Ukraine’s fisheries sector is set to gain new investment opportunities — the Parliament has adopted in the first reading the Draft Law of Ukraine No. 12384 “On Stimulating the Economic Development of the Fisheries Sector.”
The draft law opens the door to investors wishing to develop fisheries — from aquaculture in inland waters to mariculture in the seas. Simple and fair rules will replace complex bureaucratic procedures.
What does the draft law change?
- Regulates access to fishery water bodies and marine areas — making the process clear, transparent, and understandable for businesses.
- Introduces the legal concept of an “investor in the fisheries sector” and sets clear requirements for such investors. This ensures equal rules for everyone wishing to operate in the sector.
- Provides for the creation of official lists of water bodies suitable for investment — based solely on scientific and biological justification and with approval from the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine.
- Introduces open electronic auctions as the main tool for concluding investment agreements, reducing the risk of abuse, and creating opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses.
- Establishes limitations — not all water bodies will be open to investment. This includes those under long-term lease, located within nature reserves, or in sanitary protection zones.
What does this mean for business?
- Up to 3,500 new jobs in the regions.
- Attraction of investments into production and the development of the fisheries sector.
- Increased fish farming volumes.
- Expanded export potential of Ukraine’s fisheries.
- Support for small and medium-sized businesses, which will gain transparent access to resources through auctions.
The draft law was developed by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine and the State Agency for Land Reclamation and Fisheries of Ukraine with the participation of BRDO.
The next step is preparing the document for the second reading. We call on Members of Parliament to support the draft law and take another step toward a sustainable, competitive, and investment-attractive fisheries sector in Ukraine.
The development of the draft law was made possible with the support of the “Digitalization for Growth, Integrity and Transparency” project, implemented by the Eurasia Foundation and funded by UK Dev. Project partner — the Better Regulation Delivery Office (BRDO).