Article 18 of the Saudi Agriculture Law
المادة 18 من نظام الزراعة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز لسفن الصيد أو الغوص الأجنبية استخراج أي نوع من الثروة المائية الحية في المناطق البحرية التابعة للمملكة إلَّا بترخيص من الوزير.
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 18 explained in plain English
This article gives live aquatic resources special protection against foreign ships.
Who is addressed? Foreign fishing or diving ships.
What is prohibited? Extracting any kind of live aquatic resource. Under Article 1, live aquatic resources include all living animal and plant organisms that live in water, other than wild organisms. The prohibition is therefore not limited to fish.
Where? In the marine areas belonging to the Kingdom.
The exception: The prohibition is lifted by a license from the Minister himself, not from any other authority.
Note that the text puts the issuing of the license directly in the Minister's hands, which reflects the importance of the matter because it concerns national resources. Mentioning diving ships alongside fishing ships also means that extracting any live aquatic organism by diving falls within the prohibition too.
The article does not itself set the conditions for the license or the penalty for violation, so no ruling that does not appear in it should be assumed. It is followed by Article 19, which assigns to the Border Guard the monitoring of fishermen and the catching of fishing violations.
If you have a specific situation, it is best to consult a lawyer specializing in agricultural and environmental laws.
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 18 of the Saudi Agriculture Law
Can foreign ships fish in Saudi waters?
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.
Who issues the fishing license for foreign ships?
The Minister issues it, who is the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
More articles on Live Aquatic Resources and Fishing
- Article 17
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.
تتولى الوزارة -بالتنسيق مع الجهات ذات العلاقة- تنظيم الثروة المائية الحية، وإدارتها، وتنميتها، والإشراف والرقابة عليها، والعمل على حمايتها، وتطويرها، والاستثمار
- 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.