CLAIMS that millions of dinars worth of local shrimp were being exported from Bahrain have been vehemently denied.
The Agriculture and Marine Resources Directorate said Bahrain did not export local shrimp under law as part of efforts to replenish stocks.
MP Khalid Buanq claimed this week that about 1.9 metric tonnes of shrimp worth BD4.4m was exported last year to other countries from Bahrain.
Trawling
He also alleged that local shrimp exports increased by 18 per cent last year compared with 2017 – adding that fishermen were still not being allowed to catch shrimp despite the seasonal ban ending.
However, the directorate, which operates under the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry, yesterday responded to the claims in a statement.
“Shrimp is widely available in the local market which reflects there is no ban on shrimping,” said the directorate.
“However, there was a decision issued (last year) that prohibits trawling in Bahrain’s territorial waters because it affects the fish stock and the marine environment.”
The directorate further set the record straight by explaining that the figures released by Mr Buanq were related to the re-export of shrimp not the export of local stock.
“Bahrain imports different fish species and shrimp from other countries which are then re-exported,” it explained.
“The statement made by the MP is related to the shrimp imported by Bahrain and then exported to other countries.”
It also stressed that under Article 30 of Law 20 for 2002, exporting shrimp from Bahrain is banned and further regulations prohibit exports of local fish.
“Those caught violating the law face up to one month in jail and or fines ranging between BD300 and BD1,000,” it added.
Last year, a trawling ban was introduced in Bahrain after it emerged the country’s fish stocks had dropped by 90pc since 2004.
The ban also included a prohibition on the export of 14 species of sea life, including fresh or frozen fish and shrimp, a reduction in the number of fishermen allowed on each dhow or small fishing boat and a training scheme for Bahraini fishermen.
Database
MPs earlier this month also proposed the creation of a database of stocks of fish and near-extinct aquatic species in the country.
The database would present an approximate count of the marine population, as well as measures to be taken in relation to excessive fishing, trawling, dredging, drilling and land reclamation operations.
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