Seitkazieva noted that despite the existence of a law on aquaculture, the necessary subordinate legislation is lacking, which creates difficulties in the legal regulation of this sector. She also mentioned that in the Issyk-Ata district, more than 100 fish farms operate without proper registration.
Director of the Department of Fisheries Jalilbek Toimatov added that a total of 1,021 fish farms have been identified across the country that operate illegally. Many entrepreneurs create ponds and dig holes without the necessary permits, after which they begin to breed fish.
Toimatov also emphasized that such farms can be legalized by following land transformation procedures and obtaining permits. In this regard, the deputy urged the responsible authorities to develop subordinate legislation that would help agricultural producers register their fish farms in accordance with the law and operate legally.
During the meeting, the committee also reviewed the draft law "On the Ratification of the Protocol Amending the Marrakech Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization." This document implies Kyrgyzstan's accession to the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and is aimed at fulfilling the internal procedures necessary for its entry into force. The agreement, adopted on June 17, 2022, at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva, is the first multilateral document with binding legal force aimed at protecting the environment and the sustainable use of marine biological resources.
The Fisheries Subsidies Agreement includes a ban on government support for illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, as well as for overfishing of fish stocks. It defines key terms related to fishing, the procedure for notifying the detention of vessels suspected of illegal activities, and regulates the work of the Committee on Fisheries Subsidies.
After discussing the draft law, the committee decided to approve it in the first reading.
