Article 17 of the Saudi Agriculture Law
المادة 17 من نظام الزراعة
The Ministry regulates live aquatic resources and fishing and production work, and may designate and regulate aquaculture project sites, regulate fishing ports, and help fishermen.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تتولى الوزارة -بالتنسيق مع الجهات ذات العلاقة- تنظيم الثروة المائية الحية، وإدارتها، وتنميتها، والإشراف والرقابة عليها، والعمل على حمايتها، وتطويرها، والاستثمار فيها، والإشراف على جميع أعمال ومنشآت الصيد والإنتاج والتربية وتنظيمها، ولها -في سبيل ذلك- ما يأتي:
1- تحديد المواقع الساحلية البحرية الصالحة لإقامة مشاريع إنتاج وتنمية الأحياء المائية.
2- تنظيم مشاريع الأحياء المائية، ووضع الخطط والبرامج لتطويرها.
3- تنظيم مرافئ الصيد، وإدارتها، واستثمارها، وذلك وفق الشروط والإجراءات التي تحددها اللائحة.
4- مساعدة الصيادين على تطوير معداتهم، وتشجيعهم على تكوين جمعيات تعاونية فيما بينهم.
5- تحديد الأنشطة المرتبطة بالثروة المائية الحية، وفق ما تبينه اللائحة.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 17 explained in plain English
This article sets out the Ministry's role regarding live aquatic resources, which under Article 1 are all kinds of living animal and plant organisms that live in water, other than wild organisms.
The Ministry, in coordination with the relevant authorities, regulates, manages, develops, supervises, protects, improves and invests in them, and supervises all fishing, production and breeding work and facilities. For that purpose it may:
- Designate the coastal marine sites suitable for establishing projects to produce and develop aquatic life.
- Regulate aquatic life projects and draw up plans and programs to develop them.
- Regulate fishing ports, and their management and investment, according to the conditions and procedures the Implementing Regulations specify.
- Help fishermen develop their equipment, and encourage them to form cooperative societies among themselves.
- Specify the activities connected with live aquatic resources, as the Implementing Regulations set out.
In practical terms, anyone who wants to establish a fish or shrimp farming project on the coast deals with the Ministry, which designates the suitable sites and regulates the projects. Fishermen also find in the article a basis for supporting them and encouraging them to organize in societies. The article does not specify the forms or amount of assistance.
It is followed by Article 18, which restricts fishing by foreign ships in the Kingdom's marine areas.
If you have a specific situation, it is best to consult a lawyer specializing in agricultural and environmental laws.
Practical example
An investor in Jeddah wants to establish a fish farming project on the coast. He deals with the Ministry, which designates the coastal sites suitable for such projects, regulates them and draws up plans to develop them.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 17 of the Saudi Agriculture Law
Who designates the sites for fish farming projects?
The Ministry designates the coastal marine sites suitable for establishing projects to produce and develop aquatic life.
Does the Ministry support fishermen?
Yes. Among its powers are helping fishermen develop their equipment and encouraging them to form cooperative societies.
More articles on Live Aquatic Resources and Fishing
- Article 18
Foreign fishing or diving ships may not extract any kind of live aquatic resource in the Kingdom's marine areas except under a license from the Minister.
لا يجوز لسفن الصيد أو الغوص الأجنبية استخراج أي نوع من الثروة المائية الحية في المناطق البحرية التابعة للمملكة إلَّا بترخيص من الوزير.
- Article 19
The General Directorate of Border Guard, in cooperation with the Ministry, monitors fishermen, their equipment and fishing methods, applies its instructions, and catches fishing violations.
تتولى المديرية العامة لحرس الحدود -بالتعاون مع الوزارة- مراقبة الصيادين ومعدات الصيد وطرقه، وتطبيق التعليمات التي تنظم هذا المجال، وضبط مخالفات الصيد التي يرتكب
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.