The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the revised draft law "On Stimulating the Economic Development of the Fisheries Sector" (No. 12384) on 13 October 2026, approving it in a repeated second reading and as a whole.
According to the parliament's press service, the legislation is strategically important for the development of Ukraine's fisheries sector. Its main objective is to establish modern, transparent and attractive conditions for investment in an industry with significant growth potential.
"The law will establish a new investment model for the development of the fisheries sector. It provides opportunities to attract private capital for aquaculture and commercial fish farming in designated areas of water bodies. This will allow more efficient use of the natural potential of Ukraine's waters, increase fish production and create new jobs," parliament said.
Another important element of the legislation is a transparent mechanism for accessing resources through electronic auctions. Competitive procedures are intended to ensure openness, equal opportunities for businesses and reduced corruption risks. Investors will be entitled to conclude investment agreements only following an open auction.
The law also introduces clear safeguards against monopolisation. It limits the concentration of rights to use a water body, preventing any single operator from controlling more than a specified proportion of its area. This is intended to preserve competition and prevent monopolisation of water resources.
The legislation will also allow investors to plan their activities over longer periods, which is particularly important for aquaculture projects requiring substantial initial investment and extended payback periods.
"The law includes important safeguards to protect the public interest, guaranteeing citizens free access to public water bodies and introducing stricter monitoring of their environmental condition," parliament concluded.
