Fisheries Act 1985
Parliament of Malaysia
Long title An Act relating to fisheries, including the conservation, management and development of maritime and estuarine fishing and fisheries, in Malaysian fisheries waters, to turtles and riverine fishing in Malaysia and to matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Citation	Act 317
Territorial extent	Malaysia
Passed by	Dewan Rakyat
Passed	10 April 1985
Passed by	Dewan Negara
Passed	19 April 1985
Royal assent	22 May 1985
Commenced	30 May 1985
Effective	Except for Part IX in its application to the State of Sabah—1 January 1986, P.U. (B) 627/1985
Legislative history
First chamber: Dewan Rakyat
Bill title	Fisheries Bill 1984
Bill citation	D.R. 46/1984
Introduced by	Anwar Ibrahim, Minister of Agriculture
First reading	3 December 1984
Second reading	8 April 1985
Third reading	10 April 1985
Second chamber: Dewan Negara
Bill title	Fisheries Bill 1984
Bill citation	D.R. 46/1984
Member in Charge	Goh Cheng Teik, Deputy Minister of Agriculture
First reading	15 April 1985
Second reading	19 April 1985
Third reading	19 April 1985
Amended by
Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1993 [Act A854] Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2012 [Act A1413]
Related legislation
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Fisheries Act 1963 [Act 210]
Keywords
Fisheries, fishing vessel, aquaculture, marine park, marine reserve
Status: In force

The Fisheries Act 1985 (Malay: Akta Perikanan 1985) is a Malaysian federal act relating to the administration and management of fisheries, including the conservation and development of maritime and estuarine fishing and fisheries in Malaysia waters, protection to aquatic mammals and turtles and riverine fishing in Malaysia and to matters connected to establishment of marine parks and marine reserves.

The Director-General of Fisheries is the management authority and has absolute powers in making conditions for permits related to fishery resources.

Even though the Director-General has official authority, much of the local fishing industry are under the control of aquaculture gangs, and the act itself has sparked gang violence in many areas regarding the gang's control of fishing "turf".

Preamble

• WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate and amend the written law relating to fisheries, including the conservation, management and development of maritime and estuarine fishing and fisheries, in Malaysian fisheries waters and to turtles and riverine fishing in Malaysia;
• AND WHEREAS by Clause (1) of Article 74 of the Federal Constitution Parliament may make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the Federal List or the Concurrent List, and whereas fisheries, including maritime and estuarine fishing and fisheries (excluding turtles), is a matter enumerated in the Federal List under item 9 of List I of the Ninth Schedule to the Federal Constitution and maritime and estuarine fishing and fisheries are also matters enumerated in the Concurrent List under item 12 of List IIIA of the said Ninth Schedule in respect of the States of Sabah and Sarawak;
• AND WHEREAS by Clause (1)(b) of Article 76 of the Federal Constitution Parliament may make laws with respect to any matter enumerated in the State List for the purpose of promoting uniformity of the laws of two or more States, and whereas turtles and riverine fishing are matters enumerated in the State List under item 12 of List II of the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution

Structure

The Fisheries Act 1985, in its current form (1 November 2012), consists of 11 Parts containing 62 sections and no schedule (including 2 amendments).

• Part I: Preliminary
• Part II: Administration
• Part III: Fisheries Plans
• Part IV: General Licensing Provisions
• Part V: Foreign Fishing Vessels
• Part VI: Offences
• Part VII: Turtles and Inland Fisheries
• Part VIII: Aquaculture
• Part IX: Marine Parks and Marine Reserves
• Part X: Enforcement
• Part XI: General Provisions