Article (13)
Publication and Entry into Force
This Resolution shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall enter into force as of the day
following its publication date.
Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Prime Minister
Issued by Us:
On: 13 Jumada I 1445 A.H.
Corresponding to: 27 November 2023 AD
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Cabinet Resolution of 2023 Concerning the Regulation of Administrative Violations and Penalties Concerning Living
Aquatic Resources and Reconciliation Thereof
7
Table Annexed to Cabinet Resolution No. (120) of 2023
Concerning the Regulation of Administrative Violations and Penalties
Concerning Living Aquatic Resources and Reconciliation Thereof
No. Violations Penalty of the
first-time
violation
Penalty of the
second time
violation
Penalty of the
third time
violation
1 The captain (nawkhadha)
violates the security
instructions issued by the
relevant security authorities
in the State, including turning
off the automatic
identification system during
navigation.
A fine of AED
1,000
A fine of AED
3,000
A fine of AED
5,000
2 Failure to number licensed
fishing tools and equipment
(nets, traps) with unified,
clear numbers matching the
vessel’s number, including
the Emirate code.
Issue a written
warning
Confiscation of
the boat license
and the
captain's card
for a period not
exceeding a
month or
conciliation with
the payment of
AED 5,000
Confiscation of
the boat license
and the
captain's card
for a period not
exceeding two
months or
conciliation with
the payment of
AED 10,000
3 Fishing small-size fish that are
below the permitted length or
exceeding the permitted
quantity, or catching marine
organisms that are
A fine of AED
1,000
A fine of AED
2,000
A fine of AED
5,000
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Cabinet Resolution of 2023 Concerning the Regulation of Administrative Violations and Penalties Concerning Living
Aquatic Resources and Reconciliation Thereof
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completely or seasonally
banned.
4 Hunting sea turtles of all
species, sizes, and ages, or
collecting their eggs,
disturbing their habitats and
breeding grounds in fishing
waters, or hunting dolphins,
whales, dugongs (sea cows),
or other marine mammals of
any species and sizes, or for
any purpose, or extracting its
skin, fins, or for any other
purposes.
A fine of AED
5,000
and releasing
aquatic
organisms back
into their natural
environment or
delivering them
to the authority
in case of its
death
A fine of AED
6,000
and releasing
aquatic
organisms back
into their
natural
environment or
delivering them
to the
competent
authority in case
of their death.
A fine of AED
7,000
and releasing
aquatic
organisms back
into their
natural
environment or
delivering them
to the
competent
authority in case
of their death.
5 Failure to report types of sea
turtles, dolphins, whales,
manatees, marine mammals,
or prohibited shark species
that were incidentally caught,
or their disposal at sea in case
of their death.
A fine of AED
1,000
and releasing
aquatic
organisms back
into their natural
environment or
delivering them
to the
competent
authority in case
of their death.
A fine of AED
2,000
and releasing
aquatic
organisms back
into their
natural
environment or
delivering them
to the
competent
authority in case
of their death.
A fine of AED
3,000
and releasing
aquatic
organisms back
into their
natural
environment or
delivering them
to the
competent
authority in case
of their death.
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Cabinet Resolution of 2023 Concerning the Regulation of Administrative Violations and Penalties Concerning Living
Aquatic Resources and Reconciliation Thereof
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6 Fishing with tools or
equipment that violate the
specifications or that exceed
the specified length and
quantity as per the regulatory
resolutions.
A fine of AED
1,000
A fine of AED
2,000
A fine of AED
5,000
7 Fishing at areas where fishing
is temporarily banned or at
areas that are not designated
for certain fishing tools,
equipment and methods.
A fine of AED
2,000
A fine of AED
5,000
and confiscation
of the boat
license and the
captain's card
for a period not
exceeding a
month
A fine of AED
10,000
and confiscation
of the boat
license and the
captain's card
for a period not
exceeding two
months
8 Fishing at areas where fishing
is permanently banned,
including:
- Natural and artificial marine
reserves
- Natural and artificial creeks
- Areas of vital and military
facilities
A fine of AED
2,000
and confiscation
of the boat
license and the
captain's card
for a period no
exceeding a
month
A fine of AED
5,000
and confiscation
of the boat
license and the
captain's card
for a period no
exceeding (3)
three months
A fine of AED
10,000
and confiscation
of the boat
license and the
captain's card
for a period no
exceeding (6) six
months
9 Fishing with tools, equipment
or methods during times or
seasons that violate
applicable legislations in this
regard.
A fine of AED
1,000
A fine of AED
2,000
A fine of AED
5,000
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Cabinet Resolution of 2023 Concerning the Regulation of Administrative Violations and Penalties Concerning Living
Aquatic Resources and Reconciliation Thereof
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10 Fishing with prohibited tools,
equipment, or fishing using
banned methods.
A fine of AED
1,000
and confiscation
of the boat
license and the
captain's card
for one month,
and the seized
equipment and
tools shall be
handed over to
the Ministry or
the competent
authority in
order to dispose
or destroy them
according to the
procedures in
place.
A fine of AED
2,000
and confiscation
of the boat
license and the
captain's card
for two months,
and the seized
equipment and
tools shall be
handed over to
the Ministry or
the competent
authority in
order to dispose
or destroy them
according to the
procedures in
place.
A fine of AED
5,000
and confiscation
of the boat
license and the
captain's card
for (3) three
months, and the
seized
equipment and
tools shall be
handed over to
the Ministry or
the competent
authority in
order to dispose
or destroy them
according to the
procedures in
place.
11 Possession of prohibited
fishing tools and equipment
at sea for fishing.
Sending a
warning in
writing and the
seized
equipment and
tools shall be
handed over to
the Ministry or
the competent
A fine of AED
1,000
and confiscation
of the boat
license and the
captain's card
for one week,
and the seized
equipment and
A fine of AED
2,000
and confiscation
of the boat
license and the
captain's card
for two weeks,
and the seized
equipment and
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Cabinet Resolution of 2023 Concerning the Regulation of Administrative Violations and Penalties Concerning Living
Aquatic Resources and Reconciliation Thereof
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authority in
order to dispose
or destroy them
according to the
procedures in
place.
tools shall be
handed over to
the Ministry or
the competent
authority to
dispose or
destroy them
according to the
procedures in
place
tools shall be
handed over to
the Ministry or
the competent
authority to
dispose or
destroy them
according to the
procedures in
place
12 Dumping aquatic waste or
any other pollutants, and
causing contamination of the
marine environment in
fishing waters
A fine of AED
1,000
A fine of AED
2,000 and
confiscation of
the boat license
and the
captain's card
for a week
A fine of AED
5,000 and
confiscation of
the boat license
and the
captain's card
for a month
13 Practising diving activities for
the purpose of fishing and
exploiting living aquatic
resources without a permit
issued by the competent
authority.
A fine of AED
1,000
and delivering
the seized
aquatic
organisms to the
competent
authority to
dispose or
destroy them
according to the
A fine of AED
3,000
and delivering
the seized
aquatic
organisms to the
competent
authority to
dispose or
destroy them
according to the
A fine of AED
5,000
and delivering
the seized
aquatic
organisms to the
competent
authority to
dispose or
destroy them
according to the
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Cabinet Resolution of 2023 Concerning the Regulation of Administrative Violations and Penalties Concerning Living
Aquatic Resources and Reconciliation Thereof
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procedures in
place
procedures in
place
procedures in
place
14 Organizing fishing
competitions without a
permit issued by the
competent authority.
A fine of AED
1,000
and delivering
the seized
aquatic
organisms to the
competent
authority to
dispose or
destroy them
according to the
procedures in
place
A fine of AED
3,000
and delivering
the seized
aquatic
organisms to the
competent
authority to
dispose or
destroy them
according to the
procedures in
place
A fine of AED
5,000
and delivering
the seized
aquatic
organisms to the
competent
authority to
dispose or
destroy them
according to the
procedures in
place
15 Selling or displaying for sale
fishing tools or equipment
that violate regulations and
legislations.
A fine of AED
1,000
A fine of AED
3,000
A fine of AED
5,000
16 Selling or marketing that are
banned to be fished
completely or seasonally, or
small-size fish that are below
the permitted length (when
seized at the possession of
the fisherman/ a means of
transport or a sale shop)
A fine of AED
1,000
A fine of AED
5,000
A fine of AED
10,000
17 Extracting shellfish, sponges,
or coral without a permit
A fine of AED
1,000
A fine of AED
5,000
A fine of AED
10,000
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Cabinet Resolution of 2023 Concerning the Regulation of Administrative Violations and Penalties Concerning Living
Aquatic Resources and Reconciliation Thereof
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issued by the competent
authority.
18 Failing to provide fishing
boats and live aquatic
resource transport vessels
with refrigeration units or
insulated boxes cooled with
ice.
A fine of AED
500
A fine of AED
1,000
A fine of AED
2,000
19 Practising fishing without a
license obtained from the
Ministry and the competent
authority.
A fine of AED
1,000
A fine of AED
2,000
A fine of AED
3,000
20 The pleasure vessel
committing any of the
following violations:
- Fishing at areas where
fishing is permanently or
temporarily banned.
- Possessing fishing tools and
equipment specified for
banned or unauthorized
fishing.
- Fishing fish that are below
the permitted length or
exceeding the permitted
quantity, or catching marine
organisms that are
completely or seasonally
banned.
A fine of AED
5,000
Confiscation of
the pleasure
vessel for 3
months in case
(similar or
different)
violation is
committed or
conciliation to
pay AED 7,000
Confiscation of
the pleasure
vessel for 6
months in case
(similar or
different)
violation is
committed or
conciliation to
pay AED 10,000
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Cabinet Resolution of 2023 Concerning the Regulation of Administrative Violations and Penalties Concerning Living
Aquatic Resources and Reconciliation Thereof
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- Selling or marketing aquatic
organisms
- Number of persons on the
pleasure vessel (practising
fishing) exceeds the
permitted number upon
registration
- Violating the property of
fishermen.
- Violation of the security
instructions issued by the
relevant security authorities,
including turning off the
automatic identification
system during navigation.
- Sailing outside territorial
waters or entering the
maritime borders of
neighbouring countries
- Existing at areas where
proximity is prohibited or
approaching commercial
vessels
21 Chartering pleasure vessels to
others for the purpose of
organizing fishing trips
A fine of AED
5,000
and confiscation
of the pleasure
vessel's license
for 3 months
A fine of AED
10,000
and confiscation
of the pleasure
vessel's license
for 3 months
Cancellation of
the pleasure
vessel's license
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Cabinet Resolution of 2023 Concerning the Regulation of Administrative Violations and Penalties Concerning Living
Aquatic Resources and Reconciliation Thereof
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22 Erecting or constructing
artificial coral reefs (artificial
reefs) without a licence from
the competent authority.
Confiscation of
the boat licence
until necessary
licenses are
obtained
A fine of AED
5,000
Confiscation of
the boat licence
for a month
or conciliation
by paying AED
10,000
23 Deliberate concealment of
the fishing boat number or
failure to comply with the
standards, measurements and
requirements of the licensing
authorities.
A fine of AED
5,000 and
confiscation of
the boat license
and the
captain's card
for a month
A fine of AED
10,000 and
confiscation of
the boat license
and the
captain's card
for (6) six
months
A fine of AED
10,000 and
cancellation of
the license of
the boat
24 Selling fish and aquatic
organisms that were illegally
fished.
A fine of AED
5,000
and confiscation
of the boat
license and the
captain's card
for a month
A fine of AED
10,000
and confiscation
of the boat
license and the
captain's card
for (6) six
months
A fine of AED
10,000
and cancellation
of the license of
the boat
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