(b) Avoiding prohibited waterways and areas specified in notices issued by a decision of the Minister of Agriculture.

Article 5 – A vessel may not be sent or operated in areas where fishing is prohibited except in emergency situations resulting from weather conditions or vessel malfunction.

Article 6 – Only those holding a certificate from the Ports and Lighthouses Authority proving their suitability for this purpose, and from the General Authority for River Transport for inland fishing, may operate a fishing vessel.

Article 7 – Fishing is prohibited in areas where fishing is prohibited, using prohibited gear, and during fishing bans determined by a decision of the Minister of Agriculture.

Article 8 – A vessel engaged in fishing may not be sent out to fish in areas other than those for which it is licensed, nor may it fish using unlicensed methods without the approval of the General Authority for Fish Resources Development. Article 9 - It is prohibited to have on board any unlicensed nets, equipment, or tools, or to possess any equipment or tools in or near fishing areas.

Article 10 - It is prohibited to catch, sell, or possess fish or other aquatic organisms, whether fresh, dried, or salted, that are smaller than the lengths or sizes specified by a decision of the Minister of Agriculture. Grinding fish of any size is prohibited except with a permit from the General Authority for Fish Resources Development.

Article 11 - Fishing for ornamental fish in marine waters is prohibited except with a permit from the General Authority for Fish Resources Development.

Article 12 - It is prohibited to dispose of fish within lakes and inland waters. Furthermore, it is prohibited to have any fish-weighing equipment on board any vessel, with the exception of Lake Nasser.

Article 13 - It is prohibited to fish using harmful, toxic, narcotic, or lethal substances to aquatic life, or explosives.

Fishing using barriers, basins, gillnets, slides, or any type of dam or enclosure is prohibited. Possession or use of water-lifting equipment within lakes or on their shores is also prohibited except with a permit from the General Authority for Fish Resources Development. The provisions of this article apply to fishing in waters covering privately owned lands that are connected to Egyptian waters.

Source: Cooperative Union for Aquatic Resources