Article 19 of the Saudi Agriculture Law

المادة 19 من نظام الزراعة

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.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

تتولى المديرية العامة لحرس الحدود -بالتعاون مع الوزارة- مراقبة الصيادين ومعدات الصيد وطرقه، وتطبيق التعليمات التي تنظم هذا المجال، وضبط مخالفات الصيد التي يرتكبها الصيادون، ووضع الآليات اللازمة لذلك.

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 19 explained in plain English

This article identifies the field authority responsible for oversight of fishing, which is the General Directorate of Border Guard, working in cooperation with the Ministry.

Its responsibilities in this matter are:

Monitoring fishermen.
Monitoring fishing equipment and methods.
Applying the instructions that regulate fishing.
Catching fishing violations committed by fishermen.
Setting the necessary mechanisms for that.

The reason for assigning this role to the Border Guard is that fishing takes place at sea and on the coasts, areas where the Border Guard is deployed, so it is better placed for field oversight. The Ministry remains the authority that regulates live aquatic resources.

For a fisherman, the practical meaning is that the one who monitors him at sea and checks his equipment and fishing methods is the Border Guard, and that a violation of fishing instructions may be caught by it. The article does not specify the prohibited equipment or methods; that is left to the regulating instructions.

This article complements Article 18, which prohibits foreign ships from extracting live aquatic resources without a license from the Minister.

If you have a specific situation, it is best to consult a lawyer specializing in agricultural and environmental laws.

Practical example

A fisherman in Qatif went out fishing using nets suspected of violating the instructions. Border Guard patrols may monitor his equipment and fishing method, and catch the violation if it is established, in cooperation with the Ministry.

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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