The licensing regime of fishing
Fishing in Georgia is recognized as the use of a state resource, and for that reason the Law on Licences and Permits places it in the list of use licences: a fishing licence is provided for. It must be said plainly: the detailed rules for the exploitation of wild fish resources — seasons, prohibited places, gear — are regulated by separate sectoral legislation; the basis of this page is precisely the licence-and-permit instruments.
The fishing licence belongs to the family of use licences — the same list contains the licences for the extraction of useful minerals, the use of subsurface space, oil and gas, hunting economy and others. This classification has a practical consequence: use licences are issued by auction, apart from the exceptions provided by law, and the general rules of auction extend to fishing as well.
Aquaculture permits
Moving to the artificial breeding of fish is regulated by other instruments: the list of permits provides for an aquaculture permit and an extensive aquaculture permit. The difference here is substantial: a licence regulates the use of a wild resource, while a permit regulates an activity. The qualification of a project therefore begins with a question: does the future operator intend to exploit the resource existing in a natural water body, or to breed it under artificial conditions. Both types of aquaculture are given as separate positions in the list — different permit routes are provided for intensive and extensive approaches. It is also noteworthy that the list includes an integrated environmental permit, which enters into force on 1 September 2026 — an instrument directed at the environmental dimension of industrial activity.
Application and documentation
The permit seeker submits a written application to the issuing authority; the submission, examination and acceptance for proceedings are carried out under the procedure established by the General Administrative Code of Georgia. The application must indicate which type of permit the seeker requests, together with a list of attached documents. A private law legal person and an individual entrepreneur submit extracts from the public registry, a natural person copies of identification documents, a public law legal person certified copies of founding documents; the application is accompanied by a receipt for payment of the permit fee.
Additional permit conditions, arising from the peculiarities of the activity, are determined by law or, on its basis, by a normative act of the Government or a decision of a municipal representative body. The circle of attached documents follows from the seeker's legal form, and additional documents may be required only by law — administrative arbitrariness is excluded. Other administrative bodies are also involved in the procedure: where the confirmation of part of the conditions is entrusted to another body, the issuing authority transmits copies of the application to it within the established period, and that body is obliged to establish the factual circumstances or declare a reasoned refusal. If within the period neither confirmation nor refusal occurs, the conditions are deemed satisfied — this rule gives the process predictability and protects the applicant's interest.
A permit is not issued if the application and documents do not satisfy the requirements of the law and are not corrected within the set period, if the seeker does not satisfy the permit conditions, or if the right to carry on activities in the respective sphere has been deprived by a court judgment. The fishing license stands in the list of state-resource use licenses, while the aquaculture permit stands in the list of permit types — this distinction decides the whole logic of the proceeding.
How to plan a fishing project
In planning a project three questions are resolved. First — the choice of regime: the exploitation of a wild resource takes place under a fishing licence, artificial breeding under an aquaculture permit. Second — the international dimension: the import and export of species included in the annexes of the Convention requires a separate permit. Third — procedural discipline: the application is compiled according to the requirements of the General Administrative Code and completed with attached documents. The role of sectoral legislation must also be considered: the detailed rules for the protection and use of wild fish resources are regulated by separate acts, and these rules, together with the conditions of the licence, create the complete legal regime. The licence grants the right; the sectoral rules give the discipline of exercising it. Experience shows that the two main sources of legal errors in fishing and aquaculture projects are incorrect qualification (a licence instead of a permit and vice versa) and uncovered international operations — both are avoided by a precise plan: first the choice of regime, then a check of the international dimension, and finally the completion of the application documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which licence is required for fishing?
The fishing licence, which is in the list of use licences; the detailed rules for exploiting wild resources are regulated by separate sectoral legislation.
What is the difference between aquaculture and fishing?
Aquaculture is an activity regulated by a permit; fishing is the use of a state resource regulated by a licence.
Which aquaculture permits exist?
The aquaculture permit and the extensive aquaculture permit; an integrated environmental permit is also provided for, entering into force on 1 September 2026.
How is the application submitted?
In writing, under the procedure of the General Administrative Code; the application must indicate the type of permit and the list of attached documents.
How We Help on Legal.ge
A fishing license and an aquaculture permit are different proceedings with different documentation. On Legal.ge you can consult a lawyer who will choose the required form and help with the application. Submit a request on the site and get qualified assistance.