Eswatini

“recreation or sport fishing” means fishing for pleasure or competition;

“fishing” means— (a) searching for, catching, taking or harvesting fish or an attempt to undertake any such activity; (b) engaging in any other activity which can reasonably be expected to result in the locating, catching, taking or harvesting of fish; (c) placing, searching for or recovering any fish aggregating device or associated gear; or (d) any operation in support or in preparation of any activity described in this definition;

9. (1) Subject to this Act, the Board is authorized to licence the following categories of wild fishing for fish species found in national, foreign or international water bodies— (a) commercial; and (b) recreation or sport fishing. (2) A person may not be authorized to undertake commercial fishing of fish species in any national, foreign or international water body without authority.

10. (1) A person shall not undertake commercial or sport fishing without a fishing licence, as the case may be, issued by the Board. (2) An application for a fishing licence shall be submitted or made to the Board and in the prescribed format stipulated by the Board. (3) The Board may grant a subsistence or commercial fishing licence for a period not exceeding five (5) years subject to any conditions considered necessary. (4) The Minister may grant a sport fishing licence for a period not exceeding two (2) years subject to conditions considered necessary. (5) A subsistence fisher and a fish farmer shall be exempt from having to obtain a licence. (6) A sport fishing licence may only be granted to a natural person. (7) The Minister shall annually prescribe the fees applicable to the granting of fishing licenses under this section by notice published in the Gazette.

11. (1) A person may not undertake fishing or utilise a fishing licence granted in terms of this Act unless a fishing permit has been issued by the Principal Secretary to that person. (2) Any permit contemplated in sub-section (1) shall be issued— (a) for a period not exceeding one year; (b) subject to the conditions determined by the Principal Secretary in the permit; and (c) subject to the payment of any fees prescribed by the Principal Secretary. (3) The holder of a permit shall at all times have that permit available for inspection. (4) A permit may not be granted to a person in terms of this Act if the conditions of a previously issued permit were not adhered to.

18. (1) The Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette, declare any national water body or part of a water body to be a fisheries protected area— (a) for the protection of aquatic resources and ecosystems or particular fish species; (b) to facilitate fishery management by protecting spawning stock, allowing stock recovery, enhancing stock abundance in adjacent areas, and providing pristine aquatic ecosystems for research; or (c) to diminish any conflict that may arise from competing uses in that area. (2) A person shall not in any fisheries protected area, without permission granted in terms of sub-section (3)— (a) fish or attempt to fish; (b) take or destroy any aquatic resource; ...

19. The Minister shall declare, by notice published in the Gazette, any fishing practices that are considered to be harmful, destructive or damaging to aquatic resources, to be prohibited fishing practices.

49. (1) The Protection of Fresh Water Fisheries Act No. 75 of 1937, is repealed. (2) Without conflicting sub-section (1), any permit or authorization granted under the Protection of Fresh Water Fisheries Act No. 75 of 1937, shall be deemed to remain valid and in force for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of commencement of this Act, after which these permits and authorizations shall lapse and cease to be valid. (3) All holders of permits and authorizations referred to in sub-section (2) may apply for an appropriate licence or permit under this Act during the twelve (12) month transitional period.