Sheikh Muhammad Nur Abdullah, former President of the ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) and member of the Fiqh Council of North America, states:
“This issue falls under the subject of maslaha or public interest of the society, in which the state’s duty is to regulate what would preserve balance and realize the common good of everyone. While hunting and fishing is needed for providing food, the state can regulate that in order to preserve fish and avoid depletion.
Fishing is allowed in Islam, as Allah says: “Lawful to you is the pursuit of water-game and its use for food, for the benefit of yourselves and those who travel; but forbidden is the pursuit of land-game, as long as ye are in the Sacred Precincts or in pilgrim garb. And fear Allah, to Whom ye shall be gathered back.” (Al-Ma’idah 5: 96)
however, this permissibility can be modified if conflicting with general maslahah.”