The Democratic Republic of the Congo has adopted a new law on fisheries and aquaculture, which was promulgated by the President of the Republic on 27 July 2026. The presidential order announcing this promulgation was read out on the Congolese National Radio and Television (RTNC). This new legislation replaces the decree of 21 April 1937, which had become unsuitable for the sector’s current realities.

Adopted by the National Assembly on 25 May 2026, this law establishes a modern legal framework designed to regulate fishing and aquaculture activities in the DRC. It aims to contribute to food security, promote the sustainable use of fishery resources and strengthen the involvement of all relevant stakeholders in their management.

In particular, the Act prohibits illegal fishing, as well as the use of toxic substances or any other practices that destroy aquatic ecosystems. It also encourages the development of aquaculture, job creation, cooperation between the various stakeholders in the sector, and regional integration for the coordinated management of cross-border fishery resources.

The new law comprises 102 articles divided into nine titles. It sets out the fundamental principles of conservation, sustainable use, protection and governance of fisheries and aquaculture resources, considering the specific characteristics of the various aquatic ecosystems in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Victoire Katembo Mbuto

Caption: Fishing canoes moored along the shores of Lake Albert in Kasenyi, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photo by  Akilimali Chomachoma