General Law for Fisheries and Aquaculture Management and Promotion

El Salvador's General Law for Fisheries and Aquaculture Management and Promotion constitutes the main regulatory framework to regulate the management and promotion of fishing and aquaculture activities, ensuring the conservation and sustainable development of hydrobiological resources. The law establishes a comprehensive system of access, authorization and licenses for the phases of extraction, processing, commercialization, reproduction and cultivation of hydrobiological species in both marine and continental waters. It creates specialized institutions such as CENDEPESCA as the competent authority, the National Council for Fisheries and Aquaculture (CONAPESCA) and the National Scientific Advisory Committee to provide technical and scientific advice. It implements the precautionary principle for resource protection when sufficient scientific information is not available. Its objective is to permanently optimize the economic and social benefits of fishery resource utilization as sources of protein, employment and income to improve the quality of life of current and future generations.