International legal support of fishing in the conditions of the exclusive economic maritime zone
Authors: Dopilka V. , Zagorodniuk S. 
Published: April 2023

The use of the oceans requires the study of its various zones, in particular, economic (fishing) zones, which will allow to increase the level of Ukraine's economy and strengthen environmental protection.

Ecology in the general sense is the science of the interrelationships of flora and fauna with each other and the environment, the general laws and relationships between nature and society. In this sense, environmental law and order is the relationship established by regulations that allows for the preservation of a favorable environment for humans and other living beings and the safety of life. Environmental safety is the conditions that ensure a favorable life, preservation and development of nature and society in their interconnection with the Ukrainian economy, as well as improvement of environmental protection.

Ukrainian legislation is actualizing the problem of environmental protection, creating conditions for the inviolability of law enforcement, and a set of rules from various branches of law.

Maritime economic zones, including fishing zones, have a special purpose.

Thus, laws have been adopted in Ukraine: On the Exclusive Economic Maritime Zone of Ukraine, the Regulation on the Protection of Ukraine's Sovereign Rights in its Exclusive Economic Maritime Zone. [1] These regulatory acts contain the defining rules for ensuring the safety of navigation in the exclusive economic maritime zone of Ukraine. In the field of combating economic offenses, domestic legislation should be based on the experience of other states when concluding agreements to prevent offenses. Achieving this goal requires a regulatory definition of the object and subject of such legal relations. The reference of the law of Ukraine to the classification of illegal fishing, hunting and other aquatic extraction as an offense does not indicate the definition of these concepts. It may be provided in a Note to the relevant article, thus having the character of an authentic interpretation of the law, as well as through judicial interpretation in the resolutions of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of Ukraine.

           The analysis of the scientific study of the problem shows that it is imperfect and requires further development. In the blanket disposition of Articles 249 and 250 of the Criminal Code, the Ukrainian legislator defines liability for illegal fishing, hunting or other aquatic extraction and blasting in violation of the rules for the protection of fish stocks. [2] Such a general reference to specific offenses does not contribute to a clear application of these articles. This is especially true of the wording regarding the definition of animal and other aquatic fishing.

It is the indication in the Code that criminal law has as its task the legal support of environmental protection (Article 1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) [2] that emphasizes its environmentalization and active preventive nature. This also corresponds to the current significance of the problems of environmental protection efficiency and contributes to ensuring unity in approaches to the criminalization of offenses in the sphere of animal and other aquatic fishing.

It is the indication in the Code that criminal law has as its task the legal support of environmental protection (Article 1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) [2] that emphasizes its environmentalization and active preventive nature. This also corresponds to the current significance of the problems of environmental protection efficiency and contributes to ensuring unity in approaches to the criminalization of environmental offenses.