After 46 years, Ecuador has a new Fishing Law

The plenary session of the National Assembly unanimously approved the draft Law on the Development of Aquaculture and Fisheries with 109 affirmative votes, which will allow Ecuador to be competitive internationally, especially in compliance with the requirements of the European Union, especially in matters of control of illegal fishing.

After 46 years, Ecuador has a new Fishing Law

The second debate involved 38 legislators, plus 12 representatives of aquaculture producers and fishermen, including those from the artisanal sector, as well as delegates from the Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investments and Fisheries.

The regulations establish the legal framework for the promotion and development of these activities, in the phases of extraction, collection, reproduction, breeding, cultivation, processing, storage, distribution, internal and external marketing, in short, the exploitation and rational use of hydrobiological resources

The president of the Committee on Food Sovereignty, Lenin Plaza Castillo, in his capacity as rapporteur for the project, explained before the Plenary the changes included in the article, collecting most of the comments made in the debate, also made semantic corrections , for a better understanding of the texts.

“The Assembly members, the fishermen and the authorities have made a great effort to give Ecuador the best possible fishing law,” he said .

Among other issues, the creation of the Agency for Regulation and Control of the Aquaculture and Fisheries sector was eliminated and, in its place, the unity that already exists in the governing body of aquaculture and fisheries is strengthened.

The figure of the fishing mortgage is also eliminated; instead it provides that liens may be constituted with goods dedicated to fishing activity, in accordance with the provisions of the Commercial Code.

In addition, Assemblyman Plaza asked the President of the Republic to create the Ministry of Aquaculture and Fisheries.

He added that the activities of the aquaculture and fisheries sectors contribute to the strengthening and dynamism of the country’s economy, due to the important resources they generate and the social and economic benefits they report.

“It is our duty to deliver to the country a modern legal instrument according to the reality and requirements in these matters,” which supports the development of these productive sectors , strengthens the right to food, and guarantees food sovereignty, contributing in addition to achieving efficiency and efficiency in the institutional management of the State.

He added that the new law has provisions that establish a special incentive regime, in favor of the sectors with less economic and social development. “It creates mechanisms to protect and stimulate its growth.”

After the inclusions and the elimination of some norms, the bill was left with a total of 229 articles, seven transitory provisions, 14 transitory, two reformatory, two derogations and a final disposition.

With the standard, it is expected to comply with the requirements of the European Union, which imposed a yellow card on Ecuadorian tuna.

https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/economia/4/ecuador-ley-pesca