The Act provides for the management and development of fisheries in the EEZ, territorial sea, archipelagic waters, and internal waters of Vanuatu.
The 35 sections of the Act are divided into 4 Parts: Preliminary (Part I); Management and Fisheries (II); Powers of Authorized Officers and legal Proceedings (III); General (IV).
Part II contains sections on Fisheries Management and Development Plans (sec.2), access agreements and licenses for foreign vessels (secs.3 and 4), foreign investment in fisheries (sect. 8), prohibition of taking of marine mammals (sect. 18), marine reserves (sect. 20) and licensing of fish export processing establishments (sect. 21). The Director of Fisheries shall prepare and keep under review plans for the management and development of fisheries in Vanuatu waters (sec.2). The Minister may conclude fishery access agreements with States or associations (sec.3, comma 1). Total fishing rights allocated under agreements shall not exceed total resources or amount of fishing allowed under the fishery agreement and development plan (sec.3, comma 2). Section 6 provides for powers of the Minister to enter into agreements or arrangements on harmonization of licensing (requirements) and enforcement. The Minister may order that no fishing licence be issued unless a foreign fishing vessels be registered in the competent regional register (sect. 7). Section 13 prescribes general requirements for fishing licenses. Regulation making powers of the Minister are specified in section 34.