Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China

第一条为了加强渔业资源的保护、增殖、开发和合理利用，发展人工养殖，保障渔业生产者的合法权益，促进渔业生产的发展，适应社会主义建设和人民生活的需要，特制定本法。

Article 1. This Law is formulated for the purpose of enhancing the protection, increase, development and reasonable utilization of fishery resources, developing artificial cultivation, protecting fishery workers' lawful rights and interests and boosting fishery production, so as to meet the requirements of socialist construction and the needs of the people.

   第二条在中华人民共和国的内水、滩涂、领海以及中华人民共和国管辖的一切其他海域从事养殖和捕捞水生动物、水生植物等渔业生产活动，都必须遵守本法。

Article 2. All productive activities of fisheries, such as aquaculture and catching or harvesting of aquatic animals and plants in the inland waters, tidal flats and territorial waters of the People's Republic of China, or in other sea areas under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China, must be conducted in accordance with this Law.

   第三条国家对渔业生产实行以养殖为主，养殖、捕捞、加工并举，因地制宜，各有侧重的方针。

Article 3. In fishery production, the state shall adopt a policy that calls for simultaneous development of aquaculture, fishing and processing, with special emphasis on aquaculture and with priority given to different pursuits in accordance with local conditions.

   各级人民政府应当把渔业生产纳入国民经济发展计划，采取措施，加强水域的统一规划和综合利用。

People's governments at various levels shall include fishery production in their economic development plans and take measures to enhance the overall planning and comprehensive utilization of water areas.

   第四条国家鼓励渔业科学技术研究，推广先进技术，提高渔业科学技术水平。

Article 4. The state shall encourage research in fishery science and technology and popularization of advanced technology in order to raise the level of the country's fishery science and technology.

   第五条在增殖和保护渔业资源、发展渔业生产、进行渔业科学技术研究等方面成绩显著的单位和个人，由各级人民政府给予精神的或者物质的奖励。

Article 5. People's governments at various levels shall give moral encouragement or material awards to units and individuals who make outstanding contributions to the increase and protection of fishery resources, to development of fishery production, or to research in fishery science and technology.

   第六条国务院渔业行政主管部门主管全国的渔业工作。县级以上地方人民政府渔业行政主管部门主管本行政区域内的渔业工作。县级以上人民政府渔业行政主管部门可以在重要渔业水域、渔港设渔政监督管理机构。

Article 6. The department of fishery administration under the State Council shall be in charge of the administration of fisheries throughout the country. Departments of fishery administration under people's governments at or above the county level shall be in charge of fisheries in their respective areas. These departments shall be authorized to set up fishery superintendency agencies in important fishing areas and fishing ports.

   县级以上人民政府渔业行政主管部门及其所属的渔政监督管理机构可以设渔政检查人员。渔政检查人员执行渔业行政主管部门及其所属的渔政监督管理机构交付的任务。

Departments of fishery administration under people's governments at or above the county level and their fishery superintendency agencies may appoint fishery inspectors who will carry out assignments that those departments and agencies entrust to them.

   第七条国家对渔业的监督管理，实行统一领导、分级管理。

Article 7. State superintendence of fisheries shall operate under the principle of unified leadership and decentralized administration.

海洋渔业，除国务院划定由国务院渔业行政主管部门及其所属的渔政监督管理机构监督管理的海域和特定渔业资源渔场外，由毗邻海域的省、自治区、直辖市人民政府渔业行政主管部门监督管理。

Marine fishery shall be under the superintendence of departments of fishery administration under the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and centrally-administered municipalities contiguous to the sea, with the exception of those sea areas and fishing grounds with specially designated fishery resources that the State Council has put under direct administration of its fishery department and subordinate fishery superintendency agencies.

   江河、湖泊等水域的渔业，按照行政区划由有关县级以上人民政府渔业行政主管部门监督管理；跨行政区域的，由有关县级以上地方人民政府协商制定管理办法，或者由上一级人民政府渔业行政主管部门及其所属的渔政监督管理机构监督管理。

Fishery in rivers and lakes shall be subject to the superintendence of the departments of fishery administration under the relevant people's governments at or above the county level in accordance with administrative divisions. Fishery administration for water areas that straddle several administrative divisions shall be decided by the relevant people's governments at or above the county level through consultation or placed under departments of fishery administration of people's governments at the next higher level and their subordinate fishery superintendency agencies.

   第八条外国人、外国渔业船舶进入中华人民共和国管辖水域，从事渔业生产或者渔业资源调查活动，必须经国务院有关主管部门批准，并遵守本法和中华人民共和国其他有关法律、法规的规定；同中华人民共和国订有条约、协定的，按照条约、协定办理。

Article 8. Foreigners and foreign fishing vessels must obtain permission from the relevant department under the State Council before entering the territorial waters of the People's Republic of China to carry on fishery production or investigations of fishery resources, and must abide by this Law and other related laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China. If those persons and vessels belong to countries that have signed relevant accords or agreements with the People's Republic of China, their activities shall be conducted in accordance with those accords or agreements.

   国家渔政渔港监督管理机构对外行使渔政港监督管理权。

State fishery administration and fishing port superintendency agencies shall exercise administrative and supervisory authority over external relations pertaining to fisheries and fishing ports.

第二章养殖业

CHAPTER II AQUACULTURE

   第九条国家鼓励全民所有制单位、集体所有制单位和个人充分利用适于养殖的水面、滩涂，发展养殖业。

Article 9. The state shall encourage units under ownership by the whole people, units under collective ownership and individuals to make the best use of suitable water surfaces and tidal flats to develop aquaculture.

   第十条县级以上地方人民政府根据国家对水域利用的统一安排，可以将规划用于养殖业的全民所有的水面、滩涂，确定给全民所有制单位和集体所有制单位从事养殖生产，核发养殖使用证，确认使用权。

Article 10. In conformity with the overall arrangement made by the state for utilization of water areas, people's governments at and above the county level may assign state-owned water surfaces and tidal flats that have been designated for aquaculture to units under ownership by the whole people and units under collective ownership to develop aquaculture, and after examining their qualifications grant those units aquaculture licences to confirm their rights to the use of such water surfaces and tidal flats.

   全民所有制单位使用的水面、滩涂，集体所有的水面、滩涂和集体所有制单位使用的全民所有的水面、滩涂，可以由集体或者个人承包，从事养殖生产。

Water surfaces and tidal flats used by units under ownership by the whole people, water surfaces and tidal flats owned by collectives, and those owned by the whole people but used by units under collective ownership may all be contracted to collectives or individuals to develop aquaculture.

   水面、滩涂的所有权和使用权受法律保护，任何单位和个人不得侵犯。

Ownership and rights to the use of water surfaces and tidal flats shall be protected by law and shall not be subject to encroachment by any units or individuals.

   第十一条使用全民所有的水面、滩涂从事养殖生产，无正当理由使水面、滩涂荒芜满一年的，由发放养殖使用证的机关责令限期开发利用；逾期未开发利用的，可以吊销养殖使用证。

Article 11. If any units or individuals that use water surfaces and tidal flats owned by the whole people for aquaculture neglect them for 12 months without a proper reason, the agencies granting aquaculture licences shall order those units or individuals to develop and utilize them within a certain period of time and, if the order is not carried out within the time limit, their aquaculture licences may be revoked.

   第十二条全民所有制单位之间、集体所有制单位之间以及全民所有制单位与集体所有制单位之间的水面、滩涂所有权和使用权的争议，由当事人协商解决；协商不成的，由县级以上地方人民政府处理。当事人对有关人民政府的处理决定不服的，可以在接到通知之日起三十天内，向人民法院起诉。

Article 12. Disputes over the ownership and rights to the use of water surfaces or tidal flats that arise between units under ownership by the whole people, between units under collective ownership or between units under ownership by the whole people and units under collective ownership shall be solved through consultation between the parties concerned. If no agreement is reached through consultation, the disputes shall be handled by a people's government at or above the county level. If a party refuses to accept the decision of the people's government, it may file a suit in a people's court within 30 days after receiving notification of the decision.

   在水面、滩涂所有权和使用权的争议解决以前，任何一方不得破坏养殖生产。

Before the disputes over ownership and rights to the use of certain water surfaces or tidal flats are solved, no party may disrupt fishery production in the disputed areas.

   第十三条国家建设征用集体所有的水面、滩涂，按照《国家建设征用土地条例》的规定办理。

Article 13. Requisitioning of collectively owned water surfaces and tidal flats for state construction shall be conducted in accordance with the Regulations on Requisition of Land for State Construction.

   国家建设使用确定给全民所有制单位或者集体所有制单位用于养殖的全民所有的水面、滩涂，由建设单位给予适当补偿。

When state-owned water surfaces and tidal flats that have been allotted to units under ownership by the whole people and units under collective ownership for aquaculture are requisitioned for state construction, the construction units shall give those units appropriate compensation.

第三章捕捞业

CHAPTER III FISHING

   第十四条国家鼓励、扶持外海和远洋捕捞业的发展。合理安排内水和近海捕捞力量。

Article 14. The state shall encourage and support the development of offshore and deep sea fisheries and make rational arrangement of fishing capacity for inland and inshore fisheries.

   第十五条从事外海、远洋捕捞业，必须经国务院渔业行政主管部门批准，国家从资金、物资、技术和税收等方面给予扶持或者优惠。

Article 15. Any unit or individual that wants to engage in offshore or deep sea fishing must obtain permission from the department of fishery administration under the State Council; the state shall give support or preferential treatment in the form of funds, materials and technology, and in matters of taxation.

   第十六条从事内水、近海捕捞业，必须向渔业行政主管部门申请领取捕捞许可证。海洋大型拖网、围网作业的捕捞许可证，由国务院渔业行政主管部门批准发放。

Article 16. Any unit or individual that intends to engage in inland water or inshore fishing must first apply to departments of fishery administration for fishing licences. Licences for using large trawls and purse seines in marine fishing shall be granted upon approval by the department of fishery administration under the State Council.

其他作业的捕捞许可证，由县级以上地方人民政府渔业行政主管部门批准发放，但是，批准发放海洋作业的捕捞许可证不得超过国家下达的船网工具控制指标，具体办法由省、自治区、直辖市人民政府规定。

 Other fishing licences shall be granted upon approval by local people's governments at or above the county level, but the fishing licences for marine operations that have been issued must not allow uses of trawls and other fishing gear which exceed quotas set by the state. Concrete measures shall be worked out by the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government.

捕捞许可证不得买卖、出租和其他形式非法转让，不得涂改。

Fishing licences may not be sold, leased or transferred by other illegal means, and they may not be altered.

   第十七条在内水、近海从事捕捞业的单位和个人，必须按照捕捞许可证关于作业类型、场所、时限和渔具数量的规定进行作业，并遵守有关保护渔业资源的规定。

Article 17. Units and individuals engaging in inland water and inshore fisheries must conduct their operations in accordance with their licences concerning the types of operation, location, time limits and quantity of fishing gear, and they must also abide by the relevant regulations on protection of fishery resources.

   第十八条制造、更新改造、购置、进口的从事捕捞业的船舶经渔业船舶检验部门检验合格，方可下水作业，具体管理办法由国务院渔业行政主管部门制定。

Article 18. All fishing vessels that are built, rebuilt, purchased or imported must be examined and inspected by fishing vessel inspection agencies before they are launched for operation. Concrete administrative measures shall be formulated by the department of fishery administration under the State Council.

渔业资源的增殖和保护

CHAPTER IV INCREASE AND PROTECTION OF FISHERY RESOURCES

   第十九条县级以上人民政府渔业行政主管部门应当对其管理的渔业水域统一规划，采取措施，增殖渔业资源。县级以上人民政府渔业行政主管部门可以向受益的单位和个人征收渔业资源增殖保护费，专门用于增殖和保护渔业资源。渔业资源增殖保护费的征收办法由国务院渔业行政主管部门会同财政部门制定，报国务院批准后施行。

Article 19. Departments of fishery administration under the people's governments at and above the county level shall work out overall plans and take measures to increase fishery resources in the fishery waters under their jurisdiction. These departments may collect fees from the units and individuals profited by the use of such waters and devote the money thus collected to the increase and protection of fishery resources. The procedures for collecting such fees shall be formulated by the department of fishery administration and the department of finance under the State Council, and must be approved by the State Council before going into effect.

   第二十条禁止炸鱼、毒鱼。不得在禁渔区和禁渔期进行捕捞，不得使用禁用的渔具、捕捞方法和小于规定的最小网目尺寸的网具进行捕捞。

Article 20. Use of explosives and poisons in fishing shall be prohibited. It shall not be permitted to fish in prohibited fishing areas and during closed seasons, to fish with gear and methods banned by the fishery authority or to use fishing nets with meshes smaller than the minimum prescribed sizes.

   重点保护的渔业资源品种，禁渔区和禁渔期，禁止使用或者限制使用的渔具和捕捞方法，最小网目尺寸以及其他保护渔业资源的措施，由县级以上人民政府渔业行政主管部门规定。

Departments of fishery administration under the people's governments at or above the county level shall designate species under special protection, prohibited fishing areas and closed seasons, fishing gear and methods that are to be banned or restricted and the minimum sizes for the mesh of nets, as well as other measures for the protection of fishery resources.

   第二十一条禁止捕捞有重要经济价值的水生动物苗种。因养殖或者其他特殊需要，捕捞有重要经济价值的苗种或者禁捕的怀卵亲体的，必须经国务院渔业行政主管部门或者省、自治区、直辖市人民政府渔业行政主管部门批准，在指定的区域和时间内，按照限额捕捞。

Article 21. Catching fry of aquatic animals of important economic value shall be prohibited. Catching fry of aquatic animals of important economic value or spawning aquatic animals under protection for artificial breeding or for other special purposes must be approved by the department of fishery administration under the State Council or by departments of fishery administration under the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government, and it must be conducted in the designated areas and times and strictly in accordance with the quotas assigned.

   在水生动物苗种重点产区引水用水时，应当采取措施，保护苗种。

Measures shall be adopted to protect fry of aquatic animals when channeling or using water from water areas that specialize in producing such fry.

   第二十二条在鱼、虾、蟹洄游通道建闸、筑坝，对渔业资源有严重影响的，建设单位应当建造过鱼设施或者采取其他补救措施。

Article 22. When building sluices and dams which will have serious effects on fishery resources on the migration routes of fish, shrimp and crabs, the construction units must build fish passages or adopt other remedial measures.

   第二十三条用于渔业并兼有调蓄、灌溉等功能的水体，有关主管部门应当确定渔业生产所需的最低水位线。

Article 23. For water bodies that are used for fisheries and also serve the purposes of water storage and regulation and irrigation, the departments concerned shall fix the lowest water level required for fishery.

   第二十四条禁止围湖造田。沿海滩涂未经县级以上人民政府批准，不得围垦；重要的苗种基地和养殖场所不得围垦。

Article 24. It shall be forbidden to reclaim land from lakes. Without approval from a people's government at or above the county level, it shall not be allowed to enclose tidal flats for cultivation and no one shall be allowed to reclaim land from water areas that are used as major seedling producing centres and aquatic breeding grounds.

   第二十五条进行水下爆破、勘探、施工作业，对渔业资源有严重影响的，作业单位应当事先同有关县级以上人民政府渔业行政主管部门协商，采取措施，防止或者减少对渔业资源的损害；造成渔业资源损失的，由有关县级以上人民政府责令赔偿。

Article 25. To conduct underwater explosions, exploration and construction that may have serious effects on fishery resources, the construction units shall consult in advance with the department of fishery administration under the relevant people's government at or above the county level and take measures to prevent or minimize the damage to fishery resources. In cases any damages to fishery resources occur therefrom, the relevant people's government at or above the county level shall order the responsible party to pay compensation.

   第二十六条各级人民政府应当依照《海洋环境保护法》和《水污染防治法》的规定，采取措施，保护和改善渔业水域的生态环境，防治污染，并追究污染渔业水域的单位和个人的责任。

Article 26. In accordance with the Marine Environmental Protection Law and the Water Pollution Prevention Law, people's governments at all levels shall take measures to protect and improve the ecosystem of fishery waters, prevent pollution and investigate the responsibility of any unit or individual that pollutes the fishery waters.

   第二十七条国家规定禁止捕捞的珍贵水生动物应当予以保护；因特殊需要捕捞的，按照有关法律、法规的规定办理。

Article 27. Protection shall be provided to rare aquatic animals whose capture is banned by the state. In case there is a special need to catch them, the matter shall be handled in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations.

第五章法律责任

CHAPTER V LEGAL LIABILITY

   第二十八条炸鱼、毒鱼的，违反关于禁渔区、禁渔期的规定进行捕捞的，使用禁用的渔具、捕捞方法捕捞的，擅自捕捞国家规定禁止捕捞的珍贵水生动物的，没收渔获物和违法所得，处以罚款，并可以没收渔具，吊销捕捞许可证；情节严重的，依照《刑法》第一百二十九条的规定对个人或者单位直接责任人员追究刑事责任。

Article 28. Anyone who uses explosives or poisons in fishing, fishes in violation of the regulations on prohibited fishing areas and closed seasons, uses prohibited fishing gear and methods or catches rare aquatic animals under state protection without permission shall have his catch and unlawful income confiscated and be fined; in addition, his fishing gear may be confiscated and his fishing licence revoked. In serious cases, criminal responsibility of the individual or the persons of a unit who are directly responsible shall be investigated in accordance with Article 129 of the Criminal Law.

   第二十九条偷捕、抢夺他人养殖的水产品的，破坏他人养殖水体、养殖设施的，由渔业行政主管部门或者其所属的渔政监督管理机构责令赔偿损失，并处罚款；数额较大，情节严重的，依照《刑法》第一百五十一条或者第一百五十六条的规定对个人或者单位直接责任人员追究刑事责任。

Article 29. Anyone who poaches on or seizes others' aquatic products, or damages others' aquaculture water bodies and facilities shall be ordered by the department of fishery administration or its subordinate fishery superintendency agencies to compensate for the damages and shall be concurrently fined. In serious cases or if the damages are great, criminal responsibility of the individual or the persons of a unit who are directly responsible shall be investigated in accordance with Articles 151 and 156 of the Criminal Law.

   第三十条未按本法规定取得捕捞许可证擅自进行捕捞的，没收渔获物和违法所得，可以并处罚款；情节严重，并可以没收渔具。

Article 30. Anyone who fishes without a fishing licence obtained in accordance with this Law shall have his catches and unlawful income confiscated and may be concurrently fined. In serious cases, his fishing gear may also be confiscated.

   第三十一条违反捕捞许可证关于作业类型、场所、时限和渔具数量的规定进行捕捞的，没收渔获物和违法所得，可以并处罚款；情节严重的，并可以没收渔具，吊销捕捞许可证。

Article 31. Anyone who fishes in violation of the type of operation, location, time limit and amount of fishing gear stipulated in his licence, shall have his catches and unlawful income confiscated and a fine may be concurrently imposed. In serious cases, his fishing gear may also be confiscated and his fishing licence revoked.

   第三十二条买卖、出租或者以其他形式非法转让捕捞许可证的，没收违法所得，吊销捕捞许可证，可以并处罚款。

Article 32. Anyone who trades in, leases or transfers fishing licences by other illegal means shall have his unlawful income confiscated and his fishing licence revoked, and may be concurrently fined.

   第三十三条本法规定的行政处罚，由渔业行政主管部门或者其所属的渔政监督管理机构决定。当事人对行政处罚决定不服的，可以在接到通知之日起三十天内，向人民法院起诉；期满不起诉又不履行的由作出处罚决定的机关申请人民法院强制执行。但是，在海上作业的，必须先执行有关处罚决定。

Article 33. The administrative sanctions stipulated in this Law shall be decided by departments of fishery administration or their subordinate fishery superintendency agencies. Any party who refuses to accept the decision on an administrative sanction may file a suit in a people's court within 30 days after receiving notification of the decision. If the party neither files a suit nor complies with the decision within the time limit, the agency that made the decision shall request the people's court to compel execution of the decision. However, a party which is engaged in maritime operations must comply with the sanction before filing a suit.

   第三十四条国务院渔业行政主管部门根据本法制定实施细则，报国务院批准后施行。

Article 34. The department of fishery administration under the State Council shall, in accordance with this Law, formulate rules for its implementation, which shall go into effect after being submitted to and approved by the State Council.

   省、自治区、直辖市人民代表大会常务委员会可以根据本法及其实施细则，制定实施办法。

The standing committees of people's congresses of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government may formulate measures of implementation in accordance with this Law and the rules for its implementation.

   第三十五条本法自1986年7月1日起施行。

Article 35. This Law shall come into force as of July 1, 1986.