Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China (Revised in 2025)
Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China (Revised in 2025)
Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China (Revised in 2025)
Order of the President of the People's Republic of China No. 63
December 27, 2025
The Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China, revised and adopted at the 19th Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China on December 27, 2025, is hereby issued and shall come into force on May 1, 2026.
Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China
Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China (Revised in 2025)
(Adopted at the 14th Session of the Standing Committee of the 6th National People's Congress on January 20, 1986; amended for the first time in accordance with the Decision on Amending the Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China adopted at the 18th Session of the Standing Committee of the 9th National People's Congress on October 31, 2000; amended for the second time in accordance with the Decision on Amending the Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China adopted at the 11th Session of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress on August 28, 2004; amended for the third time in accordance with the Decision on Amending Certain Laws adopted at the 10th Session of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress on August 27, 2009; amended for the fourth time in accordance with the Decision on Amending the Marine Environment Protection Law of the People's Republic of China and Six Other Laws adopted at the 6th Session of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress on December 28, 2013; revised at the 19th Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress on December 27, 2025)
Contents
Chapter I General Provisions
Chapter II Aquaculture
Chapter III Capture Fisheries
Chapter IV Conservation of Fisheries Resources
Chapter V Supervision and Regulation
Chapter VI Legal Liability
Chapter VII Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 This Law is enacted to strengthen the conservation, development, and sustainable utilization of fisheries resources, safeguard the lawful rights and interests of fishery producers, promote high-quality development of fisheries, and meet the needs of socialist modernization and people's livelihoods.
Article 2 This Law shall apply to fisheries production activities, including the aquaculture and capture of aquatic animals and aquatic plants, as well as activities related to the conservation of fisheries resources, conducted in the inland waters, tide flats, territorial seas, exclusive economic zones, and other sea areas under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China.
Article 3 Fisheries work shall uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China, coordinate development and security, balance the conservation and sustainable utilization of fisheries resources, and uphold equal emphasis on quantity and quality, innovation-driven development, and green development.
Article 4 The State shall implement a policy for fisheries production that prioritizes aquaculture while integrating aquaculture, fishing, and processing, adopt a differentiated approach with region-specific emphases, to enhance the capacity to ensure the supply of aquatic products.
Article 5 People's Governments at or above the county level shall incorporate fisheries development into national economic and social development plans.
Article 6 The fisheries and fishery administration authority under the State Council shall be responsible for fisheries work nationwide.
Fisheries and fishery administration authorities under local people's governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for fisheries work within their respective administrative regions.
Article 7 The State shall implement unified leadership and hierarchical management for the supervision and regulation of fisheries.
Marine fisheries, except for sea areas and specific fishing grounds of fisheries resources designated by the State Council to be supervised and regulated by the fisheries and fishery administration authority under the State Council, shall be supervised and regulated by the fisheries and fishery administration authorities under the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government adjacent to such sea areas.
Fisheries in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and other water bodies shall be supervised and regulated by the fisheries and fishery administration authorities under the relevant local people's governments at or above the county level based on administrative divisions. For fisheries across administrative regions, the relevant local people's governments at or above the county level shall formulate administrative measures through consultation, or the fisheries and fishery administration authority under the people's government at the next higher level shall supervise and regulate them.
Fisheries law enforcement tasks shall be undertaken by fisheries and fishery administration authorities under people's governments at or above the county level or by law enforcement agencies designated by people's governments at or above the county level (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Fisheries Law Enforcement Agencies").
Article 8 The State encourages and supports research and development in fisheries science and technology and the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, strengthens monitoring and assessment of fisheries resources and the environment, promotes excellent aquatic product varieties, advanced technologies, and new types of facilities and equipment, and improves the level of fisheries science and technology.
Article 9 People's governments at or above the county level shall, in accordance with relevant regulations, provide support for employment and entrepreneurship, social assistance, and other services for fishermen transitioning to other business or industries, strengthen vocational skills training, and protect their social security rights and interests in accordance with the law.
Article 10 Entities engaged in fisheries production shall comply with laws, regulations, and relevant State provisions, establish and improve work safety rules and regulations, strengthen work safety education, training, and management, and enhance work safety levels.
Article 11 Fishery producers may voluntarily establish industry associations in accordance with the law, which may provide their members with services in production, marketing, information, technology, training, and consultation, play a role in coordination and self-regulation, and safeguard the lawful rights and interests of their members and the industry.
The State encourages the development of various forms of fisheries insurance, such as mutual fisheries insurance, to enhance the risk resilience of fisheries production.
Article 12 The State encourages international exchange and cooperation in fisheries, actively participates in international fisheries governance, and promotes the scientific conservation and sustainable utilization of global fisheries resources.
Article 13 Foreigners and foreign-flag fishing vessels entering the waters under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China to engage in fisheries production or fisheries resource survey activities shall obtain approval from the relevant authority under the State Council and comply with this Law and other relevant laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China; where treaties or agreements concluded or acceded to by the People's Republic of China provide otherwise, such treaties or agreements shall apply.
The fisheries and fishery administration authority under the State Council shall exercise externally the powers of supervision and administration over fisheries and fishing ports.
Article 14 Entities and individuals that have made outstanding achievements in the conservation of fisheries resources, development of fisheries production, research and development in fisheries science and technology, transformation of achievements, or inheritance of fisheries culture shall be commended and rewarded in accordance with relevant regulations of the State.
Chapter II Aquaculture
Article 15 The State encourages entities and individuals to scientifically and rationally utilize water areas and tide flats suitable for aquaculture to develop the aquaculture industry, and supports aquaculture models that are resource-saving, environmentally friendly, and quality-assured.
The State encourages the lawful development of green and ecological stock enhancement and aquaculture in marine areas, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and other water bodies, the development of deep-sea and distant-sea aquaculture, and international aquaculture cooperation.
Article 16 The State shall conduct unified planning for the utilization of water areas and tide flats, designate water areas and tide flats that can be used for aquaculture, and establish a system for the protection of aquaculture water areas and tide flats.
Local people's governments at or above the county level shall organize the preparation and implementation of plans for aquaculture water areas and tide flats as needed, and reasonably designate aquaculture zones and restricted aquaculture zones. Such plans shall comply with territorial spatial plans, integrated watershed planning, and be aligned with flood control plans, marine traffic resource planning, ecological environment protection plans, and other relevant plans.
It is prohibited to conduct aquaculture in ports, waterways, marine safe operation zones, and other areas where aquaculture is prohibited by laws or administrative regulations.
Article 17 Entities and individuals using state-owned water areas and tide flats for aquaculture production shall apply to the fisheries and fishery administration authorities under the local people's government at or above the county level. The people's government at the corresponding level shall issue aquaculture permits, reasonably determine the aquaculture period, and grant permission to use the water areas and tide flats for aquaculture production. The specific measures for issuing aquaculture permits shall be prescribed by the State Council.
When issuing aquaculture permits, local people's governments at or above the county level shall give priority to arranging local fishery producers falling any of the following circumstances to engage in aquaculture production:
(1) Those who rely on aquaculture production in water areas or tide flats as their primary means of livelihood;
(2) Those who shift from fishing to aquaculture, due to adjustments in the structure of the fisheries industry;
(3) Those who, due to adjustments to aquaculture waters and tidal flats plans, need to be otherwise arranged with waters or tidal flats for aquaculture production; or
(4) Other circumstances provided by laws and regulations.
Water areas and tide flats under collective ownership or State ownership used by rural collective economic organizations may be contracted to individuals or entities for aquaculture production in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
Article 18 Any disputes arising from the use of water areas and tide flats for aquaculture production by entities and individuals shall be handled in accordance with relevant laws. Before the dispute is resolved, neither party shall disrupt aquaculture production.
Article 19 Where local people's governments at or above the county level change or revoke aquaculture permits in accordance with the law for public interest purposes, they shall provide fair and reasonable compensation for any property losses caused to entities or individuals.
The requisition of collectively owned water areas and tide flats shall be handled in accordance with relevant laws and administrative regulations on land administration.
Article 20 Local people's governments at or above the county level shall take measures to strengthen the protection of aquatic product production bases and important aquaculture water areas and tide flats.
Article 21 Fisheries and fishery administration authorities under people's governments at or above the provincial level shall, based on the need for the conservation of aquatic germplasm resources, designate germplasm conservation farms and strengthen the conservation of original aquatic species and excellent varieties.
Article 22 The State encourages and supports the breeding selection, cultivation, and promotion of superior aquatic varieties.
New aquatic product varieties shall be subject to examination and approval by the National Aquatic Products Variety Approval Committee and may be promoted after being announced by the fisheries and fishery administration authority under the State Council.
......
Order of the President of the People's Republic of China No. 63
December 27, 2025
The Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China, revised and adopted at the 19th Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China on December 27, 2025, is hereby issued and shall come into force on May 1, 2026.
Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China
Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China (Revised in 2025)
(Adopted at the 14th Session of the Standing Committee of the 6th National People's Congress on January 20, 1986; amended for the first time in accordance with the Decision on Amending the Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China adopted at the 18th Session of the Standing Committee of the 9th National People's Congress on October 31, 2000; amended for the second time in accordance with the Decision on Amending the Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China adopted at the 11th Session of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress on August 28, 2004; amended for the third time in accordance with the Decision on Amending Certain Laws adopted at the 10th Session of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress on August 27, 2009; amended for the fourth time in accordance with the Decision on Amending the Marine Environment Protection Law of the People's Republic of China and Six Other Laws adopted at the 6th Session of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress on December 28, 2013; revised at the 19th Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress on December 27, 2025)
Contents
Chapter I General Provisions
Chapter II Aquaculture
Chapter III Capture Fisheries
Chapter IV Conservation of Fisheries Resources
Chapter V Supervision and Regulation
Chapter VI Legal Liability
Chapter VII Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 This Law is enacted to strengthen the conservation, development, and sustainable utilization of fisheries resources, safeguard the lawful rights and interests of fishery producers, promote high-quality development of fisheries, and meet the needs of socialist modernization and people's livelihoods.
Article 2 This Law shall apply to fisheries production activities, including the aquaculture and capture of aquatic animals and aquatic plants, as well as activities related to the conservation of fisheries resources, conducted in the inland waters, tide flats, territorial seas, exclusive economic zones, and other sea areas under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China.
Article 3 Fisheries work shall uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China, coordinate development and security, balance the conservation and sustainable utilization of fisheries resources, and uphold equal emphasis on quantity and quality, innovation-driven development, and green development.
Article 4 The State shall implement a policy for fisheries production that prioritizes aquaculture while integrating aquaculture, fishing, and processing, adopt a differentiated approach with region-specific emphases, to enhance the capacity to ensure the supply of aquatic products.
Article 5 People's Governments at or above the county level shall incorporate fisheries development into national economic and social development plans.
Article 6 The fisheries and fishery administration authority under the State Council shall be responsible for fisheries work nationwide.
Fisheries and fishery administration authorities under local people's governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for fisheries work within their respective administrative regions.
Article 7 The State shall implement unified leadership and hierarchical management for the supervision and regulation of fisheries.
Marine fisheries, except for sea areas and specific fishing grounds of fisheries resources designated by the State Council to be supervised and regulated by the fisheries and fishery administration authority under the State Council, shall be supervised and regulated by the fisheries and fishery administration authorities under the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government adjacent to such sea areas.
Fisheries in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and other water bodies shall be supervised and regulated by the fisheries and fishery administration authorities under the relevant local people's governments at or above the county level based on administrative divisions. For fisheries across administrative regions, the relevant local people's governments at or above the county level shall formulate administrative measures through consultation, or the fisheries and fishery administration authority under the people's government at the next higher level shall supervise and regulate them.
Fisheries law enforcement tasks shall be undertaken by fisheries and fishery administration authorities under people's governments at or above the county level or by law enforcement agencies designated by people's governments at or above the county level (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Fisheries Law Enforcement Agencies").
Article 8 The State encourages and supports research and development in fisheries science and technology and the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, strengthens monitoring and assessment of fisheries resources and the environment, promotes excellent aquatic product varieties, advanced technologies, and new types of facilities and equipment, and improves the level of fisheries science and technology.
Article 9 People's governments at or above the county level shall, in accordance with relevant regulations, provide support for employment and entrepreneurship, social assistance, and other services for fishermen transitioning to other business or industries, strengthen vocational skills training, and protect their social security rights and interests in accordance with the law.
Article 10 Entities engaged in fisheries production shall comply with laws, regulations, and relevant State provisions, establish and improve work safety rules and regulations, strengthen work safety education, training, and management, and enhance work safety levels.
Article 11 Fishery producers may voluntarily establish industry associations in accordance with the law, which may provide their members with services in production, marketing, information, technology, training, and consultation, play a role in coordination and self-regulation, and safeguard the lawful rights and interests of their members and the industry.
The State encourages the development of various forms of fisheries insurance, such as mutual fisheries insurance, to enhance the risk resilience of fisheries production.
Article 12 The State encourages international exchange and cooperation in fisheries, actively participates in international fisheries governance, and promotes the scientific conservation and sustainable utilization of global fisheries resources.
Article 13 Foreigners and foreign-flag fishing vessels entering the waters under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China to engage in fisheries production or fisheries resource survey activities shall obtain approval from the relevant authority under the State Council and comply with this Law and other relevant laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China; where treaties or agreements concluded or acceded to by the People's Republic of China provide otherwise, such treaties or agreements shall apply.
The fisheries and fishery administration authority under the State Council shall exercise externally the powers of supervision and administration over fisheries and fishing ports.
Article 14 Entities and individuals that have made outstanding achievements in the conservation of fisheries resources, development of fisheries production, research and development in fisheries science and technology, transformation of achievements, or inheritance of fisheries culture shall be commended and rewarded in accordance with relevant regulations of the State.
Chapter II Aquaculture
Article 15 The State encourages entities and individuals to scientifically and rationally utilize water areas and tide flats suitable for aquaculture to develop the aquaculture industry, and supports aquaculture models that are resource-saving, environmentally friendly, and quality-assured.
The State encourages the lawful development of green and ecological stock enhancement and aquaculture in marine areas, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and other water bodies, the development of deep-sea and distant-sea aquaculture, and international aquaculture cooperation.
Article 16 The State shall conduct unified planning for the utilization of water areas and tide flats, designate water areas and tide flats that can be used for aquaculture, and establish a system for the protection of aquaculture water areas and tide flats.
Local people's governments at or above the county level shall organize the preparation and implementation of plans for aquaculture water areas and tide flats as needed, and reasonably designate aquaculture zones and restricted aquaculture zones. Such plans shall comply with territorial spatial plans, integrated watershed planning, and be aligned with flood control plans, marine traffic resource planning, ecological environment protection plans, and other relevant plans.
It is prohibited to conduct aquaculture in ports, waterways, marine safe operation zones, and other areas where aquaculture is prohibited by laws or administrative regulations.
Article 17 Entities and individuals using state-owned water areas and tide flats for aquaculture production shall apply to the fisheries and fishery administration authorities under the local people's government at or above the county level. The people's government at the corresponding level shall issue aquaculture permits, reasonably determine the aquaculture period, and grant permission to use the water areas and tide flats for aquaculture production. The specific measures for issuing aquaculture permits shall be prescribed by the State Council.
When issuing aquaculture permits, local people's governments at or above the county level shall give priority to arranging local fishery producers falling any of the following circumstances to engage in aquaculture production:
(1) Those who rely on aquaculture production in water areas or tide flats as their primary means of livelihood;
(2) Those who shift from fishing to aquaculture, due to adjustments in the structure of the fisheries industry;
(3) Those who, due to adjustments to aquaculture waters and tidal flats plans, need to be otherwise arranged with waters or tidal flats for aquaculture production; or
(4) Other circumstances provided by laws and regulations.
Water areas and tide flats under collective ownership or State ownership used by rural collective economic organizations may be contracted to individuals or entities for aquaculture production in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
Article 18 Any disputes arising from the use of water areas and tide flats for aquaculture production by entities and individuals shall be handled in accordance with relevant laws. Before the dispute is resolved, neither party shall disrupt aquaculture production.
Article 19 Where local people's governments at or above the county level change or revoke aquaculture permits in accordance with the law for public interest purposes, they shall provide fair and reasonable compensation for any property losses caused to entities or individuals.
The requisition of collectively owned water areas and tide flats shall be handled in accordance with relevant laws and administrative regulations on land administration.
Article 20 Local people's governments at or above the county level shall take measures to strengthen the protection of aquatic product production bases and important aquaculture water areas and tide flats.
Article 21 Fisheries and fishery administration authorities under people's governments at or above the provincial level shall, based on the need for the conservation of aquatic germplasm resources, designate germplasm conservation farms and strengthen the conservation of original aquatic species and excellent varieties.
Article 22 The State encourages and supports the breeding selection, cultivation, and promotion of superior aquatic varieties.
New aquatic product varieties shall be subject to examination and approval by the National Aquatic Products Variety Approval Committee and may be promoted after being announced by the fisheries and fishery administration authority under the State Council.
......