Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
for a world without hunger
Fisheries and
Aquaculture Department
National Aquaculture Legislation Overview
Cuba
I. Profile
a.
b.
c.
d.
Basic Legislation
Legal Definition
Guidelines And Codes Of Conduct
International Arrangements
II. Planning
V. Miscellaneous
VI. References
a. Legislation
b. Related Resources
VII. Related Links
a. Authorization System
b. Access To Land And Water
c. EIA
III. Operation
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Water And Wastewater
Fish Movement
Disease Control
Drugs
Feed
IV. Food Safety
Profile
Basic legislation
As stated by the Decree-Law providing for the Fisheries Regulation (Decreto Ley - Reglamento de Pesca) (1996), the
Ministry for the Fishing Industry (Ministerio de la Industria Pesquera – MIP) is in charge of directing, implementing
and controlling the government policy on investigation, conservation, capture, cultivation, processing and
commercialization of fishery resources. The MIP prepared and implemented a five-year Aquaculture
Development Programme (1996–2000), aiming towards food security, improvement of import-export balance,
increase of employment opportunities and social development.
The Advisory Commission for Fisheries (Comisión Consultiva de Pesca) is the main consultative body to the Ministry
on matters concerning the regulation and administration of marine and freshwater aquatic resources.
Legal definition
There is no legal definition of aquaculture. It is worth noting that the Fisheries Regulation provides for a
definition of "fishing" which includes "culture" (Pesca: El acto de extraer, capturar, colectar, o cultivar por cualquier
procedimiento, en medio acuático, especies o elementos biogenéticos cuyo medio de vida parcial, total o temporal sea el agua así como los actos
previos y posteriores relacionados con ella. – Fishing: The act of taking, capturing, collecting, or cultivating in an aquatic
environment, with any method, species or biogenetic elements, whose natural environment is partially, totally
or temporarily water as well as any act undertaken previous or after the act [of fishing]).
Guidelines and codes of conduct
There are no guidelines or codes of conduct on aquaculture.
International arrangements
FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department
Cuba is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and a party to the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Cuba has also ratified both the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Biosafety Protocol.
Planning
Authorization system
The authorization system to engage in fisheries activities, as outlined in the Fisheries Regulation, unfolds into
three different tools:
Concessions to set up fisheries and aquaculture activities, granted for at least five years.
Licences for recreational and commercial fisheries, granted for one year (renewable).
Permits issued for temporary and specific purposes.
While applications for authorizations to fish or to conduct aquaculture are to be filed with the Provincial
Offices (Oficinas Provinciales de Inspección Pesquera), the authorizations are issued by the Ministry for the Fishing
Industry. The latter sets also the procedural requirements for obtaining such authorizations. Zones with limited
or forbidden access are identified by the said Ministry, jointly with the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed
Forces (Ministerio de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias), the Ministry of Domestic Affairs (Ministerio del Interior) and the
National Institute for State Reserves (Instituto Nacional de las Reservas Estatales).
Access to land and water
Under the Decree-Law on Coastal Zone Management (Decreto Ley – Gestión de la Zona Costera) (2000), only activities
which may not be established elsewhere (including mariculture) may be authorized in coastal areas.
The Decree-Law on Inland Waters (Decreto-Ley – De las Aguas Terrestres) (1993), as implemented by the Resolution
establishing Rules on Water Use Charges and Inland Water Provision Services (Resolución – Reglas para el Cobro del
Derecho de Uso y el Servicio de Provisión de Aguas Terrestres ) (1996) deals with the use of waters and sets the fees related
thereto. Reference is made to the use of water for aquaculture purposes. In general, the use of inland surface
and groundwater other than for domestic purposes is subject to the payment of charges to the National Institute
for Water Resources (Instituto Nacional de Recurso Hidráulicos – INRH), unless water is delivered through a
service provider. Volumes of water and applicable fees for water delivery and use are agreed in a formal
contract between the INRH and the user, taking into account the service costs, whereas water use for
aquaculture purposes is only charged according the amount of water consumed.
EIA
The Law on the Environment (Ley del Medio Ambiente) (1997) and the Resolution establishing the Regulation on the
Environmental Impact Assessment Process (Resolución - Reglamento del Proceso de Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental) (1999)
represents the core of the Cuban EIA system, which leads to the granting of an environmental licence.
Aquaculture is explicitly mentioned among the activities that are subject the EIA process.
The Resolution, which specifies the procedural requirements of the EIA system, designates the Centre for
Environmental Inspection and Control (Centro de Inspección y Control Ambiental) of the Ministry of Science,
Technology and Environment (Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Medio Ambiente) as the responsible authority for the
filing of applications and for the granting of environmental licences. Applications concerning projects or
activities implying the manipulation of biological agents and organisms or parts thereof containing genetic
information are submitted by the said authority to the National Centre for Biosecurity (Centro Nacional de Seguridad
Biológica). The opinion of the latter is binding. Conversely, the introduction of exotic species, biological agents
and organisms or parts thereof containing genetic information is subject to both the EIA system and the
biosecurity approval system. Those interested must therefore respectively apply to the Centre for
Environmental Inspection and Control and to the National Centre for Biosecurity (see § on fish movement
FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department
below).
Applications for an environmental licence require the following information:
Name of project.
Identification of applicant.
Identification of project representative.
Macrolocalization, including certificate issued by the Institute for Physical Planning (Instituto de
Planificación Física), when appropriate.
Microlocalization, including a copy of the localization report by the Institute for Physical Planning.
Plane coordinates of the project area.
Detailed budget.
General description of the natural and socioeconomic environment.
Quantitative and qualitative characterization of the air, water, soil and biota.
Description of the feasible alternatives.
Description of the effluents and indicators of contamination.
Connection of the sanitary network to existing waste treatment system.
Technologies to be used and their contribution to clean production.
Specify whether the activity produces toxic chemical products or other dangerous waste.
Identification and description of the potential positive and negative environmental impact.
Prevention and mitigation measures for the negative environmental effects.
Precautionary measure for possible persisting effects at the end of the project.
Prevention of accidents or contingencies.
Documentation reporting the public hearing held to inform the community of the possible effects of the
project.
Monitoring programme.
Within 10 working days, the authority shall either accept the application - requiring or not the presentation of
an EIA study within the following year, or reject it. Applicants may request to be exempted from the
submission of the study, for specific reasons.
The decision whether to require the submission an EIA study or not shall be based, among others, on the
criteria listed below:
Risks for the health of the community (effluents, waste and noise).
Negative effects on the quantity and quality of natural resources and on the integrity of the ecosystem.
Relocation of human communities, alteration of their life system or practices.
Project location close to human communities, resources or protected areas that might be affected, and
environmental value of the area.
Alteration of the scenic or tourism value of the area.
Alteration of monuments, sites with anthropological, archaeological or historical value, and in general
the cultural heritage.
Results of the public hearings.
Environmental solutions set forth by the project.
A minimum content pattern is required for each EIA study:
Purpose of the project.
Feasible alternative projects and no project option.
Relationship between financial costs and environmental effects for each option.
Characteristics and duration of the potential effects on environment, health and life quality of the
community.
Prevention, mitigation and negative impact correction plan.
Characterization of the environment of the project area.
FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department
Conditions to ensure the sustainability of the natural resources involved in the project.
Qualitative and quantitative description of the natural resources and other raw materials, as well as an
estimate on effluents and emissions.
Technologies to be used and their contribution to clean production.
Detailed description of the energy sources and an estimate of the consumption costs.
Detailed programme of environmental surveillance and monitoring.
Certification of the parameters by authorized entities.
Evaluation of any possible negative impact exceeding the project area.
Description of contingency and risk assessment plans.
Measures established for the end of the project.
Results of the public hearings held with local authorities and the community.
Any other requirement as agreed.
The uncertainty degree of the identified impacts and consequent measures.
Only authorized entities may prepare EIA studies and costs shall be borne by the applicant. However, subject
to the approval of the Ministry of Finance, it shall exceptionally be included in the national budget.
Where an EIA study is required, the authority shall give its response no later than 60 working days from the
application (30 days otherwise). Works shall commence within 1 year from the granting of the licence.
It is noteworthy to mention that the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment may submit fisheries
development plans and policies to the EIA process. Needless to say, this option does not include the granting
of a licence.
Operation
Water and wastewater
The general principles relating to appropriate effluents treatment, reduction of water contamination and
wastewater recycling are announced in the Environmental Law.
The Decree-Law on Inland Waters establishes four precautionary rules aiming at promoting the development
of aquaculture in freshwater bodies, yet protecting the latter from contamination:
Extensive culture and capture of fish shall comply with the provisions made by the National Institute of
Water Resources (Instituto Nacional de Recursos Hidráulicos) and the Ministry of Public Health (Ministerio de Salud
Pública).
Intensive and semi-intensive breeding of fish are not allowed in water supply reservoirs for domestic use.
The establishment of intensive and semi-intensive breeding facilities is subject to the approval of the
National Institute of Water Resources and of the Ministry of Public Health.
The total or partial extraction of water from a reservoir for the capture of existing species requires the
approval of both the National Institute of Water Resources and the manager of the reservoir.
Fish movement
The Resolution on Hygienical and Sanitary Regulations applicable to Waterbodies intended for the Breeding,
Maintenance and Cultivation of Aquatic Organisms in the National Territory (Reglamentación Higiénico-Sanitaria para
los Acuatorios dedicados a la Cría, Mantenimiento y/o Cultivo de Organismos Acuáticos en el Territorio Nacional) (1999) establishes the
authorization procedure and the requirements for the import and export of aquatic species.
Whoever is willing to import or export aquatic species to and from Cuba shall apply to the Border Veterinary
Services Department (Departamento de los Servicios Veterinarios de Fronteras) of the Veterinary Medicine Institute
National Board (Dirección Nacional del Instituto de Medicina Veterinaria) for the required authorization, attaching the
following information:
FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department
Species to be introduced.
Quantity.
Origin (establishment and country).
Exporter.
Destination.
Purpose of the introduction.
Conditions and location of the quarantine.
Representative of the Ministry for the Fishing Industry, responsible for the quarantine.
An additional document, mainly tackling ecological, genetical and health issues, shall be submitted to the
Board of the Ministry for the Fishing Industry and to the Environmental Agency (Agencia de Medio Ambiente). The
Resolution details its content, specifies the accompanying certificates and establishes requirements and
conditions for quarantine.
The Law on the Environment empowers the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment to make
provision for the import or introduction of new species and species falling under specific regulations.
According to the Decree-Law on Biosecurity (Decreto Ley - De la Seguridad Biológica) (1999), the tasks of granting,
suspending and revoking authorizations concerning activities related to GMOs shall be carried out by the
Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, in coordination with the competent authority. The
Resolution establishing the Regulation for the Granting of Biosecurity Authorizations (Resolución - Reglamento para
el Otorgamiento de las Autorizaciones de Seguridad Biológica) (2000) regulates three types of authorizations, in proportion to
the potential biological risk for the worker, the community and the environment: Biosecurity Licence (Licencia de
Seguridad Biológica), Biosecurity Permit (Permiso de Seguridad Biológica) and Notification (Notificación).
Disease control
The matter is regulated by two main pieces of legislation, namely the Decree-Law No.54 on Basic Health
Provisions (Decreto Ley - Disposiciones Sanitarias Basicas) (1982) and the Decree-Law on Veterinary Medicine (Decreto
Ley - De la Medicina Veterinaria) (1993). None of them makes any specific reference to aquatic animals.
The Fisheries Regulation states that the Ministry for the Fishing Industry, jointly with the Veterinary Medicine
Institute, shall issue health regulations to prevent the introduction in the country of diseases that might affect
aquatic resources, and establish animal health surveillance systems and other measures implementing the
aquatic health programmes.
More specifically, the Resolution on Hygienical and Sanitary Regulations establishes the hygienical and
sanitary measures to be complied with by any aquaculture facility, in order to prevent the occurrence and
spread of diseases. Every establishment must do the following:
Apply for import and export authorizations (see § on fish movement).
Comply with the specific technical rules (Procedimientos Técnicos Operativos) to prevent the
introduction and proliferation of diseases.
Systematically monitor the aquatic population to check the possible activity of pathogens.
Hold the required health certificates issued by the concerned Laboratory of Aquaculture Health of the
Fisheries Investigation Centre (Centro de Investigaciones Pesqueras) or by any authorized laboratory.
Comply with the OIE Code (International Animal Health Organization – Office International de
Epizooties).
Ensure the enforcement of the Animal Health Surveillance System of the Veterinary Medicine Institute.
Ensure the appointment of permanent qualified staff to certify the compliance with health measures and
perform any veterinary task.
More specific measures are specified in the Annexes to the Resolution.
Drugs
FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department
No specific provisions are made on aquaculture.
According to the Decree-Law on Veterinary Medicine, the Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for the
rational use of veterinary drugs and chemicals.
Resolutions No.222 and 223 of 1984 create and regulate the General Register for National and Imported
Veterinary Drugs (Registro General de Medicamentos de Uso Veterinario, Nacionales y de Importación). Among other
requirements, the resolutions provide that registration is subject to the approval of the Scientific Commission of
the Register. The competent authority for restrictions on the use of chemicals and veterinary drugs is the
Institute for Veterinary Medicine (Instituto de Medicina Veterinaria), attached to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Rules and procedures on the production and foreign trade of veterinary drugs are established by the Ministry of
Agriculture. Several provisions are made on veterinary issues to regulate the production, conservation, trade,
quality control and marketing of any type of veterinary drugs and biological stimulants for animal treatment.
Applications concerning the import of animals, animal-based products and raw material, biological or
pharmaceutical products used in veterinary medicine, as well as any other product likely to spread animal
diseases must be supported by a certification to be issued by the competent authorities of the exporting country,
and endorsed by the Cuban consular authority, when appropriate. The use of imported veterinary drugs within
the country is subject to a quality certification issued by the producer.
Resolution No.339 on the Import of Biological Products, Animal Feed and Veterinary Drugs (Resolución No.339 Importación de productos biológicos, preparaciones para alimentación animal y medicamentos para uso animal) (2001) makes
provisions on the import of animal feed and drugs for human or animal use, aiming at protecting the country
from Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).
Feed
No specific provisions are made concerning the use of feed for aquaculture purposes.
However, it is worth mentioning that Resolution No.339 of 2001 only allows aquatic animal flour (fish,
crustaceans, molluscs and other invertebrates) to be used in animal feedstuff (see § on drugs above).
Food safety
Resolution No. 344/DAC 96- MIP – Ministry of Fisheries (Ministerio de la Industria Pesquera) introduces the Hazard
Analysis and Critical Control Point System (HACCP) as a mandatory measure to be implemented in the
fisheries sector, including capture, processing, transport, distribution and trade of fish products.
Law No.41 on Public Health (Ley No.41 de la Salud Pública) (1983) provides that the production, processing,
manipulation, conservation, packaging, storage, transport, trade and use of food and raw material must comply
with the rules established by the Ministry of Public Health, and found in Decree-Law on Basic Health
Provisions.
Resolution No. 64/97- MINSAP – Ministry of Public Health (Ministerio de Salud Pública) establishes that the
movement and trade of any food product within the country is subject to registration in the Food Register,
under penalty of retention and seizure as established in Decree-Law on Basic Health Provisions.
Similarly, companies or organizations that are willing to import food products must provide the Ministry of
Public Health with the documentation certifying the origin, composition and organoleptic characteristics of the
products, as well as with the quality certificates and those stating that they are fit for human consumption.
Importers are also required to facilitate sampling for necessary tests prior to public distribution. With Resolution
No. 167/92 – MINSAP, the Ministry of Public Health, being the competent authority on food matters,
authorizes the Quality Control Bodies (Órganos de Control de Calidad) of the Ministry of Fisheries to grant the health
FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department
certificates required by the international market for fish products intended for foreign trade.
Miscellaneous
Aquaculture investment
No specific provisions.
References
Legislation
FAOLEX
Decree-Law establishing the Fisheries Regulation (Decreto Ley - Reglamento de Pesca) (1996)
Resolution on Hygienical and Sanitary Regulations applicable to Waterbodies intended for the Breeding,
Maintenance and Cultivation of Aquatic Organisms in the National Territory (Resolución - Reglamentación
Higiénico-Sanitaria para los Acuatorios dedicados a la Cría, Mantenimiento y/o Cultivo de Organismos
Acuáticos en el Territorio Nacional) (1999)
Decree-Law No.54 on Basic Health Provisions (Decreto-Ley No.54 - Disposiciones Sanitarias Basicas) (1982)
Law No.41 on Public Health (Ley No.41 de la Salud Pública) (1983)
Decree-Law on Biosecurity (Decreto Ley - De la Seguridad Biológica) (1999)
Resolution establishing the Regulation for the Granting of Biosecurity Authorizations (Resolución Reglamento para el Otorgamiento de las Autorizaciones de Seguridad Biológica) (2000)
Decree-Law on Coastal Zone Management (Decreto Ley - Gestión de la Zona Costera) (2000)
Decree-Law on Inland Waters (Decreto-Ley – De las Aguas Terrestres) (1993)
Resolution establishing Rules on Water Use Charges and Inland Water Provision Services (Resolución Reglas para el Cobro del Derecho de Uso y el Servicio de Provisión de Aguas Terrestres) (1996)
Decree-Law on Veterinary Medicine (Decreto Ley - De la Medicina Veterinaria) (1993)
Resolution No.339 on the Import of Biological Products, Animal Feed and Veterinary Drugs (Resolución
No.339 - Importación de productos biológicos, preparaciones para alimentación animal y medicamentos para
uso animal) (2001)
Resolution No.222 creating the General Register for National and Imported Veterinary Drugs (Resolución
No.222 que crea el Registro General de Medicamentos de Uso Veterinario, Nacionales y de Importación)
(1984) (Gaceta Oficial No.18, Pag. 91-1984)
Resolution No.223 regulating the General Register for National and Imported Veterinary Drugs (Resolución
No.223 que establece el Reglamento para el Registro General de Medicamentos de Uso Veterinario,
Nacionales y de Importación) (1984) (Gaceta Oficial No.18, Pag. 91-1984)
Law on the Environment (Ley del Medio Ambiente) (1997)
Resolution establishing the Regulation on the Environmental Impact Assessment Process (Resolución Reglamento del Proceso de Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental) (1999)
Related resources
FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department
Search parameters: country=CUB,
Search parameters: country=CUB,
Keywords=aquaculture;mariculture
Records Returned: 6
Title of text
Date of text
Agreement between the Government of the Federative
Republic of Brazil and the Government of the Republic of
Cuba on fisheries and aquaculture cooperation.
2003-09-26
Resolución Nº 68/99 - Reglamentación higiénico-sanitaria
para los acuatorios dedicados a la cría, mantenimiento y/o
cultivo de organismos acuáticos.
1999-03-26
Resolución Nº 323/98 - Medidas destinadas a la
conservación y fomento de la especie trucha.
1998-11-06
Consolidated
Entry into force Countries
date
This Decree
enters into
force on the
day of its
publication.
Cuba;
Brazil
Cuba
A partir del
16 de
noviembre de
1998.
Cuba
Reglamento Sanitario para la explotación comercial pesquera
en embalses utilizados como fuentes de abastecimiento de
1990-06-14
agua a la población.
Cuba
Decreto Ley Nº 704 - Ley General de Pesca.
1936-03-28
Cuba
Resolución Nº 113/09 - Norma técnica NRIAL 2:09 sobre
larvas de camarón de cultivo.
2009-04-06
Cuba
Cuban environmental portal
Cuba's governmental website
Related links
Country profiles: Cuba
FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department